Day 1 → → → → Hanzhong gathering day
All day
Today is the gathering day for Hanzhong activities.
Tourists from all over the country can choose their own means of transportation, check in to the designated hotel in Hanzhong, arrange rooms, and then have free time.
Hanzhong, located in the center of China, has always been a battleground for military strategists and the birthplace of the Western Han Dynasty. It has a profound historical and cultural heritage.
Recommended attractions: Ancient Han Terrace, Baijiang Altar, Hanzhong Museum, Tianhan Wetland Park, Xinghan Scenic Spot
Recommended food: Hanzhong hot noodles, Ningqiang spicy chicken, Lueyang jar tea, vegetable tofu, jiangshui noodles, bangbang noodles, Hanzhong spicy fish, etc., Qianjin Road Night Market, Yinmachi Snack Street
With the opening of the Xicheng High-Speed Railway, the frequency of high-speed trains from Hanzhong to Xi'an or Chengdu is very high. By gathering and distributing in Hanzhong, we can avoid spending a lot of time on the road, leaving plenty of time for everyone to play.
Day 2: Hanzhong → Mingyue Gorge Ancient Plank Road → Chuandong Temple Tiankeng → Stay in Guangyuan
All day
After breakfast, we headed to the Mingyue Gorge Ancient Plank Road | China Transportation History Museum on the Millennium Shu Road
Enter Mingyue Gorge and marvel at this marvelous ancient road! Six ancient and modern routes converge in one gorge: the Jialing River Waterway, the pre-Qin plank road, the Baoji-Chengdu Railway, the Tracker Road, National Highway 108, and the Jinniu Post Road. The Jialing River flows through it, and the banks are lined with beautiful green mountains. The mountain breeze is refreshing, and the occasional roar of the Baoji-Chengdu Railway trains can be heard in the distance. During the Three Kingdoms period, Zhuge Liang opened the Jianmen Pavilion Road and repaired the Mingyue Gorge plank road to meet the needs of war. This led to the six expeditions to Qishan and the Northern Expedition to the Central Plains. The scene of the burning plank road in the contemporary adaptation of "Romance of the Three Kingdoms" was filmed here. The dangers of Mingyue Gorge were evident in the 1930s, when engineers attempted to find an alternative route around it. Ultimately, this failed, forcing them to carve a grooved road through the cliffs above the ancient plank road. Today, this grooved road remains above Mingyue Gorge, becoming the famous "Tiger Mouth" section of the old Sichuan-Shaanxi Highway. It's quite spectacular and a scenic spot on the highway. It's where Li Bai's poem, "The road to Shu is as difficult as climbing to heaven," originated.
After enjoying the fun, head to [Zengjiashan-Chuandongan Tiankeng] to explore the mysterious inner world of the earth.
This spot, designated a "Splendid Scenic Spot in Sichuan" by China National Geographic, lies at an altitude of approximately 1,400 meters. The geological wonder of Chuandong Temple, formed by the action of underground karst water, is a symbiotic wonder: a tiankeng (sinkhole), an urn-shaped vertical cave, and a natural bridge. The tiankeng, approximately 100 meters long and wide, and 50 meters deep, contains approximately 500,000 cubic meters of volume, making it the largest alpine tiankeng discovered in northern Sichuan. Water trickles through a skylight at the top of the vertical cave, creating a vibrant mist that is illuminated by sunlight. A pool at the bottom of the cave connects to an underground river, reaching a depth of approximately 2 meters during the rainy season. The blend of warm and cold air creates a breathtaking atmosphere within the tiankeng, creating a breathtaking spectacle. Enjoy ample time for photo-taking and exploration.
Afterwards, we'll head to Guangyuan for our overnight stay. You can explore and enjoy local specialties like Empress Steamed Cold Noodles, Guangyuan Hot Pot, Zhaohua Pig Intestines, Chaotian Walnut Cakes, Wangcang Hot and Sour Noodles, and Jiange Spicy Skewers. Enjoy the night view of the Jialing River.
Day 3 Guangyuan → Jianmen Pass → Cuiyun Corridor → Qingmuchuan Ancient Town
All day
After breakfast, head to Jianmen Pass to read the ancient poem "The Road to Shu is Difficult"!
This place has been a military fortress since ancient times. Li Bai's poem "The Difficult Road to Shu" describes this place, with its lines like "Jianmen Pass, towering and majestic; one man guards the pass, ten thousand cannot break through." With sheer cliffs on either side, the peaks resemble swords, and the opposing peaks resemble a gate, it's called Jianmen Pass. We'll explore Jianmen Pass on foot (ropeway rides are at your own expense). Tourists who are not afraid of heights can explore the bird trails and cliff corridors halfway up the mountain, or opt for a river valley hike to experience a blend of culture and scenery.
