Dujiangyan, Sichuan Travel Guide
Millennium Water Conservancy Wonder, Integration of Nature and Culture, Panda Exploration
📅 Basic Information
- Opening Hours:
- Peak Season (Mar 1–Nov 14): 08:00–18:00
- Off-Season (Nov 15–Feb 28): 08:00–17:30
- Ticket Prices:
- Dujiangyan Scenic Area: CNY 80 for adults; half price (CNY 40) for students/children
- Qingcheng Mountain (Front Mountain): CNY 80 (CNY 160 for a joint ticket with Dujiangyan, valid for 2 days)
- Panda Paradise: CNY 180 for adults; CNY 90 for children (discounts available at certain times for CNY 55)
🚌 Transportation Guide
1. High-speed Rail:
- Chengdu Xipu Station → Lidui Park Station (30 mins, CNY 10). Walk 10 mins from the station to the scenic area entrance.
2. Direct Scenic Area Bus:
- Departs from Chunxi Road/Kuanzhai Alley. Package includes bus fare + entrance ticket for approx. CNY 150.
3. Self-Driving:
- Chengdu → Chengguan Expressway → Dujiangyan Scenic Area (approx. 1.5 hrs). Parking fee: CNY 10/day.
📸 Core Attractions and Things to Do
1. Dujiangyan Irrigation System
- Fish Mouth (Yuzui): The water-dividing dike divides the Min River into the inner river (for irrigation) and the outer river (for flood discharge). The water diversion ratio is automatically adjusted during the dry and flood seasons.
- Flying Sand Weir (Feishayan): Uses the principle of bend circulation to discharge sediment, which can further filter 15% of the sediment. Gravel beaches can be seen during the dry season in summer.
- Bottle-Neck Channel (Baopingkou): A man-made water diversion inlet. In ancient times, the "fire burning and water pouring" method was used to break rocks, which took 8 years to complete.
- Anlan Suspension Bridge: A couple's bridge across the Min River. The shaking of the bridge is exciting, and you can overlook the rapids.
2. Cultural and Historical Sites
- Erwang Temple: A Taoist temple commemorating Li Bing and his son. The hall is engraved with the water management motto "Dig the bottom deep, keep the weir low."
- Fulong Temple: Displays the stone statue of Li Bing and water management cultural relics. Legend has it that this is the place where the evil dragon was subdued.
- Yulei Mountain: Overlook the panoramic view of Dujiangyan. It is recommended to take the escalator to Yulei Pavilion, which saves effort and has an excellent view.
3. Surrounding Associated Attractions
- Qingcheng Mountain: The birthplace of Taoism. The Front Mountain is mainly Taoist temples (Jianfu Palace, Shangqing Palace), and the Back Mountain has original natural scenery.
- Guanxian Ancient City: Nanqiao night scene light show, Yangliuhe Street old teahouse, experience the everyday life of western Sichuan.
- Panda Paradise: Fewer people and beautiful scenery. You can observe giant pandas up close. The internet-famous pandas "Taishan" and "Panpan" are recommended.
🍜 Food Recommendations
1. Must-Try Snacks:
- Zhong Duck: Sweet skin duck, assorted marinated dishes (can be vacuum packed).
- You Rabbit Head: Spicy/Savoury rabbit head, a local favorite.
- Cong Cong Juan: Thin pancake wrapped in shredded radish, dipped in chili oil, a classic from Zhao Maimian's stall.
2. Featured Dishes:
- Four Wonders of Qingcheng: Ginkgo stewed chicken, tofu pudding, Mapo tofu, and sliced beef and ox tongue in chili sauce.
- Douban Fish: The signature dish of Xijie Wangshi Restaurant, served with brown sugar glutinous rice cakes.
🗺 Itinerary
One-Day Essential Route
- Morning: Lidui Park Entrance → Fulong Temple → Bottle-Neck Channel → Flying Sand Weir → Fish Mouth → Anlan Suspension Bridge (approx. 3 hrs).
- Noon: Lunch in Guanxian Ancient City (recommended: Zhong Duck or You Rabbit Head).
- Afternoon: Erwang Temple → Yulei Mountain → Yulei Pavilion (overlook the panoramic view) → Nanqiao Night View (blue tears light show in the evening).
Two-Day In-Depth Tour
- Day 1: Dujiangyan Irrigation System + Guanxian Ancient City Night View.
- Day 2: Qingcheng Mountain (Front Mountain Taoist Temple hike) or Panda Paradise (family tour).
⚠ Precautions
1. Staggered Visits:
- Avoid the peak hours of 10:00–15:00 on weekends. It is recommended to enter the park before 8:00 am.
2. Equipment Recommendations:
- Non-slip shoes (the stone steps of Yulei Mountain are slippery), sun hat, mosquito repellent (many mosquitoes in the vegetation area).
3. Guided Tour Service:
- Rent an electronic guide for CNY 20/unit, or join a guided tour for CNY 50/group.
