Chengdu Surroundings｜A Slightly Thrilling One-Day Trip to Zhongba Forest

🌳 I remember Zhongba Forest Park being quite popular. It quickly gained fame for its unique natural scenery and is known as the "Twilight City around Chengdu" and the "Real-life Wizard of Oz." It's a natural oxygen bar perfect for hiking, photography, and refreshing your lungs. Unexpectedly, the actual management feels as wild as a mountain forest. Within one day, I experienced not only the fun and frustrations of climbing wild mountains but also the thrilling excitement of outdoor hiking. Fortunately, the rain had fallen a few days earlier, so the paths weren’t too muddy, and I didn’t fall. 🅿️ The parking lot is quite a distance from the entrance. Occasionally, cars drive up there, so when there are fewer people, cars might be able to go further up. It’s really a full sun exposure walk to the entrance, one slope after another, and it’s exhausting. 🚪 At the entrance, there are a few simple tent shops selling drinks, juices, snacks, and pastries. If you didn’t bring your own food, you can grab something here. Further inside, there are no options. There seems to be only one public restroom, and the hygiene is really terrible... ✌️ To be honest, the forest is great for photography. The straight, towering cedar trees and the Tyndall effect created by sunlight filtering through the leaves create a quiet, mysterious, and cinematic atmosphere. It’s really perfect for shooting “twilight forest” style photos or videos 👍 🎭 A crucial reminder: stick to the main path and return the same way. Otherwise, like us, you might follow a group of people into a non-tourist trail. After several downhill stretches, I quickly checked the map and realized we were off course. I wanted to turn back, but my stubborn companion insisted on continuing, saying that so many people were on this path, it must lead to the parking lot. Later, we found out the people ahead of us were also lost and thinking the same thing. 🐷 After scrambling and tumbling down the mountain, a gravel road extends to the right. This road felt a bit strange. On the left side was a river, with a small waterfall on the opposite mountain, and even an abandoned guesthouse hotel by the roadside. The weathered walls looked eerie. I was wondering why this place, which seemed to have been developed before, was so desolate! (Later I learned this was the site of a major flood accident during water play in Pengzhou years ago, so the entire area was shut down.) 😅 After walking about 5 kilometers, we finally reached an iron gate. The gatekeeper uncle skillfully called a driver to pick up this group of lost tourists. It seemed like this was a common occurrence. Finally, after paying 25 yuan per person for a carpool, we returned to the parking lot at the foot of the mountain. 🗣️ Some travel tips: Overall, it’s still a worthwhile spot to visit. Photography lovers should plan ahead. Recommended itinerary 👍 Climb the mountain between 9 AM and 12 PM, then enjoy the specialty "One Fish Five Ways" at Xiaoyudong. In the afternoon, visit Haiwozi Ancient Town for tea—a perfect day! Precautions ⚠️ 1️⃣ Bring enough food, water, and snacks, and take your trash with you. 2️⃣ Take sun protection measures. 3️⃣ Keep your phone charged; entering and exiting the same way is safest.