Self-Guided Tour of Sichuan and Chongqing: An Unforgettable 7-Day, 6-Night Experience

July 31 – August 8 (No activities on August 8, morning flight)

Since I went in summer, you can refer to my notes if you're traveling in summer.

Airfare + accommodation + attraction tickets + miscellaneous expenses: about 3500–4000 RMB (I'm bad at math, don't want to calculate. The main cost was the flight ticket, over 1000 RMB, because it was a last-minute decision. Actually, other expenses were quite low).

Chengdu Jiaoliao Humanities Boutique Hotel

The hotel's architectural style combines movement and stillness. "Movement" is reflected in the details throughout the hotel decor. Birds catch the eye from the entrance corridor, and the bird-shaped decorations in the guest rooms echo the hotel's name—Jiaoliao (Wren).

"Stillness" lies in the gray-brick-and-tile replica courtyard compound, where every plant and tree is exquisite, every bamboo and mat elegant. Each guest room has its own poetic name, making it feel alive and vivid!

The rooms are mostly decorated with natural wood, fresh and clean, with complete amenities: King Koil Quiet Moment joint-brand mattress, Kohler bathroom fixtures, TOTO smart toilet... Various drinks, snacks, fruits, tea, etc., are provided, giving an overall warm and comfortable feeling. There is also an open-air balcony, where you can see Kuanzhai Alley from the window in the morning, experiencing a blend of seclusion and worldly life—this is the life I want. If you need to relax your tired body, professional spa services are available.

Breakfast is also very thoughtful. Upon check-in, the butler asks about your preferred dining time and taste preferences, which is very considerate. You can choose Chinese or Western food, along with fruits, dried fruits, and various pastries, delivered to your room! Full of love.

Staying here is truly leisurely and comfortable, enjoying this beautiful scenery and the joy of carefree living!!

D1: Kuanzhai Alley

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

D3: Qingcheng Mountain (Back Mountain)

D4: Three Natural Bridges

D5: Longshuixia Ground Fissure – Furong Cave

D6: Baigong Mansion – Zhazidong – Ciqikou – Jiefangbei – Yangtze River Cableway – Hongyadong

D7: Heishan Valley

D8: Chaotianmen

D9: Pack up and leave

On July 31, our flight was scheduled at 9:45 but delayed until 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 on Line 2), then the metro (2 RMB) to Dongmen Bridge Station, and walked 10 minutes to the hotel.

I had heard that Chengdu and Chongqing are extremely hot, but when we arrived, it was drizzling, sometimes stopping, and the weather was unusually cool—very comfortable!!

At around 15:30, we went to Kuanzhai Alley (personally, I think it's better to go during the day; at night the lights are too dim). When we went, there were very few people, very relaxing.

[Tips: The three alleys appear as three vertical lines on the map, with a total of six entrances/exits. Be sure to remember which entrance you used for transportation, as you'll need to return to the same spot.] We didn't remember, and ended up exiting from a different entrance. It was getting dark, and we didn't want to walk back, so we took a taxi back to the hotel.

In the alley, we found a restaurant called Three Ears Hotpot with good food, accompanied by melodious zither music. Enjoying dinner was very pleasant.

In the morning, we slept in a bit, left the hotel after 9:00, bought breakfast at the supermarket downstairs, and most importantly, had the Chengdu yogurt I had been craving—highly recommended.

Took a bus to Wuhou Shrine. The bus stop is right at Wuhou Shrine. (The ticket seller won't check your student ID! Just say you want a student ticket, you know what I mean! But of course, it's best to be clear-conscienced; if you get caught, it's 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'll reach a large open area. 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. When we came out, I didn't realize it until halfway through—there were so many people and so much food. Only then did I understand it was Jinli. I felt so silly! But Jinli was incredibly crowded!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Haha. After leaving Jinli, there was a bus stop across the street. We were a bit tired, so we went back to the hotel for a nap. Strangely, just a short walk made us tired—unlike me. Lack of exercise. In the evening, we went to Chunxi Road area for some food and then strolled around Chunxi Road. Nothing special about a commercial street. End of day.

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

We had originally planned to go to Qingcheng Mountain the next day, but the weather forecast said rain, so we postponed to the third day. Sigh, let me complain: the scenery is really beautiful, but half a day is 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, I suggest going to the front mountain of Qingcheng. The back mountain requires a full day; otherwise, you'll be extremely rushed, too exhausting.]