🌿 Surrounding Extended Experiences
- Tea Creek Valley: Tea picking, tea tasting, real CS, suitable for family and team building.
- Liujie Wetland Park: Enjoy the flowers in the cherry blossom season (Mar–Apr) and experience pastoral life.
- Qingcheng Taoist Tea Sightseeing Garden: Hike through the tea mountains and make handmade tea.
Dujiangyan is not only the pinnacle of ancient water conservancy projects, but also a millennial picture scroll intertwined with nature and culture. Whether you want to explore the wisdom of the ancient weir or find the delicious food of western Sichuan, this place can satisfy your dual yearning for history and nature! 🌊🐼
This is a place with a rich cultural heritage; I should visit it more often. I didn't get to climb Yulei Mountain today, but I saw the Fish Mouth, Feisha Weir, and Baopingkou. The weather was also nice today. I'll definitely come again next time.
Dujiangyan Scenic Area is a national 5A-level scenic area. It boasts well-developed facilities and a beautiful environment, featuring water conservancy projects dating back over two thousand years, pavilions, Taoist temples, ancient trees, and remnants of the ancient Tea Horse Road. It's well worth a leisurely visit.
I spent the autumn break traveling with my elderly relatives and children, and it was quite enjoyable. As someone living in Chengdu, Sichuan, I am grateful for the wisdom of Li Bing and his son in water management; their contributions truly benefit the present and future generations.
Last night, I carefully browsed the transportation and boarding locations to Dujiangyan, imagined the difference between sightseeing buses and airport buses, calculated sufficient time, and traveled leisurely. As a result, this carefulness made me busy in the morning, picking up shoes and hats, panicking and not choosing the right way, and almost all the homework I did was wrong. This is how things are. The more you care and pay attention, the more you often go against your will and things go against your wishes. One wrong step, all wrong steps. First, the Didi driver took me to a place that was not the place where I took the bus last time. I made a mistake and entered the waiting hall by mistake. The staff at the door did not check the tickets as they did last time, leaving me time to correct the mistake. It was not until I took the old lady to the bathroom that I found that the bus parked at the door did not look like a sightseeing bus. I scanned the code and checked and found that I had gone to the wrong place. At this time, there were less than 30 minutes before departure, and I didn’t know where to take the bus. I asked two or three sirs along the way and found that there was still a long way to get to the place where I got on the bus. Look at me again, pushing the old lady with a scooter from both ends of Kuanzhai Alley, starting from the west to the east, which is the shortest distance to the bus stop. I pushed and shouted, thank you, excuse me, hurry up. The tourists on both sides all looked at the old lady, meaning, you are pushing a person, running faster than 120, and they thought something happened to my mother. Kuanzhai Alley was crowded with people at around 9 o'clock. I was in such a bustling and lively online celebrity check-in spot, pushing my almost 80-year-old mother in my 50s, stepping on the accelerator, holding the clutch in my hand and constantly changing gears, honking the horn, experiencing the speed and passion of the No. 11 rickshaw, and paying tribute to youth. Fortunately, I met beautiful, kind and considerate tourists, who gave way to me in time so that I could arrive at the bus stop on time. As for what is on both sides, I have completely forgotten it and I don't have time to look at it. What I remember is that I met so many kind people and my heart was warm. Although I haven't arrived in Dujiangyan yet, this early morning experience in Kuanzhai Alley is full of mixed feelings, but it is worth remembering. Because the good mood of today's trip is all brought to me by the tourists who I don't know here. Meeting is fate. The long-distance passenger bus driver is very ordinary, not good at expressing himself, with a friendly smile, and took the initiative to help me with the luggage. The car drove for nearly an hour, and I was still sweating profusely. Even so, I was still very proud in my heart that I could lose one or two pounds this morning. I don't have any strengths, but I am open-minded, listen to advice, and think openly. Dujiangyan, my old lady and I came here more than 20 years ago, but things have changed. The Minjiang River is still the Minjiang River of the Qin Dynasty. The South Bridge is quietly located on the side. The finely carved archway and the corridor courtyard are baptized by the mottled years, but they are still eye-catching. Looking around, the peacocks on both sides are beautiful and charming. The craftsman spirit makes this building fully reflect the charm. Li Bing, the Minister of Water Resources of the Qin Dynasty, is amazing. Not all the royal families and officials of the past dynasties can be like Li Bing and his son, who have come forward one after another and accomplished this great feat that benefits the present and thousands of people. Let us, the descendants, inherit this precious wealth that benefits the country and the people. Here, I sincerely say to them, thank you
❤️Worship the water of Dujiangyan and seek the way of Qingcheng Mountain. I think it is still necessary to go to Dujiangyan ✨Dujiangyan is a great water conservancy project in my country. It irrigates the land of abundance and contains the wisdom of the ancients. It is not only a water conservancy project, but also wisdom and beautiful scenery ✨Especially the "blue tears" under the South Bridge. No matter how it changes in spring, summer, autumn and winter, Dujiangyan has a unique charm. You don’t need to pay for tickets to see Dujiangyan at the South Bridge. The unique night view is really beautiful, healing and romantic.
