Live Your Best Lives
• Walk through the Baidi Temple complex (Mingliang Hall, Wuhou Temple, Tuogu Hall)
• Explore the stele forest with ancient inscriptions and calligraphy
• Climb to viewing platforms for panorama over the Qutang Gorge and Kuimen Gate
• Take photos framed with the 10-yuan note view alignment
• Ride the cable car up or down for scenic views
• Observe the site by boat/dock (arrive by Yangtze cruise or riverboat)
Baidi City is located on the north bank of the Yangtze River at the mouth of Qutang Gorge in Fengjie County, Chongqing. As an ancient building from the Ming to Qing dynasties, it was approved by the State Council to be included in the sixth batch of national key cultural relics protection units.
This is the perfect spot to admire the majestic Kuimen Gate. Famous poets throughout history, including Li Bai, Du Fu, and Su Shi, have ascended Baidi Mountain and visited Kuimen Gate, leaving behind numerous poems. This earned Baidi City the nickname "Poetry City." For poetry lovers, if you enjoy even a single point, you should definitely visit. Baidi City also boasts numerous inscribed tablets, with over 1,000 cultural relics and artifacts on display.
March-May, September-November
Baidi Temple
Today, Baidicheng, broadly defined as the Baidi Temple, houses Mingliang Hall, Wuhou Shrine, and the Stargazing Pavilion, among other Ming and Qing dynasty buildings. Mingliang Hall and Wuhou Shrine are flanked by famous steles from various dynasties. The temple also houses a cultural relic exhibition hall and a poetry and history hall, showcasing Neolithic artifacts and calligraphy and paintings by renowned artists from ancient and modern times. These ancient buildings and treasures further enhance Baidicheng's charm.
Tuogu Hall
The Romance of the Three Kingdoms tells the story of Liu Bei entrusting his son to the care of others at Baidi City. After his sworn brother Guan Yu was defeated at Maicheng and killed, Liu Bei, the Shu Han emperor, avenged Guan Yu and, ignoring the dissuasion of his ministers, launched an attack on the Eastern Wu. En route, his sworn brother, Zhang Fei, the vanguard of the attack, was killed by the rebel generals Fan Jiang and Zhang Da. Enraged, Liu Bei pressed his troops forward without further action. In the summer of the second year of the Zhangwu reign, Liu Bei was defeated at Yiling Yiting by a scheme by the Eastern Wu general Lu Xun, who set fire to his camp. He retreated to Baidi City. The Three Kingdoms had been unreconciled for a long time, his two brothers had died one after another, and his army had suffered heavy losses. Liu Bei, plagued by state affairs and personal vendettas, became ill with worry and anger. Seeing his future in jeopardy, he summoned Prime Minister Zhuge Liang to come overnight. In Yong'an Palace, Liu Bei entrusted his son, Liu Chan (Adou), to Zhuge Liang. He then died. From then on, Baidi City became even more famous because of this popular story.
120 yuan/yuan
06:30-18:00 (Opening hours) Ticket sales stop at 17:00
Baidi City (White Emperor City, Baidicheng) is an ancient temple-fortress complex built on Baidi Hill at the mouth of Qutang Gorge on the northern bank of the Yangtze River.
Legend says Gongsun Shu, a warlord in the late Western Han era, saw a white dragon/mist and declared himself “White Emperor,” renaming the city.
Later, in the Three Kingdoms period, Liu Bei retreated to Baidi City and before dying entrusted the state and his son to Zhuge Liang. The “Tuogu Hall” memorializes that moment.
Over centuries the site was rebuilt (Ming, Qing), and today it preserves temple buildings, stone inscriptions, relics, and memorials of poets.
Due to the Three Gorges Dam, the site is now partly islanded by raised water levels and connected via bridge.
It is also renowned as a “Poetry City” because many famous Chinese poets (Li Bai, Du Fu, Bai Juyi, etc.) visited and wrote about it.
Baidi City is in Fengjie County, Chongqing municipality, on the north bank of the Yangtze River, at the entrance to Qutang Gorge.
It is about 8 km east of Fengjie County seat.
Typical access:
– Via river cruise / boat: many Three Gorges cruises call at Fengjie / Baidi City, and some visitor access is via dock/boat.
– By road: from Fengjie town, local bus or taxi up to base, then climb steps or use cable car.
– On-site walking: once at Baidi, visitors ascend via stairs (over 500 steps according to some guides) to reach temple hilltop.
– Cable car: There is a cable car route (round trip) to ease ascent/descent.
Official opening hours: 08:30 to 17:00 (according to China Daily / government source) for Baidi City & Qutang Gorge scenic area.
Other sources list 08:00 to 17:00.
