Stories from China (Part 15)

This entry is part 15 of 40 in the series Stories from China

May 29, 2023

Stories from China (Part 15)

By Simon J. Lau

I visited Wulong Karst, a region about two hours outside Chongqing known for its steep cliffs, caves, and massive sinkholes. It’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site now, but it really became a hit after Transformers: Age of Extinction filmed scenes here. Even without the Hollywood connection, Wulong has long been considered one of the most striking landscapes in China.

The big draw is the Three Natural Bridges: Tianlong (Sky Dragon), Qinglong (Azure Dragon), and Heilong (Black Dragon). They’re enormous limestone arches carved by water over millions of years, the largest cluster of natural bridges in all of Asia. Standing beneath them, the cliffs rise so high they block out the sky in places.

We also stopped at Longshuixia Gap, a narrow gorge carved deep into the karst landscape. The entire gorge stretches about 5 km (3+ miles), though the walking trail covers only the most scenic 2 km (1+ miles). The path winds along wooden walkways clinging to the cliff walls, with towering rock faces on both sides and a thin ribbon of sky overhead.

Along the way, you pass clear springs, small streams running right across the path, and waterfalls tumbling into pools below. It feels very much tucked away from the outside world.

Finally, at dinner, I saw something that feels all too common in San Francisco but rare in China: a very public argument. An older gentleman suddenly started shouting at a middle-aged man from across the food court, his voice booming over the clatter of trays and chopsticks.

I couldn’t catch what set him off, but the anger in his tone was unmistakable. It was sharp enough to make a few people stop eating and look up. The middle-aged man yelled back once or twice, then went silent as the older man kept going. Finally, they both stormed off. The whole place quickly slipped back into its usual hum, and I went back to enjoying my noodles. 🍜