Special experience for tourists: Jianmenguan special tofu banquet
After tasting Jianmen tofu, people like Guo Moruo praised it highly, leading to the saying, "If you don't try Jianmen tofu, your visit to Jianmen Pass is in vain." A must-try when visiting Jianmen Pass is the famous tofu banquet. Jianmen Pass tofu, also known as "Jianmen Tofu," is as famous as the impenetrable Jianmen Pass. Jianmen tofu is made from soybeans grown in the conglomerate, oily, sandy, and rocky soil of the Jianmen Mountains. Using "Jianquan" water from the 71 Jianmen Peaks, the tofu is soaked, ground, filtered, slurried, and then dehydrated. Prepared through a variety of techniques, including stir-frying, deep-frying, roasting, stewing, steaming, pan-frying, and blending, it's a truly satisfying delicacy. After all, tofu is a high-protein, low-fat food that's delicious and won't make you gain weight—a surefire way to enjoy it!
After a hearty meal, we headed to Cuiyun Corridor, the pearl of Shu Road, which remains green for thousands of years.
This section of the ancient Shu Road is home to the Cuiyun Corridor Scenic Area, home to ancient trees such as the Jiange Cypress, Longzhong Dui Cypress, Wangfu Cypress, Yuanyang Cypress, Shiniu Cypress, Jieyi Cypress, and Song Cypress. Due to their close relationship with the Jianmen Shu Road and their interdependence, and the surviving trees, they have been called "Wonder of the Shu Road" and "Living Forest Fossils." The history of tree planting here dates back to the Qin and Han dynasties, with a tradition of planting trees along official roads throughout the dynasties. There are six documented large-scale tree plantings, with Qin Shihuang and Zhang Fei among those who participated. Strolling beneath these centuries-old cypresses, feeling the light and shadow that transcend time, is like a conversation with the ancients.
Stay in Qingmuchuan Ancient Town at night. You can freely explore and enjoy the local delicacies. Stone pot fish, wooden barrel fish, walnut buns, and fried small fish are all local specialties. Enjoy the night view of the ancient town.
Day 4: Qingmuchuan Ancient Town → Huangze Temple → Thousand Buddha Cliff → Stay in Ningqiang or Liping
All day
You can sleep in naturally in the morning. Tourists who like to watch the sunrise can go to Huilong Pavilion to take in the whole view of the ancient town, or continue to stroll around and experience the tranquility of this remote ancient town.
Qingmuchuan Ancient Town: A Utopia at the Junction of Shaanxi, Gansu, and Sichuan
Qingmuchuan, located at the junction of Shaanxi, Gansu, and Sichuan, is known as "a place that straddles three provinces." Once a mixed population of Qiang and Han people, it flourished during the Ming Dynasty, with many residential buildings dating back to the Ming and Qing dynasties. The ancient town still retains a vast collection of ancient streets, ancestral halls, plank roads, and dwellings. It was also the filming location for the TV series "A Generation of Heroes." Explore Qingmuchuan Ancient Town and experience this legendary town in depth!
Recommended check-in spots:
Huilong Pavilion: This is the best place to enjoy the panoramic view of Qingmuchuan. Looking down at the ancient town of Qingmuchuan below the mountain, you can see the ancient town shrouded in layers of clouds and mist. It is simply beautiful! If the weather is good, don't miss watching the sunrise and sunset here.
Huilongchang Old Street: First built during the Chenghua period of the Ming Dynasty, it is a main street of the ancient town of Qingmuchuan. The ancient street is arranged along the river, with more than 200 ancient buildings from the Ming and Qing Dynasties on both sides. They are elegant in style and there are also quaint shops. Walking on the street, listening to the shouts of merchants on both sides, makes people feel like they are traveling through time.
Rongshengkui: A rare ship-shaped building in China, it is a landmark building of Qingmuchuan. It was once the property of Wei Yuanchen, the brother of local celebrity Wei Futang. There are three floors in the house, each with several private rooms, which are arranged like the cabins of a ship. It mainly serves the rich mountain valley and was a famous entertainment venue on the border of the three provinces during the Republic of China period. It is full of carved beams and painted buildings.
Wei's Residence: This was where Wei Futang lived and worked. Resembling a Beijing courtyard house, it stands out as a prominent structure in Qingmuchuan. Here, you can learn about his life. As a prominent figure in the area, Wei received both praise and criticism, but he built numerous infrastructure and established a school. The residence is large, with numerous rooms and clearly defined functional areas, allowing one to imagine the life of its owner.
