Just drove back from Fuling! The autumn scenery of Wuling Mountains is breathtaking, avoiding 90% of the crowds
Who would have thought! Spent 4 full days in Fuling, locking in the stunning red leaves of Wuling Mountains, the One-Line Sky of the Grand Canyon, and the awe-inspiring Underground Nuclear Project! Especially the accidentally discovered "unmanned meadow," photos taken there got me asked for the location over 30 times! This deeply tested guide is perfect for beginners to copy directly, 10 times more enjoyable than group tours👇
📅 Key points first! Must-see autumn sights & preparations for Fuling
- Best time: Late October to mid-November! I went in early November, 80% of the dawn redwoods in Wuling Mountain National Forest Park had turned red, the canyon walls of the Grand Canyon were covered with red leaves, even the wind smelled like autumn. If you go later, the leaves will have all fallen;
- Must-bring items (bringing less means wasted trip):
- Clothing: Fleece sweatshirt + light jacket (around 10°C mornings and evenings in the mountains), red dress (great for shooting red leaves/meadow photos), non-slip sneakers (many steps in the Grand Canyon, I almost slipped wearing white sneakers last time);
- Gear: Telephoto camera (amazing for shooting the One-Line Sky in the canyon), sunglasses (meadow glare is strong), thermos (there is drinking water in the park, fill with hot water to warm your hands);
- Others: ID card (must for 816 Project), power bank (poor signal in the mountains, don’t let your phone die).
🚗 4 days 3 nights self-driving route! Unique experiences found after 3 visits
Day 1: Chongqing city → Fuling urban area → 816 Underground Nuclear Project → Wuling Mountain Scenic Area
- 816 Underground Nuclear Project (don’t just visit the main tunnel!):
- Follow the "blue signs" for the "hidden route" (most people only walk the main tunnel), you can see the "underground power station" and "laboratory ruins." Huge generators hidden inside the mountain look like a sci-fi movie set. I filmed a tunnel time-lapse here that got over 50,000 views on TikTok;
- Listen to the guide! Free guides every 30 minutes, when they talk about the "engineers’ handwritten safety slogans," it’s super touching, 10 times more interesting than wandering alone;
- Avoid the trap: Don’t buy the 120 yuan "VR combo ticket," the VR experience is only 5 minutes and blurry. Just buy the 65 yuan entrance ticket.
Day 2: Wuling Mountain Grand Canyon (key! 3 secret photo spots)
- Route (time-saving, no detours): Visitor center → sightseeing bus → Tianmen Cave Suspension Bridge → Qingtian Gorge fissure → cableway → Copper Wall Iron Wall → return trip, total 5 hours. Don’t miss the last bus after 4 pm or you’ll miss the sunset;
- Secret photo spots (locals told me!):
1. Side of Tianmen Cave Suspension Bridge: Don’t squeeze in the middle of the bridge for photos! Walk to the viewing platform at the end of the bridge to capture the full panorama of the bridge spanning the canyon. At 2 pm, the sunlight slants and you can shoot the bridge’s shadow, very layered;
2. Qingtian Gorge fissure "Tongtian Cave": Walk to the middle of the fissure, look up for the "hole where sunlight leaks through," squat on the steps to shoot "light shining on the rock wall’s red leaves." I took this shot and got asked if it was Zhangjiajie on social media;
3. Copper Wall Iron Wall viewing platform: After taking the cableway up the mountain, don’t take the sightseeing bus directly. Walk 10 minutes along the wooden plank road to a lesser-known viewing platform where you can shoot "canyon + distant terraced fields." The terraced fields are golden in autumn and match perfectly with the red rock walls;
- Avoid the trap: Don’t wear skirts! The fissure steps are steep and easy to flash; bring your own bread and water, instant noodles inside the park cost 15 yuan per cup.
