A Feng's Journey Through Sichuan and Chongqing: A Walking Record

July 31 - August 8 (August 8 was not a play day, it was a morning flight)

Since I went in summer, the things I mention in my travel notes can be used as a reference if you go in summer.

Airfare + accommodation + entrance fees + various miscellaneous expenses totaled about 3500-4000 RMB (I'm bad at math and didn't want to calculate. The main thing is that the airfare to get there was too expensive, over 1000 RMB, because it was a last-minute decision. Actually, the other costs were very economical).

D1: Kuanzhai Alley

D2: Wuhou Shrine – Jinli – (evening) Chunxi Road

D3: Qingcheng Back Mountain

D4: Three Natural Bridges

D5: Longshuixia Ground Fissure – Furong Cave

D6: Baigong Mansion – Zhazidong – Ciqikou – Jiefangbei – Yangtze River Cableway – Hongya Cave

D7: Hei Valley

D8: Chaotianmen

D9: Pack up and leave

On the morning of July 31, the 9:45 flight I booked was delayed until 11:00 due to air traffic control, arriving at Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport at 13:10.

Then I took the airport bus (8 RMB) to Dongfu Square (right by Line 2), then took the subway (2 RMB) to Dongmen Bridge Station, and walked 10 minutes to the hotel.

I had heard from others that Chengdu and Chongqing were super hot, but when we arrived, it was drizzling and sometimes not, and the weather was unusually cool, haha, very comfortable!!

Around 15:30 we prepared to visit Kuanzhai Alley (I personally think Kuanzhai Alley is better during the day; at night, the lights are too dim). The day we went to Kuanzhai, there were very few people, and it was very relaxing.

【Tips: There are three alleys, seen as three vertical lines on the map, with a total of six exits. You must remember which exit you used to arrive at the transportation, because you'll need to walk back from the scenic spots.】 We didn't remember at the time, and later we went out through another exit. It was getting dark and we didn't want to backtrack, so we took a taxi back to the hotel.

In the alleys, we found a hotpot restaurant called Sanzhi'er with good taste. Accompanied by melodious zither music, we enjoyed dinner very comfortably.

Chengdu Jiaoliao Renwen Boutique Hotel

The architectural style of the hotel combines movement and stillness. "Movement" is reflected in the details of the hotel's decoration. Birds come into view from the long corridor upon entering, and the bird-shaped decorations in the guest rooms echo the hotel's name – Jiaoliao (wren).

"Stillness" lies in the antique gray-brick and tile courtyard complex, where every plant and tree is elegant, and every bamboo and mat is tasteful. Each guest room has its own poetic name, as if they are alive and vivid!

Breakfast was also particularly warm. When checking in, the butler would ask about dining time and taste preferences, very considerate. You could choose between Chinese and Western food, and it also came with fruits, nuts, and various pastries, delivered to the room by the butler! Full of love.

Living here truly lets you be carefree and comfortable, enjoying this beautiful scenery and the joy of leisure!!

In the morning, we slept in a little and left the hotel after 9. We bought breakfast at the supermarket downstairs, and the highlight was drinking the Chengdu yogurt I had been longing for – highly recommended.

We took a bus to Wuhou Shrine. The bus stop was right at Wuhou Shrine. (The ticket seller won't check your student ID! You just need to say you want a student ticket, and you know the drill! But of course, it's best to have a clear conscience. If by chance you're checked, it would be awkward.)

Intoxicated by the Three Kingdoms at Wuhou Shrine

Around noon, we were hungry, so we went to Jinli Street to eat. After visiting Wuhou Shrine, you'll come to a large, wide open space. There seem to be exits on both left and right. Take the right exit, and you'll see many people.

That's right, that's Jinli. As soon as we came out, we turned left. Close enough, right?