🌊Worship the Dujiangyan Water Weir, a shocking journey through a thousand years in one day During this trip to Chengdu, the Dujiangyan Scenic Area is definitely the most unforgettable stop for me! I heard of its name before coming here, and only after seeing it with my own eyes did I truly appreciate the greatness and magic of this thousand-year-old water conservancy project. 📍 Transportation: Starting from Chengdu, I chose to take Metro Line 2 to Xipu Station, transfer to the intercity high-speed rail at the station, and arrived at Dujiangyan Lidui Park Station in more than half an hour, which is very convenient. You can see the iconic panda sculpture when you exit the high-speed rail station, which is cute and eye-catching🐼 🎫 Tickets: Adult tickets are 80 yuan, which is a very reasonable price. You can book online in advance and enter the park quickly by swiping your ID card, saving a lot of time. 🌟 Scenic spots: Dujiangyan Irrigation Project is the well-deserved core. The three main bodies of Yuzui, Feishayan and Baopingkou are cleverly coordinated to tame the water of Minjiang River. It is still nourishing the Chengdu Plain. One has to sigh that the wisdom of the ancients is extraordinary. Standing on Yuzui, watching the river water being divided into two and rushing away in a mighty manner, the shock in my heart is beyond words. Walking along the trail, the water flow is turbulent and the white waves are surging at Feishayan, while Baopingkou is calm and orderly, which makes people marvel at the exquisite design of the water conservancy project. In addition to the water conservancy project, the Erwang Temple in the scenic area should not be missed. It was built to commemorate Li Bing and his son. The building is simple and solemn. It houses many historical relics and documents related to Dujiangyan. Walking in it, it seems to be able to travel back to the war-torn but creative era more than 2,000 years ago. Climbing up the Qinyan Tower, you can also overlook the entire Dujiangyan Scenic Area and the surrounding magnificent mountains and rivers. The view is excellent and it is a good place to take pictures📷 🌳 Environment: The entire scenic area is lush with vegetation and the air is fresh and pleasant. Strolling along the river, the breeze blows on your face, and listening to the gurgling sound of the water, your body and mind are greatly relaxed. Along the way, various signboards are clear and concise, and the sanitary facilities are also complete, making it very comfortable to play. 🍜 Food: There are many delicious foods around the scenic area, and West Street and Yangliuhe Street are good places for food gathering. I tasted the local specialty sweet water noodles, the noodles are thick and strong, and the sweet and spicy sauce covers every bite, which is super satisfying; there is also the mother's hot pot powder, which is spicy and fresh, and I am addicted to it. The price is also relatively affordable, allowing the taste buds to enjoy the authentic Chengdu flavor. ❗ Tips: 1. Try to choose weekdays or enter the park early in the morning to avoid the peak of tourism, so that you can enjoy the beautiful scenery more leisurely and take pictures without queuing. 2. You can hire a scenic area tour guide or rent an interpreter, so that you can better understand the history, culture and water conservancy principles of Dujiangyan, and you will gain more. 3. Pay attention to sun protection and mosquito prevention measures in summer. There are many trees and mosquitoes in the scenic area. Dujiangyan Scenic Area is not only a tourist destination where nature and humanities are perfectly integrated, but also a vivid history and geography lesson. This one-day tour made me full of awe for this ancient water conservancy project, and I also have a greater love for the city of Chengdu. I strongly recommend everyone to come to Dujiangyan to experience this charm that spans thousands of years💖
Located on the Minjiang River in the west of the Chengdu Plain, it is the oldest and only remaining grand water conservancy project in the world with the feature of damless water diversion. Its greatest feature is that it has been built for more than 2,250 years and has been enduring, and it is playing an increasingly greater role. A good place to visit around Chengdu. Between Dujiangyan and the back mountain of Qingcheng, the water town in western Sichuan, the Chengdu version of Dali, has become the back garden favored by Chengdu people with its landscape, ancient romance and original fireworks. It is considered the most commercialized ancient town around Chengdu. Ancient towns are basically commercialized. There is everything for eating, drinking and playing. There is a leisurely island next to it. You can also play in the water in summer. Convenient transportation. A good place to visit around Chengdu #
Worship the Dujiangyan Water Weir and seek the way at Mount Qingcheng. When you come to Chengdu, you must check in at the Dujiangyan Weir, which has been in use for more than 2,000 years. It is precisely because of the water conservancy project built by Li Bing, the first king of Shu, that the Chengdu Plain is known as the Land of Abundance today. Just for this reason, it is not excessive to make Li Bing the king and build the Erwang Temple to commemorate Li Bing. A tour guide explained that I had a complete understanding of Dujiangyan, which was very satisfying! The South Bridge after Dujiangyan is a place to check in for blue tears. It is so beautiful at night!