Chongqing Day 4: Wulong Karst & Massage at Jin Se Yin Xiang
07 September 2026
WULONG (武隆)
For our fourth day in Chongqing, we booked the same private driver who had brought us to Dazu the day before. This time, we headed to Wulong (武隆) to explore the Three Natural Bridges (天生三桥) and Longshuixia Fissure Gorge (龙水峡地缝).
We also arranged for a photographer to accompany us for the day — a service known as 陪拍. One of my friends really enjoys photoshoots, so we decided to give it a go together! Personally, I prefer spending more time admiring the scenery and taking photos of the surroundings, so I felt that posing took a little time away from that. Still, the photos turned out pretty well and looked quite natural.
I did feel a little odd wearing a floral dress to explore Wulong’s rugged landscape while most other visitors were in sporty attire hahaha. Even looking at the photos afterwards, my dress felt slightly out of place. But oh wells, that was the aesthetic!
Our first glimpse of Wulong’s towering cliffs, topped with greenery beneath a bright blue sky.
Looking up at the cliffside sightseeing lift. The journey down is also part of the experience!
My photographer said that the lift will rotate so that we can take in the scenery on the way down. This was my view, a little less impressive than what I have imagined in my head haha.
Towering rock walls and lush greenery. Wulong really has that Chinese fantasy drama atmosphere.
The Three Natural Bridges were beautiful. The enormous stone arches, towering cliffs and greenery gave the place such a 仙侠 feel — as though we had stepped into the setting of a Chinese fantasy drama. There was so much to take in, and I enjoyed simply looking up at the dramatic landscape around us.
An enormous natural stone arch framing the cliffs beyond. I believe this is the Tianlong bridge (天龙桥).
Giving this spectacular landscape a little thumbs-up. My photographer says this is a mandatory shot.
Tiled rooftops tucked between enormous cliffs. Some said this is the filming location for 逐玉 (Pursuit of Jade), although others disputed this, so I’m not sure whether it’s true. Either way, the dramatic scenery certainly felt like the setting of a Chinese period drama.
Looking up through a towering natural arch, with a bright opening to the sky above. This arch resembles a sabre.
The stone marker for Qinglong Bridge (青龙桥), with the natural arch rising behind it.
Warm lantern light beneath wooden beams. A lovely little architectural detail between all the grand scenery.
The stone marker for Heilong Bridge (黑龙桥), another stop along our route.
Following the walkway beneath a massive rock arch. The people below give a sense of its incredible scale. Many people were screaming in the rock arch due to the echoes it creates.
Sunlit greenery and rugged rocks lining our walk through Wulong.
Still green water reflecting the trees, with towering cliffs rising behind it.
Little splashes of orange beneath the green water. I have never seen such huge and hubby goldfishes!
We then walked to Longshuixia Fissure Gorge (龙水峡地缝) rather than taking the shuttle. The weather was pleasant, the scenery was lovely, and we didn’t mind getting a little exercise after all the eating we had been doing in Chongqing. Longshuixia Fissure Gorge felt wonderfully calming. Walking through the gorge, we saw waterfalls and water trickling down the rock faces, with mist adding to the atmosphere. The sound of flowing water was almost therapeutic. It was also cooler than central Chongqing, which felt amazing after the city heat!
A slender waterfall winding down the hillside through dense greenery.
Following the winding steps deeper into the gorge, surrounded by towering cliffs.
A little bridge tucked against the rock face, with trailing greenery all around it.
A delicate waterfall catching the sunlight as it falls between the cliffs.
A curtain of falling water beside the walkway. Such a refreshing, calming part of the visit.
Following the stream between steep rock walls, with sunlight filtering through the narrow opening above.
Sunlight filtering into the gorge, illuminating the greenery above the stream.
Water spilling into a blue-green pool beneath a leafy overhang. One of my favourite little views along the walk.
Looking up through a narrow opening between the cliffs, with just a sliver of sky above.
