Dujiangyan
A great ancient water conservancy project. Thanks to Dujiangyan, the thousands of miles of flat land on the Chengdu Plain and the reputation of the “Land of Abundance” were made possible.…
Dujiangyan, Chengdu · AI illustration for China Trip
Key facts
- Admission
- ¥80
- Time needed
- 3–5 hours
- Getting there
- From Chengdu North Railway Station, take a train to Lidui Park Station, ¥15 per person, then walk to Dujiangyan from there. From Chengdu West Gate Bus Station, take the tourist shuttle to Dujiangyan Station. Buying a Dujiangyan ticket at Wuhou Temple, Du Fu Thatched Cottage or other sites entitles you to a free tourist bus ride to Dujiangyan. From Chengdu, take the Chengguan Expressway to Dujiangyan City, about 30 minutes.
- Guidebook rating
- 5 / 5
From China Self Guided Travel 2025, page 339. Open in Google Maps
About Dujiangyan
A great ancient water conservancy project. Thanks to Dujiangyan, the thousands of miles of flat land on the Chengdu Plain and the reputation of the “Land of Abundance” were made possible. It is known as the brilliant pearl of ancient hydraulic engineering.
Frequently asked questions
How much does Dujiangyan cost?
Admission to Dujiangyan is ¥80, as listed in the 2025 guidebook. Prices can change; check the official channel before you go.
How do I get to Dujiangyan?
From Chengdu North Railway Station, take a train to Lidui Park Station, ¥15 per person, then walk to Dujiangyan from there. From Chengdu West Gate Bus Station, take the tourist shuttle to Dujiangyan Station. Buying a Dujiangyan ticket at Wuhou Temple, Du Fu Thatched Cottage or other sites entitles you to a free tourist bus ride to Dujiangyan. From Chengdu, take the Chengguan Expressway to Dujiangyan City, about 30 minutes.
How long should I spend at Dujiangyan?
Plan on 3–5 hours for Dujiangyan.
Where is Dujiangyan?
Dujiangyan is in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, in the Southwest of China.
More places in Chengdu
Sanxingdui Museum
The Sanxingdui site in Guanghan, near Chengdu, was discovered in 1931. The large number of artifacts unearthed there, including gold objects, bronzes, jade, pottery and ivory, bear distinctive hallmarks of Bashu culture. Some are simple and archaic, others mysterious and strange, and all carry a powerful artistic impact.
¥72 · 2–3 hours
Mount Qingcheng
“Cave Paradise and Blessed Land,” “Earthly Paradise” and “The Most Secluded Place Under Heaven” are all used to praise Mount Qingcheng, and few can resist its charm. Mount Qingcheng is one of the birthplaces of Taoism in China and is a famous Taoist mountain. It is divided into the Front Mountain and the Back Mountain. The Front Mountain boasts beautiful scenery and numerous cultural relics. The Back Mountain’s natural scenery is mysterious and enchanting, primitive and splendid, like a peach-blossom paradise removed from the world. Only by reaching the Back Mountain will you understand the meaning of “the most secluded place under heaven.” It seems the tranquility of the entire Chengdu Plain originates from here.
Front Mountain ¥80; Back Mountain ¥20 Jinli Cableway: ¥30 per person one way, ¥55 per person round trip Route: Feiquanfang → Shisuntang (by cableway) Baiyun Cableway: ¥35 per person one way, ¥60 per person round trip Route: Youyicun → Baiyun Temple (by cableway) Ferry: Cuiying Lake ferry ¥2 · 3–5 hours
Jiezi Ancient Town
Jiezi Ancient Town sits at the back of Qingcheng Mountain (青城后山), nestled between hills and water. Green ridges stretch along the horizon, and clear streams flow year-round, earning it the nickname 'Water Town of West Sichuan.' The guesthouse recommended on the variety show Day Day Up, Yuangui Inn (远归客栈), is located here. From Qingcheng Mountain, you can walk straight down from the back mountain to Jiezi Ancient Town.
Free · 3–5 hours
Mount Siguniang, Wolong
The sunrises and sunsets here are breathtaking enough to move you to the core. Mount Siguniang belongs to the Qionglai Mountains, and its main peak, Yaomei Peak (幺妹峰), rises to 6,240 metres. The mountain is made up of four adjoining snowy peaks that stay blanketed in white all year round, looking like four beautiful maidens in white dresses among the mountains, which is how it got its name. Known for its steep, towering grandeur, Siguniang is often called 'the Alps of China.' Mount Siguniang consists of three valleys: Changping Gou (长坪沟), Shuangqiao Gou (双桥沟) and Haizi Gou (海子沟), with most of the main sights concentrated in Changping Gou. Wolong Nature Reserve, home of the giant panda, lies on both banks of the Pitiao Gou valley on the eastern slope of Mount Siguniang. Pitiao Gou, also called Wolong Gou, is a swift river that rushes down in a single long descent.
