Qingjiang Gallery vs Western Sichuan｜Are 100+ Yuan Tickets Worth It? Real Test Comparison

📍Key Information at a Glance
• Qingjiang Gallery (Yichang): B-line ticket costs 100+ yuan (including boat ride), takes 2-3 hours, no magnificent scenery, two tests felt "not worth it"
• Western Sichuan Free Spots: roadside views (Tagong Grassland, Yuzixi Viewing Platform, etc.), at most a 10 yuan trash cleaning fee, every snapshot looks like a masterpiece

✅Real Test Comparison｜Disappointments & Surprises
🔹 Qingjiang Gallery (Recorded Complaints) ➡️
• Hoping for a "surprise later" on the B-line, but only got a dull boat ride: cruising along Qingjiang River, ordinary scenery on both banks, no stunning canyons or secret spots, not much different from a regular riverside;
• Low cost performance: over 100 yuan only to "sit on a boat and see ordinary riverbanks," compared to other Yichang attractions (like the free Three Gorges Dam), the experience is disappointing;
• Single activity: besides the boat ride, no other interactions or niche activities, among eight or nine days in Yichang, it was the most "forgettable."

🔸 Western Sichuan Free Scenery (Surprisingly Great) ➡️
• Zero cost for great shots: Tagong Grassland offers distant views of Yala Snow Mountain, Yuzixi Viewing Platform for stargazing, roadside stops are all "wallpaper-level" scenery, no need to wait for a "surprise later";
• At most 10 yuan expense: some spots charge a trash cleaning fee (like around Lenggacuo), saving 90% compared to Qingjiang tickets, with more freedom to explore;
• Full experience: can self-drive and stop to shoot anytime, chance encounters with herders and livestock, scenery is magnificent and "varied," more exploratory than fixed boat routes.

💡Travel Tips
• If you want a relaxed boat ride and dislike long trips: you can try Qingjiang lightly (choose A-line! Be cautious with B-line), but don’t expect "magnificent scenery";
• If you love self-driving and chasing ultimate scenery: head straight to Western Sichuan! Free roadside views beat expensive attractions, and you can have fun on a budget;
• Yichang alternatives: if visiting Yichang, prioritize Three Gorges Dam (free) and Three Gorges Waterfall, which offer better value than Qingjiang Gallery.