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    Longgang Scenic Area, Yunyang, National Geological Park

    Written by: Bai Yun
    Posted on: June 22, 2017 | | 中文

    The beautiful Longgang Park (source: cqyylg.com)

    Known for its wonderful scenery, which includes mountains, gorges and rivers, Chongqing Municipality, has been credited with one more AAAAA attraction (highest category of tourist attraction) in 2017 – the Longgang Scenic Area, Yunyang.

    Located in the southeast of Yunyang County, Longgang Scenic Area neighbours Lichuan from Hubei, Wanzhou District and Fengjie from Chongqing. This grand national park is characterized by peculiar landforms such as karst (pit), deep karst caves, rocky grasslands, towering stalagmites, and the usual valleys, mountain peaks, and dense forests. The rich folk customs of the charming Tujia ethnic group can also be experienced here. With its 60 odd scenic spots, which are simultaneously magnificent, dangerous, beautiful, odd, colourful and changeable, the park is a sight to behold. Hence, Longgang Scenic Area is regarded as a museum of natural science and a showplace of geological landscape.

    Tujia people - Longgang Scenic Area, Yunyang, National Geological Park

    Tujia people (source: cqyylg.com)

    Major sights of the park include the Longgang “Heavenly Pit”, rivers like Stalagmite River and gorges such as South Three Gorges and Huangling Gorge. Praised as “the last Shangri-La of the Three Gorges of the Yangtze River” Longgang Scenic Area has four distinctively diverse seasons. While flowers and grass reign in spring, running waterfalls can be found in summer, scattered red leaves in autumn and sheets of white snow in winter.

    Cloudy Lounge Bridge, built at an altitude of 1,010.5 meters, is perhaps the biggest attraction of all. Built in the design of flower petals, it stands at the top of the steep cliffs. The glass cantilever bridge and its guarding bar are made of laminated ultra clear glass, and there is an absence of steel frames. Tourists may appreciate sights such as the huge urns, Stalagmite River and Gaixiaba Reservoir 720 degrees from the bridge. The transparent structure is beyond imagination because the cantilever is 26.68m long - 5.34m longer than the Grand Canyon Skywalk, Colorado, USA – while the bridge is 718m above ground. Standing on the longest overhanging glass bridge in the world, with an abyss under their feet, thrilled tourists feel as if they are walking in the sky. Cloudy Lounge Bridge holds the title of being the world’s first overhanging glass bridge.

    Cloudy Glass Bridge - Longgang Scenic Area, Yunyang, National Geological Park

    Cloudy Glass Bridge (source: cqyylg.com)

    Stalagmite River - Longgang Scenic Area, Yunyang, National Geological Park

    Stalagmite River (source: cqyylg.com)

    The Stalagmite River may be considered the most beautiful part of the Long Beach River. At the sightseeing lounge, tourists can grab a full view of the Stalagmite River flowing through the gorge. The green mountains, the river, and the bamboo rafts, present an indescribable view, full of magnificence and beauty. At 12.5km long and 20 to 300m wide, the Stalagmite River is a typical karst landform. Its banks are steep and dotted with stone pillars which resemble stalagmites, hence the name. The water is clear and the river tender, yet alarmingly dangerous at times. It runs windingly through the deep and dark valley, splashes down as waterfalls, rests calmly in scattered ponds and drips from cave walls. Due to the corrosion caused by water, rocks and peaks of different shapes and patterns have been created. They are a testament to the mysterious and magical ways of nature.

    Longgang “Heavenly Pit” has a natural oval shape resembling that of a huge stone urn. With a depth of 335m, it ranks third among pits in China and fifth in the world. The arched inner walls are as wide as 2m and its narrowest part is less than 40cm in width. Moreover, the steep walls have a nearly 90 degrees incline, which makes them quite unique. If one stands on the edge of the pit, one can see huge cliffs to one side and a bottomless chasm to the other. At the parietal suture, branches of pines and aged vines hang upside down. At the bottom of the urn, an evergreen forest stretches out. Hundreds of birds twitter and fly around, while waves of smoke and clouds rise from the depth. In terms of depth and diameter, the “Heavenly Pit”, is definitely worth seeing, exploring and studying.

    Moon Reflecting Cave - Longgang Scenic Area, Yunyang, National Geological Park

    Moon Reflecting Cave (source: cqyylg.com)

    Moon Reflecting Cave, also known as Moon Inlaying Cave, is the first layer of underground stream and dark hole which is 43m long. The south hole is 3.9m high and the north hole is 2.9m high. On the eve of Mid-Autumn Festival every year, as the hole is exposed to moonlight, silvery light is reflected through the cave from the south to the north. The amazing sight is called reflecting the moon through the hole.   

    Besides this, Longgang Scenic Area also boasts other appreciable scenic spots, such as Qishan Grassland, Stalactite Cave, Daan Cave and Ancient Village – a site of rich cultural heritage. Without a doubt, this is a park full of wonders.


    As the new year begins, let us also start anew. I’m delighted to extend, on behalf of the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and in my own name, new year’s greeting and sincere wishes to YOULIN magazine’s staff and readers.

    Only in hard times can courage and perseverance be manifested. Only with courage can we live to the fullest. 2020 was an extraordinary year. Confronted by the COVID-19 pandemic, China and Pakistan supported each other and took on the challenge in solidarity. The ironclad China-Pakistan friendship grew stronger as time went by. The China Pakistan Economic Corridor projects advanced steadily in difficult times, become a standard-bearer project of the Belt and Road Initiative in balancing pandemic prevention and project achievement. The handling capacity of the Gwadar Port has continued to rise and Afghanistan transit trade through the port has officially been launched. The Karakoram Highway Phase II upgrade project is fully open to traffic. The Lahore Orange Line project has been put into operation. The construction of Matiari-Lahore HVDC project was fully completed. A batch of green and clean energy projects, such as the Kohala and Azad Pattan hydropower plants have been substantially promoted. Development agreement for the Rashakai SEZ has been signed. The China-Pakistan Community of Shared Future has become closer and closer.

    Reviewing the past and looking to the future, we are confident to write a brilliant new chapter. The year 2021 is the 100th birthday of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Pakistan. The 100-year journey of CPC surges forward with great momentum and China-Pakistan relationship has flourished in the past 70 years. Standing at a new historic point, China is willing to work together with Pakistan to further implement the consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, connect the CPEC cooperation with the vision of the “Naya Pakistan”, promote the long-term development of the China-Pakistan All-weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership with love, dedication and commitment. Mohammad Ali Jinnah, the founding father of Pakistan said, “We are going through fire. The sunshine has yet to come.” Yes, Pakistan’s best days are ahead, China will stand with Pakistan firmly all the way.

    YOULIN magazine is dedicated to promoting cultural exchanges between China and Pakistan and is a window for Pakistani friends to learn about China, especially the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. It is hoped that with the joint efforts of China and Pakistan, YOULIN can listen more to the voices of readers in China and Pakistan, better play its role as a bridge to promote more effectively people-to-people bond.

    Last but not least, I would like to wish all the staff and readers of YOULIN a warm and prosper year in 2021.

    Nong Rong Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of
    The People’s Republic of China to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan
    January 2021