In-Depth Self-Guided Tour Guide for Sichuan and Chongqing, Super Detailed
July 31 ~ August 8 (August 8 no sightseeing, morning flight)
Since I went in summer, the things I mention in my travel notes can be referenced if you go in summer.
Flight tickets + accommodation + attraction tickets + various incidental expenses: about 3500~4000 RMB (I'm not good at math, so I don't want to calculate. Mainly the outbound flight ticket was too expensive, over 1000 RMB, because it was a last-minute decision; actually other expenses were very economical).
Chengdu Jiaoliao Renwen Boutique Hotel
The hotel's architectural style combines movement and stillness. "Movement" is reflected in the meticulous details throughout the hotel's decoration. Birds catch your eye from the moment you enter the hotel corridor, and the bird-shaped decorations in the guest rooms echo the hotel's name--Jiaoliao.
"Stillness" is embodied in the antique courtyard with black tiles and bricks, where every plant and tree is elegant, and every bamboo and mat is tasteful. Each guest room here has its own poetic name, as if it comes alive with vitality!
The rooms are mostly decorated with natural wood, fresh and clean, with full amenities. They feature King Koil Jingzhu Shiguang co-branded mattresses, Kohler bathroom fixtures, TOTO smart toilets... Various drinks, snacks, fruits, tea, etc. are all available, giving an overall warm and comfortable feeling. There is also an open-air balcony where you can overlook the Wide and Narrow Alleys in the morning, experiencing a blend of seclusion and worldly life—this is the life one desires. Moreover, if you want to relax your tired body, professional spa services are available.
Breakfast is also very heartwarming. When checking in, the butler asks about dining time and taste preferences, very considerate. You can choose between Chinese and Western meals, which are also paired with fruits, nuts, and various pastries, and are delivered to your room by the butler! Full of love.
Staying here is truly leisurely and comfortable, enjoying this beautiful scenery alone, with all the joy of carefree living!!
D1: Wide and Narrow Alley
D2: Wuhou Shrine – Jinli – (evening) Chunxi Road
D3: Qingcheng Back Mountain
D4: Three Natural Bridges (Tiansheng Sanqiao)
D5: Longshuixia Ground Fissure – Furong Cave
D6: Bai Mansion – Zhazidong – Ciqikou – Liberation Monument – Yangtze River Cableway – Hongya Cave
D7: Heishan Valley
D8: Chaotianmen
D9: Pack up and leave
On July 31, we booked a 9:45 flight, but it was delayed to 11:00 due to air traffic control. We arrived at Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport at 13:10.
Then we took the airport bus (8 RMB) to Dongfu Square (right at Line 2), then took the subway (2 RMB) to Dongmen Bridge Station, and walked 10 minutes to the hotel.
I had heard before that Chengdu and Chongqing were super hot, but when we arrived, it was drizzling, sometimes not, and the weather was unusually cool. Haha, very comfortable!!
Around 15:30 we prepared to stroll through Wide and Narrow Alley (personally I think it's better to go during the day; at night the lights are too dim). When we went to Wide and Narrow Alley that day, there were very few people, very relaxed.
[TIP: Three alleys, seen on the map as three vertical lines, with a total of six entrances/exits. Be sure to remember which entrance you came from and that you need to walk back to it after sightseeing.] We didn't remember at the time, so later we came out from another entrance. It was too dark, and we didn't want to go back the same way, so we took a taxi back to the hotel.
In the alley, we found a restaurant called Three Ears Hotpot with good taste. Accompanied by melodious zither music, we enjoyed dinner, very pleasant.
In the morning, we slept in a bit, leaving the hotel after 9. We bought breakfast at the supermarket downstairs, the highlight being that I finally drank the Chengdu yogurt I had been craving—definitely recommend it.
We took the bus to Wuhou Shrine. The bus stop was right at Wuhou Shrine. (The ticket seller won't check your student ID! You just tell them you want a student ticket, you know what I mean! But of course, a clear conscience is best; if you get caught, it would be very awkward.)
Fascinated by the Three Kingdoms at Wuhou Shrine
Around noon, we were hungry, so we went to Jinli Street for lunch. After visiting Wuhou Shrine, you will come to a large, flat open space. There seem to be exits on both left and right. Take the exit on the right, and you will see many people.
