Fairy Mountain Chongqing: Is It Worth Adding to a Wulong Tour?

Side by Side

The table compares the two Fairy Mountain day trips from their listings: price per person, length, what is included, group size and who each one suits. Neither tour has reviews yet.

What You Get

Fairy Mountain sits on the north bank of the Wujiang River. Its peak, Mocaowan, is 2,033 m, the highest point in Wulong District. The big grassland lies at 1,950 m and is made of 16 pastures.

The Chongqing government gives an average summer temperature of 22°C, which is why it suits a hot-season day. It became a national forest park in 1999, and the Wulong tourism area was approved as a national 5A scenic area on 6 July 2011.

Who Should Skip It

If you want a narrow canyon walk, pick Longshuixia Gorge as your second stop instead, as on the Three Natural Bridges with Longshuixia Gorge or Fairy Mountain tour. The Longshuixia Gorge guide explains that walk. Travellers with limited fitness should note that the $110 tour asks for a high level of physical fitness, because the Three Natural Bridges part of the day involves stairs.

Rail Versus Road

An official report puts the high-speed rail trip from Chongqing main city to the foot of Fairy Mountain at about one hour, and the drive at three to four hours in traffic. The Wulong Karst tourism area is about 129 km from central Chongqing. The two day trips drive the whole way, which is why they run 9 to 12 hours and 11.5 hours with two sites.

On the $216 tour you get back to your hotel in the early evening.

Train, Car or Tour

At the opening of the Yuxia high-speed line, 12306 listed five daily trains from Chongqing East to Wulong South, the fastest taking 34 minutes. Drivers can take the Banan to Wulong section of the Yuxiang second expressway, 127 km with a toll of about $15.29 (¥102) for a small car. The day trips pick you up at your hotel and drive there.

The table lists each way with its time and cost.

Names You Will See

The official ticket list writes Fairy Mountain as 仙女山, and the tour listings write it Xiannüshan, as in Xiannüshan National Forest Park and Xiannüshan Town. The Three Natural Bridges lie east of Fairy Mountain town, 20 km from Wulong urban area. The Impression Wulong theatre sits in Taoyuan Grand Canyon, about 9 km from Fairy Mountain town.

Show a driver the characters 仙女山 to avoid confusion with other places.

Gate Ticket and Hours

The district's official list gives Fairy Mountain a gate ticket of $7.49 (¥50) in both seasons. Fairy Mountain is open around the clock on a 24-hour entry basis, but its attractions follow the seasonal timetable of 8:00 or 8:30 to 16:30 or 17:00. A first-gate ticket does not cover the small train.

Fairy Mountain Guiyuan Town and Gaoshan Tomato Valley are free to enter. The Wulong Karst and Fairy Mountain Small-Group Day Trip includes the mini electric sightseeing train, and the Wulong Karst ticket guide compares online tickets.

The Day in Order

The Wulong Karst and Fairy Mountain Small-Group Day Trip picks you up in central Chongqing and drives along the Wujiang River, with a lunch break in Wulong at your own cost. The Three Natural Bridges get about 2 hours, with the cliff spiral elevator, the shuttle bus and the exit electric cart included. Fairy Mountain gets about 2 hours, with the mini electric sightseeing train.

A 15-minute stop at the Wujiang River Gallery viewing platform comes before the drive back. The Three Natural Bridges and Fairy Mountain Day Tour visits the same two sites in 9-12 hours.

Winter Snow and Summer Cool

The grassland is covered by ice and snow for four to five months a year. Fairy Mountain has an artificial ski area of 120,000 square m, with slopes averaging 500 m long and 65 m wide, which can hold close to 1,500 people at once. In summer the average temperature is 22°C. Mountain weather can be cooler than urban Chongqing, so the $216 tour advises a light jacket or windbreaker.

Summer is busy: homestays on Fairy Mountain were reported full in July.

Grassland, Forest and Camping

The Wulong government says Fairy Mountain National Forest Park covers 100 square km at 1,650 to 2,033 m. The big grassland at 1,950 m is made of 16 pastures, and there is a camping base of nearly 7 hectares of grass. The day trips give the mountain about 2 hours, enough for the grassland and the train.

For a longer visit, stay a night in Fairy Mountain town and add the 70-minute Impression Wulong show in Taoyuan Grand Canyon.

Choosing by Priority

Pick the Three Natural Bridges and Fairy Mountain Day Tour at $110 if price matters most or you want a private car of five, seven, nine or fifteen seats. Budget for the shuttle bus and elevator fees on top, and note that a guide comes only with the private car options. Pick the Wulong Karst and Fairy Mountain Small-Group Day Trip at $216 if you want a bilingual guide all day, the rides and train included, and a group of 2 to 8.

Both ask you to bring your passport for real-name entry.