Where to Go for May Day? A Self-Driving Tour Around Jinfo Mountain Is Ready for You, with Beautiful Scenery and Delicious Food
The May Day holiday is approaching. Have you decided where to go? If you're still struggling with where to go, let Yufan recommend a great place for you: the World Heritage site we just visited a few days ago—the 178-kilometer self-driving route around Jinfo Mountain in Chongqing. During the trip, I shared many beautiful sceneries and delicious foods with you. Many friends have asked me for the route map and guide. Since I've been free these two days, I took the time to compile this detailed 7500-word guide for your reference. I believe it will definitely not disappoint you.
Chongqing is a famous internet-famous city in China. Many friends who arrive in Chongqing will spend two days in the urban area, visiting Jiefangbei, Ciqikou, Hongya Cave, Liziba, and the Yangtze River Cableway. After two days, you can drive (if you have your own car, great; if not, renting a car in Chongqing is very convenient) to Nanchuan, a major town in southern Chongqing only 60 kilometers from the main city. The city is beautifully built, with towering buildings and bustling traffic.
After arriving in Nanchuan, I suggest you take a break at the trendy old street—East Street. This old street is like a dusty story that takes you back to the last century through a door of time. The arch gate of the Datu Grain Station, made of cement, tells the story of farmers delivering public grain with great enthusiasm and the scene of harvest. At the site of the Henliang Factory, there is a giant steelyard weighing 500 jin and 5 meters high, reminding people to be fair, just, and upright in their actions. Stone mills can be seen everywhere, depicting folk pictures of market life. The nostalgic East Street engraves the labels of those eras into artistic marks of time.
At the entrance, on the weathered railway tracks, the white characters "Science and Technology Are the Primary Productive Forces" stand out. A blue-and-yellow train head stops under the sign of Nanchuan East Station, with the words "From the Past to the Future" marked on the platform. Boarding this "East Street" train, which carries the memory of the era and strong nostalgia, it feels like you have traveled thousands of miles and returned as a pure-hearted youth.
At East Street, there is a place you must not miss: the Family Memory Hall, which occupies four floors. It collects family memories from the 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s, with each floor representing a decade. Walking through it, the furnishings, household appliances, and posters on the walls will bring tears to your eyes. It will remind you of the stories your parents told you and recall your school days.
On East Street, there is a landmark building: the Ferris wheel on top of a building. It is said to be one of the tallest Ferris wheels in Chongqing, but the ticket price is very affordable—only 20 yuan per ride. From it, you can get a panoramic view of the entire Nanchuan city, offering great value for money.
Address: Dongcheng Street, Nanchuan District, Chongqing (formerly Jiefang Road)
Tickets: Free entry (Dream Ferris Wheel: 20 yuan/person; Family Experience Hall: 39 yuan/person, free for children under 1.2 meters, 20 yuan for seniors over 60.)
"Flowers of April fade away, but Jinfo Mountain's rhododendrons begin to bloom!" By May Day, the season for spring flower viewing has passed, but the rhododendrons on Jinfo Mountain are at their most beautiful. The rhododendrons adorn Jinfo Mountain with extraordinary charm, covering hundreds of miles of mountains in colorful blooms, like vast brocade spread over the hills. Thousands of postures, covering the mountains and fields, with countless flowers, making every breath full of floral fragrance.
Jinfo Mountain is not only a World Heritage site due to its karst landforms but also rich in products, earning the title of "Kingdom of Plants." The forest coverage of Jinfo Mountain reaches 96%, with 5,097 plant species, including over 250 ancient plants, 136 endemic species, 82 rare and endangered species, and 52 precious species. Among them, Cathaya argyrophylla, Ginkgo biloba, large-leaf tea, Chimonobambusa quadrangularis, and the King of Rhododendrons are under first-class national protection, known as the "Five Wonders of Jinfo Mountain." The rhododendrons, in particular, are extraordinary.
It is known that Jinfo Mountain has over 60 varieties of rhododendrons, covering the entire mountain with more than 600,000 plants. Among them, Jinshan rhododendron, Shufeng rhododendron, Kuobing rhododendron, and a dozen other varieties are unique to Jinfo Mountain. Moreover, Jinfo Mountain has many thousand-year-old rhododendron kings, with trees over 20 meters tall that can produce hundreds of thousands of flowers when in full bloom.
