🏛️ 5A National Attractions
Last verified 30 Jun 2025
Chongqing boasts 12 国家5A级 scenic areas—the largest 5A lineup in western China—spanning vertiginous karst, UNESCO rock art, roaring gorges and minority-culture river towns.
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Quick Metrics
Total sites
12 (official list)
Source: cq.gov.cn
Core categories
Karst canyons & mountains (7) · Buddhist world-heritage carvings (1) · Three-Gorges heritage & cruises (2) · Tujia/Miao culture towns (2)
Diverse landscape types
Entry-fee range
¥0 (Zhuoshui Ancient Town night stroll) – ≈ ¥160 (Wushan Small Three Gorges boat pass)
Variable by attraction type
Typical hours
08:00–17:30 (mountains/caves) · Long-Gorges boats 09:00–15:00
Variable by site type
Real-name booking
Required for Dazu Rock Carvings, Wulong Karst, Longgang Glass-Skywalk & holiday cruise slots
Passport/ID mandatory
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Why It Matters
Karst capital — Seven sites showcase caves, stone forests and 300-m natural bridges, making Chongqing China's top karst playground.
Living Silk-Road art — Dazu's 9-th-century cliff carvings preserve Tang-to-Song Buddhist iconography in vivid colour.
River-canyon drama — Baidicheng–Qutang & Small Three Gorges let travellers sample the Yangtze's most photogenic narrows without a multi-day cruise.
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Pro Tips
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Combo tickets – A ¥280 "Wulong Trio" bundle (Three Natural Bridges ＋ Furong Cave ＋ Fairy Mountain shuttle) saves ≈ ¥70.
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Glass-skywalk timing – Arrive Yunyang Longgang before 10 am; mid-day valley fog can obscure the 700 m drop.
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Dazu night show – Friday & Saturday projection-mapping on Baodingshan cliff walls—book 19:30 slot online.
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Route hack – High-speed rail makes day-trips easy: 38 min to Dazu, 55 min to Wulong, 80 min to Qianjiang (Zhuoshui).
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The Full 5A List
🗿
Buddhist cliff art · Dazu
Dazu Rock Carvings / 大足石刻景区
UNESCO site; 50 000+ Tang–Song figures; ¥120; 08:00–17:30
🏞️
Karst canyon · Wulong
Wulong Karst Tourist Area / 武隆喀斯特旅游区 (Three Natural Bridges · Fairy Mt · Furong Cave)
¥125 combo; glass elevator to 300 m arches; 08:00–18:00
⛰️
Alpine karst · Nanchuan
Jinfoshan (Golden Buddha Mountain) / 金佛山景区
UNESCO Geo-park; cloud-sea ridge walk; ¥110 + cable ¥40
🌊
Karst gorge & Tujia myth
Youyang Taohuayuan / 酉阳桃花源景区
Boat-in grotto → utopian valley; ¥100; 08:00–17:30
🌉
Glass-skywalk canyon
Yunyang Longgang / 云阳龙缸景区
718 m cliff ring; ¥120; 08:00–17:30
🏔️
Forested canyon & karst pinnacles
Heishan Valley & Wansheng Stone Forest / 黑山谷—石林景区
¥80 valley + ¥60 stone forest; 08:00–17:00
💦
Waterfall massif · Jiangjin
Simian Mountain / 四面山景区
152 m Shuikou Waterfall; ¥90; 08:00–17:30
🏯
Three-Gorges heritage
Baidicheng–Qutang Gorge / 白帝城·瞿塘峡景区 (Fengjie)
Historic "White-Emperor City" temple + 8 km gorge boat; ¥140
🚤
Yangtze tributary cruise
Wushan Small Three Gorges / 巫山小三峡—小小三峡景区
Boat through 1 000 m limestone walls; ¥160 incl. ferry
🛶
Raft & karst gorge
Pengshui Ayi River / 彭水阿依河景区
Zip-line & Tujia stilt-villages; ¥120; 08:00–17:30
🏮
Tujia river-town
Zhuoshui Ancient Town / 濯水景区 (Qianjiang)
Free town walk; rafting & karst doline ¥80; open 24 h
🏞️
Deep rift valley
Wuling Mountain Grand Rift / 武陵山大裂谷景区 (Fuling)
2 km plank-road & elevator; ¥110; 08:00–17:30
Plan your Chongqing adventure around these giants of geology, art and legend—No Tourist Traps. No BS.
