Tongnan Autumn 3-Day Food and Travel Guide! I'll tell you exactly how to play and eat every day

Let's just say autumn in Tongnan is really great for exploring. I've laid out a 3-day itinerary for you, with clear plans from morning to night each day. Just follow along! Day 1: Head to Chongkan Town! Capture plenty of beautiful rice field scenery Don’t get up too late in the morning; leaving the city around 8 AM is fine. It takes about an hour to drive there. The roads are rural paths with lush green crops on both sides—super relaxing. Once you arrive in Chongkan Town, find a parking spot; parking costs 10 yuan per day and is quite convenient. Spend the morning in the rice fields! The vast golden rice fields are truly stunning, especially the “Taiji Diagram.” The panoramic view from the observation deck is amazing. Be sure to take the sightseeing train, 20 yuan per person, slowly drifting through the waves of rice. When the wind blows, the air is filled with the fragrance of rice flowers. Remember to wear light-colored clothes for photos—they look great against the golden fields! For lunch, eat local farmhouse dishes in town. Just pick any place with a “homegrown” sign, order some stir-fried cured meat with green peppers, tender tofu pudding, and a bowl of rice soup. It costs about 30 yuan per person and tastes fantastic. Keep exploring in the afternoon! Don’t just stay at the observation deck—walk deeper into the rice fields. There are small ridges between the fields (be careful not to step on the rice). Close-up shots here are very atmospheric, especially around 3 PM when the sunlight sparkles on the rice ears. At sunset, be sure to wait by the small river next to the fields. Watch the sun slowly set behind distant farmhouses, casting a warm golden glow over the entire rice field. Any photo you take with your phone will look like wallpaper! For the night, choose where to stay based on your plans: if you want to continue exploring the next day, stay in a small guesthouse in town for 80-100 yuan per night—clean and quiet. If you want more options, drive back to the city, which is just an hour away, where there are many hotels. Day 2: Touch the Buddha’s feet at the Great Buddha Temple, then enjoy cold noodles in the ancient town At 8:30 AM, head straight to Tongnan Great Buddha Temple when it’s less crowded and no lines! The entrance fee is 50 yuan. Go straight to the giant Buddha statue inside—the 18-meter-tall gilded Buddha shines brilliantly in the sunlight. You can walk around to the Buddha’s feet and touch them for good luck. Be sure to try the “Stone Steps Melody,” which is the 36 stone steps you slowly walk up while hearing the tinkling sounds like a zither. It’s magical—try it a few times! For lunch, find a snack shop in the city. Tongnan’s hot and sour noodles are a must-try. Add extra vinegar and peanuts, and pair it with freshly baked guokui (crispy flatbread). It costs just 15 yuan and is very filling. Around 2 PM, drive 20 minutes to Shuangjiang Ancient Town. There’s no entrance fee! Walk on the bluestone paths lined with old houses. Be sure to visit the Yang family residence—the wood carvings inside are incredible, with flowers, birds, fish, and insects carved so lifelike. Take your time; you can spend half an hour there. Sometimes, elderly people perform Sichuan opera in the theater in front of Yuwang Palace. Even if you don’t understand it, the atmosphere is wonderful. When you get tired, grab a bowl of brown sugar glutinous rice cakes from a street stall for 10 yuan. They’re warm, soft, and sweet when dipped in brown sugar. In the evening, stroll around the ancient town. When the red lanterns light up, the old eaves with lanterns create a very artistic scene. Head back to the city around 6 PM. Day 3: Breathe fresh air in the Nanmu forest, watch the sunset at Fujiang River On the last day, visit a less crowded spot! Drive to the Golden Nanmu Forest in Wugui Town at 9 AM. It’s about an hour and a half drive with light traffic, so it’s easy going. There’s no entrance fee to the Nanmu Forest. Once inside, it feels cool and refreshing. The thousand-year-old nanmu trees form a canopy, and the air is filled with the fresh scent of wood. Take a slow walk and listen to the birds—it’s very relaxing. Remember to wear a light jacket because it’s about 3 degrees cooler inside than outside. For lunch, eat at a farmhouse near the Nanmu Forest. Order some native chicken soup and stir-fried vegetables, all homegrown and very fresh. It costs about 40 yuan per person. At 1 PM, visit the Malongshan Reclining Buddha, just a 10-minute drive from the Nanmu Forest. The Reclining Buddha is hidden in the mountains and rarely crowded. Stand in front of the huge Buddha statue and feel peaceful inside. Don’t rush—stay a while, enjoy the sun and breeze. Around 4 PM, head back to the city. Don’t go straight to the hotel; instead, go to Binjiang Road by the Fujiang River. Find a stone bench and wait for the sunset. The autumn sunset over Fujiang is stunning. The sun slowly sets behind the mountains across the river, turning the water orange-red. Occasionally, fishing boats pass by. It’s perfect for shooting videos to share on social media! For dinner, have hotpot in the city. Tongnan’s hotpot is on the spicy side. Order a yuan yang pot (half spicy, half mild), cook some tripe and duck intestines, and enjoy an ice-cold beer. This completes your 3-day trip perfectly! Oh, one more thing: the temperature difference between morning and night in autumn is big. No matter which day, remember to bring a light jacket to avoid catching a cold. If you’re driving, slow down on rural roads—villagers may cross the road in some places!