Sichuan-Chongqing 6-Day In-Depth Travel Guide

July 31 to August 8 (No activities on August 8, as it was a 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 miscellaneous expenses totaled about 3500~4000 RMB (I'm not good at math and don't want to calculate. Mainly, the flight ticket to get there was too expensive, over 1000 RMB, because it was a last-minute decision. Actually, the other costs were very economical.)

Chengdu Jiaoliao Renwen Boutique Hotel

The hotel's architectural style combines motion and stillness. "Motion" is reflected in the details of the hotel's interior design: birds appear from the entrance corridor, and the bird-shaped decorations in the guest rooms echo the hotel's name—Jiaoliao. "Stillness" lies in the black-brick-and-tile imitation ancient courtyard, where every plant and tree is elegant, and every bamboo and mat exudes charm. Each guest room has its own poetic name, as if full of life and vivid!

The rooms are mostly decorated with natural wood, fresh and clean, and fully equipped: King Koil Jingzhu Shiguang co-branded mattress, Kohler bathroom fixtures, TOTO smart toilets... Various drinks, snacks, fruits, tea, etc., are all available, giving a very warm and comfortable feeling. There is also an open-air small balcony. You can wake up in the morning and look out at the Kuanzhai Alley, experiencing the world while being detached from it—this is the life I desire. 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 meal time and taste preferences, which is very thoughtful. You can choose between Chinese and Western food, and it also comes with fruits, dried fruits, and various pastries. The butler delivers it to your room! Full of love.

Living here is truly leisurely and comfortable, enjoying this beautiful scenery and having the joy of freedom!!

D1: Kuanzhai Alley

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

D3: Qingcheng Back Mountain

D4: Three Natural Bridges

D5: Dragon Water Gorge Ground Fissure – Furong Cave

D6: Bai Mansion – Zhazidong – Ciqikou – Liberation Monument – Yangtze River Cableway – Hongya Cave

D7: Black Mountain Valley

D8: Chaotianmen

D9: Pack up and leave

On the morning of July 31, our flight was scheduled at 9:45 but was 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 at Metro Line 2), then took the metro (2 RMB) to Dongmen Bridge Station, walked 10 minutes to the hotel.

Earlier I had heard people say that Chengdu and Chongqing are super hot, but when we arrived, it was drizzling and sometimes stopped, and the weather was unusually cool. Haha, it was very comfortable!!

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

【Tips: There are three alleys, shown as three vertical lines on the map, with a total of six entrances. Be sure to remember which entrance you used for transportation, as you need to walk back after sightseeing.】 We didn't remember, so we ended up exiting from another entrance. It was too 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 taste. Accompanied by the melodious sound of the zither, we enjoyed dinner, very pleasant.

In the morning, we leisurely woke up late and left the hotel around 9:00. We bought breakfast at the supermarket downstairs, especially the Chengdu yogurt I had been longing for—worth recommending.

We took the bus to Wuhou Shrine. The bus stop is right at Wuhou Shrine. (The ticket seller won't check your student ID! Just tell them you want a student ticket, you know what I mean! But of course, it's best to be honest; if you get caught, it would be embarrassing.)

Intoxicated by the Three Kingdoms at Wuhou Shrine

At noon, we were hungry, so it was the perfect time to go to Jinli Street for a meal. After visiting Wuhou Shrine, you'll arrive at a large, open flat area. There seem to be exits on both sides. If you take the exit on the right, you'll see many people. Yes, that's Jinli. As soon as we walked out, we turned left. So 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 suddenly understood it was Jinli. I felt so dumb. But wow, Jinli was incredibly crowded!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Haha. After leaving Jinli, there was a bus stop right across the street. We were a bit tired from walking, so we went back to the hotel for a nap. Strangely, we got tired after just such a short walk—that's not like me. Lack of exercise. In the evening, we went to Chunxi Road area for some food and then strolled around Chunxi Road. There's not much to say about a commercial street. End of this day.

"The immortal scriptures most praise Qingcheng Peak" – One-day trip to Qingcheng Mountain

We originally planned to go to Qingcheng Mountain the next day, but because the weather forecast said it would rain, we switched to the third day. Ah, let me complain first: the scenery was really nice, but half a day was really 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. 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 in the fresh air, and take it easy.

Someone might ask, "Why do you keep going to scenic areas all day?" Well, because I, as a girl, love places with mountains, water, and natural scenery. I like to immerse myself in nature, and I'm not afraid of climbing mountains. Haha, so this is a tale of my toil.

