[2025 Ya'an Attraction] Travel Guide for Qingyi River (Updated Jun)

Preparation - Clothing: The average summer temperature in Ya'an is around 23°C, cooler in the morning and evening. Pack long-sleeved jackets, pants, as well as breathable short-sleeved shirts and shorts, along with rain gear. - Essentials: Bring sunscreen, sunglasses, hats, and other sun protection items, as well as common medications. Attractions - Bifengxia: Lush forests, numerous waterfalls, and fresh air make this a perfect summer retreat. As a national 5A-level scenic area, it's also home to the Bifengxia Panda Base, where you can interact closely with giant pandas. - Shangli Ancient Town: Preserving many Ming and Qing dynasty buildings, the town features ancient bridges, trees, and streets in perfect harmony. Stroll through the town to enjoy a leisurely atmosphere or cool off by playing in the streams. - Mengding Mountain: A sacred mountain of global tea culture, visit attractions like the Imperial Tea Garden and Mengquan Well to learn about its millennia-old tea heritage. Thrill-seekers can also try canopy walks. - Niubei Mountain: One of China's rare 360° panoramic snow mountain viewing platforms, offering views of Mount Niba, Mount Wawu, Mount Emei, Mount Jiajin, Mount Siguniang, and Mount Erlang. From June to July, you might witness spectacular sea of clouds, sunrises, and starry skies. Food Recommendations - Ya Fish: A local specialty with tender, nutritious meat. Try Ya Fish hotpot or steamed Ya Fish. - Ya'an Clay Pot Ya Fish: Slow-cooked in a clay pot with ham, mushrooms, bamboo shoots, and other ingredients for a rich, flavorful broth. - Dada Noodles: Thick, chewy noodles served with various toppings like beef, pork, or mixed sauce. - Shimian Barbecue: Features grilled pork belly, beef, and pork throat, paired with a unique dipping sauce for a spicy, aromatic taste. Accommodation - Luxury: Options like the Crowne Plaza Ya'an offer views of the Qingyi River and tranquility in the city center. Alternatively, Zuo Wang · Yuan Suo · Yunfeng Zhenli Hotel lets you enjoy ancient temple bells and valley scenery. - Budget: Choose chain hotels or guesthouses near downtown or attractions, such as Hanting Hotel or 7 Days Inn, for convenience and affordability. Transportation Guide - External Travel: First reach Chengdu, then take a high-speed train (about 1 hour) or bus (about 2 hours) to Ya'an. - Local Transport: Buses in Ya'an city reach some attractions. For remote spots, opt for taxis or ride-sharing. Group travelers may consider chartering a car for flexible itinerary planning.

I went to Ya'an during the Lunar New Year and took a lesser-known route. It wasn't crowded at all and the experience was great. I arrived on the first day in the evening and stayed at the YJUC Hotel in the new district by the Qingyi River. The family room had panda dolls and a small tent, which my child loved. In the morning, I took a walk along the river from the hotel. On the other side of the river is the landmark building, the Yayu Tower. In winter, Ya'an welcomes seagulls and mergansers. There were many tourists feeding the seagulls and buying food for them. Walking upstream, I saw the statue of Nuwa Patching the Sky and the 30th Parallel Park, which has many panda statues that my child loved. There are many restaurants near the statue of Nuwa Patching the Sky. You must try the Yayu in a clay pot. The soup is especially delicious. There is a sword in the skull of the Yayu, and the owner will give you a delicate box to put it in. In the afternoon, I went to Jiaguan Ancient Town, which is more than half an hour away by car. "A small bridge and flowing water, an ancient road, a thin horse, the setting sun, and a heartbroken man at the end of the world" are all embodied in Jiaguan Ancient Town. In the evening, I went to see the night view of the Daxiaolang Bridge. Then I went to Qijiao Yufu near the bridge. The fish was delicious, and it was worth waiting in line for more than an hour. I stayed at the Xingyue Hotel, a four-star hotel located halfway up Zhangjia Mountain. During the Lunar New Year, when other hotels doubled their prices, this hotel didn't raise its prices, which was really touching. The hotel breakfast was rich, and they thoughtfully prepared panda plates, panda spoons, panda bowls, and panda cups for the children. It was so cute, and my child loved it. In the morning, I climbed the Xishu Ladder, which has about 1,000 steps. At the top is the Jinfeng Temple, where you can overlook the city of Ya'an. At noon, I had Yinjiang Chicken, which was okay, and bought a jar of meat when I left. In the afternoon, I visited Tianxian Pass, which is narrow, with high mountains and fast-flowing water, and is quite spectacular. In Tianxian Pass Ancient Town, there is a suspension bridge and the ruins of the ancient Tea Horse Road. Next to the ancient town is National Highway 318, which you can visit. The Lion Mountain Observation Deck overlooks the entire scenic area, and you can also see the Sichuan-Tibet Railway under construction. Lesser-known travel routes in Ya'an

What is Ya'an? This is the transition zone between the Sichuan Basin and the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, a land of shining mountains and rivers, the lungs of abundance, the hometown of pandas, the source of tea, a gene bank of animals and plants, a livable city, nourishing rain... It is an ethnic geopolitical corridor and the origin of the Ancient Tea-Horse Road. The 30th parallel north and the "Hu Huanyong Line" intersect in Ya'an, which is also the "geometric center" of Sichuan's territory... Ya'an is diverse, integrated, changing and colorful. To its west and north, it belongs to the Qionglai Mountains in the eastern part of the Hengduan Mountains on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. The mountains are vast, surrounded by mountains and snow-capped peaks, and the Qingyi River runs through it. To its south is another mountain range of the Hengduan Mountains, the southern extension of the Daxue Mountains. The Daxiang Mountains and Xiaoxiang Mountains alternate from north to south, and the Dadu River splits the mountains like a giant axe, flowing eastward into the Sichuan Basin. The eastern part is the low and medium mountain and hilly area on the western edge of the Sichuan Basin, with developed terraced hills and shallow hill plains, with undulating mountains, interlaced valleys and basins, and crisscrossing tea ridges. This is both the eastern edge of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and the western edge of the Sichuan Basin, and naturally it is also a transition zone between these two landforms; this is both the edge of the Han culture extending westward and the edge of the Tibetan and Yi culture expanding eastward, and naturally it is also a region where multiple cultures converge and merge; This is both the edge of the modern central city and the original natural ecological zone, and the junction and transition zone between them; this is both the gateway to the ancient Southern Silk Road, the starting point of the Ancient Tea-Horse Road, and the end point of these ancient roads. Tea and silk start from here, and the exotic goods of the Western Regions and South Asia meet here.