Stand on the riverside promenade at the point where the Wu River empties into the Yangtze and you are looking at the reason Fuling exists. The two waterways meet in the middle of town, and the city climbs the slopes on either side of the confluence.
Fuling suits travellers who are working their way along the Yangtze and want a stop with real depth: an archaeological site preserved under water, a wartime engineering project carved into a mountain, and a stretch of forest and rift valley on the district's edge. It rewards a day or two rather than a quick pass-through.
This guide covers the sights and experiences the sources describe, with the practical details you need to fit them into a trip.
Top things to do in Fuling
1. 816 Nuclear Military Plant
An immense underground facility at Baitao Town, built from 1966 for the production of nuclear weapons and almost completed when the project was cancelled in 1984. No plutonium or other radioactive materials were ever processed here, so it is safe to visit, and unlike other nuclear sites in China it is open to both Chinese and foreign visitors.
Allow time for the journey: take bus no. 101 to Luojia Gardens, then transfer to bus no. 208A or 208C. The site is open 09:00-17:30 and entry is ¥60.
2. Baiheliang Underwater Museum
Also known as the White Crane Ridge Underwater Museum, this preserves an archaeological site on the Yangtze: a rock outcrop used from the Tang Dynasty onward to record the river's water levels, now fully submerged following the completion of the Three Gorges Dam.
It sits at 185 Binjiang Avenue 2nd Section and is reached by bus no. 119. Opening hours are 09:00-17:00 and entry is ¥60. Pair it with a walk along the Binjiang Avenue riverfront while you are in the area.
3. Fuling Museum
The city museum on Xinghua Middle Road, useful for context before or after the submerged site and the underground plant. Entry is free.
It is open 09:00-17:00 with no entry after 16:00, and closed on Mondays, so plan it for a weekday morning or early afternoon. Several buses serve it, including nos. 101, 104, 105, 110, 112, 115, 117, 301, 302, 310 and K115.
4. Wuling Mountain Great Rift Valley
A rift valley landscape at Wuling Township, in the Wuling Mountains. It is the district's main natural set piece and the reason many visitors come out this far.
Take a long-distance bus from Fuling Gaoshanwan Transport Interchange to Wuling Township; the visitor centre is about 1 km from the Wuling Township Bus Station. There is also a bus from the Hongqihegu Bus Station in central Chongqing, departing at 10:00. Hours are 09:00-15:30 from November to March and 08:30-16:00 from April to October, and entry is ¥145. Note the early last entry when planning your transport.
5. Wuling Mountain National Forest Park
A forest park on Country Highway 022 in Damu Township, open around the clock. It works well as a slower counterpoint to the rift valley if you have your own transport.
It is best reached by car. Entry tickets are ¥45, with additional fees charged for parking.
If you only have one day
Morning: Start at Fuling Museum on Xinghua Middle Road when it opens at 09:00 for the background on the district, then move on to Baiheliang Underwater Museum on Binjiang Avenue 2nd Section, where the submerged rock outcrop is the highlight of the day.
Afternoon: Head out to Baitao Town for the 816 Nuclear Military Plant, taking bus no. 101 to Luojia Gardens and transferring to bus no. 208A or 208C. The site is open until 17:30, so keep an eye on the time on the return journey.
Evening: Return to the city and walk the riverfront where the Wu River meets the Yangtze, ending the day where Fuling began.
Frequently asked questions
Can foreign visitors enter the 816 Nuclear Military Plant?
Yes. Unlike other nuclear sites in China, it is open to both Chinese and foreign visitors, and since no radioactive materials were processed there it is safe to tour.
Why is Baiheliang now under water?
The rock outcrop was used from the Tang Dynasty onward to record the Yangtze's water levels, but it became fully submerged after the Three Gorges Dam was completed. The museum preserves the site in its submerged state.
When is Fuling Museum closed?
It is closed on Mondays. On other days it opens 09:00-17:00, with no entry after 16:00, and admission is free.
How do I reach the Wuling Mountain Great Rift Valley without a car?
Take a long-distance bus from Fuling Gaoshanwan Transport Interchange to Wuling Township; the visitor centre is about 1 km from the Wuling Township Bus Station. A bus also runs from the Hongqihegu Bus Station in central Chongqing, departing at 10:00.
Check the bus timings and the early last-entry times before you set out, then build your Fuling itinerary around the two sites that make the journey worthwhile.