That's right, this is Jinli. As soon as we walked out of the exit, we turned left—how close is that!
At that time, I hadn't even realized it; I just wondered why there were so many people and so much food. After walking halfway, I realized it was Jinli. I was so dumb! However, Jinli was incredibly crowded!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Haha. After leaving Jinli, there was a bus stop right across. Since we were both a bit tired from walking, we went back to the hotel for a nap. Strange—we only walked that short distance and got tired. So unlike me. Lack of exercise. In the evening, we went to the Chunxi Road area for some food and then strolled around Chunxi Road. There's nothing special to say about a commercial street. That day ended.
Qingcheng Peak Most Praised in Immortal Scriptures—Qingcheng Mountain Day Trip
Originally we planned to go to Qingcheng Mountain the next day, but the weather forecast said it would rain, so we postponed it to the third day. Ah, I have to complain: the scenery was really beautiful, but half a day was definitely not enough. And I'm talking about the back mountain!!!
[TIP: If some people want to visit Dujiangyan and Qingcheng Mountain on the same day, then I suggest going to the front mountain of Qingcheng. For the back mountain, you absolutely need a full day; otherwise, it will be extremely rushed and exhausting.]
When visiting these scenic areas, it's best to slow down, breathe the fresh air, and take it easy.
Some may ask why I go to scenic areas all day. Well, because I love mountains, water, and natural landscapes, and I like immersing myself in nature. So I don't mind the effort of climbing. Haha, so I'm a walking tragedy.
Let me explain slowly. First, the transportation: round-trip from Chengdu to Qingcheng Mountain is 15 RMB by train. We booked the 6:53 train. At first we thought it was too early, but for our tight schedule, it was the best time. After arriving at Qingcheng Mountain Railway Station, exit (there is only one exit), turn left. For the front mountain, take bus 101; for the back mountain, take a minibus; there are also buses to Dujiangyan. All these vehicles are in one area with clear signs, so don't worry. You will also see some people; just follow them. But you will encounter many private drivers soliciting; just ignore them. It's very convenient, and the transportation is clear and not chaotic! Get on the minibus; it leaves when full, 13 RMB per person. Those who want to return to Chengdu on the same day should check the last minibus return time to Qingcheng Mountain Railway Station and make sure it connects with your train ticket. After arriving at the back mountain, buy tickets. If you want a discounted ticket, they will check your ID.
[TIP: The key point is to book your outbound train tickets a few days in advance (don't hesitate). Don't think you can buy them on the day; they will all be sold out, especially the trains between 7 and 10 in the morning. Keep checking the 12306 website or other sites that show available tickets to stay informed.]
During the hike, I entered through Feiquangou, not Wulonggou! After entering the back mountain gate, the entire scenic area is a loop, with both start and end at Tai'an Ancient Town. On the right is Feiquangou, on the left is Wulonggou—choose whichever you like. I personally think it's unnecessary to summit unless you enjoy suffering, and there's nothing much to see. Note: pay attention to the small map on the ticket, or do your research in advance. If you don't want to take the cable car, be sure to find a black line on the map that goes approximately to Cuiying Lake (by the way, there is a lake here; you must take a boat, 2 RMB per person, quite nice), then find this road to Youyi Village, then go down (toward Wulonggou). Don't miss that black line; I missed it and ended up climbing higher and higher... high... high... Finally, I had to take the cable car (45 RMB per person), and there was nothing to see up there. Climbing up was really tiring; it was very high. If you go in through Feiquangou, the uphill path is very steep!! So people entering through Wulonggou and exiting through Feiquangou should be careful. The walking time in the scenic area is very long... long... long..., and we were in a hurry, so we were exhausted. When we came out of Wulonggou, we saw a 5 RMB scenic vehicle to Tai'an Ancient Town. Without hesitation, we got on. It was a bit of a distance, so those tired from walking can consider it.