In 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 scenic areas. Well, it's because I love mountains, water, and natural landscapes. I enjoy immersing myself in nature and don't mind climbing mountains. So it's a 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. At first, we thought it was too early, but given our tight schedule, it was the best time. After arriving at Qingcheng Mountain Station (only one exit), head 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—no worries. You'll also see people; just follow them. But you'll encounter many private drivers soliciting; just ignore them. It's convenient because the transportation is very clear and not chaotic! Get on the minibus; it leaves when full, 13 RMB per person. If you want to return to Chengdu the same day, note the last minibus back to Qingcheng Mountain Station and match it with your train ticket. After arriving at the back mountain, buy tickets. If you want a discounted ticket, they will check!

[Tips: Book your outbound train tickets a few days in advance (don't hesitate), don't think you can book on the same day—they'll be sold out, especially those between 7:00 and 10:00. Check 12306 and other sites for availability.]

During the hike, we entered via Feiquangou, not Wulonggou! After entering the back mountain gate, the entire scenic area is a loop, starting and ending at Tai'an Ancient Town. On the right is Feiquangou, on the left is Wulonggou. It depends which way you want to go. Personally, I think there's no need to reach the summit unless you like being tortured, and there's nothing much to see. Note: Look carefully at the small map on the ticket, or do homework in advance. If someone doesn't want to take the cable car, be sure to find a black line on the map, roughly to Cuiying Lake (by the way, there's a lake here; you must take a boat, 2 RMB per person, not bad). Then find this path to Youyi Village, then go down (Wulonggou direction). Don't miss that black line—I missed it, so I had to climb higher and higher... and finally had to take the cable car (45 RMB per person). There's nothing to see up there anyway. Climbing up was really tiring, very high. If you enter from Feiquangou, the uphill path is very steep!! So those entering from Wulonggou and exiting from Feiquangou should be careful. Walking through the scenic area takes a long time... very long... we were in a hurry, exhausted. After exiting Wulonggou, we saw a 5 RMB shuttle car to Tai'an Ancient Town and got on without hesitation. It's a bit of a distance, so if you're tired, consider it.

Complaint: After leaving the back mountain gate, I have to complain. Our schedule required us to catch the minibus back to Qingcheng Mountain Station at exactly 12:30 to make the 13:53 train. Originally, it was more than enough! But unexpectedly, the trip there took 30 minutes, but the return took an hour and a half!!!!! The traffic was terrible, moving like a snail. The reason: on a very narrow winding mountain road, there were many tourist buses coming in, and we had to yield. Also, there were many farm stays along the road, with many private cars stopping to inquire; some would drive in, find it unsatisfactory, then back out to continue searching. I was going crazy! No wonder it was so congested!!! Plus, many people drive in the morning and arrive at scenic spots at noon. So, I missed the train.

[Tips: If you miss your train, it's okay because you can transfer. For example, take a train to Xipu, then take Metro Line 2 from Xipu starting station to downtown Chengdu. The total fare is even cheaper than 15 RMB. Worst case, take a bus (20+ RMB) for over 2 hours back to downtown Chengdu, or 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, took the earliest K-train at 8:04, arrived at Wulong Railway Station around 10:15 (the last train back to Chongqing seems to be before 5 PM, so pay attention to time). Prepared to go to Wulong Bus Station.

[Tips: Don't take a taxi; the driver won't take you to the bus station. Don't believe what others write online about a 4 RMB taxi ride to the station—nonsense!! The driver thinks it's too close and won't even acknowledge you. Same on the return. So don't waste time, unless you plan to go directly from Wulong Railway Station to Fairy Town; then they might take you. For group sharing, it's cheaper, about 25 RMB per person. We walked from the station to the bus station; we thought it would be far, but it only took 10 minutes.]

Then bought tickets for 8 RMB each to Fairy Town. There are minibuses to Fairy Town (Visitor Center) and directly to Fairy Mountain. Make sure you know whether you're going to the town or the mountain. The ticket seller will ask. Many people queue for the bus; service is slow, so one person buys tickets while another queues. We didn't go to Fairy Mountain this time—reportedly extremely crowded, hotels fully booked. About half an hour later, we arrived at Fairy Town.

Our hotel was right next to the Visitor Center, super super super close—a villa complex with a beautiful environment. The key point is its proximity to the center, which is why I chose it.

There are many restaurants next to the villa complex. After arriving at the hotel at noon, we had a quick bite and went to the Visitor Center to buy tickets for Three Natural Bridges.

This white pointed building is the Visitor Center.

[Tips: For adults, I recommend booking tickets on Ctrip at least 3 hours in advance, as you can save about 10 RMB. For students, buy on-site; it's convenient, and the ticket seller won't check your student ID. You know what I mean. Haha.]

After buying tickets (the ticket includes a scenic area transfer bus), we went downstairs; the transfer bus was parked there.

