Real Guide to Exploring Qianfoyan

Real Guide to Exploring Qianfoyan 📍 Location Navigation Jiajiang County, Leshan City, Sichuan Province. Navigate to "Dongfengyan—Qianfoyan Scenic Area." It is convenient to get here from Leshan city or Mount Emei, about a half-hour drive. 🎫 Tickets and Opening Hours Ticket: 30 RMB per person, excellent value! Opening Hours: 08:00-18:00 (times may slightly adjust, it’s recommended to go early to avoid the afternoon heat) 🚗 Transportation Suggestions Self-driving: Highly recommended! The scenic area has a large parking lot with cheap fees (about 5 RMB per visit). Public Transport: Take Jiajiang bus line 6 or 1 to "Zang Qiang Yi Cultural Industry Park" stop, then walk to the site. 📌 Must-See Highlights 1. Cliff Carvings: The core essence! On the 600-meter-long cliff by the river, there are 162 niches and over 2,470 Buddha statues from the Tang to Ming and Qing dynasties arranged in an orderly manner. It’s suggested to hire a guide or prepare in advance to learn the stories behind different niches (such as the Maitreya Buddha, Pure Land transformation niches) and appreciate the brilliance of Tang dynasty stone carving art. 2. Ancient Plank Road: Walk along the plank road by the Qingyi River, with flowing water on one side and a thousand-year-old Buddhist kingdom on the other. The scenery is stunning and perfect for photos! 3. Dongfengyan: One of China’s first World Irrigation Heritage sites! The ancient canal water still flows to irrigate fields, sharing the spotlight with the Buddhist caves as a unique double heritage wonder. 4. Handmade Paper Museum: The first of its kind in the country! Learn about Jiajiang’s history as the "Hometown of Calligraphy and Painting Paper," and experience intangible cultural heritage rubbings—great for kids. 5. Juxian Street: A Ming and Qing style old street inside the scenic area. You can stroll around, have a cup of covered bowl tea, and enjoy the slow life. 🍽️ Food Tips There are limited dining options inside the scenic area. It’s recommended to drive 10 minutes to Jiajiang County town after visiting. Must-try: Jiajiang tofu pudding (spicy and fragrant), sweet-skinned duck (crispy outside, tender inside), spicy beef—Sichuan snacks all in one place! 📸 Photo Tips Hanfu enthusiasts must come! Cliffs, Buddha caves, ancient dams, and clear water—every shot is a beautiful ancient-style masterpiece. Golden hour: At sunset, the river glows golden, and the Buddha statues are bathed in rosy light—breathtakingly beautiful. --- [Real Impressions: An Underrated Stunning Trip] Honestly, before coming, my expectations for Qianfoyan weren’t very high; I always thought it was just a "little brother" to the Leshan Giant Buddha. But once inside, I was instantly captivated by its charm. It’s not "big," but very "deep." It lacks the grandeur of the Giant Buddha, but the statues here feel more down-to-earth and full of life. Most were carved spontaneously by local people, with freer and more diverse styles, truly reflecting the simplest faith of ancient commoners. Looking at the weathered statues and running fingers over the rock’s grooves, you can almost feel the warmth of history. It’s not "noisy," but very "quiet." Compared to crowded popular spots, here there are fewer people and beautiful scenery, peaceful like a secret place. Walking on the plank road, listening to the wind through the treetops, watching water hit the rocks, your heart naturally calms down. Sitting in the tea garden at Wanglongping, sipping a cup of Zhuyeqing tea, watching fishing boats on the river—this is the healing feeling travel should bring. It’s not "new," but very "alive." The water of Dongfengyan still flows today, and the ancient papermaking craft is still passed down. History here is not a cold display but a living vitality. Bringing kids here is a hundred times more vivid than textbooks, truly understanding what "living heritage" means. In short, this trip exceeded all expectations. It hasn’t been overly commercialized, preserving the most authentic historical charm and poetic landscape. If you want to avoid crowds and seek tranquility and depth, Qianfoyan is definitely worth adding to your list. Leaving, my heart was full of respect for the ancients and longing for a slow life.