Shuangqiao Gou: ¥180; Haizi Gou: ¥60; Changping Gou: ¥70; Wolong Panda Base: ¥60; Giant Panda Museum: ¥20; Giant Panda Garden: ¥90 · Mount Siguniang: 2–3 days; Wolong Nature Reserve: 2–3 hours
Mount Emei Scenic Area
“Higher than the Five Great Mountains, most splendid under heaven.” Mount Emei is one of the four sacred Buddhist mountains of China. Among the country's famous scenic mountains, it is arguably the tallest, its main peak, Wanfo Golden Summit (万佛金顶), rising to 3,099 metres above sea level. Baoguo Temple (报国寺) is the gateway to Mount Emei and the point every visitor passes, whether arriving by bus or on foot. From the summit, on a clear day, you can make out the silver peaks of the Gongga Snow Mountain hundreds of kilometres away. At the Duguang Terrace (睹光台) on Golden Summit, visitors can witness four spectacular natural phenomena: the magnificent sea of clouds, sunrise, the “Buddha's Light” (佛光) unique to Mount Emei, and the Sacred Lantern (圣灯). Halfway up the mountain are two highlights: Wannian Temple (万年寺) and Qingyin Pavilion (清音阁). Near Qingyin Pavilion, the “One Line Sky” (一线天) path is regularly visited by troops of monkeys. The traditional Ten Scenes of Mount Emei are: Golden Summit Auspicious Light, Elephant Pool Moonlit Night, Nine Elders' Immortal Abode, Snow over Daping, Dawn Rain at Hongchun, Autumn Wind at Baishui, Clear Music over the Twin Bridges, Verdant Peaks at Lingyan, Clear Clouds over Luo Peak, and Evening Bell at Shengji. Just from their names they sound beautiful, but due to natural weather conditions and environmental changes, only seven survive today, and it is very hard to see all of them in one visit. As a result, a set of New Ten Scenes has been proposed: Golden Buddha of Golden Summit, Ten Thousand Buddhas Paying Homage, Xiaoping Romance, Light through One Line Sky, Monkeys in the Secluded Valley, Clear Music Lake, First Mountain Pavilion, Wushu Town, Pearl Lake Embraced by Greenery, and Health and Beauty Lake.
Entrance ticket: ¥160 in peak season, ¥110 in off-season. Golden Summit cable car: peak season ¥65 up, ¥55 down; off-season ¥30 up, ¥20 down. Wannian cable car: peak season ¥65 up, ¥45 down; off-season ¥30 up, ¥20 down. Temple admission fees also apply: Baoguo Temple ¥8, Fuhu Temple ¥8, Wannian Temple ¥10. Skiing ¥120 per person per hour. · 1–3 days
Leshan Giant Buddha
Nature, with its uncanny craftsmanship, has carved the solemn Leshan Sleeping Buddha. The area is steeped in Buddhist art and rich cultural heritage. Su Xun, Su Shi and Su Zhe, the father and sons who were giants of Song-dynasty literature, were all from Leshan, as was the modern writer Guo Moruo. The best place to view the Giant Buddha is from the ferry, which passes in front of it so that the full figure of the Buddha comes into view. Guantao Pavilion (观涛阁), built on a cliff on the hill of Wuyou Temple (乌尤寺), is the finest spot to watch the Dadu River and the Min River converge. The silt-laden waters rush and roar past in a spectacular display. Walking along the Lingyun Plank Road (凌云栈道) to the left of the Giant Buddha takes you directly to its base. Looking up from here, you feel as if the Buddha rises ever higher the more you gaze at it. To the right of the Giant Buddha is the Nine-Bend Ancient Plank Road (九曲古栈道), carved into the sheer cliff beside the statue. It is extremely steep and winds through nine turns, allowing you to climb to the top of Lingyun Hill and admire the sculptural artistry of the Giant Buddha's head.
¥80; river boat ticket ¥70 (covers views of the full Giant Buddha, the Sleeping Buddha and the Three Rivers)