Let me explain slowly. First, about transportation: the round-trip train from Chengdu to Qingcheng Mountain costs 15 RMB. 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's only one exit), turn left. The front mountain requires Bus 101, the back mountain requires a minibus, and there's also a bus to Dujiangyan. All these vehicles are in the same area, with clear signs, so you can rest assured. 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 is very clear and not chaotic at all! Get on the minibus, it leaves when full, 13 RMB per person. Also, if you want to return to Chengdu on the same day, pay attention to the last minibus back to Qingcheng Mountain Railway Station and make sure it matches your train ticket time. After arriving at the back mountain, buy a ticket. If you want a discounted ticket, they will check it.

【Tips: The key point is to book your outbound train ticket a few days in advance (don't hesitate). Don't think you can buy it on the same day—all seats will be sold out, especially the departures between 7:00 and 10:00. Check 12306 or other websites that show remaining tickets to stay informed.】

During the hike, I entered via Feiquangou, not Wulonggou! After entering the gate of Qingcheng Back Mountain, the entire scenic area is a loop, with both the start and end at Tai'an Ancient Town. The right side is Feiquangou, and the left side is Wulonggou—choose whichever you prefer. Personally, I think there's no need to reach the summit unless you like being tortured, and there's not much to see. Note: Look carefully at the small map on the ticket, or do your homework in advance. If someone doesn't want to take the cable car, be sure to find a black line on the map, roughly up to Cuiying Lake (by the way, there's a lake there; you must take a boat for 2 RMB per person—it's quite nice). Follow that path to Youyi Village, then go down (towards Wulonggou). Don't miss that black line—I missed it and ended up climbing higher and higher... and higher... Finally, I had to take the cable car (45 RMB per person). There was nothing to see at the top, and climbing up was really tiring; it was very high. If you enter via Feiquangou, the uphill path is very steep!! So those who enter from Wulonggou and exit from Feiquangou should be careful. The walking time in the scenic area is very long... long... long... and we were pressed for time, so we were exhausted. When we came out of Wulonggou, we happened to see a 5 RMB scenic shuttle to Tai'an Ancient Town. We got on without a second thought—it was still a bit of a distance, so tired friends can consider it.

Complaint: After exiting the back mountain gate, I have to vent. Our subsequent schedule required us to take the minibus back to Qingcheng Mountain Railway Station at exactly 12:30 to catch the 13:53 train. It should have been more than enough! But I never expected that the trip there took 30 minutes, but the return trip took 1.5 hours!!!!!! It was so congested, crawling like a snail, because on a very narrow winding mountain road, many tourist buses were coming in, and we had to yield to those going out. Also, there were many farm stays along the road, and many private cars stopped to inquire; some drove in, weren't satisfied, then reversed to keep searching! I was going crazy—no wonder it was so congested!!! Plus, many people drove in the morning and arrived at the scenic area at noon. So, I missed the train gracefully.

【Tips: If you miss the train, it's not a big deal. You can take a transfer: 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 the 15 RMB. As a last resort, you can take a long-distance bus (over 2 hours, 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 relative's place. My classmate had something to do and went back to Shanghai.

Took the earliest K-train from Chongqing Railway Station at 8:04, 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). Prepared to go to Wulong Bus Station.

【Tips: Don't take a taxi. Taxi drivers 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 drivers think it's too close and won't even acknowledge you. The same when returning, so don't waste time. Unless you plan to go directly from Wulong Railway Station to Fairy Town, then you can take a taxi. If you share the ride, it might be cheaper, around 25 RMB per person. We simply walked from the railway station to the bus station. We thought it would be a long walk, but it was only about 10 minutes.】

Then we bought tickets (8 RMB per person) 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 you. There were many people waiting in line for the bus, and the frequency was slow, so one person should buy tickets while another queues. We didn't go to Fairy Mountain this time; I heard there were huge crowds and all hotels were fully booked. 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, very beautiful environment. The best part was its proximity to the center, which was why I chose it.

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

This white pointed place 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 the scenic area transfer bus), we went downstairs. The transfer buses were parked there.