Notably, there are three excellent places to view rhododendrons on Jinfo Mountain. The first is the cable car ride uphill. The cable car is built in the mountains, and as you take it up, you can take in all the rhododendrons in the mountains. At the same time, you can experience a nearly 90-degree vertical ascent, which is both romantic and thrilling! The second place is the Ancient Rhododendron Park, also known as the Wild Ancient Rhododendron Park. To get there, take the cable car uphill and then walk a few hundred meters. In this park, visitors can see the most unique and beautiful rhododendron sea on Jinfo Mountain.
The third place is the Skywalk on the top of Jinfo Mountain. It is built on the west slope of Jinfo Mountain, with a maximum height of 20 meters from the ground. It is parallel to the rhododendron flower crowns, so when walking on the Skywalk, you can clearly see the rhododendrons and even touch them up close, as if you are wandering in a huge sea of flowers on the mountain top.
Jinfo Mountain tickets: Peak season: 80 yuan; Off-season: 70 yuan.
Via Ferrata is the transliteration of the Italian "Via Ferrata," meaning rock climbing or iron road climbing. It is a climbing path composed of iron handrails, fixed cables, rock bolts, and footrests. It is an interesting outdoor activity that has been popular in Europe for over a hundred years, originating during World War I when the Italian army built iron rings on the mountains to allow soldiers to quickly climb the Dolomites.
This activity combines the advantages of rock climbing and hiking, known as "dancing on the cliff." It retains the thrill of rock climbing while achieving the goals of physical fitness and willpower. It significantly reduces the technical requirements for climbers, allowing ordinary people to gallop on cliffs under guaranteed safety, bringing the wonderful feeling of "reaching the peak and seeing all the mountains at a glance," thus gaining great spiritual enjoyment.
Because Via Ferrata has so many advantages, it has quickly become popular in China and is loved by outdoor sports enthusiasts. Currently, many scenic spots have launched this project, but the Via Ferrata on the south slope of Jinfo Mountain is definitely the most beautiful. It is not only backed by the World Heritage site Jinfo Mountain but also has a nearly 90-degree vertical mountain body, which is extremely thrilling. The mountains are often shrouded in clouds and mist, making you feel like you are walking in the clouds.
From the south gate of Jinfo Mountain, it takes about 15 minutes by car to reach Via Ferrata (navigable). After parking, there is a path along the mountain stream that takes about 20 minutes to walk to the Via Ferrata reception center. There, professional staff will receive you and issue equipment. Suggested play time: half a day.
"Mysterious, secluded, majestic, and bizarre—the infinite beauty of Jinfo Mountain lies on its south slope." The 178-kilometer self-driving route around Jinfo Mountain is an in-depth tour along the south slope. The South Slope Karst Geopark combines majesty, strangeness, danger, and beauty. Along the way, there are stunning landscapes such as Eagle Beak Rock, Jinping Peak, Mother-Child Peak, Candlestick Peak, and General's Returning Shadow. Besides marveling at the wonders of nature, you can also appreciate the grandeur of the Jinshan Lake Water Conservancy Project.
The joy of self-driving is that the best scenery is on the road. On the south slope of Jinfo Mountain, the road is full of beautiful sights, with clouds and mist creating a fairyland. On one stretch, there is Jinfo Mountain looming in the distance on one side and the emerald-green Jinshan Lake on the other, allowing you to fully enjoy the beauty of mountains and water. Every shot you take is a masterpiece.
"Looking at Jinfo Mountain in the morning, looking at Jinfo Mountain in the evening. Jinfo Mountain is so towering, ethereal in the clouds and mist." On the south slope of Jinfo Mountain, you can see the mountain resembling a Buddha, and the Buddha is a mountain. This is how Jinfo Mountain got its name. Here, you will never know what traffic jams are, and often you won't even see another car. If you find a beautiful spot, you can stop the car, park it, and slowly take pictures.
