A perfect Dragon Boat Festival destination for ancient town enthusiasts: Self-driving to Chongqing's Xituo Ancient Town

For those who always seek a hidden gem during holidays, let me introduce the impressive Xituo Ancient Town. ❶ The town's characteristic is that of a mountain city This ancient town is located in Shizhu Tujia Autonomous County, Chongqing. Its features are consistent with those of a mountain city, being a town that stretches from the clouds on the mountains down to the riverside. The 'Cloud Ladder Street' with a vertical drop of nearly 160 meters and a total of 1314 steps runs through the town, with many Ming and Qing buildings, including but not limited to temples and residences, lined up along this long staircase. ❷ The town's trading past Down by the river, we find that Xituo Ancient Town's Cloud Ladder Street directly faces the Yangtze River's backflow. This place has been a bustling trading town since ancient times, with its prosperity peaking during the Qing Dynasty. In the Qin and Han dynasties, the main trade goods in the town were salt, which gradually diversified over time. ❸ Contemplation above the river and clouds Xituo Ancient Town was once the western boundary of Ba Prefecture, hence its original name 'Xijie Tuo'. Today, the town is still separated by a river from Zhong County. If visitors come to the ancient town at sunset, whether standing by the river or on the high Sky Street Corridor Bridge (which divides Cloud Ladder Street into upper and lower sections), they can feel moved by the majestic scenery of the Yangtze River's banks, with the changing days and surging waves. 🚙 Practical tips for self-driving 📱 Navigation: Set 'Xituo Ancient Town'. 🛣️ Road conditions: Generally good. Some sections may experience traffic jams at certain times. ⛽ Fuel: Convenient to refuel in Xituo Town. No charging stations seen. 🅿️ Parking: There is a parking lot in the ancient town scenic area. 🎫 Admission: No tickets required. ⏳ Time spent: It is recommended to allocate 2–3 hours to visit Xituo Ancient Town. ▶️ All photos are originally taken and produced by Mr. Dog and Cai Cai Juan Er. ▶️ The above content is based on personal travel experience, please forgive any omissions. ▶️ Due to the timeliness, some scenes may have changed, subject to the current situation. 🔸🔹🔸 If you like self-driving and prefer the road less traveled, listen to the stories from Cai Cai Juan Er.