Best times: spring and autumn are ideal (milder weather, clearer skies). Some guides say spring & winter better than hot summer or rainy autumn.
Early morning or late afternoon offers better lighting for photography and less crowd intensity.
According to China Daily, the entrance ticket for Baidi City
• Qutang Gorge Scenic Area is ¥90 per person.
Additionally, the cable car (round trip) costs about ¥17.
Some local travel websites mention slightly different rates (e.g. 70 CNY in older data) but the government source is likely more current.
Ticket purchase: you can buy tickets offline at the site / entrance.
Some platforms may allow online reservation in advance during peak seasons (via travel agency / scenic-area official booking).
During peak travel periods (holidays, weekends), booking in advance is advisable to secure entry and avoid queuing.
Reserving 1–2 days ahead is generally sufficient.
In off-peak times, on-site purchase is usually fine.
To walk the temple complex, view inscriptions, climb viewpoints, and ride the cable car, allocate 2–3 hours.
If arriving by boat/cruise and taking in the scenery and photo stops, plan half a day for a more relaxed visit.
I did not find dependable information about multilingual audio guides specifically at Baidi City.
Local guides (in Chinese) are likely available.
If booking via a travel agency or on a cruise, you may have guided commentary in English or your language during the stop.
• The Kuimen Gate / Kui Pass view from the hilltop is iconic (same as on 10 ¥ note)
• Panorama from the temple hilltop and viewing pavilions
• Framing with stone inscriptions, halls in foreground and river/gorges in background
• Cable car views during ascent/descent
• Riverside / dock vantage when arriving by boat
• Stele inscriptions and scenic reflection shots
A suggested route:
1. Arrive at base/dock, purchase ticket and (optional) cable car up
2. Start at lower entrance, walk upward through gates and stairs
3. Visit Mingliang Hall, Wuhou Temple, then proceed to Tuogu Hall
4. Explore East & West Stele Forests along side paths
5. Go to Observing Stars Pavilion and main viewing platforms
6. Pause at vantage views over Kuimen / gorge
7. Descend via stairs or by cable car
If arriving by boat, plan docking, disembark, walk the site, then reboard.
I found no credible evidence of night visits, light shows, or after-dark tours at Baidi City in the sources reviewed.
Baidi City is a popular stop for Yangtze River cruises, so it can become busy during cruise docking times and peak tourist season.
Least crowded times: early morning, weekday (non-holiday), and off-peak seasons (late spring, winter) are better.
Facilities typically present: restrooms at entrance and within temple complex.
Small snack / refreshment vendors near entrance or along the path.
Rest benches or sheltered spots inside the site for breaks.
Souvenir shops at the entrance / visitor center area.
Because the site is on a hillside and has many stairs, full access is challenging for those with mobility limitations.
The cable car helps mitigate some steep climbing, but not all parts are accessible.
Children can generally manage with supervision, though steep sections may be strenuous.
Some viewing platforms close to entrance may be relatively easier to reach.
In most Chinese scenic zones, mobile payments (WeChat Pay, Alipay) are widely accepted;
Cash (Chinese yuan) is still useful, especially for small vendors or remote areas.
It’s advisable to carry some cash in case card or mobile payment fails.
Nearby Fengjie town has local restaurants serving Sichuan / Chongqing / local river-ridge cuisine.
Inside or near the scenic area you may find snack stalls, tea houses, and small cafes oriented to tourists.
For full meals, best to eat in Fengjie before/after the visit.
Vegetarian options (vegetable dishes, tofu) are likely available in local Chinese restaurants.
Full vegan or halal menus may be limited; you may need to ask and adapt (e.g. request no meat).
Fengjie County has hotels, guesthouses, and inns serving travelers and cruise stopovers.
Staying in Fengjie gives you convenient access to Baidi City and other Three Gorges stops.
Some boutique or river-view lodgings may be available oriented to cruise tourism.
• Qutang Gorge (the gorge beginning at Baidi) is integrated in the same scenic area.
• Kuimen Gate / Kui Pass (entrance to the gorge) view spot.
• Other Three Gorges cruise scenic stops along the Yangtze River
• Local historical and cultural sites in Fengjie County
• Scenic walks or riverbank views near Fengjie
Yes, souvenir shops are found near the entrance/visitor area.
Typical souvenirs: postcards, prints of Baidi / Three Gorges, calligraphy/booklets, small local handicrafts, tea, paintings, historic replica items.
After visiting Baidi City, you can:
– Continue your Yangtze River cruise downstream or upstream.
– Return to Fengjie town and take regional buses or private car to next destinations (e.g. Wushan, Chongqing city).
– Use local road transport / taxis to connect with other attractions in Three Gorges region.
