Getaway near Chengdu | 2-hour high-speed train ride! 4 hidden gem cities for a healing trip
If you don't want to squeeze into the crowds in Chengdu, just buy a high-speed train ticket on the weekend to escape. The pace is slow, it's less crowded, and prices are friendly. You'll find landscapes, poetry, ancient temples, and local life—all of it. Pick one and set off.
🌿 Jiangyou | Hometown of the Poet Immortal, where karst caves meet the wilderness
Recommended attractions
Li Bai's Former Residence, Li Bai Memorial Hall, Doucuanshan, Foye Cave, and Qinglinkou Ancient Town. On one side, you have poetic charm, and on the other, unique karst caves. The mountain views are expansive, making it great for photos with a traditional vibe. The caves are cool year-round, making them especially comfortable to visit in the summer.
Travel itinerary
Day 1: After arriving, visit the Li Bai Memorial Hall to take your time looking at the stone inscriptions and gardens. In the evening, take a walk along the Fu River to enjoy the breeze.
Day 2: In the morning, climb Doucuanshan to see the strange peaks and rocks. If you have time, you can watch the tightrope walking performance. In the afternoon, head to Foye Cave to ride a bamboo raft through the underground river caves.
Day 3: Stroll around Qinglinkou Ancient Town. The old stone streets are quiet and uncrowded. Head back when you have enough time.
Food recommendations
You must try the Jiangyou pork intestine. Both the braised and dry-fried versions are excellent—soft, flavorful, and great with rice. There are also cold dipping skewers, Juntun Guokui (stuffed flatbread), and local rice noodles. There are many snack options, and they are very cost-effective.
Local features
Li Bai culture is the backdrop here, with traces of poetry hidden throughout the city. The pace of the small city is relaxed, without crowded tourists, making it suitable for those who enjoy humanities, light hiking, and slow-paced sightseeing and eating.
🎋 Qingshen | A secret bamboo forest, a poetic city of Su Dongpo
Recommended attractions
Zhongyan Temple, International Bamboo Art City, Hanyang Ancient Town, and Huanyu Park. The entire city is wrapped in bamboo forests, full of greenery, and quiet. The riverside park is perfect for watching the sunset, with a great atmosphere.
Travel itinerary
Day 1: Arrive by high-speed train, then go to Huanyu Park to walk along the Min River, enjoy the river breeze, and watch the water and sky.
Day 2: In the morning, visit Zhongyan Temple and take a light hike along the stone steps by the stream. The ancient temple is full of Zen. In the afternoon, go to the Bamboo Art City to admire the intangible cultural heritage bamboo weaving works.
Day 3: Take your time strolling through Hanyang Ancient Town. The old docks and old street shops are not very commercialized. Drink tea, zone out, and enjoy the slow time.
Food recommendations
The Hanyang Bangbang chicken has a rich chili oil aroma and firm meat. There are also Ye'erba (leaf-wrapped rice cakes), meat-filled rice cakes, old-fashioned Bobo chicken, and tofu pudding. The flavors are mild and suitable for all ages.
Local features
Bamboo weaving is an intangible cultural heritage, and you can see exquisite small bamboo art pieces everywhere. This is also where Su Dongpo studied and traveled, so it has a faint scholarly atmosphere. It is suitable for friends who like bamboo forests, quiet time, and relaxing short trips.
🍜 Neijiang | Searching for flavors in the "Sweet City," hometown of a master painter
Recommended attractions
Daqian Garden, Xilin Ancient Temple, Shengshui Temple, Longchang Stone Archway Group, and Weiyuan Qionglong Forest. The Tuo River flows through the city, and with stone carvings, ancient temples, and century-old archways, it has a rich cultural heritage.
Travel itinerary
Day 1: After arriving, start your trip with a bowl of beef noodles. In the afternoon, visit Daqian Garden to check out the Zhang Daqian-related exhibition halls and Xilin Ancient Temple.
Day 2: Go to Longchang to see the stone archway group. Look closely at the stone carvings and feel the stories of the past. In the evening, return to the city to walk along the Binjiang Road.
Day 3: If you have extra time, you can go to the Weiyuan mountains for a walk. The forest is dense and is a natural oxygen bar.
Food recommendations
Neijiang beef noodles are the signature dish, with thin noodles paired with chili oil beef, which is fresh and fragrant. There are also Banbanqiao fried rice cakes, Longchang mutton soup, and fig-related snacks, with a rich variety of sweet and savory flavors.
Local features
Historically known as the "Sweet City," the early sugar industry culture left its mark here. The literary atmosphere is strong, the stone carving art is worth seeing, and the food flavors are on the heavier side. Those who love Sichuan-style noodles will really like it here.
🏯 Suining | Hometown of Guanyin, a gentle city of Zen
Recommended attractions
Guangde Temple, Lingquan Temple, Longfeng Ancient Town, Song Ceramics Museum, and Shenglian Island. The Fu River winds around the city, the ancient temples are quiet, and the ancient town retains the local atmosphere of life without being noisy.
Travel itinerary
Day 1: After arriving, go to Lingquan Temple first to climb high and overlook the whole city. In the evening, go to Shenglian Island to watch the sunset over the lake.
Day 2: In the morning, visit Guangde Temple, where the ancient buildings and trees are very atmospheric. In the afternoon, go to the Song Ceramics Museum to see precious Song Dynasty porcelain.
Day 3: Stroll around Longfeng Ancient Town. With old street stages and small bridges over flowing water, it is mostly inhabited by locals and full of the atmosphere of daily life.
Food recommendations
Suining Chong is a very distinctive local snack, and the mustard aroma is very punchy. There are also iron-pressed cakes, Guanyin vegetarian twisted dough sticks, Shu beef, and cool rice jelly. You can find both chewy and spicy snacks.
Local features
Guanyin culture has a long history, and the temples are quiet and suitable for calming the mind. Song ceramics are a bright cultural business card here. The overall atmosphere is gentle and soothing, suitable for praying, relaxing, and slowly clearing your mind.
Summary
If you want to climb mountains, see caves, and eat pork intestine, choose Jiangyou.
If you want to hide in a bamboo forest and find quiet healing, choose Qingshen.
If you love noodles and like cultural stone carvings, choose Neijiang.
If you prefer ancient temples, Zen, and slow-paced relaxation, choose Suining.
You don't need to rush your itinerary in any of these cities. A 2- or 3-day short trip is just right. No need for long-distance travel to escape the fatigue of the city. 🌱