Super Detailed In-Depth Self-Guided Tour Guide for Sichuan and Chongqing
July 31 ~ August 8 (Did not play on August 8, it was a morning flight)
Since I went in summer, if you go in summer, you can refer to the things mentioned in my travel notes.
Airfare + accommodation + attraction tickets + various miscellaneous expenses total about 3500~4000 RMB (I'm bad at math and don't want to calculate. Mainly because the airfare to get there was too expensive, over 1000 RMB, as it was a last-minute decision. Actually, other expenses were very economical.)
Chengdu Jiaoliao Renwen Boutique Hotel
The architectural style of the hotel combines movement and stillness. "Movement" is reflected in the details of the hotel decoration. From the long corridor at the entrance, birds come into view, and the bird-shaped decorations in the guest rooms echo the hotel's name, Jiaoliao (wren).
"Stillness" lies in the antique quadrangle courtyard with bluish-grey bricks and tiles. Every grass and tree is tranquil, every bamboo and mat has elegance. Each guest room has a poetic name, as if full of life and vitality!
The rooms are mostly decorated with natural wood, fresh and clean, with complete facilities: King Koil Jingzhu Shiguang co-branded mattresses, Kohler bathroom fixtures, TOTO smart toilets... Various drinks, snacks, fruits, tea, etc. are all provided, giving a very warm and comfortable feeling. There is also an open-air small balcony. When you wake up in the morning, you can look out at Kuanzhai Alley, being in the world while detached from it. This is the life I want. Moreover, if you want to relax your tired body, they can provide very professional spa services.
Breakfast is also very warm. When you check in, the butler will ask about your dining time and taste preferences, very considerate. You can choose between Chinese and Western food, accompanied by fruits, nuts, and various pastries, and the butler delivers it to your room! Full of love.
Living here is truly leisurely and comfortable, enjoying this beautiful scenery alone, fully experiencing the joy of carefree living!
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: Bai Mansion — Zhazidong — Ciqikou — Liberation Monument — Yangtze River Cableway — Hongya Cave
D7: Black Valley
D8: Chaotianmen
D9: Pack up and leave
On the morning of July 31, we booked a 9:45 flight, but due to air traffic control, it was delayed until 11:00, arriving at Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport at 13:10.
Then we took the airport bus (8 RMB) to Dongfu Square (right at Line 2) and then the subway (2 RMB) to Dongmen Bridge Station, walking 10 minutes to the hotel.
I had heard before that Chengdu and Chongqing are super hot, but when we arrived, it was drizzling, sometimes stopping, 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.) When we went to Kuanzhai, there were very few people, very relaxed.
[TIPS: Three alleys, seen on the map as three vertical lines, with a total of six entrances/exits. You must remember which entrance you came from for transportation, because you need to walk back to the attraction exit.] We didn't remember at the time and later exited from a different opening. It was too dark, and we didn't want to go back, so we took a taxi back to the hotel.
In the alley, we found a restaurant called Three-Ear Hotpot with good taste. Accompanied by the graceful and melodious sound of the zither, we enjoyed dinner, very pleasant.
In the morning, we slept in a little, left the hotel at around 9:00, bought breakfast at the supermarket downstairs, and importantly, drank the Chengdu yogurt I had been longing for. Highly recommended.
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 him you want a student ticket, and you know the drill! But of course, it's best to have a clear conscience. If you get caught, it would be very awkward.)
Wuhou Shrine - Drunk in the Three Kingdoms
Around noon, we were hungry, and it was time to go to Jinli Street for a meal. After visiting Wuhou Shrine, you will come to a large, wide flat area. It seems there are exits on both left and right. Take the right exit, and you'll see many people. That's right, this is Jinli. As soon as we walked out of the exit, we turned left. Very close, right?
I didn't even realize it at first. I just thought, why are there so many people and so much food? After walking halfway, I realized it was Jinli! Haha, I'm so dumb. But Jinli was so crowded!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Haha. After leaving Jinli, there was a bus stop across the street. Since we were both a bit tired from walking, we went back to the hotel for a nap. Strange to say, we got tired after just a short walk. That's so unlike me; I need more exercise. In the evening, we went to Chunxi Road area to eat something and then strolled around Chunxi Road. There's nothing to say about a commercial street. End of the day.
Qingcheng Peak Most Praised in Immortal Scriptures — One-day Tour of Qingcheng Mountain
Originally, we planned to go to Qingcheng Mountain the next day, but the weather forecast predicted rain, so we postponed it to the third day. Alas, let me complain first: the scenery is really good, but half a day is definitely not enough, and I'm referring to the back mountain!!!
[TIPS: If some people want to visit Dujiangyan and Qingcheng Mountain in one day, it's recommended to go to the front mountain of Qingcheng Mountain. For the back mountain, you definitely need a full day, otherwise, it will be extremely rushed and torturous.]