I didn't realize it right away; I just thought there were so many people and so much food. After walking halfway, I realized it was Jinli. I was like, oh, too silly! But Jinli was absolutely packed with people!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Haha. After exiting Jinli, there was a bus stop right across the street. Since we were a bit tired from walking, we went back to the hotel to take a nap. Strangely enough, we got tired after just that short walk – not like me at all. Lack of exercise. In the evening, we went near Chunxi Road to eat something and then strolled around Chunxi Road. There's nothing much to say about a commercial street. That day ended.

The Immortal Classic Most Praises Qingcheng Peak – One-Day Trip to Qingcheng Mountain

We had originally planned to go to Qingcheng Mountain the next day, but because the weather forecast said it would rain, we postponed it to the third day. Well, let me complain first: the scenery was really nice, but half a day was definitely not enough, and I'm referring to the Back Mountain!!!

【Tips: If some people want to visit both Dujiangyan and Qingcheng Mountain in one day, they should go to the Front Mountain of Qingcheng. The Back Mountain definitely requires a full day, otherwise it'll be super rushed and exhausting.】

When visiting these scenic areas, it's best to slow down, breathe the fresh air, and take it easy.

Some might ask why I keep going to these scenic spots all day. Well, it's because I love mountains, water, and natural scenery, and I like to immerse myself in nature. So I don't mind the climb. Haha, that's my story of blood and tears.

Let me explain slowly. First, transportation: the train from Chengdu to Qingcheng Mountain costs 15 RMB each way. We booked the 6:53 train. I thought it was too early at first, but for us with a tight schedule, it was the best time. When we arrived at Qingcheng Mountain train station, we exited (only one exit) and turned left. The front mountain is accessible by bus 101, the back mountain by minibus, and there's also a bus to Dujiangyan. All these buses are in one area with clear signs, so don't worry. You'll also see some people; just follow them. But you'll encounter many private car drivers soliciting passengers – just ignore them. It's quite convenient; the transportation there is very clear and not chaotic at all! Get on the minibus; it leaves when full, 13 RMB per person. If you plan to return to Chengdu the same day, check the time of the last minibus back to Qingcheng Mountain train station and make sure it connects with your train ticket. After arriving at the Back Mountain, buy your ticket. If you want a discounted ticket, they will check your ID.

【Tips: The key point is to book your outbound train tickets a few days in advance (don't hesitate). Don't think you can book on the same day; they will all be sold out, especially the trains between 7 and 10 in the morning. You can often check the 12306 website or other sites showing remaining tickets to stay informed.】

During the hike, I entered via Feiquangou, not Wulonggou! After entering the Back Mountain gate, the entire scenic area is a loop, with the start and end at Tai'an Ancient Town. Feiquangou is on the right, Wulonggou on the left, depending on which way you want to go. I don't think it's necessary to summit unless you like being tortured, and there's not much to see. It's important to study the small map on your ticket or do your homework in advance. If you don't want to take the cable car, be sure to find a black line on the map that goes to Cuiying Lake (by the way, there's a lake here; you must take a boat, 2 RMB per person, which is quite nice). Then find the path to Youyi Village, and from there go down (toward Wulonggou). Don't miss that black line – I missed it and ended up climbing higher and higher... until I had to take the cable car (45 RMB per person). There was nothing to see up there, and the climb was really tiring, so high. If you enter via Feiquangou, the uphill path is very steep!! So people entering via Wulonggou and exiting via Feiquangou should be careful. The walking time in the scenic area is very long... long... long..., and we were in a hurry, exhausted. When we exited Wulonggou, we saw a 5 RMB sightseeing car to Tai'an Ancient Town. We got on without hesitation – it's still a bit of a distance, so if you're tired, consider it.

Complaint: After leaving the Back Mountain gate, I had to vent. Because our subsequent schedule limited us to catching the minibus back to Qingcheng Mountain train station exactly at 12:30 to make the 13:53 train. It should have been more than enough time! But unexpectedly, the trip there took 30 minutes, while the return took 1.5 hours!!!!!! The road was so congested, moving like a snail. The reason was a very narrow winding mountain road with many tourist buses coming in, forcing us to yield. Also, there were many farmhouses along the road, and many private cars! stopped to inquire, and some would back out after being dissatisfied, continuing to search! I was going crazy – no wonder it was so jammed!!! Plus, many people drove in the morning and arrived at the attraction around noon. And that's how I gracefully missed my train.

