Du Fu Thatched Cottage Museum: A Poetic Journey Through Tang Dynasty China** 🌿📜

#holidayitinerary
Step into the tranquil world of **Du Fu Thatched Cottage Museum** in Chengdu, where the legacy of China’s "Poet Sage" comes alive amidst lush gardens, historic halls, and the very hut where he penned 240 timeless poems. This **24-acre sanctuary** is a must-visit for literature lovers, history buffs, and anyone seeking serenity in the heart of Sichuan.

## **Why Visit?**
✅ **Walk in a Poet’s Footsteps**: Explore the reconstructed thatched hut where Du Fu lived (760–765 AD) and composed masterpieces like *"My Thatched Hut Wrecked by Autumn Wind"* .
✅ **Architectural Harmony**: Ming and Qing dynasty halls, pavilions, and gardens blend seamlessly with Tang-era ruins, including excavated wells and house sites .
✅ **Cultural Treasure Trove**: Rare Song dynasty woodblock prints of Du’s poems, a 16-meter mural of his life, and statues of 12 legendary poets await in the **Hall of Great Poets** .
✅ **UNESCO-Worthy Gardens**: Stroll bamboo-lined paths, cross moon gates, and admire lotus ponds—a living ode to classical Chinese landscape design .

## **Must-See Highlights**
### **1. The Thatched Hut**
- A faithful reconstruction of Du Fu’s humble home, partitioned into a **study, bedroom, and kitchen** as described in his poems .

### **2. Gongbu Shrine**
- Honors Du Fu’s brief role as a Tang official. Houses Ming/Qing stone carvings of the poet and flanking statues of poets **Lu You and Huang Tingjian** .

### **3. Shaoling Tablet Pavilion**
- Features a Qing-era stele inscribed by Prince Guo, referencing Du Fu’s self-given nickname *"Shaoling Ye Lao"* (Wild Old Man of Shaoling) .

### **4. Flower Path & Red Wall**
- A photogenic lane lined with blooms, immortalized in Du’s verse: *"The flowery path has never been cleared for the visit of a guest"* .

### **5. Tang Dynasty Ruins**
- Unearthed in 2001, these **1,200-year-old relics**—including wells and oven pits—confirm the cottage’s historical authenticity .

## **Visitor Essentials**
📍 **Location**: No. 37 Qinghua Road, Qingyang District .
🎫 **Entrance Fee**: ¥50 (free for kids under 1.3m; half-price for students) .
⏰ **Hours**: 8:00–18:30 (summer); 8:00–18:00 (winter) .
🚌 **Getting There**:
- **Metro**: Line 4 to Caotang North Road Station (15-min walk) .
- **Bus**: Routes 35, 58, 82, or 165 .

## **Pro Tips**
- **Best Time to Visit**: Spring (April–June) for blooming lotuses and autumn for golden ginkgo trees .
- **Guided Tours**: Audio guides (included) or hire a docent to decode poetic references .
- **Nearby Eats**: Try **Mapo Tofu** at Chen’s Flagship Store (19 Qinghua Road) or hot pot at Qingmei Yixiangfang .

### **The Poet’s Story**
Fleeing the An Lushan Rebellion, Du Fu built this cottage in 760 AD with friends’ help. Though he stayed only four years, his poems here—filled with empathy for peasants and critiques of war—earned him the title **"Poet Historian"** . After his death, the site was rebuilt by admirers.