Jinfo Mountain is far from pollution, with winding mountain roads, many turns, and little traffic. You can fully enjoy the pleasure of self-driving, freely galloping on the beautiful S-shaped roads, and feel the natural charm of the World Heritage site.
No ticket is required here. You can photograph and embrace nature to your heart's content, as long as you do not affect other vehicles and ensure your safety. Although people are as small as ants in front of the great mountains, you can be a happy ant.
Yangjiagou is located in Delong Town, south of Jinfo Mountain in Chongqing. Here, there are large wild ginkgo populations, totaling over 3,000 trees. Among them, there is a 2,500-year-old Ginkgo Queen, the oldest ginkgo ever found, known as the world's ginkgo king.
Although ginkgo trees are common plants all over China, what we usually see are cultivated ones. Wild ginkgo populations in their natural state are very rare. Therefore, for a time, botanists believed that wild ginkgo had become extinct. Unexpectedly, this extremely rare wild ginkgo forest was discovered in the mountains of Yangjiagou on the south road of Jinfo Mountain.
In this little-known village, there are over 30,000 wild ginkgo trees of various sizes, making it the world's most concentrated, largest community, and most numerous wild ginkgo native habitat. Among them, 10 trees are over 1,000 years old. According to botanists, the largest one is at least 2,500 years old and requires several people to embrace.
In April and May, although ginkgo trees do not have the fragrant beauty of flowers, their emerald green young leaves unfold like fans, swaying and rustling in the warm breeze. Together with the ancient villages under the trees, they provide rare sketching material for painters, attracting many artists to come and paint.
"Without climbing a high mountain, you don't know how high the sky is; without facing a deep abyss, you don't know how thick the earth is!" The wild ginkgo trees grow freely, their trunks weathered and rugged, symbolizing the passion and brilliance of life. In the deep and ancient forest, they shine with a unique splendor, showing a strange landscape away from the hustle and bustle of the city.
Lu Yu, the Sage of Tea, said in "The Classic of Tea": "Tea is a fine tree from the south. It can be one, two, or even tens of feet tall; in the mountains of Bashan and Xiachuan, there are trees that two people can embrace, so they are cut down and gathered." Wild tea trees growing in the lowlands of Jinfo Mountain and Baizhi Mountain are similar to the tall tea trees in the mountains of Bashan and Xiachuan described in the classic. In Tea Tree Village, there is a wild tea tree over 7 meters tall, with a diameter of 57 centimeters and an age of over 1,000 years, known as the "Ancestor of Tea Trees."
Now, the place where the ancient tea tree is located is called Ancient Tea Village. According to local elderly villagers, wild tea trees used to cover the mountains of Delong, with many having a diameter over 50 centimeters. But in the mid-20th century, most large tea trees were cut down. In recent years, thanks to government protection, the population of wild tea trees has increased. Preliminary investigations show that there are over 17,000 tea trees in the Jinfo Mountain area.
Nowadays, the local area has created a famous Jinshan black tea. After all, it is a thousand-year-old ancient tea tree, with low yield, so the most expensive can sell for 60,000 yuan per jin. Here, you can visit the tea garden, learn about ancient tea culture, and enjoy tea tasting and chatting—very interesting during self-driving.
It is said that the local government has built an ancient tea theme park in Delong Town. Through displaying the history of tea in Bashu, tea events, tea utensils, tea customs, tea ceremonies, tea poems, tea songs and dances, etc., it develops tea experiences, tea processing, tea banquets, tea foods, tea games, and other tea-themed leisure activities, showing the cultural charm of Jinfo Mountain ancient tea in a multi-dimensional and comprehensive way.
Regarding Jinfo Mountain, many friends only know it as a World Heritage site and a national 5A tourist attraction. Even those who have visited often only know about Bitan Yougu, Cliffside Walkway, Jigui Chaoyang, Ecological Stone Forest, and other attractions. They do not know that within the 441-square-kilometer Jinfo Mountain scenic area, there are many landscapes such as karst depression basins, sinkholes, through caves, rock pillars, waterfalls, canyons, ancient villages, ancient forts, ancient tea, and ancient trees.