【Tips: If you miss your train, it's okay because 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. As a last resort, 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 relatives' place. My classmate had business and returned to Shanghai.

Catch the earliest train of the day at 8:04 from Chongqing Railway Station (K train), arriving at Wulong Railway Station around 10:15 (the last train back to Chongqing seems to be before 5 PM, so watch the time). We were preparing to go to Wulong Bus Station.

【Tips: Don't take a taxi, because taxi drivers won't take you to the bus station. Don't believe what others wrote online about taking a taxi for 4 RMB to the bus station – nonsense!! The driver thinks it's too close and won't pay attention. Same on the return trip, so don't waste time. Unless you plan to go directly from Wulong Railway Station to Fairy Town, then you can take a taxi; sharing with others will be cheaper, about 25 RMB per person. We walked directly from the railway station to the bus station. I thought it would be far, but it was actually okay, about 10 minutes.】

Then we bought tickets (8 RMB each) to Fairy Town. There are minibuses to Fairy Town (Visitor Center) and directly to Fairy Mountain. So make sure you know whether you're going to the town or the mountain. The ticket seller will ask. There were many people queuing for the bus, and the frequency was slow, so while one person buys tickets, the other can queue. We didn't go to Fairy Mountain this time; I heard it was super crowded and all hotels were full. 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 beautiful surroundings. The most important thing was its proximity to the center, which is why I chose it.

There were many restaurants near the villa complex. After arriving at the hotel at noon, we ate a quick meal and then went to the Visitor Center to buy tickets for the Three Natural Bridges.

The white pointed building is the Visitor Center.

【Tips: For adults, it's recommended to book tickets on Ctrip 3 hours in advance to save over 10 RMB. For students, buy on-site, which is also convenient, and the ticket seller won't check your student ID – you know the drill. Haha.】

After buying the tickets (the entrance fee includes the shuttle bus), we went downstairs where the shuttle buses were parked.

【Tips: One thing to note – generally, tourists visit the Three Natural Bridges in the morning and the Longshuixia Ground Fissure in the afternoon, since these two attractions are close. But that makes it super crowded. We went to the Three Natural Bridges in the afternoon and the Ground Fissure the next day. I can say it was so comfortable – there was no one at the Ground Fissure!! Seriously, hahaha, it was awesome!】

I don't need to describe the beauty of the attractions. Anyway, among all my travels these few days, Wulong's attractions were my favorite. We finished the Three Natural Bridges around 4 PM, taking it easy. Then we took the free shuttle back to the Visitor Center and returned to the hotel to rest.

The next day we checked out. We were ready to buy tickets for the Ground Fissure. The Visitor Center starts selling tickets at 8 AM sharp, with people lining up before that. The earliest shuttle to the Three Natural Bridges is at 8 AM, with many people queuing, but fortunately there are many shuttles. The shuttle to the Ground Fissure is at 8:30 AM, with no queue – we got on directly, and the bus wasn't even full. Seeing the crowd waiting for the Three Natural Bridges shuttle, I felt a bit smug, haha.

We finished around 11 AM and took the shuttle back to the Visitor Center. Then we prepared to go to Furong Cave. There is no bus from the Visitor Center to Furong Cave. We had to take an 8 RMB minibus from the Visitor Center back to the bus station.

