Wulong Karst National Geology Park

Wulong Karst National Geology Park, an important part of South China Karst, is situated at the lower reaches of the Wujiang River in southeast Chongqing. It was named as a world natural heritage by UNESCO in 2007. Wulong Karst features spectacular karst landscapes, including the three main parts of Furong Cave, Three Natural Bridges, Houping Giant Doline (Houping Tiankeng) and other scenic spots.

Wulong Karst is a valuable treasure that nature created. It is a cluster of several karst landscapes, consisting of gorges, natural bridges, caves, eroded dolines, shafts and underground streams. These karst landforms developed in the carbonate rocks, vividly recording the development and evolution of karst terrain in the Three Gorges area since Pleistocene Era. Furong Cave, Three Natural Bridges and Houping Giant Doline are the three representative karst landforms, developing under the condition of intermittent uplifting movement of the earth.

Each of the three karst systems standing alone forms a spectacular landscape. Furong Cave, literally Lotus Cave, abounds with various karren sediments forming many splendid natural wonders. The limestone sediments are also of great significance in scientific study. The three natural bridges constitute the largest natural bridge cluster in Asia, and the natural karst bridges are quite high and grand, a sight rarely seen anywhere in the world. Houping Giant Doline is the prime example and the largest tiankeng cluster formed by erosion in the world, and the longest underground cavern system in Asia.

Compared with Stone Forest Karst in Yunnan and Libo Karst in Guizhou, Wulong Karst National Geology Park is located in a relatively remote area away from the impact of human activities. Therefore, Wulong Karst retains the original features of karst landforms that have been despoiled elsewhere, hence its outstanding universal value.

 Three Natural Bridges in Wulong Karst National Geology Park is located 12 miles (20 kilometers) southeast of downtown area of Wulong. It is a rare geological wonder and an eco-tourist's delight. It features three natural karst bridges: Tianlong Bridge, Qinglong Bridge and Heilong Bridge. The three natural karst stone arch bridges, with an average height of over 656 feet (200 meters), and an average span of over 656 feet (200 meters), constitute the largest natural bridge cluster in Asia.

The three natural bridges of Wulong Karst National Geology Park are situated in a 0.7 mile (1.2 km) long gorge. They evolved due to tectonic uplift and the erosion by underground water. Some parts uplifted forming the bridges, and others collapsed to form karst pits. Therefore, the unique landscape of 'Three Natural Bridges enclosed with Two Pits' is solely nature's creation.

Tianlong Bridge is about 656 feet (200 meters) in height, 328 feet (100 meters) in width. It spans 1,476 feet (450 meters), and has two arches from south to north. The south arch was also called Mihun Cave. The northern arch is a passage. Qinglong Bridge is about 1,148 feet (350 meters) high, 492 feet (150 meters) wide, and spans over 1,312 feet (400 meters). After the rains, a waterfall pours over the bridge and forms a mist. When the sunset reflects on the mist, a colorful rainbow emerges like a dragon ascending to the heaven. Heilong Bridge has a deep and long arch passage, like a black dragon winding its way out from the passage. Heilong Bridge is also renowned for its four springs with tortuous trickles of stream. The Three Natural Bridges is a karst stone arch bridge cluster unrivalled elsewhere of Asia in terms of height and the thickness of the bridge surface. It is magnificent.

The Three Natural Bridge Scenic Area provided some of the settings for the 2014 Hollywood blockbuster Transformers 4: Age of Extinction. A model of Optimus can be seen at the entrance..

 

Furong Cave, located on the bank of the Furong River in Jiangkou Town, Wulong County, is the only cave in China that was listed in 'World Natural Heritage List'. Together with Mammoth Cave in the US, and Graemes Cave in France, it was named one of 'The Three Greatest Caves in the World'.

It is a large limestone cave, formed in the carbonate rocks of Cambrian-Ordovician Period. Furong Cave is abundant with various speleothems, which shape the dazzling karst landscapes.

Furong Cave of Wulong Karst National Geology Park is about 2,700 meters (8,858 feet) long, enclosing an area of 37,000 sq meters (44,251 sq yards). There are 100 species of sediment varying from carbonate to sulphur and over 300 scenic spots in the cave. The Glory Hall, covering an area of 11,000 sq meters (13,156 sq yards), is the most spectacular. The magnificent stelae, stalagmites and stalactites are splendid and astonishing to the eye. The huge stone waterfall and curtain are 15 meters (49 feet) in width and 21 meters (69 feet) in height, which are quite grand. The palm-shaped stalagmites are as smooth as jade. The texture of the stalagmites is delicate and pure, which is rare elsewhere. The red coral and calcite are very precious.

The accumulation and breakage of stalagmites records the evolution of the limestone in the cave. Numerous and varied speleothems demonstrate the amazing force of nature. The beautiful scene is a wonder that nature created. Professor Zhu Xuewen, the chairman of the China Cave Association, sings high praise to Furong Cave. He sees it as 'a bright-colored and splendid underground arts palace'.

In 1993, Furong Cave was discovered by local farmers, and was opened to the public in June 1994. It was appraised as 'one of the best caves open to tourists in the world' by Mr. Andy, the Vice Chairman of World Cave Association.