Stop squeezing into crowded popular ancient towns! This "small and beautiful" hidden gem in Qionglai is perfect for sipping tea and daydreaming all afternoon

When you think of ancient towns, do you worry about crowds and noisy street vendors? Then you must visit Jiaguan Ancient Town in the southwest of Qionglai City, Chengdu, Sichuan — nestled among mountains, 37 kilometers from Qionglai city center, just 8.5 kilometers from the national scenic spot Tiantai Mountain, and about 2 kilometers from the Jiaguan interchange on the Qionglai-Mianyang Expressway. It’s very convenient to drive here from Chengdu, but unlike popular spots, it’s quiet and peaceful, small but enough to hold a whole afternoon of leisure. There are no complicated winding routes here; the main street stretches along the Baimo River. Just a few steps and you’ll see lush old trees whose shade fully covers the street. Even in summer, you don’t have to worry about the sun. Walking under the tree shadows, the breeze feels cool and refreshing—more comfortable than staying in an air-conditioned room. The most comfortable spot is the tea stall by the river. Find a bamboo chair, order a bowl of covered bowl tea, and for just a few yuan, you can sit all afternoon. Before you flows the gently moving river, three ancient bridges span both banks, and occasionally a few ducks swim slowly by, creating ripples; there’s no noisy chatter, only the bubbling sound of boiling tea, the rustling of leaves in the wind, and the soft murmur of locals chatting in the distance. It’s not noisy, but rather very soothing. No need to rush to see sights or take check-in photos; here, daydreaming doesn’t feel like wasting time. Watch the river flow slowly, see clouds drift in the sky, chat casually with the tea stall owner, and try the local "Four Delicacies" snacks — meat soup dumplings, smoked meat, crossing-the-river chicken, and tender tofu pudding, all authentic local flavors. Compared to those commercialized ancient towns, Jiaguan feels like an "undisturbed old place," preserving the simplest sense of life. If you want to avoid crowds and find a quiet place to relax, Jiaguan Ancient Town, hidden among the mountains and waters of Qionglai, is just right — it may not have stunning big sights, but it truly lets you feel how comfortable slowing down time can be.