Guangyuan has been visited, really not recommended for August to September, I just want to say a bit of honest truth

💰 Budget reference (2 people, 3 days) Total cost ≈ 2500-3500 RMB (depending on your spending) ▫️Transportation: High-speed train round trip (Chengdu → Guangyuan about 2h, 180 RMB/person) + local taxis/car rental (300-500 RMB, car rental recommended for convenience) ▫️Accommodation: City chain hotels (200+ RMB/night) / Zhaohua Ancient Town homestay (300-500 RMB/night, window view of the ancient street) ▫️Tickets: Jianmen Pass combo ticket (entrance 105 + shuttle 15) + Yuannao Trail/Bird Trail (choose one 80); Zhaohua Ancient Town free (city wall climb 15); Tangjia River combo ticket (100 + 58 sightseeing bus) → about 800 RMB for 2 people ▫️Food: 300 RMB per day (tofu feast, steamed cold noodles, cured ribs… 50 RMB per person to eat until full!) ✅Tips: Book Jianmen Pass tickets in advance for August (weekends are crowded), Tangjia River tickets can be bought on site~ 🏞️ Must-visit spots (with hidden tips) 1️⃣ Jianmen Pass — The difficulty of the Shu Road! Cool mountain breeze in August-September, climbing Yuannao Trail/Bird Trail is super refreshing (if afraid of heights, choose the gentler Bird Trail)! Tested personally, Yuannao Trail is steep, but holding the iron chains to climb up and overlooking the misty canyon is very rewarding~ ✨How to play: In the morning, start with Bird Trail (opens at 7:30, fewer people), have tofu feast at Guanlou at noon, take the zipline down in the afternoon (30 RMB/person, saves energy!), and shoot epic “One Man Guards the Pass” photos at the glass viewing platform in the evening! 2️⃣ Zhaohua Ancient Town — A living Three Kingdoms museum Quieter than Langzhong, more lively than Pingyao! Bluestone roads, old teahouses, girls in Hanfu, every photo looks ancient style~ ✨How to play: Visit the county government office/ancient city wall in the morning (8:30-10:00 fewer people, great for photos), have wooden bucket fish at “Taishou Fish Restaurant” for lunch (so fresh you’ll lick the plate!), drink covered bowl tea and listen to Sichuan opera at “Gu Family Courtyard” in the afternoon, wait for lanterns to light up at 19:30, and hang out at the grilled glutinous rice cake stall by the city gate (crispy outside, sticky inside!). 3️⃣ Tangjia River — Little Jiuzhaigou of northern Sichuan + panda secret spot Maple leaves start to yellow at the end of August, by September it’s like a beautiful oil painting! Streams, plank roads, red leaves along the way, hiking is very healing~ If lucky, you might spot wild golden monkeys ✨How to play: Take the sightseeing bus to “Red Pine Stream,” walk slowly along the wooden plank road (2 hours easy stroll), take photos of alpine meadows + red leaves at “Motianling,” have cured ribs stir-fried with bamboo shoots at the scenic area restaurant for lunch (the soup is so fresh you can drink three bowls!). 🗺️ 3 days 2 nights itinerary (relaxed, no rush) Day 1: Guangyuan city → Qianfo Cliff → Huangze Temple → Night tour of Jialing River ▪️Morning: Take high-speed train to Guangyuan Station → taxi to hotel to drop luggage (recommend staying at “Shumen Inn,” 10-minute walk to Qianfo Cliff) ▪️Noon: Eat “Old Brand Steamed Cold Noodles” (with crispy sausage + vinegar, 5 RMB a bowl, very filling!) ▪️Afternoon: Qianfo Cliff (50 RMB ticket, see Tang Dynasty cliff carvings, very vivid Buddha statues in caves) → Huangze Temple (50 RMB, the only temple dedicated to Empress Wu Zetian in China, Wulong Mountain trail behind is great for photos) ▪️Evening: Walk to “Nanhe Wetland Park” for a stroll, or go to “Jialing River Night Market” to eat grilled brain flower + iced jelly (great for cleansing the palate!) Day 2: Full day at Jianmen Pass (power walking mode on!) ▪️7:00 AM departure (1h drive) → 8:00 AM arrive at Jianmen Pass, store luggage then rush to Bird Trail (first half gentle, second half steep, wear non-slip shoes!) ▪️Noon: Descend to “Liangshan Temple Vegetarian Restaurant” for vegetarian noodles (mushroom soup so fresh it’ll blow your mind) ▪️Afternoon: Challenge Yuannao Trail (choose route A, with rest pavilions midway) → after finishing, take zipline down (wind rushing past ears is super cool!) ▪️Evening: Return to city, eat tofu pudding at “Wang Liangfen” (spicy flavor is amazing!) + pickled cabbage tofu flower (so tender you can scoop it with a spoon) Day 3: Zhaohua Ancient Town → Tangjia River → Return trip ▪️8:00 AM departure → 9:00 AM arrive at Zhaohua Ancient Town (40 min drive), stroll the ancient town + buy ginger candy (freshly made, sweet but not greasy) ▪️Noon: Eat steamed beef with rice powder at “Ancient Town Inn” (meat so fragrant you’ll eat extra rice!) ▪️Afternoon: 13:00 depart for Tangjia River (1.5h drive) → 15:00 enter scenic area, play until 17:30 → return trip (last high-speed train at 20:00, enough time!) 🍜 Food highlights ✅Must eat: ▪️Jianmen tofu feast (“Huang Zhong Tofu” / “Chen Jiang Tofu”) ▪️Empress steamed cold noodles (make sure it’s old fermented dough, sour and spicy with a bowl of soy milk is perfect) ▪️Zhaohua Ancient Town “Taishou Fish Restaurant” wooden bucket fish (freshly killed and cooked) ▪️Tangjia River cured ribs hotpot (broth made from bones, dip bamboo shoots/wood ear mushrooms, so tasty you’ll lick the pot!)