Wulong Karst
The Wulong Karst is a karst landscape located within the borders of Wulong District, Chongqing Municipality, People's Republic of China. It is divided into three areas containing the Three Natural Bridges, the Qingkou Tiankeng and Furong Cave respectively. It is a part of the Wulong Karst National Geology Park as well as part of the South China Karst, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Scenic areas
Three Natural Bridges
The Three Natural Bridges, a series of natural limestone bridges located in Xiannushan Town, Wulong County, are the nucleus of a conservation area which includes the following features:- Tianlong Qinglong and Heilong limestone bridges;
- Qinglong Tiankeng ;
- Shenying Tiankeng ;
- Yangshui River Karst Canyon ;
- Longshui Gorge ;
- Central Shiyuan Tiankeng ;
- Lower Shiyuan Tiankeng ;
- Seventy-two Branch Cave ;
- Longquan Cave ;
- Immortal Cave ;
- Hidden Monkey Stream ;
- Hidden Baiguo Stream.
Qingkou Tiankeng Scenic Area
The Qingkou Tiankeng Scenic Area is located around Houping Township, Wulong District and includes 5 tiankengs:- Qingkou Tiankeng ;
- Niubizidong Tiankeng
- Daluodang Tiankeng
- Tianpingmiao Tiankeng
- Shiwangdong Tiankeng
The Qingkou Tiankeng Scenic Area comprises a 7,134 ha core zone and 46,781 ha buffer zone for a total of 53,915 ha of protected area.
Furong Cave-Furong Jiang Scenic Area
Furong Cave is located in Jiangkou Town, Wulong District, some from the district center, near the confluence of the Furong and Wu rivers.The cave is long and features numerous vertical shafts running through the limestone. Stalactites and other sedimentary features abound throughout the cave, and it is open daily for tours.
The Furong Cave-Furong Jiang area comprises a 3,941 ha core zone and 24,024 ha buffer zone, for 27,965 ha total protected area.
Flora
The Wulong Karst area has the following types of forests and plant communities.- Subtropical needle-leaved forest: Pinus massoniana, Cupressus funebris; mixed Pinus massoniana, and Cupressus funebris
- Evergreen broad-leaved forest: species Pinus massoniana; families Cupressaceae, Taxodiaceae, Lauraceae, Theaceae, Elaeocarpaceae; and genera Castanopsis, and Quercus
- Deciduous broad-leaved forest: Quercus fabrei, Quercus acutissima, and Kalopanax ricinifolium
- Shrublands: Pyracantha fortuneana, Vitex negundo, and Distylium racemosum shrubs
- Deciduous trees and shrubs: Quercus, Liquidambar formosana, Pyracantha fortuneana, Vitex negundo, and Ulmaceae
- Bamboo forests: Phyllostachys heteroclada and Sinoca lamusaffinis