Mianyang’s ordeal is over, time to speak some harsh truths

Geographical Location

Mianyang, a hidden gem in the northwest of the Sichuan Basin, is where Li Bai once wrote poetry, where the Two Bombs, One Satellite project conducted research, and where you can still get soaked and party hard at the Fantawild Water Splash Festival! The city is gently embraced by the Fujiang River, the night view from Yuewang Tower is stunning, and the snacks at Majiang Alley are so delicious they’ll make you stomp your feet~

🌞 Super detailed 3-day itinerary (don’t worry about time, just have fun)

Day 1: Journey through the Flourishing Tang Dynasty + Fujiang Night Banquet

• Morning: Head straight to Yuewang Tower (30 RMB ticket), climb to the top for a jade-belt-like view of the Fujiang River, get the same perspective as Li Bai! The tower walls are covered with 154 ancient poems, full of artistic vibes.

• Noon: Rush to Majiang Alley, don’t miss the cold dipping sauce! The vine pepper dipping sauce with crispy lotus root slices costs about 15 RMB per person and will leave you full to the point of leaning on the wall. Mr. Shu’s place is always crowded.

• Evening: Take a stroll along the Fujiang River to digest, recommended spot is Tieniu Square, a local favorite for walks. The evening breeze combined with the light show is super soothing~

Day 2: Tech Frenzy + Fantawild Water Splash Battle

• Morning: Mianyang Science and Technology Museum (free!), the Two Bombs, One Satellite models are insanely cool, and the interactive exhibits make kids impossible to pull away.

• Noon: Taxi straight to Jiangyou Zhou’s Fat Intestines (about 30 RMB per person), the braised fat intestines are oily but not greasy, paired with pickled cabbage soup turns you into a rice-eating machine.

• Evening: Mianyang Fantawild Water Splash Festival (night ticket 129 RMB), water cannon battles with NPCs on floats, remember to wear quick-dry clothes! A 16-meter-high slide plunges into the pool, chilling you to the bone and making you scream.

Day 3: Ancient Shu Road Hike + Wenchang Blessing

• Morning: Drive 1.5 hours to Qiqu Mountain, home to thousand-year-old cypress trees, the Wenchang Temple is super effective for praying for academic success (free incense).

• Noon: Eat Zitong Xiangwan at the mountain foot, egg tofu piled like a small mountain, drizzled with sour and spicy sauce, exploding with layers of flavor.

• Evening: Return to the city and soak in the bathtub at Lavande Hotel (Convention Center branch), with King Koil mattress + smart room control, just relax and scroll through today’s beautiful photos~

🌟 Must-visit checklist (go for it blindly!)

1. Yuewang Tower night view: open 8:30-21:00, the 4th-floor tea room offers breathtaking views of the Fujiang sunset.

2. Majiang Alley Snack Street: cold dipping sauce, potstickers, roasted pig trotters… best to come hungry!

3. Fantawild Water Splash Festival: night session starts at 4 PM, bring a waterproof phone pouch, water gun battles with NPCs are wild.

4. Qiqu Mountain Ancient Shu Road: wear Hanfu for photos, the Cuiyun Corridor section is free, the cypress light and shadow are amazing.

5. Mianyang Science and Technology Museum: closed on Mondays! Lots of interactive projects in the rocket model area.

🏨 Accommodation Recommendations

• Mianyang Shunhui Century Baden Hotel: executive suites with bathtubs + city night views, super thoughtful airport pickup service.

• Lavande Hotel (Convention Center branch): lavender scent + memory pillows, robot delivery is adorable.

• Yuecheng Designer Homestay: loft with giant screen projection, duplex structure perfect for Instagram-style photos.

🚌 Transportation Tips

• Day 1: Taxi from Yuewang Tower to Majiang Alley (starting fare 6 RMB), then walk to Tieniu Square.

• Day 2: Taxi from Science Museum to Fantawild (about 40 minutes), call a ride back to the hotel after the night session.

• Day 3: Rent a car to drive to Qiqu Mountain (Trip.com car rental about 150 RMB/day), mountain roads are winding, drive slowly~

📸 Photo Spots

• East side window frame on the 4th floor of Yuewang Tower with Fujiang River in the background.

• Red walls of Wenchang Temple at Qiqu Mountain + backlit silhouette of ancient cypress trees.

• Capture the splash moments at Fantawild Water Splash Festival.

🍜 Food Highlights

1. Mianyang Rice Noodles: beef red soup at Wowo Store main branch, thin noodles soak up beef bone broth, pickled mustard greens are the soul!

2. Zitong Sliced Noodles: crystal clear, dipped in chili oil, sour and spicy with a slippery texture that makes chopsticks fight.

3. Liya Salted Egg: runny yolk with tea fragrance, perfect with porridge.

4. Jiangyou Fat Intestines: Zhou’s Fat Intestines’ segments are soft and glutinous, pickled vegetables are the perfect grease cutter.

5. Xuzhou Cold Noodles: pea fragrance + garlic chili oil, cold and smooth, beats ice cream instantly.

💰 3-day Expense Summary

• Accommodation: 2 nights at Lavande Hotel for 470 RMB, soaking in the tub until wrinkled skin was totally worth it!

• Food: snacks + meals about 400 RMB, fat intestines and rice noodles will blow your mind~

• Tickets: Yuewang Tower 30 RMB + Fantawild night 129 RMB, incredible value.

• Transportation: taxis + car rental about 300 RMB, carpooling with 4 people is more cost-effective.

Total cost ≈ 1300 RMB, feels like buying a whole summer’s worth of happiness!

⚠️ Tips and Reminders

• Bring spare underwear for Fantawild Water Splash Festival, the changing room lines after getting wet are super long.

• Qiqu Mountain has lots of mosquitoes, carry mosquito repellent spray.

• Majiang Alley gets crowded after 3 PM, better to eat off-peak for more enjoyment.

Ordeal: It suddenly rained while reading Li Bai’s poems at Yuewang Tower, so I hid in the tea room drinking Bìtán Piāoxuě tea, watching the misty rain over the Fujiang River, instantly understanding what “poetic dwelling” means~ But at Fantawild Water Splash Festival, I got blasted by NPC water cannons and almost lost my contact lenses, that was truly embarrassing haha!

Any travel pros with hidden tips? Drop them in the comments, I’ll unlock them next time! 🌈