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A visit to Dujiangyan usually involves visiting nearby destinations like Qingcheng Mountain and Hongkou. One to three days is usually sufficient, making it a perfect weekend getaway.
If this is your first time in Chengdu, you must visit Dujiangyan, a water conservancy project that was built before the Common Era and is still in use today, and experience the great wisdom of the ancients.
D1: Chengdu → Qingcheng Mountain → Nanqiao → Dujiangyan Scenic Area → Lidui Park → Fulong Temple → Water Conservancy Project Area → Feishayan → Yuzui → Qinyan Tower → Erwang Temple → Songmao Ancient Road → Scenic Area Exit → City God Temple → Nanqiao → High-Speed Railway Station → Chengdu
I woke up early and had breakfast in downtown Chengdu. Then I headed to the North Railway Station to catch the high-speed train from Chengdu to Qingcheng Mountain, which cost 15 yuan and took about 45 minutes. From the station, I took bus No. 4 to the Dujiangyan Scenic Area. South Bridge is right next to the scenic area, where you can stand on it and gaze at the surging Minjiang River. Upon entering the area, the first thing you'll see is Lidui Park. Passing Fulong Temple, you'll reach the water conservancy project area. Once there, be sure to listen to the guide's explanation; I'm sure you'll be even more amazed by the magnificent Dujiangyan water conservancy project. From Feishayan to Yuzui, I've finished exploring the Dujiangyan water conservancy project. I can continue walking to Qinyan Tower for more natural scenery. I walked along the Erwang Temple to the Songmao Ancient Trail, and then continued walking to the exit. Near the exit, there's a free Chenghuang Temple to visit. I continued walking back to South Bridge and took a bus to the high-speed rail station, where I could catch the high-speed train back to Chengdu.
If you have a little more time and want to appreciate more of the beauty of the city of Dujiangyan and get closer to nature and avoid the noisy crowds, you can go to the back mountain of Qingcheng and refer to the following 2-day tour.
D1: Chengdu → Qingcheng Mountain → Tai'an Ancient Town → Qingcheng Back Mountain → Wulonggou → Longyin Plank Road → Youyi Village → Baiyun Cableway → Wangyun Pavilion → Feiquangou → Tai'an Ancient Town
D2: Tai'an Ancient Town → Nanqiao → Dujiangyan Scenic Area → Lidui Park → Fulong Temple → Water Conservancy Project Area → Feishayan → Yuzui → Nanqiao → High-Speed Railway Station → Chengdu
Day 1: Get up early and take the high-speed train from Chengdu to Qingcheng Mountain at the North Railway Station. Then, take the bus to Qingcheng Mountain's Back Mountain (15 yuan, approximately half an hour). After entering the scenic area, ascend the mountain from Tai'an Ancient Town, passing Wulonggou, Longyin Plank Road, and Youyi Village. Take the Baiyun Cable Car to Wangyun Pavilion and return to Tai'an Ancient Town via Feiquangou for your overnight stay. This is a relatively easy route, encompassing most of Qingcheng Mountain's Back Mountain's main attractions without requiring much physical effort. Arriving in Tai'an Ancient Town around afternoon, you can head back to your room to freshen up before heading out for dinner and enjoying the night view of the ancient town.
Day 2: If you're exhausted the day before, you can sleep in the next day. Take a bus from Tai'an Ancient Town to Qianshan. From the Qianshan Gate, take bus No. 101 to the Dujiangyan Scenic Area. Enjoy brunch near Nanqiao Bridge, and stand on the bridge to gaze at the Minjiang River, the waters that have nurtured countless Sichuanese people. Enter the Dujiangyan Scenic Area and follow your tour guide to explore this magnificent water conservancy project. After reaching Yuzui, return to Nanqiao Bridge and take a bus to the high-speed rail station for your return to Chengdu.
If you yearn for the ancient Taoist culture, you can choose to climb the front mountain of Qingcheng, visit the Taoist temple, appreciate the unique beauty of the world's most secluded place, and then visit the Dujiangyan Scenic Area to experience the humanistic beauty of the city of Dujiangyan.