Depart for Huangze Temple and Guangyuan Thousand Buddha Cliff, the thousand-year-old grottoes along the Jialing River
Guangyuan, Sichuan, a small, hidden gem at the gateway to northern Sichuan, may be little known, but it boasts two Class II national treasures: the Thousand Buddha Cliff Carvings and the Huangze Temple Cliff Carvings. The Northern Wei and Northern Zhou Dynasty grottoes, dating back to the Northern Dynasties, are the earliest discovered in Sichuan and are the pioneers of the Sichuan-Chongqing grottoes.
【Huangze Temple】
The only temple dedicated to Wu Zetian in China also houses what is believed to be the only stone statue of her in its true form. The 57 existing niches and caves dating from the late Northern Wei Dynasty to the Tang Dynasty, along with over 1,200 cliff-carved statues, were first constructed in the late Northern Wei Dynasty and continued to be excavated during the Northern Zhou, Sui, and early Tang dynasties, reaching their peak during the Tang Dynasty.
Thousand Buddha Cliff
The Guangyuan Thousand Buddha Cliff Statue Complex dates back to the Northern Wei Dynasty, and has endured for nearly 1,500 years. The cliffs, 45 meters high and over 200 meters long from north to south, are covered in 13 layers of statue niches, densely packed like a honeycomb. Standing on the east bank of the Jialing River, facing Huangze Temple across the river, only a little over 400 niches and over 7,000 statues remain. This is the largest grotto complex in Sichuan. Climbing the steps to the grottoes, touching the thousand-year-old cliffs, and gazing out at the Jialing River will leave you with an unforgettable experience.
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 enjoying the sightseeing, go to Ningqiang County or check in near Liping Scenic Area.
Day 5 Ningqiang → Liping National Forest Park → Disband at Hanzhong Railway Station
All day
After breakfast, head to Liping National Forest Park for a cool escape in the summer and a feast of colorful forests in the autumn.
This is a breathtakingly beautiful place, a sea of pristine forests, towering ancient trees, waterfalls, and flowing streams. Liping, like Sichuan's famous Guangwu Mountain, lies on both sides of the Migang Mountain Range, but it's much quieter and less crowded than Guangwu Mountain. We'll take a scenic shuttle bus to reach it. (Reminder: Liping is a large scenic area, so the specific itinerary will be arranged by your tour leader.)
【Undersea Stone Castle】
The unique karst landform of the underwater stone city looks like a castle. The stones are in the shape of pillars and stalagmites in various shapes, just like a castle on the seabed.
【Chinese Dragon Mountain】
Humanity's greatest discovery of the 21st century has journeyed beyond the underwater stone city to a unique geological phenomenon discovered after the Wenchuan earthquake ripped apart the mountainside, offering both scenic and scientific value. It's said that 44.8-46.8 billion years ago, this area was a shallow sea. Storms, driven by the accumulation of coastal silt, formed small hills of various shapes. Up close, you can clearly see the dragon's spine, scales, and claws. Standing here, you feel like you're riding a giant dragon through the clouds.
Qixingtan
According to legend, this is the bathtub where the seven fairies came down to earth to bathe. Climb the ladder to heaven and you will arrive at a quiet place where there are seven stone pools of different sizes scattered around. There is also a natural beauty pond beside the pool. Legend has it that this is the bathtub where the seven fairies came down to earth to bathe. It was here that Dong Yong met the seven fairies and got married.
【Maple Forest Waterfall】
The internet-famous glass bridge will captivate you with its endless maple forests and dazzle you with its cascading waterfall. Also known as the Little Hukou Waterfall, it is one of Liping's most beautiful sights.
【Red Dust Gorge】
The Love Valley, a paradise of clear water, reaches the entrance of the Hongchen Gorge plank road. Go down the Xiliu River and immerse yourself in it, forgetting everything else.
We will return to Hanzhong at around 15:30 in the afternoon, ending our pleasant journey. See you in Jianghu. We look forward to our next trip.
The group is expected to arrive at Hanzhong Railway Station at 18:00 and disband. We recommend booking a ticket after 18:40.
Special reminder:
1. During holidays, it is recommended to buy a later train than usual to avoid traffic jams and delays!
2. With the opening of the Xicheng High-Speed Railway, there are many high-speed trains from Hanzhong to Xi'an or Hanzhong to Chengdu. You can book your tickets in advance according to your schedule.