Candlestick Peak is located at the junction of Jinfo Mountain and Baizhi Mountain. Here, due to long-term water flow and wind erosion, the Baizhi Creek Grand Canyon has formed. The canyon is deep, with steep cliffs on both sides. At the mouth of the canyon, a solitary peak has formed due to long-term water flow and wind erosion—this is Candlestick Peak. Candlestick Peak is over a hundred meters high. Viewed from the front, it looks like a huge candlestick with an equally huge "candle" inserted on it. It is a solitary peak towering into the clouds. It is not within a scenic area, but it is better than a scenic area, making people marvel at the wonders of nature.
Did you think there is only one peak here? Actually, on the cliff next to Candlestick Peak, there are two caves. The cave entrances are walled up with many broken stones, indicating that someone once lived here. But what era? Who were they? It is impossible to verify. How did they climb up to these caves on the sheer cliffs? Even the locals don't know—truly an unsolved mystery.
On the mountain opposite Candlestick Peak, a waterfall flows down from a cave in the middle of the cliff. According to local villagers, this waterfall flows year-round without change in volume, continuously flowing. Where does its source come from? Where does the cave lead? No one knows—another unsolved mystery.
Pangguan Ferry is located in Qingyuan Town. The location has a winding river, and on the opposite bank is a sheer cliff. The rock layers are very special—layer upon layer, with straight lines like thousands of books. I asked local friends about this geological feature. They only said that Jinfo Mountain belongs to the southern karst landform, but they didn't know what geological structure this layered rock is. Everyone found it magical, like a wall built by God by the riverbank.
The river called "Guandu" is not large in flow, nor wide, but it was an ancient ferry point, which is really surprising. Did ancient people have to cross this river when traveling north-south or east-west? It turns out that Jinfo Mountain is a natural east-west watershed. The areas of Dayou, Qingyuan, Guhua, Hexi, and Zheng'an in Guizhou are all south of the Jinfo Mountain barrier. The water from the south slope flows from the southern foothills of Jinfo Mountain, forming many north-to-south streams that converge at Pangguan Ferry into one main stream. People traveling east-west or west-east would have to cross many rivers if they took other routes, requiring multiple ferries.
Since the late Song and early Yuan dynasties, Nanchuan in Chongqing and Zheng'an in Guizhou belonged to Bozhou (today's Zunyi). The official road from Nanchuan to Zheng'an had to pass through this ferry, so it was called Guandu (official ferry). Because of frequent flows of people and goods, the two sides of the ferry were crowded with merchants, and the ferry was large, hence it was called "Pangguan Ferry."
According to the "Inscription of Pangguan Ferry": "The ferry suffered an earthquake, water volume decreased, the official road was rerouted, and the ferry was no longer used. However, although there is no ferry now, the name Pangguan Ferry is still used today." Local villagers told us that there are caves on the bank of the Guandu River, with underground rivers inside (which may be an important reason for the reduced water volume of the Guandu River), which are unfathomable. Once, large fish over 2 meters long swam out of the caves, becoming a local legend.
This place has now become a weekend camping site for some self-driving enthusiasts from Chongqing's main city. During the day, birds sing and flowers bloom, with pleasant scenery. At night, you sleep to the sound of babbling streams. If the weather is good, you can see a sky full of stars. Transportation is also convenient—only a little over an hour from the main city. The roads are either highways or asphalt roads, so any car can handle it. Many people bring friends on weekends to camp, play in the water, catch crabs, fish, and barbecue—very fun. (Yufan's note: Free entry, no ticket required.)
This is an internet-famous waterfall, located near the famous Longyan City, so some people call it Longyan Waterfall. The fan-shaped cliff at the top of the waterfall is at an altitude of 1,300 meters. The water plunges down with a vertical drop of over 200 meters.
When the water flow is small, it disperses like mist near the bottom. If the valley wind blows back, the water mist rises. Seen from a distance, it looks silent, like a static landscape painting. Approaching the waterfall, water mist splashes, and the sound of water roars—you have to shout to be heard.
Below the Maniaoshui Waterfall is a new scenic area being developed called Wanjuan Shutai (still free now, may charge in the future). This is a limestone landform, belonging to the Baota Formation of the Upper Ordovician. The layers are relatively gentle, formed by weathering and dissolution of limestone. Because the rock layers are stacked and their bedding is extremely clear, resembling a pile of books, locals call it Wanjuan Shutai (Thousands of Books Terrace).
