Top Things to do in Dujiangyan
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10 Things to Do in Dujiangyan That You Shouldn't Miss
Discover the best top things to do in Dujiangyan, China including Dujiangyan Irrigation System, Panda Valley, China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda, Anlan Bridge, Dujiangyan Forest Park, Back Peak of Qingcheng Mountain, Yuzui Diversion Channel, Erwang Temple, Mt. Yulei Park, DuJiangYanShi BuXingJie.
Restaurants in Dujiangyan
1. Dujiangyan Irrigation System
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 742 reviews
The historical irrigation system dates back to the 3rd century B.C and still functions.
Reviewed By Alex W - Singapore, Singapore
That the Chinese are really good at building infrastructure is a meme for the present age. Just look at their numerous new suspension Bridges, metro systems and bullet trains. The Dujiangyan irrigation and flood control project shows you why. It was built in 256BCE – nearly 2,300 years ago. The Chinese have had a lot of experience doing infrastructure.
In essence what you’ll see is a diversion of a fairly large river, with a raging volume of water, into man-made channels. There are several man-made channels of carefully designed widths to control the amount of water flowing into them. There’s even a spillway in case there is too much water for the channels to handle.
At first glance, it does not immediately strike you as breathtaking, but if you think about how it was done with mostly human labour and little technology 2,300 years ago, if you just try to imagine diverting a river of this size... the immensity of the achievement comes to the fore.
This is actually quite a large site. Most of it is parkland and will take some walking to see the project from various angles.
You need to get to Lidui Park (entry was 100 yuan) in sprawling Dujiangyan town in order to see the project. Lidui Park has several vantage points. It was quite busy with visitors.
I did this as a day trip from Chengdu, paired with Qingchengshan (see my review in Mount QingCheng).
What I did was to take the metro from downtown Chengdu to Xipu metro station at the Northwest end of metro line #2. It took me 30 minutes from downtown Chengdu to get to Xipu. From Xipu, normal trains run to Dujiangyan, roughly every hour but you need to check the schedule carefully a few days beforehand. Always have your passport with you: you’ll need it to buy a train ticket.
It’s only 40 minutes by train from Xipu to Dujiangyan. Unfortunately, the train station at Dujiangyan is some distance from Lidui Park. So, as you exit Dujiangyan train station, turn right and walk about 50 metres where you can catch local bus #4. (2 yuan).
Ride local bus #4 to its end; it terminates at Lidui Park. I spent slightly over 2 hours in Lidui Park, though if I wasn't going to Qingchengshan I would have stayed longer. Anyway, I was out of there by midday. Instead of going back to Chengdu (by taking bus #4 to Dujiangyan railway station), I hopped onto local bus #101from outside the Lidui Park gate, which took me directly to QingChengShan scenic area.
See my review in Mount QingCheng for more details.
2. Panda Valley
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 68 reviews
Reviewed By bradjosephs - Homer, Alaska
This place is awesome! Amazing landscaping and Gardens, great panda viewing, and no crowds!! It is really cool and I love it there.
3. China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda
Overall Ratings
5 based on 18 reviews
Reviewed By Mankducati - New York City, New York
This facility is what they call the Panda Ark. It's larger then the Panda Valley. They house more pandas and also have a few red pandas which are really cool. Also for a high price you can hug a panda and feed a panda for a few minutes and take photos. Well worth it. Plus the money is a donation towards the conservation to help the pandas. If you have the time you can even volunteer for a day which I would have loved to do but didn't have the time. This conservation does get pretty busy but well worth your time.
Just keep in mind that they really try to rush you during the feed and hug. So make sure to go during the week and have your cameras prepared.
4. Anlan Bridge
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 34 reviews
5. Dujiangyan Forest Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 42 reviews
Reviewed By dianacacahuete - Madrid, España
I really enjoyed my visit to Dujiangyan, the town that inspired the movie Kung Fu Panda. It's not as crowded as other touristic spots in China, in fact I went on a sunday and it didn't feel crowded at all. The park is amazing, full of beautiful temples and nature with a very relaxing atmosphere. It felt very real and not so exploited for tourism. It is a good alternative day trip to Qingchengshan.
6. Back Peak of Qingcheng Mountain
Overall Ratings
4 based on 33 reviews
Reviewed By Joy T - Singapore, Singapore
A manageable trek though there were some quite steep sections Recommend ascending via 五龙沟 then descending via 飞泉沟 as the latter is much steeper. We only had time to climb to the middle of the mountain (又一村) where we had lunch. Food is not great and expensive. There are many huts along the way where local snacks like sausages, corn, potato can be bought.
It had been raining so the Waterfalls, pools and streams were full and beautiful. Definitely worth spending the day.
7. Yuzui Diversion Channel
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 13 reviews
Reviewed By pmoore222 - Little Rock, Arkansas
You may walk or travel by bus to the head of the water dyke. There is a small fee for bus. There's a nice observation point from the head of the dyke. This is a photo shoot area. I would encourage you to walk along the scenic river side. Great scenery.......There is a Memorial Monument and covered entrance to the famous Anlan (husband and wife) Suspension Bridge. You may rest there before crossing the river to the Qinyan Tower-Erwang Temple side. A must see area of the historic system.
8. Erwang Temple
Overall Ratings
4 based on 19 reviews
Reviewed By pmoore222 - Little Rock, Arkansas
A very beautiful and historic building. Contains many historical relics, historical photos, and information about the irrigation system. It also contains small Gardens as well as scenic observation areas. Great place to shoot photos!
9. Mt. Yulei Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 13 reviews
10. DuJiangYanShi BuXingJie
Overall Ratings
4 based on 16 reviews
Reviewed By TJX05 - Singapore, Singapore
This place is at its best during the evening when it is lit up. It is really pretty.
There are plenty of shops and restaurants here including Wal Mart. There are a few hotels inside this ancient town as well.
The entrance to the Irrigation System is just outside the other side of the ancient town after walking through the famous Blue Bridge. Over there is the bus 101 to QingChengShan for only CNY2.
We like a cute and modern cafe along the main street inside the Ancient Town where we dined a few times. It is called the Oulong Cafe near the end of Xinfu Street. The food was tasty and service was great with nice English, Mandarin and Cantonese songs played there.
This Ancient Town is really pleasant and we also like the very nice bakery Holiland just outside the main gate along the main road. Don't miss this place if you are visiting the area.
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