Chongqing Wushan In-Depth Tour: A Hidden Paradise Even Locals Haven't Been To!
"Having sailed the vast sea, no other water can compare; having seen the clouds over Wushan, no other cloud can match." This is probably how many friends remember Wushan. Huahua still recalls the first time she came to Wushan, traveling by cruise ship along the Three Gorges of the Yangtze River. Now, looking back, her impression of Wushan seems hurried and vague. Fortunately, with the opening of the Zhengzhou-Wanzhou High-Speed Railway, Wushan's history of having no railway came to an end. From Wanzhou North Station to Wushan Station takes less than 50 minutes. This time, Huahua arranged an in-depth tour of Wushan to fully experience the beauty of its landscapes.
Huahua's first stop in Wushan was to visit a graceful "maiden" — the Goddess Peak of the Wu Gorge. Known as China's most sentimental rock, the Goddess Peak has attracted countless literati throughout history, inspiring timeless poems. Today, there are two ways to meet the "Goddess": by water or by land. By water, you take a boat on the Goddess Stream. Huahua chose the land route this time, viewing the Goddess Peak from a high vantage point. When you first see the Goddess Peak, you might think it's those two large rocks! But no — it's the slender, tall rock beside them, easy to miss if you're not careful. Truly a delicate and mysterious lady. You can take the Huangyan Cable Car, walk along the plank road to the Jingtan Peak viewing platform, and overlook Jingtan Peak. It is said that this is where the Goddess's hairpin fell and turned into a stone peak. Opposite Jingtan Peak is the Goddess Sky Elevator, with a vertical height of 222 meters. Looking down from the elevator at the clouds and rain over Wushan is thrilling. Huahua's tip: the cable car moves quite quickly when boarding and alighting, so be prompt and take care of the elderly and children.
Compared to the grandeur of the Three Gorges, the Small Three Gorges of Wushan are more delicate and secluded. Huahua took a boat tour of the Small Three Gorges and the Mini Three Gorges, going right into the scenery to admire the beautiful mountains and deep valleys up close. The Wushan Small Three Gorges are located on the lower reaches of the Daning River, a tributary of the Three Gorges of the Yangtze. They consist of the Longmen Gorge, Bawu Gorge, and Dicui Gorge, stretching 50 kilometers in total. As the boat passed under the Wushan Yangtze River Bridge, the journey into the Small Three Gorges officially began. After the high gorge flat lake, the Small Three Gorges and Mini Three Gorges became even more beautiful. While your eyes are captivated by the scenery on both sides, don't forget to listen to the guide's explanations. For example, a leaning peak resembles a woman from the Three Gorges lying on her back, her hair hanging down into Bawu Gorge as if washing it in the river. There are also Lingzhi Peak, Guanyin Sitting on a Lotus, Bajie Worshiping Guanyin, and Fairy Throwing a Silk Ball — a series of unique sights. When sailing through Bawu Gorge, you can also see the ancient Ba people's hanging coffins in caves on the cliffside. Beneath the water of the Small Three Gorges lies the starting point of China's longest ancient plank road ruins. Although this sight is no longer visible, you can still experience the perilous travel of the locals through the replica plank road on the cliff. After passing through Dicui Gorge, we transferred to a smaller boat to continue exploring the Mini Three Gorges. Here, the waterway is narrower, the mountains steeper, exuding a primitive and rustic atmosphere — a scaled-down version of the Small Three Gorges. The entire boat tour of the Small Three Gorges + Mini Three Gorges takes 3.5–4 hours. If you choose the 10:00 AM departure, Huahua suggests bringing some snacks, as it will cross lunchtime and you might get hungry. Departure times: 10:00, 14:00. Cruise duration: 3.5–4 hours.
When visiting Wushan, besides checking out the Small Three Gorges and Goddess Peak during the day, you must not miss the "Light of the Three Gorges" night cruise to see Wushan's night scenery. The "Light of the Three Gorges" uses the two rivers and four banks as a canvas, employing modern light and shadow technology to let you step into the magical splendor of thousand-year-old Wushan. The cruise departs from Wushan Tourist Pier. In the gentle river breeze, Huahua watched the glittering riverside buildings and couldn't help feeling the charm of the mountain city. The programs on board were rich and varied, keeping her eyes busy the whole time. Passing by the Goddess Avenue, there is a large light show depicting stories of Wu culture, Ba-Chu culture, etc. The 4.6-kilometer laser show on the top floor was dazzling. The Longmen Gorge Goddess Cliff Show uses naked-eye 3D projection to display the Goddess culture and the spirit of the Three Gorges. Inside the cabin, there are also special poetry, song, and dance performances. ⏰ Tour time: Summer: board at 7:45 PM, depart at 8:00 PM. Spring/Autumn/Winter: board at 7:15 PM, depart at 7:30 PM. Duration: about 70 minutes.