Guanyinyan was once a post station on the thousand-year-old tea-and-salt ancient road from Sichuan to Guizhou. It got its name from a Guanyin rock (a natural rock with a Guanyin statue under it). In the past, porters, hired laborers, people from all walks of life frequently passed through. Bamboo shoots, tung oil, tea, medicinal herbs, and other mountain products were transported through here to the outside world for trade, while blue cloth, socks, and other urban goods entered the lives of mountain people via this route.
As an important post station on the Sichuan-Guizhou tea-and-salt ancient road, Guanyinyan was once very prosperous. According to the "Nanchuan County Annals": From the 26th to the 28th year of the Republic of China (1937-1939), exiting goods included bamboo shoots, tung oil, tea, raw lacquer, gallnuts, pine oil, pine soot, coke, crude iron, medicinal herbs, bristles, cowhide, etc., totaling 146,000 dans (about 7,300 tons); entering goods included 18,200 packs of salt (each pack weighed 135 jin) ... These goods were all carried by porters along mountain roads.
However, time passes. In the tide of development, this thousand-year-old Sichuan-Guizhou ancient road was gradually replaced by faster highways and railways. This place was slowly ignored and forgotten. Now, weeds have overgrown, covering the smooth stone slabs. Few people come, and many shops have their doors tightly closed.
Guanyinyan Post Station is at an altitude of about 1,000 meters. With the disappearance of travelers, most of the original residents moved away. Many houses have been neglected for years, abandoned, and become more desolate. A few years ago, some merchants settled in and made simple repairs. It is now a good place with history, stories, beautiful scenery, and few people. (Currently no ticket required; a good choice for dining and accommodation.)
Longyan City is unfamiliar to many friends, but it was very famous in history. It is located in Mazui Township on the north slope of Jinfo Mountain, at an altitude of about 1,784 meters. It was built in the Southern Song Dynasty and was the only route from northern Guizhou to eastern Chongqing, a strategic military point. It is as famous as Diaoyu City in Hechuan and is known as the "First Barrier in the South."
The Mazui Mountain where Longyan City is located is majestic and easy to defend but hard to attack. According to the "History of Ming: Geography," Mazui Mountain was originally called "Majing Pass," a strategic pass on the Sichuan-Guizhou border. The mountain was high and the road dangerous, surrounded by sheer cliffs. Only at Majing Pass was there a single path leading to the city gate, with the potential for "one general guarding the pass, ten thousand men cannot break through."
Longyan City was one of the battlegrounds against the Mongol invasion, as famous as Diaoyu City in Hechuan. Although the battles were not as large or long-lasting as those at Diaoyu City, it was a place where the Mongol army failed after a two-month siege and retreated. Even the "History of Song," compiled by the Yuan dynasty and reserved about the anti-Mongol history of the late Song, records: "In June of the first year of Kaiqing (1259), Nanping reported war achievements." This shows its great influence.
Longyan City is a free attraction. When we went, the fog was particularly heavy, so the scenery was hazy. If the weather is good, the view is extremely wide. Not only can you feel the strategic importance of Longyan City, but you can also see the ultimate beauty of the north slope of Jinfo Mountain. I recommend spending half a day here. You need to climb the mountain (about 30 minutes), and flat shoes are better.
Other recommendations: Liangyu Health Valley, Thumb Mountain (Dayou Town), Stone Man Mountain (Dayou Town), Shanwangping Fantasy Forest (more beautiful in autumn, with one side yellow and one green), Shenlong Gorge, Jinsanquan Hot Spring, Tianxing Town, Qianxing Grand Canyon (as shown above), etc. Jinfo Mountain and its surroundings are really beautiful, with many attractions.
This is a high-end, atmospheric, yet low-key and luxurious mountain homestay, located in a canyon called Wolongtan at the foot of Jinfo Mountain. Wolongtan has beautiful scenery—deep canyon, birdsong, flowers, flowing springs, and waterfalls—but it is not open to the public. Only guests staying at this homestay can visit this scenic area. It offers excellent privacy. When we came, it felt almost like a private visit.