【Tips: As for this 8 RMB bus, whether you can catch it quickly to get back to the county depends on luck. When we finished the Three Natural Bridges around 4:30 PM the previous day and returned to the Visitor Center, we specifically checked this out. First, the minibus stop is on the roadside opposite the villa complex. We saw a whole row of people. When we asked, they had been waiting for 1.5 hours! I was stunned. They also added that this is not the starting point; the minibus comes from Fairy Mountain. If there are passengers on board, only a few in the queue can get on, because at that time there are hardly any empty buses!! Then we saw private cars nearby. We asked: for ≤7 people, one car costs 200 RMB to the bus station; if going to Furong Cave plus returning to the bus station, one car costs 400 RMB. Then we asked the hotel staff, and they found a private car for 150 RMB per car for 4 people to the bus station, or 500 to Furong Cave round trip. So if you're in a hurry to get back to the bus station, just carpool.】

However, when we came back around 11 AM, we were lucky – a bus arrived just as we reached the stop, and it was empty – we had it all to ourselves, hahaha. When we arrived at the bus station, there was a public bus from Wulong to Jiangkou. We paid 9 RMB (which included the later minibus fee), exchanged for a stub, and at the terminal, someone took the stub, stamped it, and guided us to continue on a minibus (a bit shabby, and the road was under construction; we walked part of the way before taking the bus). We visited the scenic area in a little over an hour. Adjacent is Furong River; if you have time and interest, you can visit.

Return trip: minibus + public bus. There are private cars soliciting outside the scenic area – ignore them. Hurry back to the train station to return to Chongqing.

Here's a visual diagram [applause]!!!

In summary, the overall management, environment, etc. of Wulong in Chongqing are top-notch, not messy at all, and the attractions are beautiful and not too tiring to walk through. At most, it takes 2 hours to visit one attraction.

Chongqing city one-day tour: My brother-in-law is a Chongqing transport expert, so I didn't worry about bus and metro transfers, haha. As a result, I don't remember many details. My brother-in-law told me to go to Caiyuanba and take bus 210 to the terminal (Baigong Mansion station).

After visiting that, he told me to walk to Zhazidong to experience the uphill slopes of the mountain city, haha. Actually, it's not far to walk. Visiting 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 visiting the ancient town, I ate Chongqing noodles, Chongqing yogurt, bought Chongqing Chen mahua (fried dough twists) – so delicious! Then took bus 808 to Liziba station, took Light Rail Line 2 to see the moment it passes through a building.

The cableway I had been longing for.

【Tips: Get a transit card, and the cableway costs only 1.8 RMB!!! Yes, you heard it right!!!! But if you buy a ticket as a tourist, it's 10 RMB per person.】

At Jiefangbei, we also went to the food street. The braised meat skewers were delicious, so were the hot and sour noodles. Unfortunately, I was too busy eating to take photos.

Dinner: He Wangshi Skewers, haha. It was my first time eating in such a lively setting, and it was really good.

In the evening, we went to Hongya Cave. I didn't go inside; I just looked at the river and night scenery.

Oh, and by the way, Chongqing's old popsicles are super delicious. I kept thinking about them; I ate at least five, and they're not expensive.

Joined a one-day group tour to Hei Valley, booked on Ctrip. Since self-guided and group tours cost basically the same, why not make it easier? Originally we were to enter through the north gate, but for some reason the tour group changed to the south gate. Haha, a happy accident!

【Tips: 1. If you enter from the south gate, you definitely don't need to buy the cable car ticket (30 RMB) – I was the only one on the bus who didn't buy it – because you walk downhill, super easy. If you enter from the north gate, decide based on how tired you are – buy it if you're tired, because it's uphill, though the path is relatively flat. But the electric cart!!!! You must buy it! The road from the exit to the north gate is unimaginably long!!!! 30 RMB.】

Dinner: Sichuan food.

The square on Chaotianmen was under construction and inaccessible. We had to go down the Chaotianmen dock for a long distance until we reached the end, where we saw the clear Jialing River and the muddy Yangtze River converge – amazing.

I hope my tips are very helpful to everyone!

Conclusion: This was not my first self-guided trip. I was too lazy to write about previous ones, and now I'm starting to forget. I'll add them later when I remember.