Glide through the misty clouds of Wu Gorge on a slender boat, ascend Goddess Peak to seek the poetic charm of thousands of years, wander along the river at night and listen to the chanting of Bamboo Branch Ci. This travel guide unlocks countless ways to embrace the poetry and distant beauty of Wushan!
Wushan Itinerary Overview
Day 1: Canyon Exploration + Themed Night Cruise
Arrive in Wushan → Lesser Three Gorges & Mini Three Gorges → Glory of the Three Gorges Themed Night Cruise
Day 2: Cloudtop Secret Land + Dragon Ridge Hiking
Wu Gorge Goddess Scenic Area → Bamboo Village → Three Gorges Dragon Ridge
Day 3: Journey Through Past & Present + Leisurely Riverside Village Tour
Wushan Museum → Three Gorges Riverside Village → Goddess Culture Park → Ningjiangdu Ecological Park → Departure
Wushan Transportation Guide
✈ By Plane: Chongqing Wushan Airport sits on the border of Wushan County and Fengjie County, about 37 kilometers from Wushan County downtown, a 45-minute taxi ride. It currently operates flights to and from Guangzhou, Guiyang, Yantai and other cities.
🚄 By High-speed Rail: Wushan High-speed Railway Station opened in June 2022, around 9 kilometers from Wushan County downtown, a 15-minute taxi trip. Direct trains run here from Beijing, Shanghai, Chongqing, Chengdu, Wuhan, Guiyang and Yantai. More than 15 high-speed trains travel daily between Wushan and downtown Chongqing, taking roughly 2 to 2.5 hours.
🚗 Self-driving: Travelers from all over the country can drive to Wushan County via highway with stunning scenery along the way. Remember to plan your route and rest stops in advance.
Top Attractions in Wushan
Mini Three Gorges
Cruise through Longmen Gorge, Bawu Gorge and Dicui Gorge. Steep cliffs tower into the clouds on both banks, monkeys leap and play in the forests, and ancient hanging coffins perch mysteriously on precipices, delivering a breathtaking sight.
Boarding Time: 14:00 in the afternoon
✅️Ticket Booking:Trip
Tour Duration: About 4 hours
Boarding Location: Lesser Three Gorges Tourist Center
Glory of the Three Gorges Themed Night Cruise
Centered on Wushan culture, Three Gorges culture and Yangtze River culture, this night cruise takes the yacht as its carrier, uses the thousand-year-old cliff as a scroll and the Yangtze River water as a paintbrush. It is a one-of-a-kind night tourism landmark along the Yangtze River Basin.
Boarding Time: 20:10 daily
Departure Time: 20:30 daily
✅️Cruise Ticket Booking:Trip
Tour Duration: About 1 hour
Boarding Location: Lesser Three Gorges Tourist Center
Wu Gorge Goddess Scenic Area
Explore the area by cableway, sightseeing vehicle or on foot. Cloudtop coffee, via ferrata cliff climbing and boutique homestays are all well worth experiencing.
✅️Ticket Booking:Trip
Activity Venue: Liuping Tourist Center / Wangxia Tourist Center / Jingtan Peak Service Station
Three Gorges Bamboo Village
Step into Bamboo Village amid the Three Gorges, where Bayu Opera House echoes with ancient melodies and intangible cultural heritage markets hide creative workshops. Dress in traditional Chinese costumes for photos, chat over coffee with friends, taste local delicacies and appreciate folk art. As night falls, the Bamboo Folk Song Festival blends singing with twinkling lights. Classic charm meets modern trend here, waiting for your visit!
Activity Venue: Three Gorges Bamboo Village
Three Gorges Dragon Ridge
A top-tier hiking destination! The 4-kilometer bluestone trail of Three Gorges Dragon Ridge lets you take National Geographic-style snapshots effortlessly. During the Dragon Boat Festival, try the limited-time night hiking challenge — Path of the Brave: Ascend the Dragon and Win the Laurel!
Featured Activity: Path of the Brave Night Hiking Event
Activity Introduction: Based on the 4.2-kilometer mountain trail of Three Gorges Dragon Ridge, the event integrates AR augmented reality and light and shadow technology to create an immersive night hiking scene. Tourists can enjoy a real laser show along the trail and get a personalized hiking VLOG generated by AI. Shuttle buses depart daily at 18:30 from Lesser Three Gorges Tourist Center to the trail entrance and return at 22:00 from Denglong Service Station.