【Tips: One thing to note: generally, tourists go to Three Natural Bridges in the morning and Dragon Water Gorge Ground Fissure in the afternoon because these two attractions are close to each other, but then it's super crowded. We went to Three Natural Bridges in the afternoon and Dragon Water Gorge Ground Fissure the next day. I can say it was absolutely wonderful—there was no one in the ground fissure!! Hahaha, what a great feeling! It was awesome!】

I don't need to describe how beautiful the attractions were. Among all the places I visited these days, Wulong's scenic spots were my favorite. We finished Three Natural Bridges around 4:00 pm, taking a leisurely pace. Then we took the free scenic transfer bus back to the Visitor Center and returned to the hotel to rest.

The next day, we checked out. We were about to buy tickets for the Ground Fissure. The Visitor Center starts selling tickets at exactly 8:00 am, and people start queuing before that. The first bus to Three Natural Bridges in the morning leaves at 8:00 am, and there were many people waiting, but fortunately, there were many buses too. The transfer bus to the Ground Fissure left at 8:30 am, and 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 a bit smug, haha.

We finished around 11:00 am and took the transfer bus back to the Visitor Center. Then we were ready 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 first.

【Tips: Here, whether you can quickly get on this 8 RMB bus back to the county town depends on your luck. When we finished Three Natural Bridges at 4:30 pm the previous day and returned to the Visitor Center, we specially checked. First, the minibus stop is on the roadside opposite the villa complex. Then we saw a long line of people. When we asked, they said they had already waited for 1.5 hours! I was stunned. Moreover, they added that this is not the starting station; the minibus comes from Fairy Mountain. If there are still passengers on the bus, only a few in the queue can get on, because at that time, empty buses are rare!! Then we saw private cars nearby. We asked: for up to 7 people, one car costs 200 RMB to the bus station; if going to Furong Cave and back to the bus station, it's 400 RMB per car. Then we asked the hotel staff, and they found a private car for 150 RMB per car (4 seats) to the bus station, and 500 RMB to Furong Cave including round trip. So if you're in a hurry to get back to the bus station, carpool.】

However, when we came back around 11:00 am, we were very lucky. As soon as we arrived at the stop, a bus came—an empty one! We had it all to ourselves, hahaha. Arriving at the bus station, we took a public bus from Wulong to Jiangkou outside, paid 9 RMB (including the subsequent minibus fee), exchanged for a small ticket, got to the terminal, someone was there to meet us, stamped the ticket, and then took us to continue on a minibus (a bit shabby, and the road was under construction at that time; we walked part of the way before getting on). The scenic spot took a little over an hour to visit. Right next to it is Furong River; if you have time and interest, you can go there.

Return: minibus + public bus. There are private cars soliciting business outside the scenic area—ignore them. Hurry back to the railway station and return to Chongqing.

Let me give you an intuitive diagram [applause]!!!

In summary, the overall experience in Wulong, Chongqing—such as management, environment, etc.—is first-class, not at all messy. The scenic spots are beautiful, and walking is not too tiring. Each attraction takes at most 2 hours to visit.

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

After visiting, he told me to walk to Zhazidong to experience the feeling of climbing the mountain city. Actually, it's not too far to walk. 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 visiting the ancient town, I ate Chongqing noodles, Chongqing yogurt, bought Chongqing Chen Mahua (very delicious!), then took Bus 808 to Liziba Station on the rail transit, and then took Metro Line 2 to see the moment when the train passes through a building.

The cableway I had been longing for.

【Tips: Get a transportation card; taking 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 Liberation Monument, we went to the delicious street. The braised meat skewers were very tasty, and also the spicy noodles, but we were too busy eating to take photos.

Dinner: He Wangshi Skewers, haha. It was my first time dining this way—very delicious.

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

Oh, by the way, the old popsicles in Chongqing are super delicious. I've been craving them; I ate at least five, and they're not expensive.

One-day group tour to Black Mountain Valley, booked on Ctrip. Since self-guided and group tours cost about 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, it turned out to be a lucky coincidence!

【Tips: 1. If entering from the South Gate, you absolutely don't need to buy a cable car ticket (30 RMB) (on that trip, I was the only one on the bus who didn't buy it) because you walk downhill, which is super easy. If entering from the North Gate, it's up to you—if you're tired, buy it, because it's uphill, though the road is relatively flat. But the electric cart!!!! You must buy it! The distance from the scenic spot exit to the North Gate is unimaginably long!!!! 30 RMB.】

Dinner: Sichuan cuisine.

Chaotianmen Square is under renovation, so you can't go up. You have to follow the Chaotianmen Pier down a long way. At the end, you will see the clear Jialing River and the dirty Yangtze River meeting—amazing.

I hope my tips are very helpful to everyone!

End: 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 add them later when I remember.