[Tips: Generally, tourists go to Three Natural Bridges in the morning and Longshuixia Ground Fissure in the afternoon, because these two attractions are close, but it's super crowded. We went to 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!! Hahaha, what an awesome feeling!]

The beauty of the attractions is beyond words. Among all my travels these days, I liked Wulong's attractions the most. We finished Three Natural Bridges around 4 PM, taking a leisurely pace. Then took the free transfer bus 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 opens ticket sales at 8:00 sharp; people start queuing before that. The earliest bus to Three Natural Bridges is at 8:00, with a huge crowd queuing, but there are many buses. The transfer bus for the Ground Fissure is at 8:30; no one was queuing, we got on directly, and the bus wasn't even full. Looking at the crowd waiting for the Three Natural Bridges bus, I felt smug, haha.

We finished around 11:00 and took the transfer bus 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 back to the bus station first.

[Tips: Whether you can quickly catch this 8 RMB bus back to the county depends on luck. When we returned to the Visitor Center after Three Natural Bridges at 4:30 PM the previous day, we checked: the minibus stop is on the roadside across from the villa complex. We saw a long line of people; they said they had been waiting for 1.5 hours! I was shocked. They added that this is not the starting station; the minibus comes from Fairy Mountain. If there are already passengers on board, only a few can get on, because empty buses are unlikely at that time. Then we saw private cars nearby. They quoted: for 7 or fewer people, 200 RMB for a trip to the bus station; for a round trip to Furong Cave plus back to the bus station, 400 RMB. We asked the hotel staff; they found a private car for 150 RMB per car (4 seats) to the bus station, or 500 RMB to Furong Cave and back. So if you're in a hurry to the bus station, carpool.]

However, when we returned at 11:00, we were lucky: a bus arrived just as we got there, and it was empty! We got on, hahaha. Arriving at the bus station, we took the Wulong to Jiangkou public bus outside, paid 9 RMB (including the subsequent minivan fare), received a small ticket, got to the terminal, where someone stamped the ticket and guided us to continue on a minivan (a bit shabby, and the road was under construction; we had to walk part of the way before taking the van). We spent a little over an hour visiting the attraction. Right next to it is Furong River; those with time and interest can go there.

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

Let me show you a visual map [applause]!!!

In summary, Wulong, Chongqing, as a whole, has first-class management, environment, etc., not messy at all. The attractions are beautiful and not too tiring to walk. At most, it takes 2 hours to visit one attraction.

One-day tour of Chongqing city: My brother-in-law knows Chongqing like the back of his hand, so I didn't worry about bus/metro transfers. Haha, so I can't remember many details. He told me to take bus 210 at Caiyuanba to the terminal (Baigong Mansion Station).

After visiting, he told me to walk to Zhazidong to experience the mountain city's slopes. Actually, it wasn't that far. Seeing Zhazidong, I truly felt how great the people of that time were.

Afterward, we carpooled with others for 10 RMB per person to Ciqikou.

We toured the ancient town, ate Chongqing noodles, Chongqing yogurt, bought Chongqing Chen Mahua (delicious!). Then took bus 808 to Liziba Station on the rail transit, and rode Metro Line 2 to see the moment it passes through a building.

The cableway I had been longing for.

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

At Jiefangbei, we also went to Haochi Street. Braised meat skewers were delicious, and the hot and sour noodles too. But we were too busy eating to take photos.

Dinner: He Wangshi Skewers, haha. It was my first time eating in such a spread format, and it was quite tasty.

In the evening, we went to Hongyadong. I didn't go inside, just admired the night view of the river.

Oh, by the way, Chongqing's old-style popsicles are super delicious. I kept thinking about them; I had at least five, and they weren't expensive.

One-day group tour of Heishan Valley, booked on Ctrip. Since self-guided and group tour prices are 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 switched to the south gate. Haha, a happy accident!

[Tips: 1. If entering from the south gate, absolutely do not buy the cable car ticket (30 RMB). On that trip, I was the only one who didn't buy it because it's downhill—very easy. If entering from the north gate, it's your call; if you're tired, buy it, because it's uphill, though the road is pretty flat. But the electric car!!!! You must buy it—the road from the scenic area exit to the north gate is incredibly long!!!! 30 RMB.]

Dinner: Sichuan food.

Chaotianmen Square is under construction, so you can't go up. You have to walk down along Chaotianmen Pier for a while. At the end, you'll see the clear Jialing River meet the murky Yangtze River—amazing.

Hope my tips are very helpful to everyone!

Conclusion: This is not my first self-guided tour. I was too lazy to write about the previous ones. Now I'm starting to forget a bit; I'll write supplements when I remember.