"Strange peaks and unusual cliffs dyed by the setting sun; clouds scatter, sky high, enjoying the beautiful mountains." At the foot of Jinfo Mountain, in the Wolong Secret Realm, between emerald waters and quiet pools, a few small houses are hidden in the valley. This is the Puxiang Hotel introduced in this article. Here, deep valleys, still pools, mountain mists, Buddhist chants, and elegant gardens outline a few exquisite residences.
Although it is a mountain homestay, the room rates are not cheap. The cheapest is over 3,000 yuan per night, and the most expensive is 18,000 yuan per night, much more expensive than the Bolian, Banyan Tree, Regent, or Mandarin Oriental in Chongqing city or suburbs. Even compared to Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, or Shenzhen, it is among the top rooms. Moreover, there are only 18 rooms in total, so sometimes you may not be able to book one. It is best to book in advance if needed.
Jinshan Yunxi Hotel
Compared to Puxiang Hotel, this Jinshan Yunxi Hotel is much more affordable. Also located in the great Buddha of Jinfo Mountain, accompanied by insects and birds, the environment is excellent. If the weather is good, you can see a sky full of stars at night.
Jinfo Mountain Liangyu International Health Valley
Jinfo Mountain Liangyu International Health Valley is located on the west slope of Jinfo Mountain. Here, there is a vast sea of flowers and endless green forests. Step into it, and it becomes a soft, beautiful painting, peaceful, elegant, and breathtaking.
This hotel is a high-end Chinese-style hotel built at a cost of 300 million yuan, with the charm of a Jiangnan Chinese water town. The hotel has 76 guest rooms, including a business center, meeting rooms, restaurant, tea room, coffee bar, reading room, chess and card room, fitness center, KTV, and other leisure and entertainment facilities. It also has the only infinity pool in Jinfo Mountain (not yet completed, expected to open in summer). It is an ideal rest place for flower viewing and self-driving.
Chongqing is a famous culinary capital in China. In addition to Chongqing hotpot, noodles, and Jianghu cuisine being world-renowned, each district and county has its own specialties. For example, Fuling's pickled vegetable feast, Tongnan's vegetable feast, etc. As the world's biological gene bank, Nanchuan's most representative cuisine is health-preserving medicinal food.
Nanchuan in Chongqing is an area extremely rich in traditional Chinese medicinal resources. According to relevant information, Nanchuan has nearly 5,000 kinds of Chinese medicinal herbs. Jinfo Mountain is known as "World Biological Gene Bank," "Chinese Medicine Storehouse," and "Northern Medicine Changbai Mountain, Southern Medicine Jinfo Mountain." The eight special medicinal herbs of Jinfo Mountain—Changshan, Dikudan, Mao Huangjin, Hudoulian, Huixincao, Jinshan Yanbaicai, Sileng Jingucao, Zhushalian—are well-known. The Chongqing Institute of Medicinal Plant Cultivation, located on Jinfo Mountain, is the only research institution in China specialized in Chinese medicine cultivation, with profound scientific research background. Because of these conditions, local health-preserving medicinal food has been passed down through generations and is very famous.
Jinfo Mountain has a great variety of food, such as the famous square bamboo shoots, wild mushrooms, firewood potato rice, stir-fry soup, wild vegetables (bupleurum, houttuynia, spikeleaf aralia, etc.), ginger-fried duck, cured meat, hand-ground tofu, etc. In Nanchuan, you can find any small restaurant and eat until you are full.
The total length of the ring road around Jinfo Mountain is exactly 178 kilometers, meaning "together prosper" or "let's go together." It passes through the 1,300-square-kilometer Jinfo Mountain, passing through towns such as Jinshan, Toudou, Delong, and Dayou. The loop route offers beautiful mountains and waters, flower viewing, photography, picking, tea tasting, exploration, water play, and adventure (Via Ferrata)... Avoid the crowds, unlock new ways to play Jinfo Mountain. The scenery here is unique, and the picturesque views outside the window will intoxicate travelers. It will surely be an unforgettable self-driving trip. (If you have any questions, welcome to leave comments for discussion.)
