Sichuan Nearby Getaways: Six Perfect Spots Within 1-2 Hours' Reach

1⃣ Mount Qingcheng Address: Qingchengshan Town, Dujiangyan City, Chengdu, Sichuan 🚉Transport: Take Metro Line 2 to Xipu Station in Chengdu, then transfer to the intercity railway to Qingchengshan Station (about 1 hour total). Self-driving via Chengdu-Guanxian Expressway also takes ~1 hour. ✅ Highlights: Front Mountain Taoist temples, Back Mountain natural scenery, Jianfu Palace, Tianshi Cave, Shangqing Palace, Laojun Pavilion. The Front Mountain showcases Taoist culture, while the Back Mountain offers stunning landscapes. 💶 Tickets: Front Mountain ¥90, Back Mountain ¥20. 🏨 Stay: Numerous homestays and hotels at the mountain base, including luxury resorts like Howard Johnson Resort Qingcheng Mountain and Six Senses, plus budget-friendly farmhouse inns. 🍱 Food: Try Qingcheng cured pork, ginkgo chicken stew, Dongtian rice wine, and Taoist vegetarian cuisine at local restaurants. 2⃣ Mount Emei Address: Emeishan City, Leshan, Sichuan 🚄Transport: High-speed train from Chengdu East Station to Emeishan Station (~1.5hrs), then transfer to scenic buses. Self-driving via Chengdu-Leshan Expressway takes ~2hrs. ✅ Highlights: Golden Summit, Wannian Temple, Qingyin Pavilion, One-Line Sky, Monkey Zone, Baoguo Temple. Golden Summit’s sea of clouds and sunrise are breathtaking. 💶 Tickets: Peak season ¥160, off-season ¥110. Round-trip cable car to Golden Summit ¥120. 🏨 Stay: Hotels near Baoguo Temple (base), mid-mountain Leidongping budget hotels, or Golden Summit Hotel for sunrise views. 🍱 Food: Emei tofu pudding, leaf-wrapped rice cakes, snow yam, spring water tofu, and vegetarian dishes at Baoguo Temple food street. 3⃣ Bipenggou Valley Address: Li County, Ngawa Tibetan & Qiang Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan 🚌Transport: Bus from Chengdu Chadianzi Station to Li County (~3hrs), then hire a car. Self-driving via Dujiangyan-Wenchuan Expressway takes ~2.5hrs. ✅ Highlights: Panyang Lake, Zhuoma Beach, Red Stone Valley, Dragon King Lake, and glacial relics. Autumn foliage is spectacular. 💶 Tickets: ¥80 + ¥60 shuttle bus. 🏨 Stay: Bipenggou Hotel or Namu Lake Hotel at the valley entrance, or lodgings in Li County town. 4⃣ Hailuogou Glacier Park Address: Moxi Town, Luding County, Garzê Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan 🚌Transport: Bus from Chengdu Xinnanmen Station to Moxi Town (~6hrs). Self-driving via Ya’an-Kangding Expressway takes ~3.5hrs. ✅ Highlights: Glacier Forest Park, Grand Ice Falls, hot springs, red stone valley, and primeval forest. Unique for its coexisting glaciers and hot springs. 💶 Tickets: ¥90 + ¥70 shuttle bus. 🏨 Stay: Options in Moxi Town like Long March Hotel or Mingzhu Garden Hotel, or on-site hot spring resorts. 🍱 Food: Moxi cured pork, yak meat, wild mushroom hotpot, and butter tea at Tibetan-style eateries. 5⃣ Dawa Genza Address: Qiaoqi Township, Baoxing County, Ya’an, Sichuan 🚌Transport: Bus from Chengdu Shiyangchang Station to Baoxing County (~3hrs), then hire a car. Self-driving via Chengdu-Ya’an Expressway takes ~2.5hrs. ✅ Highlights: Cloud-top viewing platform, Shenmu Lei, Qiaoqi Lake, Tibetan villages. Famous for sea-of-clouds sunrises and starry skies. 💶 Tickets: ¥60. 🏨 Stay: Stargazing tent campsites in the scenic area or simple Tibetan homestays in Qiaoqi. 🍱 Food: Tibetan hotpot, butter tea, barley wine, and yak jerky for authentic flavors. 6⃣ Ping’an Ancient Town Address: Ping’an Town, Qionglai City, Chengdu, Sichuan 🚗Transport: Direct bus from Chengdu Xinnanmen Station (~1.5hrs). Self-driving via Chengdu-Wenjiang-Qionglai Expressway takes ~1hr. ✅ Highlights: Ancient streets, Leshan Bridge, bamboo craft street, Qilong Street, and Baimo River, preserving classic Western Sichuan architecture. 💶 Tickets: Free. 🏨 Stay: Quaint inns like Ping’an Ancient Town Inn or Shangyuan Inn at moderate prices. 🍱 Food: Milk-broth noodles, bowl-served mutton, Guo’s glutinous rice balls, and fried tofu at old-town snack stalls.