To deeply experience the Goddess Peak, staying overnight in the mountains is a great choice. The Three Gorges Courtyard is located near the Liuping Visitor Center of the Wuxia Goddess Scenic Area, at an altitude of 900 meters, making it an ideal summer resort. The courtyard preserves the architectural style of northeastern Chongqing's traditional homes, with rammed earth walls that look like ordinary local houses, but inside it provides all the necessities for modern travelers. There's also a trendy RV camping site here! The Wushan Goddess · Guyu Ye Wild Cloud RV Campground covers 3,300 square meters, and each unit comes with a bedroom and private shower. Chongqing people's love for mahjong is not forgotten; even the RVs have automatic mahjong tables! The mountains are filled with clouds and rain all year round, shrouded in mist. In the morning, golden sunlight shines on the Three Gorges; in the evening, the most beautiful sunset glow reflects. Transportation to the accommodation is convenient — there is a direct bus from Wushan High-Speed Rail Station to the scenic area. When booking your stay, you can ask the staff for details. It's now the season for Wushan's red leaves, with mountainsides covered in red — absolutely stunning. Don't miss this rare opportunity to travel!
Last year, the magical variety show "The Infinite Road" became a hit. The production team went deep into formerly impoverished areas, letting viewers see local life and the hard work and sacrifice people made to escape poverty, as well as their pursuit of a better life after poverty alleviation. Even though I was deeply moved while watching the show, when I personally visited Xiazhuang Village in Wushan, Chongqing — where villagers spent seven years chiseling a "road to heaven" out of the mountain — and saw how they challenged nature with their thin bodies, it was something many city-dwellers could hardly imagine. Xiazhuang Village is located deep within the Wushan Small Three Gorges. We drove from Wushan county town, took the highway, and then drove nearly an hour on mountain roads, crossing peak after peak, before reaching the visitor center. The first time I walked into Xiazhuang Village, surrounded by deep mountains, I felt a surge of emotion. On the mountain path into the village, we could overlook the whole village, situated in a huge "tiankeng" (sinkhole) formed by karst topography, surrounded by thousand-meter cliffs. The history of Xiazhuang Village can be traced back 300 years. In the past, relying on the fertile soil and water, the villagers lived a self-sufficient life of "sunrise and sunset." They built irrigation systems, opened factories, and were self-reliant — a real-life "Peach Blossom Spring." Times changed, and the outside world became exciting with rapid technological development, but the villagers trapped in Xiazhuang couldn't see it, because leaving was too difficult. Xiazhuang was like a well — the vertical height from the "well mouth" at the mountaintop to the "well bottom" at the valley was over 1,100 meters. The only route connecting to the outside world was a ridge with three nearly 70-degree slopes and 108 hairpin turns. To reach Wushan county town, villagers had to climb the steep, narrow ancient path on all fours, crossing cliff after cliff. A round trip took at least four days. Not only could they not transport their crops out to sell, but they also risked falling off the mountain every time they left the village. At that time, out of 397 villagers, more than 150 had never left the mountains in their lives, and over 160 had never seen a road, let alone the high buildings and cars we take for granted. In 1997, Mao Xianglin, the village Party branch secretary, led the villagers in challenging the cliffs, chiseling a road for seven years to build an 8-kilometer "road to heaven" on the precipice. With no funds, villagers went out to work to earn money for explosives and materials. With no machinery, they used vines to survey the terrain. With nowhere to rest on the high cliffs, they slept in caves on the mountainside. "Dig the mountain one foot wide, build the road one zhang long. Even if our generation suffers poverty for ten years, we must ensure the next generation lives a good life." The solemn promise made to the villagers more than 20 years ago has indeed come true. Usually, even seeing modern technology used to build roads, bridges, and houses strikes me as extraordinary, but seeing villagers carve a path on steep cliffs, surveying with almost no safety guarantees, is beyond admiration. The history of Xiazhuang's road-building is now preserved in the Xiazhuang Village Deeds Exhibition Hall. It displays the primitive tools used by villagers, photo records, moving stories, etc. While watching a documentary about the road construction, I couldn't help but tear up at the villagers' hard work and sacrifice. Now that the road is open, villagers can travel easily, and tourists from outside can come in. The growing rural tourism has attracted many visitors, as it offers a true sense of paradise. We stayed overnight at the Xiazhuang Courtyard, a traditional building converted from original rammed earth homes. The walls were reinforced, and transparent glass windows still show traces of the old dwellings. The guesthouse offers different room styles, allowing you to enjoy the mountain scenery of Xiazhuang from various angles, and the modern amenities are all available. For many, traveling is about expanding the sky we see. But the people of Xiazhuang, through their unyielding efforts, built an 8-kilometer road to heaven with their flesh and blood, expanding their own sky.
