A Chengdu local's secret! A 2-day, 1-night hike through the back mountains of Qingcheng Mountain, featuring waterfalls, ancient villages, and mountain spring tea – incredibly therapeutic!
Who knows! This is the right way to experience Qingcheng Mountain from my second visit! ✨ Avoid the tour groups on the front of the mountain and delve into the hidden green wonderland deep in the mountains. Walk along ancient plank roads, listen to waterfalls, and fall asleep to the sound of mountain springs. This personally tested and foolproof guide is perfect for working people to escape the city on weekends!
🌟2 Days 1 Night Secret Itinerary (Light Hiking + Slow Living, Not Strenuous and Photogenic)
Day 1: Chengdu → Qingcheng Back Mountain → Wulonggou → Youyicun (Immersive Oxygen Inhalation)
- Transportation: High-speed rail + carpooling is the best! Take the high-speed rail from Chengdu Xipu Station to Qingcheng Mountain Station (10 RMB/person, 30 minutes), then carpool to the back mountain gate (10 RMB/person, 15 minutes). Much more flexible than a direct bus!
- Morning: Enter from the mountain gate (entrance fee 20 RMB/person, half price for students), head straight to Wulonggou! Hiking along the stream, the lush greenery provides ample shade, and the air is filled with negative ions. A highlight is the "Longyin Gorge Plank Road," a wooden walkway nestled into the cliff face. Below you, rushing mountain springs flow, and beside you, cascading waterfalls spray, the mist refreshing you.
- Bonus: Passing by "Jinwawa Tuo," the crystal-clear water shimmers like shattered diamonds under the sunlight filtering through the leaves. The wild ferns along the roadside are incredibly vibrant, perfect for close-up photos.
- Lunch: Enjoy a meal at a farmhouse restaurant along the Wulonggou route (I personally recommend "Shanquan Renjia," it's a great choice). Must-try dishes include stir-fried cured pork with ferns (the cured pork is savory and the ferns are crisp and tender) and mountain spring tofu (absolutely amazing with chili powder). A meal for around 40 yuan per person is incredibly filling, and a bowl of corn porridge warms you up and refreshes you.
- Afternoon: Continue hiking to Youyicun (those with average stamina can take the Jinli Cableway, 30 yuan/person one way). This is a small village nestled in the mountains, with blue tiles and white walls hidden among the green trees, and wisps of smoke rising from the chimneys creating a wonderful atmosphere. Enjoy a panoramic view of the valley from the viewing platform, and buy a slice of chilled mountain spring watermelon (10 yuan/slice)—sweet, juicy, and instantly cooling you down.
- Evening: Stay at a farmhouse in Youyicun (highly recommend the rooms with a small courtyard). Open the window to see the green mountains and clear waters. In the evening, drink tea and chat in the courtyard, listen to the babbling mountain spring, and watch the sunset paint the sky red—a truly healing experience.
- Evening: Book your own wood-fired chicken in advance! The chicken is stewed until tender and flavorful, and the corn cakes stuck to the side of the pot soak up the broth, crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. After dinner, take a walk in the mountains; look up and you'll see a sky full of stars, much brighter than in the city.
Day 2: Youyicun → Baiyun Ancient Village → Tai'an Ancient Town (Ancient Village Tour + Return Trip)
- Morning: Get up early and head to Baiyun Ancient Village! The hike along the mountain path takes about 2 hours, with a moderate difficulty level. The dense bamboo forests along the way create a rustling sound as the wind blows through the leaves, like stepping into a scene from a martial arts novel. ☁️ Reaching the Wangyun Pavilion at the summit, if you're lucky, you can witness a sea of clouds surging, with the rolling green mountains appearing and disappearing in the mist – truly breathtaking!
- Midway stop: Pass by Baiyun Temple, an ancient temple hidden deep in the mountains. With its red walls and black tiles, incense smoke curls around it. Take a moment to burn incense, enjoy a free cup of Qingcheng tea, and experience a moment of tranquility.
- Lunch: Return to Youyicun for lunch. Recommended dishes include braised pork with bamboo shoots (the fresh mountain bamboo shoots are crisp and tender) and stir-fried seasonal vegetables – all made with organic ingredients and incredibly delicious.
- Afternoon: Take the Baiyun Cableway down the mountain from Youyicun (45 yuan/person one way), or hike to Tai'an Ancient Town (about 2 hours). The ancient town is nestled deep in the mountains, its cobblestone streets polished smooth by time. Ancient bridges, old teahouses, and local specialty shops create a vibrant and lively atmosphere. Stroll through the ancient town's old streets, buying Qingcheng tea, cured meat, and dried bamboo shoots as souvenirs (half the price of those at the scenic area entrance); visit Tai'an Temple to experience its solemnity and tranquility.
- Evening: Enjoy a bowl of ice jelly (5 yuan/bowl) in the ancient town—the brown sugar flavor is incredibly authentic, refreshing and not greasy; afterwards, take a bus back to Qingcheng Mountain Station and then take the high-speed train back to Chengdu, concluding your therapeutic mountain retreat.
- Alternative Activities: For those with good stamina, add a day to challenge Zhao Gong Mountain, hiking to the summit to watch the sunrise and spectacular sea of clouds (requires hiking boots and a flashlight).
🍜 Must-Try Food List (No Disappointments)
- Main Dishes: Stir-fried cured meat with bracken, Qingcheng cured meat, spring water tofu, braised pork with bamboo shoots, firewood chicken, corn porridge
- Snacks: Spring watermelon, Qingcheng cold rice cake, leaf-wrapped rice cake, sugar-coated fried dough, roasted corn
- Drinks: Qingcheng Tea (fragrant and sweet, a good souvenir to take home), Mountain Spring Rice Wine (low alcohol content, slightly sweet)
- Tips to Avoid: Don't buy from the trendy shops near the scenic area entrance; the farmhouses along the way offer more authentic food and more affordable prices.
🏡 Accommodation Recommendations (Choose according to your needs)
- Mountain Experience: Youyicun Farmhouse (mountain views from the window, high cost-performance ratio, breakfast included)
- Ancient Town Charm: Tai'an Ancient Town B&B (quaint and charming, close to attractions, suitable for a leisurely trip)
- High-end Comfort: Howard Johnson Hot Spring Hotel in Qingcheng Back Mountain (with hot spring, perfect for relaxation, 10-minute drive from the scenic area)
📌Practical Tips (Avoid Pitfalls + Hiking Guide)
1. Best Season: April-June (high waterfall flow, lush green vegetation), September-November (clear autumn skies, golden forests, less crowded and quiet)
2. Clothing: Wear non-slip sports shoes, quick-drying clothes, and a light jacket (large temperature difference between day and night in the mountains); hiking poles, hat, and sunglasses are essential.
3. Equipment: Bring enough drinking water (can also be bought along the way, 5 yuan/bottle), snacks (chocolate, etc.) Energy bars); mosquito repellent, band-aids, and motion sickness medication as needed.
4. Avoid pitfalls: When hiking, stay on the main path and pay attention to safety; don't buy local specialties inside the scenic area, shops in the ancient town are more cost-effective; ask about prices at farmhouses in advance, prices are transparent.
5. Photography tips: The light is best before 10 am and after 4 pm. Use slow motion to photograph waterfalls, use the original camera for ancient villages, and darken the saturation in post-processing for a more atmospheric feel.
The beauty of Qingcheng Mountain's back mountain needs to be appreciated slowly—the clear mountain springs, the magnificent waterfalls, the tranquil ancient villages, every place can heal the fatigue of city dwellers. Save this guide, invite friends for a weekend trip, escape the hustle and bustle, and have a date with nature!