Furong Cave (芙蓉洞) is a 2,846 m limestone show cave on the bank of the Furong River in Jiangkou Town, Wulong District, Chongqing, discovered by local farmers in 1993 and opened to visitors in 1994. It was inscribed in 2007 as part of the Wulong Karst component of the South China Karst World Heritage Site — the only cave in China on the list — and contains some 70 kinds of secondary chemical deposits, covering nearly every named category of karst speleothem, which is why Chinese speleologists call it an underground palace of art. Since the Chongqing East–Qianjiang high-speed line opened in June 2025, Wulong South is roughly 30 minutes from Chongqing East, so the Wulong Karst area now works as a day trip or overnight from central Chongqing. Be aware, however, that an official Wulong notice dated 8 June 2026 restored service at Three Natural Bridges and Longshuixia Gap while leaving Furong Cave's reopening date to be announced separately with full refunds offered; free in-cave guiding was promoted again in late June, but you should still confirm current operating status through official channels before committing to a date.
The giant stone waterfall (巨型石瀑布), about 15.76 m wide and 21.04 m high — the cave's signature formation, with coral-like crystal projections spreading at its base.
The Coral Pool (珊瑚瑶池), roughly 32 sq m and 0.8 m deep: a pool filled with crystals grown underwater, widely regarded as the finest of the cave's deposits.
The 120 cm stalagmite known as Source of Life (生命之源), plus more than 30 other named formations such as the Golden Lotus Hall and Leifeng Pagoda.
Gypsum flowers and helictites in the eastern section — rare crystals that grow sideways and upward against gravity, and a key scientific reason for the site's World Heritage listing.
The full 1,860 m walkway and its staged lighting. As of June 2026 the site advertises free expert commentary along the entire route (about two hours), which is the difference between seeing shapes and understanding a million years of geology.
Good to know
SeasonThe deep cave holds a near-constant 16°C year round. Bring a light jacket even in midsummer; conversely, in winter it feels warm inside, so a heavy down coat becomes dead weight.
SafetyThe walkway is permanently damp and slippery with many stair sections. Wear shoes with grip, and allow 1–2 hours; the route is demanding for visitors with limited mobility.
SeasonJune–August is Chongqing's rainy season, and heavy rain has closed Wulong's scenic areas en bloc — in early June 2026 the other sites reopened while Furong Cave alone stayed shut. Check the official Wulong tourism site and WeChat notices right before you go, know the refund rule, and keep Three Natural Bridges or Longshuixia Gap as a fallback.
RulesSet up payments and connectivity before you fly. Payment in practice means Alipay or WeChat Pay QR codes, so link an international Visa/Mastercard/JCB in advance (single payments over CNY 200 carry roughly a 3% cross-border fee) and still carry CNY 500–1,000 cash for ticket windows and rural buses. Google Maps and most Western messaging apps are blocked on the mainland, so install and pay for a VPN before departure or rely on international roaming, and add Baidu/Amap for navigation and DiDi for rides.
RulesChina's unilateral visa exemption covers many nationalities, including South Korea and Japan, for stays up to 30 days, but the list changes — verify your own passport's status with the National Immigration Administration before booking. Your physical passport is required for real-name ticketing and hotel check-in, and staying somewhere other than a hotel triggers a temporary accommodation registration duty within 24 hours.
CautionDecline touts offering rides or discounted tickets outside Wulong South station and the bus terminal. Buy at the official ticket office or through established platforms such as Ctrip or Meituan, and agree a metered or fixed fare before getting into any chartered car.
MannersSpeleothems stop growing where hands touch them, and this is a World Heritage site. Do not touch or step over barriers; flash, tripods and drones may be restricted in places, so follow on-site instructions and keep noise down in narrow passages where guiding is under way.
Practical info
From Chongqing East station the Yu–Xia high-speed line reaches Wulong South in about 30 minutes; from there transfer via Wulong's bus terminal to a Jiangkou-bound bus (roughly 40–45 minutes) or take a taxi/chartered car to the cave, which sits about 30 km from Three Natural Bridges and is best planned as its own half-day rather than squeezed in. Opening hours are seasonal (broadly 8:00–17:00 in high summer, 8:30–16:30 otherwise) and fares vary by peak/off-peak season and whether the Furong Cave gondola (in service since December 2023) is bundled, so treat all times and prices as requiring the latest confirmation from official channels, along with whether the cave has resumed operation.
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