[2025 Langzhong Attraction] Travel Guide for Chuanbei Daoshu (Updated Apr)

Friends, I've discovered a treasure of an ancient city where time stands still! It's less commercialized than Lijiang and more authentic than Fenghuang. It's the "No. 1 Fengshui City" where CCTV comes to film. It's the hometown of the Three Kingdoms where Zhang Fei was stationed for 7 years. Here's a fresh 2-day, 1-night guide for you! 🔥Hot Spots: ✅ An ancient city that has been a "living fossil" for 2,300 years without changing its name ✅ The only 5A ancient city among China's four major ancient cities that is low-key and niche ✅ The Tai Chi Bagua pattern surrounded by the Jialing River is super stunning ✅ It's perfectly harmonious to stroll through the ancient buildings of the Tang, Song, and Ming and Qing dynasties in Hanfu 📸 Photo Spots with a 100% Success Rate (Personally Tested): 1️⃣ Zhongtian Tower Rooftop: Get a panoramic view of the Bagua formation from an aerial perspective 2️⃣ Huaguang Tower Wharf: The orange river surface at dusk is breathtakingly beautiful 3️⃣ Langzhong Ancient City - Zhuangyuanfang Archway: The red wall and bamboo shadows come with a Chinese-style filter 💡Tips: Contract an empty alley at 7 am to take atmospheric blockbusters 🍜 Langzhong Cuisine: ✔️ Baoning Vinegar Foot Bath + Vinegar Drink (Open a new world!) ✔️ Zhang Fei Beef with Crispy Guokui (Local people line up at the old store) ✔️ White Sugar Steamed Bun with Saozi (Carbohydrate lovers are ecstatic) 📍 Must-Eat: Li's Kitchen/Huaguang Inn Private Kitchen ✨ Hidden Gems: ⚡️ Night tour of the Jialing River to see the light show ⚡️ Experience the ancient imperial examination at the Gongyuan ⚡️ Find an intangible cultural heritage inheritor to learn shadow puppetry 🚅 Transportation Guide: ▫️ Bullet Train: 3 hrs from Xi'an/2 hrs direct from Chengdu ▫️ Self-driving: 3 hours direct from Chengdu to the ancient city parking lot 🏡 Accommodation: Qiang Tui Ranfang Inn/Huazhu Langyuan has a view of the blue tiles from the window 📍 Location: Langzhong Ancient City 💰 Ticket: CNY 110 for a general ticket (single attractions are more cost-effective)

I had tried to visit Langzhong two or three times, but was always deterred by the long lines of cars at the highway exit. Finally, on a working day during the off-season, I managed to fulfill my wish of a one-day trip to Langzhong Ancient City. I parked at the visitor center, grabbed a tourist guide, and headed west into the ancient city. ✅Must-sees: For a quick tour, I bought a 100 RMB pass and visited the must-see spots: Huaguang Tower, passed by Zhongtian Tower (sister tower to Huaguang Tower, choose one between the two and the Imperial Examination Hall), Northern Sichuan Provincial Office, Confucian Temple, and Zhang Fei Temple. Huaguang Tower was first built in the Tang Dynasty and rebuilt in the Qing Dynasty. It has stood for 158 years. Ascending the tower offers a panoramic view of the city and the Jialing River. Luo Xiahong, a Western Han astronomer and calendar expert, was a native of Langzhong. He established the first day of the first lunar month as the beginning of the year, earning Langzhong the title of "Hometown of Lunar New Year Culture in China," and Luo Xiahong the title of "Father of Lunar New Year." Zhang Fei, a famous general of the Shu Han Dynasty and the governor of Brazil County, defended Langzhong for seven years, died in Langzhong, and was buried in Langzhong... Strolling through the streets and alleys paved with grey tiles, I immersed myself in the essence of local history and culture, experiencing the profound charm of over 2,300 years of history. ❤Enjoy the food: Baoning Vinegar is famous throughout the country. I tried steamed buns, fried silkworm pupae, Zhang Fei beef noodles, and glutinous rice balls in fermented rice soup. I also rested for half an hour while soaking my feet in vinegar. Originally, soaking your feet in clear vinegar cost 10 RMB per person, for any duration. The owner recommended ginger vinegar, saying it dispels cold and dampness, for 20 RMB per person. It turned out to be vinegar with ginger slices added. Of course, the ginger flavor was still strong.

