Serving It Up... Wulong Three Natural Bridges: Chongqing, China!

Tired but wanting to see more during our Chongqing experience! As if we hadn't done enough the previous day, myself and Chanel met our China Highlights guide and driver the following morning. We left the concrete jungle of Chongqing, heading towards a 'Transformers' film location we did! Miles were covered, natural wonders were clocked and heights were concurred! 

Our tour guide Oliver met us in our hotel reception, he guided us to our awaiting car ahead of the two hour drive from Chongqing to our chosen 'UNESCO World Heritage Site'. Oliver was charming from the jump, he was full of conversation and was very well spoken. Myself and Chanel were about to find out that age is just a number because Oliver would have more energy than us 30 somethings! We weren't joking nor mincing our words! The drive from Chongqing to the '天生三桥/Three Natural Bridges' Scenic Area was long! I had faced some serious heights during the summer of 2023, I kept in my head that this time would have nothing on '天门山/Heaven Gate Mountain' in '张家界/Zhangjiajie'. Chanel did express that she had a fear of heights but we had each other and Oliver was very reassuring that the heights within the scenic area wouldn't be a problem for us to face. It was certain that we were no longer in the buzzing city of '重庆/Chongqing' as the roads were quiet and the scenery was lush and green! Let's get going! 

We were informed that we would need to take an elevator like they have at '武陵源/Avatar Mountains' in Zhangjiajie, for me that towering 'German made lift' didn't faze me so much. Chanel stayed with Oliver, he was able to get us into the front of the lift without any issues, his calming manner helped Chanel a lot, she was nervous and so was I until I saw the descent wouldn't be that deep into the scenic area. It was mildly chaotic at the opening of the lift, we needed to keep together as a group and keep our senses also intact. Upon exiting the glass lift, we were informed to keep walking straight ahead, it felt as if we had become fairies fluttering around in a gargantuan magical cave, I've no discrimination against that state of mind. Both myself and Chanel would need to harness our 'Tinkerbell' energy whilst we navigated those heights, stone steps and hoards of people. It was a beautiful place but why did it need to be so populated with tourists that day? We were high up, those tourists looked like a colony of ants! 

I was hellbent on getting a photo of Wulong's '天福馆驿/Tianfu Post Station' because it oozed the right Wulong energy! Situated at the bottom of the deep valley that stood ahead of us, I won't lie about how I watched my footing whilst others did too much! The view was unstoppable, it was something that I channeled as I tried to keep it together! Why do I do these things to myself! Chanel and I shared the same fears but we pushed past and reached our next point of call. I lived for the view at the top, the 'post station' stood beneath the majestic '天龙/Sky Dragon' natural stone arch bridge. We walked down at different paces, that for me was a learning experience because I kept look out for Chanel and for Oliver at the same time, it was all good. I kept the viewpoint in mind because it was going to be a one-way system. There were times when I freaked out slightly but did I want that kick in the chest administered? No, I did not! 'Terra Firma' neared, the only extreme height of the day had been navigated! A sigh of relief it was, C!  

It was positively chaotic within the post station, I was surprised to see a coffee shop in one corner! I needed something thirst quenching, it was hard to decipher where the line started? I found Chanel and Oliver as I had headed off into the corner of post station in search of some caffeine, it was necessary! We regrouped in the middle and couldn't believe how busy it was. During the planning period for this trip, it was essential that I caught a glimpse of this building, it oozed the right energy. Walking on further away from the post station made us feel very small as the karst formations towered above us. Transformers? Yes, that part of the Wulong Scenic Area had been used a film set for specific scenes. It was interesting to see the models, larger than life I needed to take a photo for my students who were big fans of that franchise. Heights? We had tackled the worst, we were able to appreciate the undeniable beauty of the scenic area without any jitters. China Highlights had impressed me once again, always they do! Continue!  

A trio of wise women once said, "Don't go chasing waterfalls!" Did myself and Chanel follow those life instructions? We absolutely did not! Before we clocked those powerful yet majestic waterfalls, I chose to do the most! It was apparent that local men were making some coins from carrying fully grown people down the path at the bottom of the ravine, were they gladiator strong or something? Maybe, so! I didn't want to be carried far, I just wanted a photo taken of me being lifted for a couple of seconds for the plot. Yes, I tipped two guys and then they raised me up! Yeah, it went much like the song! I looked like a damn fool but was able to get a silly photo taken! Chanel looked at me as I was due a kick in the chest, she laughed and agreed I needed to stop! Our walk through the several natural bridges brought us to this never-ending cave formation a little earlier on, it was wild that such a natural wonder stood, it was a moment for sure! We had crossed all of the three bridges? Oliver kept us informed and moving further! 

It wasn't one but we saw several unstoppable waterfalls, it was a full on 'TLC' moment! I took my photos at my own pace as I was the photographer for the day! The water cascaded down in places but in others it surged! We both marvelled at the abundance of natural wonder we were being served, it was amazing! The end was in sight, we knew that our passage back to the city of Chongqing would be fast approaching. We made sure we soaked up every single last view, the whole experience had been well rounded and we had learned a lot. In places it was simple, all we needed to do was open our eyes so we could appreciate the immediate beauty that lay around us. Oliver had worked hard, he had been friendly and genuinely cared about our experience and safety. Oliver's kindness stayed with us, the following day we paid our thanks to him, treating his grandson to a gift. He loved being a grandfather and it really showed us that age means nothing, it's your physicality and state of mind! We needed the city, an early night also! It was a full day! 

Waterfalls We Chased! 

Desperately Seeking Adventure