【Wuling Secret Realm: A Forest Oxygen Bar Unknown to 95% of Chongqing Locals】

When mentioning Chongqing, most people think of spicy hotpot and the 8D magical cityscape, but few know about the Wuling Mountain National Forest Park hidden in Fuling, spanning 1,633 hectares. With an average annual temperature of just 14.7°C, this was the "Fairy Mountain of Wuling" recorded in the Qing Dynasty's "Fuling Chronicles" and the fantastical world described by Li Bai as "mountains rising from human faces, clouds clinging to horse heads." 🌿 Chronicles of the Forest Secret Realm 1️⃣ Misty Bamboo Symphony At dawn, Wuling Mountain is always kissed by a sea of clouds. Walking along the 3,200-meter bamboo forest trail, the rustling of wind through bamboo tips harmonizes with century-old azaleas peeking in and out of the mist. Old local rangers say these azaleas were planted by mountain villagers during the Republic of China era for blessings, blooming so vibrantly that they resemble red silk ribbons tied around the mountains. 2️⃣ Legend of the Heavenly Pool The 1,980-meter-high Jade Pool, known as the "Fairy's Dressing Mirror," never dries up. Geologists call it a glacial relic, but villagers prefer the Ming Dynasty legend: an herb-gathering maiden ascended to immortality here, her lost silver hairpin transforming into the dove trees by the pool. 3️⃣ Ancient Salt Road of Bayu Deep in the forest lies a severely worn bluestone path—the essential route for salt merchants transporting Wushan well salt in the late Qing Dynasty. Porters once sang, "Wuling's mountains are high, the road is long, a load of salt weighs a thousand pounds." Today, the stone still bears the indentations of their walking sticks. 🌡️ Cool Summer Tips - Canopy temperatures are 5-8°C lower than outside; a light blanket is needed at night in July-August. - The "natural fridge" cave at Qianfo Temple’s cliff stays at 12°C even in peak summer. - Wild kiwifruit harvest season (August) sees locals making prickly pear kiwifruit ice jelly to beat the heat. Staying overnight in a forest cabin, you might stumble upon fireflies forming a "milky way." A ranger smiles: "This is Wuling Mountain’s thank-you gift to those who understand it." The city’s 40°C heat feels like a distant past—here, only the 23°C evening breeze whispers millennia of forest tales.