Whenever I go to a new place, tasting local cuisine is an essential part of travel. Although logistics and delivery are developed now, many specialties must be eaten locally to get the authentic taste. On this trip to Wushan, Huahua not only ate the famous Wushan grilled fish but also fully satisfied her potato cravings. Let's start with the must-try Wushan grilled fish. Grilled fish, popular all over China, you've probably had it before. But when Huahua tasted the authentic Wushan grilled fish, it opened a new door to the world of grilled fish. Many places now deep-fry the fish, but Wushan's method is different. After grilling and stewing, the flavor and texture are a cut above. Each fish is freshly killed. After cleaning, the chef puts the fish in a grilling clamp and roasts it over charcoal. During the process, they brush oil and flip it several times, finally sprinkling barbecue powder. When the skin is slightly charred, it's plated. Then the chef starts another wok, pours in a secret aged oil, stir-fries scallions, garlic, onions, and celery, adds fresh broth, brings to a boil, and pours it over the fish. Finally, a generous spoonful of Zha Guangjiao! When the grilled fish arrives at the table, it's simmered again on a stove. The slow simmer intensifies the flavor. The fish absorbs the savory sauce while remaining tender and juicy. A gentle lift yields large chunks of succulent fish, packed with flavor. Huahua strongly recommends the local specialty Zha Guangjiao flavor. Many people don't know what Zha Guangjiao is — Huahua tried it for the first time too. Zha Guangjiao is a mix of corn flour and chili, very aromatic but not too spicy. Even this Guangdong native could handle it. If you can't eat any spice, choose the garlic flavor. The side dishes are incredibly abundant: tripe, lamb tripe, squid, chicken cartilage, enoki mushrooms, lotus root slices, lettuce, rice cakes — just like hot pot. Huahua was pleasantly surprised by the dried potato slices and Cantonese sausages — one was a new texture she'd never tried, the other added a new twist to a familiar ingredient. In contrast, the grilled fish Huahua usually eats in Guangzhou only comes with three or four side dishes — utterly inferior.
During her stay in Wushan, Huahua ordered the famous traditional snack "Jade Cold Jelly" every day. Made from a plant extract, it has a natural green color, translucent like jade. The texture is similar to Cantonese herbal jelly, but here it's dressed cold with chili, ginger, garlic, and green onions — very refreshing in summer.
"Potato Balls Braised with Smoked Pig Trotters" — the aroma hit her the moment the dish was served. The smoked pig trotters are prepared with care, smoked over cypress branches so the woody fragrance infuses the meat. The smoked trotters have an intense flavor and a chewy texture — absolutely delicious. And you must eat Wushan smoked meat with Potato Balls, slowly braised so the flavor of the smoked meat seeps into the potato balls, leaving a lingering fragrance.
Besides potatoes, sweet potato starch blocks are another favorite of locals in Wushan — and now Huahua loves them too! These aren't the long noodles but block-shaped ones with a chewy texture. Stir-fried with green peppers and smoked meat, the aroma and texture are perfect together.
Other dishes like Frozen Konjak Braised with Free-Range Chicken, Wheat Cakes, Home-Style Braised Pig Trotters, and Water-Braised Potatoes are all unique local specialties. When you come to Wushan, be sure to try them!
