Day 1 Various locations → → Guangyuan ★ Gathering day
All day
Is this a poet? Riding a donkey into Jianmen in the drizzle
Guangyuan City, formerly known as Lizhou, is known as the "Gateway to Northern Sichuan and the Throat of the Shu Road." It is a focal point for the culture of the pre-Qin plank roads and the Shu Road, a core corridor of Three Kingdoms history and culture, and the birthplace of Wu Zetian, the only female emperor in Chinese history. It combines the gentle and humid climate of the south with the clear skies of the north. The Jialing River flows through the city, and cultural relics are scattered along the river.
Recommended free activities:
Guangyuan City Museum
Focusing on the "Jianmen Shu Road" and the "Hometown of the Empress," the Guangyuan Museum offers a multi-dimensional perspective on Guangyuan's history and culture through the use of cultural relics, intangible cultural heritage, and digital technology. It serves as a vital cultural heritage preservation and education center for the Bashu region. Tourists are recommended to visit the Shu Road Exhibition Hall to gain a general understanding of the historical background of the Shu Road. The museum offers free guided tours from 9:30 AM to 10:30 AM and from 3:30 PM to 4:30 PM. Interested visitors should check out these scheduled hours.
Admission: Free
Opening hours: 9:00-17:00 (last admission at 16:30) Closed on Mondays
Phoenix Mountain Park
The Phoenix Tower in the park is a landmark of Guangyuan city. Climbing to the top of the tower, you can enjoy a wide view and overlook the outline of Guangyuan's old city.
Ticket price: 5 yuan
Opening hours: 8:30-18:00
Day 2 Guangyuan → Xiaomazi → Duanbeiliang → → Pu'an Town
All day
The earth collapses, the mountains are crushed, and the warriors die. Then the ladders to heaven and the stone steps are connected.
After breakfast, we will drive to Xiaoyazi, which is the starting point of the hiking of the essence section of Cuiyun Corridor South Line (Jianlang Ancient Road). Compared with the stone slab ancient roads such as Lanmaqiang, this is a dirt road, which is more comfortable and authentic to walk on. The thousand-year-old cypresses on both sides of the road are denser.
Upon arrival in Pu'an, you can freely form a group to visit the Bell and Drum Tower, or visit the Hemingshan Museum (closed at 17:00, and stops receiving guests at 16:30), the place where the ancestor of Taoism ascended to heaven. The existing Tang Dynasty Taoist statues here, together with the "Jianzhou Chongyang Pavilion Inscription" written by Li Shangyin of the Tang Dynasty and the Southern Song Dynasty reprint of Yan Zhenqing's "Ode to the Restoration of the Tang Dynasty", are collectively known as the "Three Wonders of Hemingshan".
Hiking Information
Hiking route: Xiaoyazi-Duanbeiliang
Hiking distance: about 12 km, climbing about 160 meters, descending about 150 meters
Hiking time: 4-5 hours
Day 3 Pu'an Town → Hanyang Town → Cuiyun Corridor → Xiasi Town, enjoy tofu feast
All day
Who planted the two rows of ancient cypresses? The Great Wall has 100,000 trees.
After breakfast, continue walking along the Ancient Shu Road, passing Chaoshoupu and heading to Hanyangpu.
Walking on the bluestone slabs polished by the ancients, there are more than 600 thousand-year-old cypresses along the way, the earliest of which can be traced back to the time of King Huiwen of Qin. It may take more than ten people to hug them. The Jinniu Ancient Road was the only way for the ancients to travel between northern Sichuan and southern Shaanxi. It has a very long history and is known as the "Imperial National Highway."
In the afternoon, we'll head to the Cuiyun Corridor Scenic Area. The broad definition of the Cuiyun Corridor refers to the three roads centered on Jiange, stretching west to Zitong, north to Zhaohua, and south to Langzhong, totaling approximately 150 kilometers. These roads are lined with millennia-old cypresses, some dating back to the Qin and Han dynasties, earning the nickname "Three Hundred Miles of Long Shu Road and One Hundred Thousand Trees." The narrower definition of the Cuiyun Corridor Ancient Shu Road refers to the Cuiyun Corridor Scenic Area. These include the Jiange Cypress, the Longzhong Dui Cypress, the Wangfu Cypress, the Mandarin Duck Cypress, the Stone Ox Cypress, the Brotherhood Cypress, and the Song Cypress, with some reaching 2,300 years old. We've hired a guide to help everyone understand the history and development of the Cuiyun Corridor.
We took a bus to Xiasi Town to check in. The high-quality water quality of Jianmen Pass creates delicious tofu. Today we will taste the local tofu feast together.
Hiking Information
Hiking route: Pu'an-Hanyang Town
Hiking distance: about 14 km, climbing about 470 meters, descending about 220 meters
Hiking time: about 5-6 hours, scenic area tour takes 1-2 hours
4th Tianxiasi Town → Jianmen Pass → Gaomiaopu → Dachaoyi → Zhaohua Ancient City
All day
Heaven alone has forged its dangers, and Jianmen Pass is the most magnificent of all lands. One angry man, facing the pass, cannot be joined by a million.