Operation Time: Officially open for regular operation starting May 24th
Activity Venue: Three Gorges Dragon Ridge
Hiking Length: Approx. 4km (one way)
Hiking Duration: About 3 to 4 hours
Wushan Museum
Visit Wushan Museum to see kitchen figurines, grain-pattern jade discs, bone-carved divine bird statues and gilt bronze coffin ornaments of the Han Dynasty, and learn about Longgupo Culture, Daxi Culture and Wu Culture.
Opening Hours：9:00—17:00 (Open as usual during the Dragon Boat Festival, last admission at 16:30)
Tour Duration：About 1 hour
Location：Wushan Museum
Three Gorges Riverside Village
Upon arrival, relax at the café at the foot of the mountain, or savour tea and enjoy the scenery at the village teahouse, embracing peaceful leisure time.
Goddess Culture Park
Enter Goddess Culture Park to take immersive traditional Chinese style photos to capture beautiful moments, or taste tea and chat with friends at the viewing café.
Ningjiangdu Ecological Park
Breeze along the river at Ningjiangdu Ecological Park, sit on the lawn and watch the sunset dye the river amber, soothing all your anxiety completely!
If time permits, drop into Chaomuyunyu Tavern to eat grilled fish, have a drink and admire the night view for a relaxing getaway!
Recommended Accommodation in Wushan
Muya Wushan Homestay
✅️Special Booking：Trip
Perched on a cliff platform 800 meters above sea level, facing Goddess Peak across the gorge. The architectural design is inspired by Machu Picchu, featuring a rustic texture with stone and logs. Its 18 guest rooms are named after trees such as parasol trees and Chinese tallow trees. Open the window to see wildflowers all over the mountains and the winding Yangtze River.
Address：Group 12, Liuping Village, Jianping Township, Wushan County
Muya Among the Clouds Homestay
✅️Special Booking：Trip
Nestled in Wenfeng Scenic Area on the Dragon Ridge at an altitude of 720 meters, Muya Among the Clouds Homestay features black tiles and white walls hidden in pine forests, with a view of the emerald bend of the Yangtze River right outside the window. Its 28 guest rooms scatter along the mountain. In the morning, sea of clouds surges over the peaks; at noon, river cruises sail across blue waves; at dusk, afterglow falls over Wushan County, with twinkling lights spreading like stars across the galaxy.
Address：Group 3, Wenfeng Village, Wuxia Town, Wushan County, Chongqing
Yebo Wushan Homestay
✅️Special Booking：Trip
The name Yebo Wushan derives from Li Bai's poem "Last night beneath Wushan Peak, ape cries lingered in my dream". It embodies people's longing for the misty clouds of Wushan. Located in Ningjiangdu Park, one of the Eight Ancient Scenic Spots of Wushan, it stands beside the magnificent Yangtze River and beneath the graceful Goddess Peak, offering an unbeatable location to enjoy the Three Gorges scenery.
Address：Community 2, Longjiang Community, Longmen Subdistrict, Wushan County (Inside Ningjiangdu Park)
Three Gorges Courtyard Homestay
✅️Special Booking：Trip
The seven courtyards of Three Gorges Courtyard all draw inspiration from the landscapes and customs of Wushan's Three Terraces and Eight Scenery Spots.
"Autumn Moon Tile Lodge" embraces the moonlight through the window,
"Dusk Rain Mountain Hall" listens to gorge rain tapping the eaves,
"Clear Stream Wild Ferry" falls asleep accompanied by mountain springs,
"Liancheng Lodge" hides the warmth of mortal life,
"Xiufeng Cloud Residence" sleeps to the rhythm of mountain winds,
Every courtyard holds unique stories exclusive to Wushan.
Address：No.102, Liuping Village, Jianping Township, Wushan County (Next to Liuping Tourist Center)
Hualuxe Hotels & Resorts Chongqing Wushan
✅️Special Booking：Trip
Located in Longjiang New District, Hualuxe Wushan is 6 kilometers straight-line distance from Wushan High-speed Railway Station. It commands panoramic views of the Yangtze River and Daning River, adjacent to Wu Gorge of the Yangtze River, facing Enshi of Hubei Province to the south and Fengjie Baidi City to the west. Blending classic charm with contemporary aesthetics, the hotel integrates thousand-year elegance into avant-garde design, inviting guests to walk through the intersection of past and present and connect with the humanistic charm of Wushan.
Address：No.Lin 4, Longjiang Village, Longmen Subdistrict, Wushan County
Popular Photo Spots
Besides these scenic spots, Wushan boasts many hidden photo check-in spots! Save this list right away!
Photo Spot 1: Most Beautiful Trail Under Longmen New District Bridge
The wall painting project under the bridge in Longjiang New District takes "Towards Longmen, Leaping Koi" as its theme. With reverence and passion for ancient culture, it ingeniously integrates dragon and koi elements into modern wall art.
