Wulipo Grand Canyon (Picture provided by Management Affairs Center of Wulipo National Nature Reserve)

No access to the buffer zone and core zone

CHONGQING (CQNEWS) -- On July 28, Chongqing Wulipo National Nature Reserve was successfully listed as a Shennongjia World Natural Heritage Site at the 44th Session of the World Heritage Committee in Fuzhou, Fujian, China, and is the third World Natural Heritage Site in Chongqing after Wulong and Jinfo Mountain. At once, everyone was posting about the Wulipo National Nature Reserve in their Wechat Moments.

Then is it possible to travel to Wulipo National Nature Reserve now? Is there an area currently open? Recently, the reporter from Chongqing Evening News conducted an interview.

Three main areas in the Reserve

The core zone listed as a Natural Heritage Site

Located in the northeastern part of Wushan County, Wulipo National Nature Reserve is at the intersection of the Loess Plateau Sub-region, the Western Mountain Plateau Sub-region and the Eastern Hilly Plain Sub-region, with an altitude of 175m to 2680m. There are 3,000 hectares of virgin forest, nearly 300 hectares of native subalpine meadows and 26.6 hectares of Ametotaxus argotaenia community.

Data show that 3,001 species of vascular plants, 2,790 species of seed plants and 211 species of ferns have been discovered in Wulipo National Nature Reserve, and there are 16 species of Class I wild plants under national priority protection such as Metasequoia, Ginkgo, Davidia involucrata, Taxus chinensis and Taxus wallichiana; there are 447 species of wild terrestrial vertebrates, 17 species of Class I wild animals under national priority protection, and it is an important habitat for rare and endangered wild animals such as forest musk deer and black bear.

In an interview with the reporter, the person in charge of the Management Affairs Center of Wulipo National Nature Reserve introduced that the reserve is currently divided into three zones: buffer zone, core zone and experimental zone. The buffer zone is managed with the same level of stringency as the core zone, both of which prohibit business activities and do not allow visitors, and the World Natural Heritage Site is in the core zone of the Reserve; and the experimental zone allows applications for business activities as required, but only through approval.

Enjoying the scenery along National Highway G347

Accommodation available around the Grand Canyon

The person in charge introduced the Danyang Grand Canyon, which is in the experimental area and has now been renamed the Wulipo Grand Canyon, as being open to visitors for tourism activities. “Visitors can visit the Wulipo Grand Canyon and Shenlongjia Dajiu Lake along the National Highway G347, which is a good route to travel along.” The person in charge said that the Wulipo Grand Canyon tourism facilities are still being further improved. To meet the needs of visitors, Wushan County will build a visitor center and an ecological corridor in Wulipo Grand Canyon in the future, install high-definition cameras in the core protected area and use infrared sensing as well as AR technology to connect the visitor center and meet the needs of them, making it possible for them to enjoy the ecological beauty and even see real-time wildlife activities without entering the core zone.

Subsequently, the reporter found in several travel booking platforms that there are also many hotels and guesthouses and B&Bs around Wulipo Grand Canyon, making accommodation very convenient.

Touring Wulipo Grand Canyon

Circle line self-drive, the best choice

The reporter interviewed some travel agencies in Chongqing and found that regarding travel to Wushan, its tourism products and lines are mostly Mini Three Gorges, Shennv Scenic Area, and are two-day tours to Wushan or Yunyang. There are not many tourism products about Wulipo Grand Canyon. However, a number of travel agencies said that with the success of the heritage application of Wulipo National Nature Reserve and further fame, they would also consider launching tourism products and routes related to Wulipo Grand Canyon subsequently.

This reporter learned from the office of Danyang Township People’s Government, where the Wulipo National Nature Reserve is located, that currently no entrance fee is required to visit Wulipo Grand Canyon, and it is the most convenient to travel there by car. At that time, visitors can take a circle line tour: Wushan (Little Three Gorges, Mini Three Gorges, Wulipo Grand Canyon) - Shennongjia Dajiu Lake - Yichang Three Gorges Dam; Wushan (Wulipo Grand Canyon, Three Gorges Tour) - Fengjie (Tiankeng Difeng) - Wuxi (Hongchiba).

The person in charge reminded that when visiting the Wulipo Grand Canyon, visitors should pay attention to the following points: firstly, they need to strictly abide by the relevant laws and regulations and resolutely refrain from entering the core and buffer zones of the Reserve; secondly, they should not disturb wild animals, pick wild plants and flowers and should pay attention to ecological protection; thirdly, they should pay attention to personal safety, drive slowly and do not walk at random. (Translated by Wang Huixin, Fathom Language Limited)