After breakfast, we'll head to Jianmen Pass Scenic Area, home to the Jianmen Pass Tower, known for its "one man guarding the pass, ten thousand men unable to break through," and the Monkey Path/Bird Path, known for its "monkeys' difficulty climbing over the path." We'll enter through the North Gate, passing Zhong Hui's Fortress, and proceed to the entrance of the Monkey Path/Bird Path (you can also take Cable Car No. 1 at your own expense). Team members can choose to walk a section (not recommended for those with a fear of heights) or take Cable Car No. 2 to the observation deck at their own expense. We'll then pass Liangshan Pavilion, the Tianti Gorge plank road, and Xianyun Market (a great spot to check in at the tower), before returning to the scenic area's South Gate.
Enjoy lunch at the South Gate, then head to Gaomiaopu, passing Songning Bridge, Wangfu Bridge, Tieshuanzi Bridge and other ancient bridges with Ming and Qing characteristics and traditional Sichuan houses, and then head to Dachaoyi Old Street. After everyone gathers, take a bus to Zhaohua Ancient City, passing the Shanshui Taiji Observation Deck where you can overlook Zhaohua Ancient City and the S-bend of the Jialing River.
Zhaohua Ancient City, formerly known as Jiameng, boasts a history of over 2,000 years. As a major battlefield during the Three Kingdoms period, numerous events unfolded here, including the night battles between Zhang Fei and Ma Chao, Huo Jun's defense of the city, and Jiang Wei's water worship. The area retains a complex of Ming and Qing dynasty-style buildings, with four main streets and five small alleys connected in a "T" formation, retaining its military defensive features.
We will have free time along the ancient city. After dinner, you can go to Zhaohua Pingshu Hall to listen to stories of ancient Shu (about 30 yuan per person at your own expense, all spoken in Sichuan dialect).
Hiking Information
Hiking route: Jianmen Pass Scenic Area + Gaomiaopu - Dachaoyi
Hiking distance: Scenic area hiking about 8km, climbing about 500 meters, ancient trail hiking about 4km, climbing 100 meters
Hiking time: The scenic area takes about 4-6 hours, and the ancient trail takes about 2-3 hours
Notes:
Receive notification from scenic spot:
Due to the recent hot weather, visitor numbers have gradually increased. To prevent heatstroke and increase scenic area revenue, it has been decided that from July 16th to August 25th, the Jianmen Pass Cuiyun Corridor Scenic Area will open 30 minutes earlier and close 30 minutes later. Summer hours will be adjusted to 7:30 AM - 6:30 PM. Ticket sales, ticket checking, information, and the first cable car will be operational at 7:30 AM, while the second cable car, glass platform, and sightseeing vehicles will be operational at 8:00 AM. The heads of the Finance Management Department (Ticketing Center), Visitor Services Department, Equipment Operations Department, and Property Management Company are requested to strictly ensure that personnel are on duty according to the requirements and ensure that operations are carried out on time. Other departments are also requested to coordinate and ensure that front-line service personnel are fully supported.
Due to recent high temperatures, the surface temperature of the cliffs and chains on the Ape Trail has reached over 45°C. To ensure your safety, the Ape Trail experience hours will be adjusted to 8:00 AM - 2:00 PM daily starting July 16th. Normal operation will resume after the orange high temperature alert is lifted. Please plan your trip accordingly. Thank you for your understanding and support!
Day 5 Zhaohua Ancient City → Thousand Buddha Cliff + Huangze Temple ★ Dismissal Day
All day
Although the brocade city is said to be fun, it is better to return home early.
Today we have reserved time for everyone to experience the ancient city of Zhaohua in the morning light, and then take a bus to the Thousand Buddha Cliff Scenic Area and the Huangze Temple Scenic Area to start today's grotto art appreciation tour.
The Guangyuan Thousand Buddha Cliff Carvings, located on the east bank of the Jialing River, 4 kilometers north of the old city of Lizhou District, Guangyuan City, Sichuan Province, are a jewel of the ancient Shu Road. Initially carved during the Northern Wei Dynasty, they continued to be excavated through the Western Wei, Northern Zhou, Sui, Tang, Five Dynasties, Song, Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties. Their excavation history makes them the longest in Sichuan Province and the largest grotto complex in the province, earning them the title of "a showcase of stone carving art from past dynasties." Centered around Dayun Cave, Dayun Cave is divided into two sections, north and south. Located at the center of the Thousand Buddha Cliff, Dayun Cave is the largest, boasting 234 statues. 148 Lotus Guanyin statues adorn the left and right walls. A large standing Buddha statue in the center of the cave is believed to be Maitreya Buddha, believed to be the incarnation of Wu Zetian.
Huangze Temple, dedicated to Wu Zetian, China's only female emperor, boasts a grand scale and imposing halls, and boasts extraordinary value. The temple boasts 57 existing niches and caves dating from the late Northern Wei Dynasty to the Tang Dynasty, along with over 1,200 cliff carvings. In 1961, the State Council designated it, along with the Thousand Buddha Cliff, as one of the first batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Sites.
In order to fully appreciate these two precious grottoes, we have invited a tour guide to the scenic area. You can first follow the guide to learn about the historical stories of the grottoes, and then explore freely.
After Huangze Temple, our journey on the Ancient Shu Road also came to an end. We will take a bus to Guangyuan High-speed Railway Station to disband and look forward to seeing you again next time.
