Three Natural Bridges, Natural limestone bridges in Wulong District, China.
The Three Natural Bridges are three limestone arches over the Yangshui River, a Wu River tributary in Xiannüshan Town, Wulong District. From the upper end of Tianlong Bridge to the lower end of Heilong Bridge the river runs only 1,500 m. Between the arches lie the Qinglong and Shenying tiankengs, sinkholes 276–285 m deep with rims 300–522 m around.
The Three Natural Bridges are limestone arches over the Yangshui River, a Wu River tributary. In June 2007 they were inscribed as part of the South China Karst–Wulong Karst UNESCO World Heritage Site, within Wulong Karst National Geology Park. The bridges span 1,500 m from Tianlong's upper end to Heilong's lower end, with Qinglong and Shenying tiankengs between them measuring 276–285 m deep and 300–522 m in circumference.
The three bridges bear names rooted in Chinese dragon mythology: Tianlong meaning Sky Dragon, Qinglong meaning Azure Dragon, and Heilong meaning Black Dragon. These names reflect how local people have connected these natural formations to their cultural beliefs and traditions.
Walking paths run beneath the arches and viewing platforms sit at different heights allowing views from various angles. Some paths are more steeply graded than others, so comfortable footwear is helpful for navigating the terrain.
The two tiankengs between the bridges, Qinglong and Shenying, measure 276–285 m deep and 300–522 m around. From the top of Tianlong Bridge to the bottom of Heilong Bridge the straight-line distance is only 1,500 m, yet three large natural bridges follow one river in sequence — a configuration the sources say occurs nowhere else on Earth.
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