4 Days 3 Nights In-Depth Travel Guide to Guangyuan

Travel friends! I have just returned from the misty Qinba Mountains. At six in the morning, I heard the first breeze pass through the thousand-year-old cypress trees on the suspended plank road at Jianmen Pass. Beneath my feet was a deep valley, and in the distance, the Shu Road wound like a dragon—at that moment, I felt as if I had traveled back to the prosperous Tang Dynasty when "one man guards the pass, and ten thousand cannot open it." Today, I’ve customized a 4-day, 3-night cultural and nature deep tour of Guangyuan, Sichuan, with a budget controlled under 5,000 RMB (actually about ¥4860). I’ll take you into the "Gateway to Northern Sichuan," climbing the majestic Jianmen Pass, exploring the ancient plank road of Mingyue Gorge, visiting the hometown of the Empress at Huangze Temple, walking the thousand-year-old cypress path at Cuiyun Corridor, soaking in hot spring inns, tasting authentic Northern Sichuan cold noodles and the Jianmen tofu feast. This itinerary is perfect for history lovers, photography enthusiasts, or those wanting to avoid crowds. 📍 Destination: Guangyuan City, Sichuan Province (including Jiange County and Zhaohua Ancient City) 📅 Duration: 4 days 3 nights 💰 Total budget: 5,000 RMB/person (including transportation, accommodation, meals, tickets, and experiences) 🚄🚗🚌 Transportation: High-speed train + bus + chartered car + hiking 🌟 Highlights: - In-depth tour of the "Three Essence Highlights of Shu Road": Jianmen Pass, Cuiyun Corridor, Mingyue Gorge - Visit the birthplace of China’s only Empress Wu Zetian—Huangze Temple - Overnight stay at Zhaohua Ancient City riverside courtyard or Jianmen Hot Spring Hotel - Free check-ins: Qianfo Cliff Grottoes, old town alleys, Jialing River night views - Taste five must-eats: Jianmen tofu feast, hot and sour noodles, steamed cold noodles, Empress’s dish, walnut cakes > ⚠️ Friendly reminder: The best travel seasons are March to May & September to November, with pleasant climate and lush vegetation! 📅 Detailed itinerary Day 1: Arrive in Guangyuan by high-speed train | First encounter with Jialing River 🚄 Transportation tips: - High-speed train direct to Guangyuan Station (GYW) - Round-trip high-speed train ticket about ¥760 (departing from Chengdu/Chongqing/Xi’an) 🚌 Transfer: Guangyuan Station → city center (bus ¥2 / taxi ¥15, about 20 minutes) 🏨 Afternoon: Check into a boutique inn in the old town - Recommended: “Qichi · Small Town Story” or “Jialing Inn · Riverside Residence” ✅ Courtyard renovated with white walls and gray tiles, with terrace ¥320/night (breakfast included) 🌄 Evening: Stroll along Nanhe Riverside Road + visit Qianfo Cliff Grottoes (free) - Thousand-year-old cliff carvings, mainly Tang Dynasty style - At sunset, light and shadow fall on the Buddha statues, serene and solemn 🍲 Dinner: Local popular restaurant “Li’s Kitchen” - Jianmen tofu pot + steamed cold noodles + hot and sour noodles → about ¥65 per person > 💰 Estimated Day 1 expenses: Transportation ¥775 + Accommodation ¥320 + Meals ¥65 = ¥1160 Day 2: Soul of Shu Road | Jianmen Pass + Cuiyun Corridor 🚌 All day: Guangyuan → Jianmen Pass Scenic Area (carpool round trip ¥100) - Scenic area entrance + sightseeing bus combo ticket ¥105/person (mandatory purchase) ⛰️ Classic route (about 6-7 hours total): 1. Transfer to sightseeing bus to the mountain gate 2. Climb Jianmen Pass tower: experience the peril of "two mountains flanking, one river flowing between" 3. Walk the cliff plank road: built along the mountain, the abyss below takes your breath away 4. Climb the bird path (optional, steep and thrilling) or take the gentle trail to the top 5. Arrive at the glass viewing platform: overlook the endless mountain peaks 6. Descend passing Jiang Wei statue, Thunder Bridge, exit the scenic area 🌳 Afternoon: Visit Cuiyun Corridor on the way - “Three hundred long paths, one hundred thousand trees,” with over 8,000 ancient cypresses remaining - Walking highlight section: Beimiao Township — Lanmaqiao Wall (about 2 km) - Photo focus: sunbeams piercing through cypress branches forming light pillars 🏨 Evening: Stay at a characteristic inn in Zhaohua Ancient City - Recommended: “Jiameng Inn · Listening to Rain Pavilion” ✅ Ming and Qing dynasty courtyard renovation, quiet and Zen ¥360/night (breakfast included) 🍲 Dinner: “Zhang’s Tofu Workshop” inside the ancient city - Twelve-course Jianmen tofu feast (small portion) ¥98/person → about ¥100 per person > 💰 Estimated Day 2 expenses: Transportation ¥100 + Tickets ¥105 + Meals ¥100 + Accommodation ¥360 = ¥665 Day 3: Ancient road secret realm | Mingyue Gorge + Slow life in Zhaohua Ancient City 🚐 Morning: Chartered car to Mingyue Gorge Scenic Area (carpool for four, about ¥60 per person) - Ticket ¥80, known as the "China Transportation Museum" 🔍 Three main highlights: 1. Pre-Qin plank road ruins: ancient people carved holes and built wooden paths, extremely perilous 2. Jialing River waterway: ancient transport route, now short boat rides available (additional ¥30) 3. Baocheng Railway tunnel group: trains pass through mountains, a blend of ancient and modern 📸 Photography tips: - Use telephoto to capture trains exiting tunnels - Shoot from below the plank road to emphasize the danger - Early morning backlight to capture sparkling river surface 🏰 Afternoon: Deep exploration of Zhaohua Ancient City - Free admission but requires reservation via “One Mobile Phone Tour Sichuan” - Must-see spots: - Wei State Gate & Yan Family Tomb - Kongming Well & Governor’s Office - Ancient city wall cycling (bike rental ¥20/hour) - Tip: Find a teahouse, sit down for a covered bowl tea, and listen to locals chatting 🏡 Continue staying at Zhaohua Ancient City inn 🍲 Dinner: Upgrade to an Empress-themed feast - Empress’s dish (pumpkin lily bulb stewed chicken) + walnut cake + rice wine → about ¥85 per person 🌌 Night: Photograph ancient city lantern reflections or starry sky time-lapse > 💰 Estimated Day 3 expenses: Transportation ¥60 + Tickets ¥80 + Meals ¥85 + Accommodation ¥360 = ¥585 Day 4: Echoes of the journey home | Bringing Shu Road memories back 🌅 Early morning (optional): Zhaohua Ancient City morning market experience - Buy handmade walnut cakes ¥15/bag, tofu pudding rice ¥8/bowl 🛍️ Morning: Buy souvenirs + return to Guangyuan Station - Recommended: - Vacuum-packed Jianmen dried tofu ¥68/bag × 2 - Handmade walnut crisp ¥45/box - Zhaohua rattan woven small basket ¥78 each - Jianmen Pass cultural bookmark set ¥35 - Guangyuan olive oil (cold-pressed) ¥98/bottle - Qianfo Cliff rubbing postcards ¥25 set 🚌 Noon: Zhaohua → Guangyuan Station (carpool ¥80) 🚄 Afternoon: Take high-speed train back home > 💰 Estimated Day 4 expenses: Transportation ¥140 + Meals ¥30 + Souvenirs ¥300 = ¥470 ✅ Total budget summary (per person) | Item | Cost (RMB) | |---------------|------------| | Round-trip high-speed train tickets | ¥760 | | Local transportation | ¥380 | | Accommodation (3 nights) | ¥1040 | | Meals | ¥280 | | Tickets + experiences | ¥265 | | Souvenirs | ¥300 | | Emergency reserve | ¥300 | | Total | ¥4855 | > 🎉 Remaining 145 RMB can be used for: - Upgrade one night to a high-end courtyard room (+¥300) - Purchase a Shu Road map decorative painting (+¥98) - Buy extra packs of dried tofu for the road (+¥68) 📸 Photography tips (blogger’s secret): 1. Aerial shot of Jianmen Pass cliff plank road: DJI Mini series takeoff, 50 meters high shooting people walking on it 2. Cuiyun Corridor light and shadow mottling: early morning low-angle backlight shooting cypress silhouettes 3. Mingyue Gorge ancient and modern in one frame: telephoto compression shot including train + plank road + river boat 4. Zhaohua Ancient City night lantern reflections: shoot symmetrical beauty on stone pavement after rain 5. Tofu feast close-up: macro lens capturing the trembling texture of tender tofu 🧳 Pre-trip advice: - Season: Best in spring and autumn (March to May for spring outings, September to November for autumn viewing), summer is also good for cooling off - Clothing: - Quick-dry clothes + windbreaker + hiking shoes - Ladies can bring plain long dresses for ancient town photos - Protection: - High SPF50+ sunscreen - Lip balm, thermos cup - Bring stomach medicine, motion sickness patches, band-aids - Avoid pitfalls: - Do not touch stone Buddha statues casually - Drones are prohibited in Mingyue Gorge - Book peak times in advance via “Smart Travel Tianfu” - Choose drivers from official platforms for charter cars to avoid sudden price hikes In four days and three nights, you will walk the thousand-year-old Shu Road, stay in Ming and Qing dynasty courtyards, taste silky tofu, and hear stories from the Three Kingdoms. In Guangyuan, a land steeped in history, you will live like a frontier poem from the Bashan and Shu waters. I am a travel blogger who writes distant places into diaries. Next stop, I’m heading to Zhaoxing Dong Village in Guizhou to listen to the 800-year-old Dong grand song under the drum tower at night. Follow me if you want to see the guide🌿