When visiting these scenic areas, it's best to slow down, breathe the fresh air, and take it easy.
Some may ask, why do I go to scenic areas all the time? It's because I love landscapes like mountains and water and enjoy being in nature. So I'm not afraid of climbing, haha. So it's a bittersweet experience for me.
Let me explain slowly. First, transportation: Chengdu to Qingcheng Mountain round trip costs 15 RMB by train. We booked the 6:53 train, thinking it might be too early, but for our tight schedule, it was the best time. After arriving at Qingcheng Mountain Railway Station, exit (only one exit), turn left. For the front mountain, take bus 101; for the back mountain, take a minibus; also to Dujiangyan. All these vehicles are in one area with clear signs, very easy to find. You can follow the crowd. But there will be many private car drivers soliciting; just ignore them. It's very convenient because the transportation is clear and not chaotic! Get on the minibus; it leaves when full, 13 RMB per person. If you plan to return to Chengdu on the same day, pay attention to the last minibus back to Qingcheng Mountain Railway Station and make sure it connects with your train schedule. After arriving at the back mountain, buy tickets. If you want a discounted ticket, they will check your student ID!
[TIPS: Importantly, book your outbound tickets a few days in advance (don't hesitate). Don't think you can buy tickets on the same day; they will all be sold out, especially the trains between 7:00 and 10:00. You can check the 12306 website and other websites showing remaining tickets to stay informed.]
During the tour, I entered via Feiquangou, not Wulonggou! After entering the back mountain gate, the entire scenic area is a loop, starting and ending at Taian Ancient Town. The right side is Feiquangou, the left side is Wulonggou, depending on where you want to enter. Personally, I think there's no need to reach the summit unless you like being tortured, and there's nothing to see. Important: pay attention to the small map on the 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 to Cuiying Lake (by the way, there's a lake here, you must take a boat, 2 RMB per person, quite nice). From there, find the path to Youyi Village, then go down (toward Wulonggou). Don't miss that black line; I missed it and ended up climbing higher and higher... ultimately had to take the cable car (45 RMB per person), with nothing to see at the top. The climb was really tiring, very high. If you enter from Feiquangou, the upward path is very steep! So those entering from Wulonggou and exiting from Feiquangou must be careful. The walking time inside the scenic area is very long... long... long... Our time was tight, and we were exhausted. After exiting Wulonggou, we saw a 5 RMB sightseeing car to Taian Ancient Town. Without a second thought, we got on. It was still a bit of a distance, so tired friends might consider it.
Complaint: After exiting the back mountain gate, I have to complain. Because our subsequent schedule 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 time! But unexpectedly, the trip took 30 minutes to get there but 1.5 hours to return!!!!!! The traffic was like a snail because there were many tourist buses on a very narrow winding mountain road coming in, forcing us to yield. Secondly, there were many farmhouses along the roadside, and many private cars would stop to inquire, and some would back out after finding it unsatisfactory, continuing to search. I was going crazy! No wonder it was so congested!!! Plus, many people drove in the morning and arrived at the scenic area around noon. So, I missed the train in a spectacular way.
[TIPS: If you miss the train, it's okay because you can transfer. For example, take a train to Xipu, then take subway Line 2 from Xipu starting station to downtown Chengdu. Haha, the total fare is even cheaper than 15 RMB. At worst, take a 2-hour-plus bus for over 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 house. My classmate had something to do and returned to Shanghai.
At Chongqing Railway Station, we took the earliest train of the day, the 8:04 K-train, arriving at Wulong Railway Station around 10:15 (the last train back to Chongqing seems to be before 5:00 PM, so pay attention). We planned to go to Wulong Bus Station.
[TIPS: Don't take a taxi because the driver 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; it's nonsense!! The driver will think it's too close and won't pick you up. The same when returning, so don't waste time. Unless you plan to go directly from Wulong Railway Station to Fairy Town, then they might take you. Carpooling with others can be cheaper, around 25 RMB per person. We walked directly from the train station to the bus station; we thought it would be far, but it was only 10 minutes.]
Then we bought an 8 RMB per person ticket to Fairy Town. There are minibuses to Fairy Town (Visitor Center) and directly to Fairy Mountain. You need to clarify whether you are going to the town or the mountain. The ticket seller will ask you. There were many people queuing for the bus, 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, with hotels 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 area with a very beautiful environment. The most important thing was its proximity to the center, which is why I chose it.
There are many restaurants next to the villa area. After arriving at the hotel, we ate a quick lunch and then went to the Visitor Center to buy tickets for the Three Natural Bridges.
This 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; it's also convenient, and the seller won't check your student ID. You know the drill. Haha.]
After buying tickets (the ticket includes the scenic area shuttle), we went downstairs where the shuttle was parked.