Complaint: After leaving the back mountain gate, I have to vent. Because our subsequent itinerary required us to catch the minibus back to Qingcheng Mountain Railway Station at exactly 12:30 to make the 13:53 train. Originally, it was more than enough! But unexpectedly, the ride there took 30 minutes, while the return took one and a half hours!!!!!! The road was so congested, like a snail's pace, because on a very narrow winding mountain road, many tourist buses were coming in, and we had to yield. Also, there were many farmhouses along the road, so many private cars stopped to inquire, some went in and then reversed out if unsatisfied, continuing to search! I was going crazy; no wonder it was jammed!!! Plus, many people drove in the morning and arrived at the scenic area at noon. As a result, I beautifully missed the train.
[TIP: If you miss the train, it's okay; you can transfer. First take a train to Xipu, then take Metro Line 2 from Xipu starting station to downtown Chengdu. Haha, the total fare is even cheaper than 15 RMB. Or, take a 2+ hour bus (20+ RMB) back to downtown Chengdu, or take a train to Dujiangyan and then a bus.]
Took the 18:58 bullet train to Chongqing; stayed at a relative's place. My classmate had something to do and returned to Shanghai.
Chongqing Railway Station: took the earliest train of the day, the 8:04 K train, arrived at Wulong Railway Station around 10:15 (the last train back to Chongqing seems to be before 5 PM; pay attention to the time), then prepared to go to Wulong Bus Station.
[TIP: Don't take a taxi; taxis won't take you to the bus station. Don't believe what others write online about a 4 RMB taxi to the bus station—nonsense!! The driver thinks it's too close and won't bother. Same on the return. So don't waste time. Unless you plan to go directly from Wulong Railway Station to Fairy Town (Xiannü Town), then they might take you. If you share a ride with others, it might be cheaper, around 25 RMB per person. We walked directly from the railway station to the bus station; we thought it would be far, but it was only 10 minutes.]
Then we bought tickets (8 RMB each) to Fairy Town. There are minibuses going to Fairy Town (Visitor Center) and directly to Fairy Mountain; so make sure which one you need. The ticket seller will ask. The queue for the bus was long, and the service was slow, so while one person buys tickets, the other can queue. We didn't go to Fairy Mountain this time; it was said to be super crowded, and hotels were fully booked. We arrived at Fairy Town in about half an hour.
Our hotel was right next to the Visitor Center, super super super close. It was a villa complex with a beautiful environment. The key was its proximity to the center, which is why I chose it.
Also, there were many restaurants next to the villa complex. After arriving at the hotel around noon, we had a quick meal and then went to the Visitor Center to buy tickets for the Three Natural Bridges.
This white pointed building is the Visitor Center.
[TIP: For adults, I suggest booking tickets on Ctrip 3 hours in advance; you can save about 10 RMB. For students, buy at the counter—it's convenient, and the ticket seller won't check your student ID, you know. Haha.]
After buying tickets (the ticket includes a shuttle bus ride within the scenic area), we went downstairs; the shuttle bus was parked there.
[TIP: One thing to mention: usually tourists go to the Three Natural Bridges in the morning and Longshuixia Ground Fissure in the afternoon, because these two spots are very close. But that means super crowded. We went to Three Natural Bridges in the afternoon and Longshuixia the next day. I can say it was so comfortable—there was not a single person in the ground fissure!! Really, hahaha, it felt amazing!]
I don't need to describe the beauty of the scenic spots; anyway, among all the places I visited these days, I liked Wulong's attractions the most. We finished Three Natural Bridges around 4 PM, taking a leisurely pace. Then we took the free shuttle bus back to the Visitor Center and returned to the hotel to rest.
The next day we checked out. We prepared to buy tickets for the Ground Fissure. The Visitor Center started selling tickets at 8 AM sharp, and people were already lining up before that. The earliest shuttle to Three Natural Bridges was at 8 AM, with a huge queue, but fortunately there were many buses. The shuttle to the Ground Fissure was at 8:30 AM, and no one was queuing; we boarded directly, and the bus wasn't even full. Looking at the crowd waiting for the Three Natural Bridges shuttle, I felt a bit smug, haha.
We finished sightseeing around 11 AM and took the shuttle back to the Visitor Center. Then we planned to go to Furong Cave. The Visitor Center has no bus to Furong Cave. We had to take the 8 RMB minibus back to the bus station first.