Emerging beneath a jagged rock overhang, with sunlit greenery framing the path ahead.
A little wooden boat resting on the water, surrounded by greenery. Such a peaceful scene.
After several days of exploring the city, this outing was a welcome change of pace. I would personally have preferred a little less posing and more time taking in the scenery, but it was nice to have some lovely photos of myself and the three of us together. I'm sure I would appreciate these photos when I look back at them years down the road. Most of all, I enjoyed the cooler air, beautiful landscapes and time spent outdoors with my friends.
MALA FISH WITH PORK INTESTINES (肥肠鱼)
After exploring, our driver brought us to try 肥肠鱼, which I believe is a local specialty featuring fish and pork intestines cooked in a mala broth. The flavours reminded me of grilled fish we tried yesterday, and I particularly enjoyed the pleasantly springy texture of the fish slices. We also ordered 番茄炒蛋 (stir-fried tomatoes and eggs) to share. A satisfying meal after all that walking!
Our driver’s recommended local specialty, 肥肠鱼: fish and pork intestines in a mala broth, with tomatoes and eggs on the side.
JIN SE YIN XIANG (金色印象)
After our meal, we went for a massage at Jin Se Yin Xiang (金色印象), on our driver’s recommendation. We hadn’t planned this stop at all, but it unexpectedly became one of my favourite experiences of the trip! I know a massage sounds like such an ordinary highlight after travelling all the way to Chongqing, but hear me out.
The entrance of Jin Se Yin Xiang (金色印象). A little dubious looking I know.
Our driver helped us call ahead and make a reservation. Unfortunately, the private rooms with their own toilets were fully booked, so we booked a private room with access to the shared toilets instead.
Speaking of toilets, I encountered squat toilets almost everywhere we went in Chongqing, even in some of the nicer malls. They were generally clean; I’m just not a fan. I always worry about getting my clothes or shoes wet!
We opted for a full-body massage, which felt so good after all the walking we had been doing. During our visit, we could also order unlimited food, drinks and desserts from a surprisingly extensive menu. Everything we tried tasted good, making the whole experience feel like excellent value.
One thing to note is that staff occasionally entered during the massage to bring supplies needed by the massage therapist or deliver food we had ordered, and they were male. They knocked first, and the therapist covered us before letting them in, but I still felt a little uneasy about the interruptions. I did wonder why the massage supplies couldn’t have been prepared before the session began. It’s something to bear in mind if privacy during a massage matters to you.
There was also a screen where we could choose songs, shows or movies. After our massages, we stayed in the room, enjoyed the food and put on music, turning it into our own little karaoke session. There were no microphones, but that didn’t stop us from singing along!
Massage beds, my 酸辣粉 (hot and sour glass noodles) and music on the big screen. We pretended to be at a ktv. Such a lovely evening at Jin Se Yin Xiang (金色印象), and the noodles were delicious!
Lotus root and pork rib soup (莲藕排骨汤), another comforting bowl from the extensive menu at 金色印象. We certainly made time for eating between all the relaxing!
My only regret was missing out on the cake. I was quite full and decided to order it later, assuming we could stay as long as we wanted. Eventually, a staff member came in to let us know our time was up... so there went my cake. If you visit, check how much room time is included rather than making the same assumption we did.
Still, we spent at least four hours there, between the massage, eating and relaxing together. I’ve forgotten the price, but I remember feeling that it was well worth the money. It was such a lovely way to end the day, and this unplanned stop turned out to be a highlight of our Chongqing trip. ALL IN ALL...
Day 4 was a lovely mix of beautiful scenery, good food and relaxation. Wulong’s dramatic landscapes were a welcome change from the city, while our unplanned visit to Jin Se Yin Xiang turned out to be one of my favourite experiences of the trip. Who knew that a massage, plenty of food and a little singing with friends would make such a memorable end to the day?
Love,
Shu
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