Bashan Grand Canyon, Xuanhan County

Travel Guide for Bashan Grand Canyon, Xuanhan County Overview Bashan Grand Canyon is located in Xuanhan County, Dazhou City, and is known as the "Zhangjiajie of Sichuan." It is a natural scenic area that combines canyons, caves, forests, and sea of clouds. The scenic area is mainly divided into three parts: Taoxi Valley, Elephant Cave, and Luopanding, blending magnificent natural scenery with rich Bashan cultural heritage. Below is an overview of the main attractions and experiences at Bashan Grand Canyon: Attraction Area | Main Attractions/Experiences | Features ---|---|--- Taoxi Valley | Hiking wooden plank trail | 3km waterside trail, with views of monkey groups and waterfalls | Rafting (summer) | "The No.1 Rafting in Eastern Sichuan," thrilling and refreshing | Huajiagou Sightseeing Elevator | Built along a cliff, 160 meters high, about 1 minute to reach the top for viewing | Dahongyan Plank Trail/Glass Plank Trail | Built along a sheer cliff, some parts are transparent glass, thrilling and exciting | Tea Immortal’s Home/Tea Immortal’s Dam | Like a paradise, ideal for flower lovers and ancient-style photography enthusiasts Elephant Cave | Calcified pools, colorful plank trails, Moonlight Stone Forest, Magic Tree Cave, Time Tunnel, etc. | A magical and colorful underground cave world with various spectacular stalactite formations in diverse shapes Luopanding | Yunding Feidu Glass Bridge | Cliffside 5D special effect glass bridge | Zhuangyuan Tower | Climb the tower to pray for good luck for students | Red Cedar Plank Trail | Pristine forest oxygen bar | Alpine Rhododendrons (spring) | Blooming beautifully in spring | Red Leaves/Sea of Clouds (autumn) | Mountains covered with red leaves and rolling sea of clouds in autumn Cultural Experience | "Dream Back to Bashu" Performance | Directed by Ha Wen’s team, an immersive Bashu cultural epic drama with a 360° rotating stage | Night Tour of Bashan | Light show featuring projections of animals and flowers, blessing corridor, Tujia bowl-breaking wine experience, rose garden photo spots Suggested Itineraries One-Day Highlights Route Elephant Cave → Taoxi Valley (hiking or rafting) → Luopanding Sea of Clouds → "Dream Back to Bashu" Performance (night) Two-Day In-Depth Experience · Day 1: Arrive at the scenic area in the morning, visit Elephant Cave in the afternoon (about 1.5 hours, constant 18°C inside, a great summer cool spot), watch the "Dream Back to Bashu" performance in the evening (20:00-21:10). · Day 2: Explore Taoxi Valley all day, choose hiking or rafting (summer), take the cable car to Luopanding in the afternoon to enjoy the sea of clouds and sunset. Practical Information · Opening Hours: Opens at 8:30 AM · Ticket Prices: · Combined ticket (Elephant Cave + Taoxi Valley + Luopanding): 120 RMB · "Dream Back to Bashu" performance ticket: 238 RMB (includes admission) · Half price for students and seniors with valid ID · Best Seasons: · May-June: Rhododendron sea + rafting open · September-October: Red leaf season + frequent sea of clouds · Winter: Rime and snow scenery (bring snow chains for self-driving) Transportation · Self-driving: · From Chengdu: about 380 km, via Huyu Expressway then Baomao Expressway, about 4.5 hours · From Chongqing: about 300 km, via Baomao Expressway (G65), about 3.5 hours · From Dazhou city center: via Baomao Expressway, about 2 hours · High-speed Rail: · From Chengdu East Station to Dazhou Station: about 2 hours by bullet train, ticket around 104 RMB · From Chongqing North Station to Dazhou Station: about 1.5 hours by bullet train, ticket 37.5-104 RMB · After arriving in Dazhou: take a bus from Dazhou South Station to Xuanhan County (frequent departures), then transfer to the scenic area shuttle bus (Note: direct scenic area bus runs once daily, timing may not be convenient) Accommodation Recommendations · Dukou Style Town: Taoxi Bieyuan, Bashan Minghao Hotel, convenient parking and dining · Sangshuping Area: Jielu Boutique Hotel, Yunman Bashan Resort Villa, suitable for night tours of Bashan · Luopanding: Yunding Forest Resort Hotel, glass starry sky rooms, excellent stargazing experience Food Recommendations · Inside the scenic area: Tujia smoked pork ribs, Bashan hanging pot (stewed native chicken and mountain delicacies), goat horn dried tofu (good as souvenirs) · Xuanhan County town: Tujia Eight Bowls (steamed dish feast, reservation required), Gege noodles (steamed lamb/rib Ge + noodles)