[TIP: Whether you can catch this 8 RMB bus back to the county town quickly depends on luck. When we finished Three Natural Bridges around 4:30 PM the previous day and returned to the Visitor Center, we specifically checked this. First, the minibus stop is across the road from the villa complex on the roadside. We saw a whole row of people; we asked, and they said they had been waiting for an hour and a half! I was shocked. They added, "This is not the starting station; the minibus comes down from Fairy Mountain. If there are still passengers on board, only as many as there are seats can get on. There is hardly an empty bus at that time!" Then we saw private cars nearby. We asked: for 7 or fewer people, 200 RMB per car to the bus station; if to Furong Cave plus return to the bus station, 400 RMB per car. We asked the hotel staff, and they found a private car: 150 RMB per car for 4 people to the bus station, 500 RMB to Furong Cave round trip. So if you're in a hurry to get back to the bus station, carpool.]
However, when we came back around 11 AM, we were lucky: a bus arrived as soon as we got to the stop, and it was empty—we had it all to ourselves, hahaha. After arriving at the bus station, we took a public bus from Wulong to Jiangkou, paid 9 RMB (including the fare for the subsequent minibus), got a small ticket. At the terminal, someone was waiting; they stamped the ticket and led us to continue on a small minibus (a bit shabby; the road was under construction at the time, so we walked partway and then rode). We spent a little over an hour touring the scenic area. Adjacent to it is Furong River; if you have time and interest, you can go there.
Return: small minibus + public bus. Outside the scenic area, there are private drivers soliciting; ignore them. Hurry back to the railway station to return to Chongqing.
Here's a straightforward diagram [applause]!!!
Summary: Overall, Wulong in Chongqing, such as management, environment, etc., is first-class—nothing messy. Moreover, the scenic spots are very beautiful and not too tiring to walk. At most two hours to finish one scenic spot.
One-day tour in downtown Chongqing. My brother-in-law knows Chongqing like the back of his hand, so I didn't worry about bus and metro transfers, haha. So I can't remember much. My brother-in-law told me to take bus 210 from Caiyuanba to the terminal (Bai Mansion stop).
After visiting Bai Mansion, he told me to walk to Zhazidong to experience the feeling of climbing slopes in a mountain city, haha. Actually, it wasn't too far on foot. After seeing Zhazidong, I truly felt how great the people of that time were.
Then I shared a taxi with others (10 RMB per person) to Ciqikou.
After touring the ancient town, I had Chongqing noodles, Chongqing yogurt, and bought Chongqing Chen Mahua (twisted dough sticks)—delicious! Then I took bus 808 to Liziba metro station, took Metro Line 2 to see the moment when the train passes through a building.
The cableway I had been longing for.
[TIP: Get a transportation card; the cableway only costs 1.8 RMB!!! Yes, you heard it right!!!! But if you buy a ticket as a tourist, it's 10 RMB per person.]
At Liberation Monument, we also went to the delicious food street. The braised meat skewers were very tasty, and the hot and sour noodles were great. Too bad we were busy eating and didn't take photos.
Dinner: He Wangshi Skewers, haha. It was my first time eating in such a setting, and it was quite tasty.
In the evening, we went to Hongya Cave. I didn't explore inside; just looked at the river night view.
Oh, by the way, the old-fashioned popsicles in Chongqing are super delicious. I've been craving them; I ate at least five, and they're cheap.
One-day group tour to Heishan Valley, booked on Ctrip. Since the cost of self-guided and group tour is basically the same, why not make it easier? Originally we were supposed to enter from the North Gate, but for some reason the tour group changed to the South Gate. Haha, a happy accident!
[TIP: 1. If entering from the South Gate, absolutely no need to buy the cable car ticket (30 RMB); only I on that bus didn't buy it. Because you walk downhill, super easy. If entering from the North Gate, decide based on fatigue; buy it if tired, because it's uphill, and the road is relatively flat. But you MUST buy the electric cart ticket!!! The road from the scenic exit to the North Gate is unimaginably long!!!! 30 RMB.]
Dinner: Sichuan cuisine.
Chaotianmen Square was under construction, so we couldn't go up. We had to walk a long way down along Chaotianmen Pier, and at the end, we saw the clear Jialing River and the dirty Yangtze River converge—so magical.
I hope my tips are very helpful to everyone!
Ending: This is not my first self-guided trip. I was too lazy to write about the previous ones, and now I'm slowly forgetting them. I'll add them when I remember.
