Wushan Dangyang Grand Canyon

Wushan Dangyang Grand Canyon

Wushan Dangyang Grand Canyon is located in the northern part of Wushan County, with a southern view of the ancient town of Dachang in Wushan and reaching north to the Shennongjia Forest District in Hubei Province. The grand canyon consists of the Pinghe Grand Canyon located upstream of Wushan’s Lesser Three Gorges, the Lihé Grand Canyon in Dangyang, and the Congping Alpine Wetland Park. Stretching from the Pinghe Scenic Town in the south to the Shennongjia’s Dajiuhu Lake in the north, it serves as an important passage connecting the Lesser Three Gorges of Wushan, the ancient town of Dachang, Dajiuhu Lake, Shennongjia, and the Three Gorges Dam, forming the “Golden Triangle” tourism area of Chongqing and Hubei.

Dangyang Grand Canyon boasts not only spectacular landscapes but also unique local customs and fascinating legends. The famous Tang Dynasty general Xue Gang once raised troops here to help the crown prince Li Xian reclaim the throne. His wife, Ji Luan Ying, continued to fight even while facing childbirth, giving the place its name “Enduring-Son Flat.” In the early years of the Qing Dynasty, remnants of Li Zicheng’s forces also held out here for many years, leaving behind legendary tales associated with landmarks such as Flag Mountain, involving characters like Yuan Guogong and General Huang. Due to years of reliance on farming dependent on weather, locals hold deep reverence for nature, leading to unique traditions such as praying for rain and blessings, with incense burning continuously at sites like Sedan Stone and Buddha Rock. Moreover, due to the steep mountains and deep valleys, along with rugged paths, labor and travel in this environment have always been arduous. This has given rise to bold, resonant, and awe-inspiring folk songs, as well as a simple, honest, tough, and resilient local character.

The dense forests of Dangyang Grand Canyon host abundant flora and fauna resources. It is home to nationally renowned medicinal herbs such as Beianlian, Huanyangcao, and Touding Yizhuzhu, as well as 62 species of vertebrates. Local delicacies such as wild onions, wild mushrooms, and Lihé wild fish each have their own distinctive flavors.

The main scenic road of Dangyang Grand Canyon has been fully completed, providing direct access from Wushan County to Shennongjia’s Dajiuhu Lake. Along the route, it connects the ancient town of Dachang, Pinghe Scenic Town, Dangyang Scenic Town, and others. Five observation decks have been built along the scenic highway, and tourism signage has been fully installed, making access to the scenic area extremely convenient. There are over ten scenic spots along the way, all offering powerful visual impact.

Wushan is continuing the extended development of the Dangyang Grand Canyon scenic area. The scenic road and cableway construction from Dangyang Scenic Town to Congping Wetland Park are underway. Boardwalks will be built within the Congping viewing area, ensuring construction is carried out under strict protection measures so that visitors can more conveniently enjoy the beautiful scenery of the wetland park. The Lihé scenic area is under development with water-friendly walking paths, hiking trails, boardwalks, cable bridges, viewing pavilions and corridors, and cableways, showcasing the majestic cliffs facing each other across the Lihé River valley, the mystical sight of “Heaven Opening in a Line,” and the spectacular beauty of hanging waterfalls and flying springs. These features allow visitors to experience and appreciate the Dangyang Grand Canyon from multiple perspectives with a richer variety of activities. The Dangyang Grand Canyon rafting project is set to be completed and open to the public in 2016. The 5-kilometer rafting section promises both leisure and thrilling fun.

Transportation:

By car: From downtown Chongqing, take the Yu-Yi Expressway to Wushan, exit the highway, and follow the tourist signs to the Wushan–Dachang–Shennongjia road for direct access.

For those wishing to experience the canyon, streams, waterfalls, caves, grasslands, and pastoral scenery of Dangyang Grand Canyon, take G50 from Jiangbei—Changshou—Wanzhou—Yunyang—Fengjie—Caotang, then exit the highway. The drive is 398 km. Toll for annual pass holders: 240 RMB; for non-pass holders: 255 RMB.

It should be noted that due to current construction of the Wushan Airport road, it is not possible to reach Dangyang from Wushan County. Commuters are advised not to exit at Wushan. After taking the highway, exit at Fengjie Caotang/Shuangtan, then take S103 Yu-Ba Road via Dachang to Dangyang, arriving in about 3 hours.

Along the G50 route to Dangyang Grand Canyon, there are service areas at Fusheng, Dianjiang, Liangping, and Wanzhou, as well as a rest area at Yunyang, where travelers can take breaks. Among them, the Fengjie Service Area offers services such as refueling and a supermarket, and was upgraded to a four-star service area last year.