Photo Spot 2: Goddess Avenue
Known as the central axis of Wushan County, Goddess Avenue is famous for its long steps, steep slope and connected trails. Starting from Wushan Port No.9 Wharf, it crosses Pinghu Road, Guangdong Road, Xiangyun Road and Jingtan Road up to Wuxia Road at the top, dividing Wushan County into east and west, and facing the Yangtze River Bridge at Wuxia Estuary from afar.
Photo Spot 3: Wushan Yunyu Wellness Tourism Resort
Covering a total area of about 76 square kilometers, the resort sits at an altitude of 1350 meters known as the "golden altitude", with a forest coverage rate of over 90%. The average summer temperature is 23°C, featuring cool weather perfect for summer retreat and wellness. It is an ideal resort embraced by mountains, rivers and lingering clouds.
Food Recommendations
Great scenery pairs perfectly with delicious food! Here come the local specialties!!
When spicy and fragrant Wushan grilled fish sizzles over charcoal fire, when soft and chewy Wushan emerald jelly is coated with secret sauce, when fragrant pan-fried potato cubes burst with unique flavor on your taste buds……
Authentic Wushan cuisine is waiting to offer you an immersive gourmet journey!!!
Wushan Grilled Fish
Wushan grilled fish dominates the Three Gorges with its three highlights: charred skin, crispy texture and fresh taste. Choose grass carp or snakehead around 3 jin, grill directly over charcoal until the skin bubbles, then pour over secret sauce seasoned with Wushan pickled chili, wild pepper and litsea cubeba. Don’t miss pairing it with local immortal tofu (konjac tofu), which soaks up the soup perfectly.
Wushan Paper-wrapped Fish
Fresh and plump grass carp or snakehead is usually used for Wushan paper-wrapped fish. The moment you open the paper after cooking, rich aroma fills the air, with tender fish meat crispy outside and juicy inside. Multiple flavors are available including spicy, garlic and fermented soybean, blending rich tastes that leave a lasting impression.
Emerald Cold Jelly
Made from the leaves of Wushan's unique premna microphylla tree, the translucent emerald jelly is drizzled with numbing green prickly ash oil and rich spicy chili oil, topped with chopped green onions and coriander. Stir well to coat every strand of jelly with flavorful sauce.
Shuai Yibei Teppanyaki
The crispy duck intestines sizzle on the iron plate, releasing an inviting aroma with a crunchy bite. The spicy pork intestines are perfectly seasoned with chewy texture, soaked in rich spicy sauce for an endless aftertaste.
Bridge Chicken
Wushan Bridge Chicken selects local free-range native chicken, cooked fresh to order. The chicken is carefully prepared with exclusive sauce, presenting an attractive golden color. Every bite bursts with fresh, savory, spicy and salty flavors. Dine here to enjoy delicious food while admiring the night view, capturing both Wushan's night scenery and local delicacies at the same time!
Wushan Barbecue
Wushan barbecue is irresistible in the food world! Tender beef skewers are crispy outside and juicy inside, releasing the rich aroma of meat mixed with cumin and chili the moment you bite. Grilled rice crust rolls and dried tofu are local specialties, with soft glutinous rice rolls and flexible dried tofu stuffed with crispy peanut crumbs, refreshing sour radish shreds and fresh Japanese knotweed, delivering layered flavors full of surprises in every bite.
Wushan Steamed Buns
Wushan steamed buns use local highland cabbage with a crisp, sweet and tender taste wrapped in soft bun skin for rich layers. Mixed with stir-fried cured meat crumbs, each bun is infused with savory oil, bursting with delicious aroma in every bite.
Hidden Menu
The Hidden Food Secrets in Alleyways
Xiong's Dumplings
The dumplings at West Roundabout are large in size, with meat and vegetable fillings. Freshly fried dumplings have golden crispy skin with a crunchy sound when bitten, and rich fillings inside with a unique flavor. Best of all, they are not greasy at all. Perfect either as a hearty breakfast to start your day or a tasty snack while shopping.
Wuzhong Wrap
A thin pancake is pan-fried with egg until golden, brushed with secret chili oil, then filled with fried hot dog and ham, sprinkled with fresh coriander, and wrapped with potato shreds, pork tenderloin and other ingredients before packing. One bite brings the soft pancake and diverse fillings together, with the rich aroma of chili oil bursting instantly. The layered taste makes it totally worthwhile!
Pan-fried Potatoes
Potatoes are pan-fried in a unique way until the skin turns golden and fragrant, with soft and dense flesh inside. Sprinkle with special seasoning powder in spicy or numbing spicy flavors. Every bite is filled with rich potato aroma.