#favouriteitinerary Guanyuan, the examination hall of the Qing Dynasty, is one of only two remaining examination halls in the entire country. This historic site played a crucial role in the imperial examination system, where scholars from all over the region would compete for civil service positions. Personal Opinion: In my opinion, Guanyuan is a captivating destination for those interested in the history of education and the imperial examination system. Its well-preserved structure and historical significance make it a must-visit for anyone exploring the area.

Langzhong is a county-level city in Nanchong, Sichuan, located in the hidden hinterland of Sichuan. Surrounded by water on three sides and mountains on all sides, the Jialing River makes a beautiful U-shaped bend here. A single glance at an aerial view of Langzhong is enough to make people yearn to visit. 👍️Recommended reasons: Langzhong is known for its beautiful natural scenery and rich history and culture. Some highlights include: [One] Birthplace of the Lunar New Year. With the successful inscription of the Lunar New Year on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage List, Langzhong has gained widespread attention as the origin of the Lunar New Year. [Two] Profound cultural heritage. The Temple of Marquis Huan of Han is significant to the Three Kingdoms culture, the Sichuan Imperial Examination Hall of the Ming and Qing Dynasties to the imperial examination culture, the Chuanbei Provincial Administration Office to the administrative culture, and the Tiangongyuan Temple to Feng Shui culture. These sites hold great influence nationwide. [Three] Strong "authentic" flavor. Langzhong has many historical sites and protected buildings. Even ordinary residential houses retain much of their original state, offering a completely different charm compared to imitation ancient buildings. 📅Travel guide: Drinking tea, chatting, hot pot, and mahjong are all part of the traditionally slow-paced Sichuan lifestyle, and remote Langzhong is even more suitable for experiencing this laid-back way of life. It is recommended to spend at least three days in Langzhong: Day 1: Nanjin Pass Ancient Town (Lianfeng Tower), Jinping Mountain Scenic Area (Stargazing Tower), White Pagoda Park (White Pagoda), and Langzhong Tengwang Pavilion. These attractions are all located outside the ancient city and are free of charge. The Stargazing Tower was built to commemorate the Western Han Dynasty astronomer, Luoxia Hong. His Taichu Calendar was the first to propose the concept of "the first month," which is considered the origin of the Lunar New Year. White Pagoda Park offers the best panoramic view of Langzhong. Other attractions outside the city include Aosheng Sacred Realm (50 yuan/person), which mainly consists of man-made attractions and is suitable for those interested in Taoism. Tiangongyuan Temple (40 yuan/person) is recommended for those interested in Feng Shui. I didn't go to either of these. Day 2 and 3: Langzhong Ancient City (pedestrian street), Temple of Marquis Huan of Han (Zhang Fei Temple), Qing Dynasty Sichuan Imperial Examination Hall, Chuanbei Provincial Administration Office, Langzhong Confucian Temple, Zhongtian Tower, Huaguang Tower, and South Gate Tower (including the city wall). Spending two days exploring the ancient city allows for a better experience of the slow-paced lifestyle. You can try activities like ear cleaning and vinegar foot soaks. The ancient city pedestrian street and South Gate Tower are free to enter, while most other attractions within the ancient city require tickets. The ancient city tickets are affordable, with a "one-ticket pass" costing 110 yuan/person and valid for three days, allowing you to explore at a leisurely pace. 🍜Food guide: The most famous foods in Langzhong are Zhang Fei Beef, Baoning Vinegar, and steamed buns with white sugar. Zhang Fei Beef has a tight texture, is moderately soft and hard, and is easy to chew without being sticky. Baoning Vinegar is one of the four most famous vinegars in China. It is a medicinal vinegar with certain nourishing effects. 🏨Accommodation guide: Accommodation within the ancient city mainly consists of homestays, while hotels are generally located outside the ancient city. Choose according to your preference. I prefer newer hotels, so I chose the Metropolo Jinjiang Hotel (Langzhong Ancient City High-Speed Railway Station), which offers new facilities, good service, and reasonable prices. 💗Other tips: According to statistics, Langzhong ranked second in popularity among county-level cities nationwide during the 2025 Lunar New Year period, which is commendable.

The Northern Sichuan Road Office was an outpost of the provincial government during the Ming and Qing dynasties. During the Qianlong period of the Qing Dynasty, it became a first-level government agency managing prefectures and counties. It was established during the Hongwu period of the Ming Dynasty and is one of the two existing Taoist yamen in our country. It has a longer history and greater local administrative power than the Harbin Road Yamen, which was established during the Guangxu period to manage the border defense. It is divided into the ceremonial gate, main gate, Jieshi Square, main hall, second hall, and third hall.