[TIPS: One thing to note: normally tourists go to Three Natural Bridges in the morning and Longshuixia Ground Fissure in the afternoon because these two attractions are very close. But that way, it gets super crowded. We went to Three Natural Bridges in the afternoon and Longshuixia Ground Fissure the next day. I can say it was super comfortable! There was no one in the ground fissure!! Really, hahaha, the feeling was amazing!]
The beauty of the attractions goes without saying; among all the places I visited during 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 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 started selling tickets at 8 AM sharp, with people queuing beforehand. The earliest bus to Three Natural Bridges was at 8 AM, with many people queuing, but fortunately there were many buses. The shuttle to the Ground Fissure was at 8:30 AM, and no one was queuing; we got on directly, and the bus wasn't even full. Seeing the crowd waiting for the Three Natural Bridges bus, 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: Here, whether you can get on this 8 RMB bus quickly to return to the county town depends on luck. When we returned to the Visitor Center from Three Natural Bridges at around 4:30 PM the previous day, we specially checked. The minibus stop is on the roadside opposite the villa area. We saw a whole line of people and asked them. They said they had been waiting for 1.5 hours! I was stunned. 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 can fit will board because empty buses are unlikely at that time." Then we saw private cars nearby. We asked, and for a car with 7 or fewer people, the total fare was 200 RMB to the bus station. If going to Furong Cave and then back to the bus station, it was 400 RMB per car. Then we asked the hotel staff, and they found a private car for 150 RMB for 4 people to the bus station, or 500 RMB to Furong Cave and back. So if you're in a hurry to return to the bus station, carpool.]
But when we came back around 11 AM, luck was on our side. As soon as we reached the stop, a bus arrived, empty! We had it all to ourselves, hahaha. After arriving at the bus station, we took a bus from Wulong to Jiangkou, paid 9 RMB (which included the later minibus fare), got a small ticket, and at the terminal, someone guided us to stamp the ticket and take a minibus (a bit shabby, and the road was under repair, so we walked for a while before riding). We spent a little over an hour touring the attraction. Next to it is Furong River; if you have time and interest, you can visit.
Return: minibus + bus. There are private cars outside the scenic area soliciting; just ignore them. Hurry back to the railway station to return to Chongqing.
Let me give you a direct view [applause]!!!
In a word, Wulong in Chongqing, in terms of management, environment, etc., is first-class, not chaotic at all. The attractions are beautiful and not too tiring to walk. At most, you can finish one attraction in 2 hours.
One-day tour of downtown Chongqing. My brother-in-law knows every route in Chongqing, so I didn't have to worry about bus and subway transfers, haha. So I don't remember many things. He told me to take bus 210 from Caiyuanba to the terminal (Bai Mansion Station).
After visiting, he told me to walk to Zhazidong to feel the experience of climbing slopes in a mountain city, haha. Actually, it's not far to walk. Seeing Zhazidong, I truly felt how great those people were at that time.
Then I carpooled with others for 10 RMB per person to Ciqikou.
I visited the ancient town, ate Chongqing noodles, Chongqing yogurt, bought Chongqing Chen Mahua (twisted dough sticks), very tasty! Then took bus 808 to Liziba Subway Station, ride Line 2 to see the moment the train passes through a building.
The cableway I longed for.
[TIPS: Get a transportation card, and the cableway ride costs only 1.8 RMB!!! Yes, you heard it right!!!! But buying a ticket as a tourist costs 10 RMB per person.]
At Liberation Monument, we also went to the Good Food Street. The braised pork skewers were delicious, and so was the sour and spicy noodles. Unfortunately, I was too focused on eating and didn't take photos.
Dinner: He Wangshi Skewers, haha. It was my first time eating in such a setting, very tasty.
In the evening, we went to Hongya Cave. I didn't go inside, just viewed the night scenery of the river.
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 not expensive.
Joined a one-day group tour to Black Valley, booked on Ctrip. Since the cost for self-guided and group tour was about the same, why not take the easier option? Originally, we planned to enter from the North Gate, but due to some reasons, the tour group changed to the South Gate. Haha, a happy accident!
[TIPS: 1. If you enter from the South Gate, you absolutely don't need to buy the cable car ticket (30 RMB). On that trip, I was the only one who didn't buy it because it's downhill, super easy. If you enter from the North Gate, it's up to you; if it's tiring, buy it, but the road is relatively flat. However, the electric car!!!! You must buy it. The road from the scenic area exit to the North Gate is unimaginably long!!!! 30 RMB.]
Dinner: Sichuan cuisine.
The top of Chaotianmen Square was under construction, so we couldn't go up. We had to walk down Chaotianmen Pier for a long distance. At the end, you will see the clear Jialing River and the dirty Yangtze River converge. Amazing.
I hope my tips help you a lot!
Ending: This is not my first self-guided tour. I was too lazy to write about the previous trips and am gradually forgetting. I'll add them later when I remember.