Day 3: Wuling Mountain National Forest Park (autumn scenery is legendary! 2 unmanned spots)
- Must-visit! Don’t miss these 2 places:
1. Yunding Meadow (go early morning!): Get up at 6 am and drive to the meadow parking lot. When the morning fog hasn’t lifted, the golden meadow wrapped in white mist with the dawn redwood forest in the distance looks like a red silhouette. I brought a white silk scarf, the wind blowing it made for dynamic shots, stunning enough to scream;
2. Dawn Redwood Trail (don’t take the main path!): Navigate to "Shanyu Forest," there’s a small path without fences covered in red and yellow leaves. Walking in feels like stepping on a "natural carpet." Sunlight filters through the leaves creating light spots. Shoot close-ups of "feet stepping on fallen leaves," very autumnal;
- Must rush for sunset: Go to the "sunset viewing platform" at 5 pm. The setting sun dyes the dawn redwoods orange-red. Shoot a panorama of "red leaves + sunset." I waited here until 6 pm and caught the last glow, my phone storage filled up instantly;
- Avoid the trap: Don’t navigate to the "North Gate" when self-driving! It’s 20 km from the core spots. Use the South Gate, only 10 minutes to the meadow.
Day 4: Wuling Mountain → Damu Flower Valley (off the beaten path! Few people, beautiful scenery) → Chongqing city
- Damu Flower Valley (in November there are "cosmos flowers"!):
- Don’t think autumn is only red leaves! The cosmos flowers are in full bloom here, pink, white, and purple all over. So few people you can enjoy the whole flower field alone. I crouched in the flowers to shoot close-ups with flowers covering half my face, super gentle;
- Avoid the trap: Don’t buy the "fresh flower cakes" at the park entrance, 3 for 10 yuan, dry and hard. Better to buy in the city.
📸 5 photo tips! Beginners can shoot like pros
1. Grand Canyon One-Line Sky: Use your phone at a low angle to capture both the "light from the One-Line Sky + red leaves on the rock walls," emphasizing depth;
2. Yunding Meadow: When shooting morning fog, wear red clothes and stand in the middle of the meadow. Have a friend shoot from a high spot, the person in the fog looks like a "fairyland";
3. Dawn Redwood Forest: Find a thick dawn redwood, lean against the trunk, shoot a side profile with sunlight filtering through the leaves, very gentle;
4. 816 Project: When shooting the underground tunnel, turn on your phone flashlight pointing forward to capture the "tunnel extending toward the light," very storytelling;
5. Damu Flower Valley: When shooting the flower field, use your phone’s portrait mode to blur the background, highlighting the person and nearby flowers.
⚠️ 8 trap warnings! I’ve stepped on these, don’t repeat
1. Don’t take illegal taxis at Fuling North Station! Didi to the city center only costs 15 yuan, illegal taxis ask for 50 yuan;
2. Don’t buy "red leaf specimens" in Wuling Mountain Scenic Area for 50 yuan each, stationery stores in the city sell the same quality for 10 yuan;
3. Don’t bring too much luggage to the Grand Canyon! The visitor center has storage (10 yuan per item), just bring a backpack;
4. Don’t touch equipment inside the 816 Project tunnels! They are historical relics and staff will scold you;
5. Don’t camp inside Wuling Mountain Scenic Area! It’s -5°C at night and you won’t sleep. Stay at a guesthouse near the park entrance (150 yuan/night);
6. Don’t buy the "sightseeing bus ticket" (20 yuan/person) at Damu Flower Valley, it’s a 10-minute walk to the flower fields, no need;
7. Don’t miss the sea of clouds in Wuling Mountain! Go to Yunding Meadow at 6 am. I was lucky to shoot "sea of clouds + dawn redwoods," absolutely stunning;
8. Don’t only eat "Fuling pickled mustard" in the city! Go to "South Gate Mountain Snack Street," the 10 yuan bowl of spicy wontons is super tasty and better value than in the park.
Friends! Fuling really isn’t just a "pickled mustard city"—the autumn scenery of Wuling Mountain is like a spilled palette, the Grand Canyon’s shock leaves you speechless, and the 816 Project’s history is deeply moving! Pack your bags now, drive to Fuling, and remember to tell me which spot you liked best~