D1: Chengdu → Qingcheng Front Mountain → Yilewo → Yuecheng Lake → Ropeway → Shangqing Palace → Laojun Pavilion → Shangqing Palace → Chaoyang Building → Zushi Hall → Tianshi Cave → Wudongtian → Ningcui Bridge → Shanyin Pavilion → Natural Painting → Yilewo → Main Gate
D2: Nanqiao → Dujiangyan Scenic Area → Lidui Park → Fulong Temple → Water Conservancy Project Area → Feishayan → Yuzui → Qinyan Tower → Erwang Temple → Songmao Ancient Road → Scenic Area Exit → City God Temple → Nanqiao → High-Speed Railway Station → Chengdu
Day 1: Get up early and take the high-speed train from Chengdu to Qingcheng Mountain. Then, take Bus No. 101 to Qingcheng Front Mountain. After entering the scenic area, pass Yilewo, Yuecheng Lake, and other scenic spots before arriving at the cable car station. Take the cable car up the mountain, avoiding the Nine Turns and ascending directly to Shangqing Palace. From there, you'll see Laojun Pavilion. After reaching the summit of Front Mountain, return to Shangqing Palace by the same route and begin your descent back to the main gate. Take Bus No. 101 back to downtown Dujiangyan. Rest at your accommodation. If you're still energetic, explore Dujiangyan's nightscape.
Day 2: After breakfast, take a bus to the Dujiangyan Scenic Area. Visit the South Bridge near the main gate. Once inside, the area from Lidui Park to Yuzui is considered a water conservancy project. Head toward Qinyan Tower for more natural scenery. After exiting the area, visit the nearby City God Temple. Return to the high-speed rail station via the South Bridge and return to Chengdu.
If you have enough time and want to explore the charming city of Chengdu, you can refer to the following 5-day tour.
D1: Chengdu → High-speed Railway Station → Qingcheng Mountain → Tai'an Ancient Town
D2: Tai'an Ancient Town → Qingcheng Front Mountain → Dujiangyan Scenic Area → High-Speed Railway Station → Chengdu
D3: Du Fu Thatched Cottage → Wuhou Temple → Chunxi Road
D4: Giant Panda Breeding Research Base
D5: Kuanzhai Alley → Jinli
D1: Get up early and take the express train from Chengdu North Railway Station to Qingcheng Mountain. After arriving at Qingcheng Mountain Express Railway Station, take a train to Qingcheng Back Mountain. Remember to buy dry food and water in advance. After visiting Qingcheng Back Mountain in one day, you can stay overnight in Tai'an Ancient Town at the foot of the mountain. You can also stroll around the ancient town at night to appreciate the ancient town style.
D2: Take a bus from Tai'an Ancient Town to the front gate of Qingcheng Mountain. In the morning, experience the ancient Taoist culture of the front mountain. In the afternoon, go to Dujiangyan Scenic Area to visit the great water conservancy project. In the evening, take the express train back to Chengdu.
Day 3: Sleep in, have brunch, and then head to Du Fu Thatched Cottage to admire the elegant architecture of his former residence. Then take bus No. 19 to Wuhou Temple to witness the splendor of China's only temple dedicated to both the emperor and his ministers. In the evening, take bus No. 335 to Chunxi Road, Chengdu's busiest street, to sample a variety of Sichuan snacks and witness the city's nightlife.
Day 4: Arrive at the Chengdu Zoo and take bus No. 87 or 198 to the Giant Panda Breeding Research Base. Spend some quality time with the giant pandas and enjoy the happiness brought to you by these adorable national treasures. Return to downtown Chengdu for the evening.
D5: Go to the most distinctive street in Chengdu - Kuanzhai Alley to experience the bourgeoisie atmosphere, visit various small shops, spend some time in a cafe, then take bus No. 57 to Jinli to appreciate the style of this oldest street in the history of Western Sichuan.