Four must-visit summer spots in Sichuan
Four legendary summer destinations in Sichuan 🌿 20℃ to beat the heat
While the rest of the country is steaming in August, these places in Sichuan stay between 15–25℃, and the photo opportunities are unbeatable
🏔️ Jiuzhaigou | “God’s spilled palette”
📍 Address: 301 Provincial Road, Jiuzhaigou County, Aba Prefecture (Goukou Visitor Center)
🎫 Tickets: Peak season ticket 190 + shuttle bus 90 = 280 yuan (book 3 days in advance on the “Jiuzhaigou” official WeChat, almost no tickets available on site)
🌡️ Summer average temperature 17–22℃. Bring a light jacket and a foldable raincoat when entering the valley
✨ Photo spots:
· Left plank road of Five Flower Lake “underwater forest,” stunning with noon sunlight shining through the water
· Pearl Shoal Waterfall (filming location for the 1986 version of Journey to the West), stand on the rocks downstream for silhouette shots
· Shuzheng Group Sea flat path, easy for all ages to take photos
🍜 Food outside the valley: Tibetan yak hot pot (with mushroom soup), barley cakes, butter tea; restaurants inside the park are expensive, bring self-heating meals and a thermos
⚠️ Honest tips to avoid pitfalls:
· Don’t trust “Chengdu 1-day high-speed train tours,” one way takes over 4 hours, half a day isn’t enough to explore
· On the shuttle bus, enter from the left and exit from the right, sit on the left side for the best views
· After 2 PM, tour groups leave, that’s the best time to visit Five Flower Lake
🏔️ Siguniang Mountain · Shuangqiao Valley | Lazy version of snow mountains and grasslands
📍 Address: Siguniang Mountain Town, Xiaojin County, Aba Prefecture (Shuangqiao Valley entrance)
🎫 Tickets: Shuangqiao Valley 80 + shuttle bus 70 = 150 yuan. The only valley where you ride the bus the whole way, perfect for parents and kids
🌡️ Average temperature 10–20℃. The redwood forest area is windy, bring a windbreaker
✨ Photo spots:
· Maobiniang viewing platform (free outside the valley): capture all four peaks of Siguniang Mountain in one frame, golden sunrise peaks are stunning
· Sigunacao: snow mountain reflections + dead trees, popular on Xiaohongshu
· Nianyu Dam: plateau rafting 90 yuan, gentle and dry, white dress + sunglasses = magazine cover look
⚠️ Honest tips to avoid pitfalls:
· Changping Valley and Haizi Valley require hiking. If it’s your first time on the plateau in summer, don’t push yourself. Shuangqiao Valley has plenty to shoot
· Altitude 3,200–3,800 m, don’t jump or run right after getting off the bus. Take Rhodiola a week in advance
· Weekend traffic jams from Chengdu are common. Leave Friday night or arrive before 7 AM
🌊 Lugu Lake (Sichuan side) | The daughter’s kingdom in the water willow flowers
📍 Address: Lugu Lake Town, Yanyuan County, Liangshan Prefecture (Sichuan entrance ticket office)
🎫 Tickets: 70 yuan (valid for 7 days in Sichuan and Yunnan, half price 35 yuan for students and seniors)
🌡️ Altitude 2,690 m. In summer, the lake is covered with water willow flowers, average temperature around 20℃
✨ Photo spots (half the crowds on the Sichuan side):
· Goddess Bay: best sunset on the lake, water shifts from blue with Gem Goddess Mountain in the background
· Caohai Walking Marriage Bridge: green waves of reeds in summer, wearing ethnic-style long dresses creates a strong story vibe
· Daluoshui Village morning mist: thin fog covers the lake at 7 AM, even a phone can capture this fairyland
🍜 Food: Mosuo fire pit barbecue (roast suckling pig, stir-fried water willow flowers), butter tea, Mosuo baba; don’t buy silver jewelry or herbs roadside, prices are inflated
⚠️ Honest tips to avoid pitfalls:
· Only take boats from official docks, avoid unofficial boats. Boat tickets are tight during the water willow flower season in summer
· Renting electric scooters around the lake costs 80–120 yuan/day, but uphill to Goddess Bay drains battery fast. A 4–6 person private car costs 300–400 yuan/day and is more reliable
· Don’t drink or do intense exercise right after arrival, mild altitude sickness is normal
🎋 Qingcheng Mountain back mountain + Dujiangyan | Weekend recharge near Chengdu
📍 Qingcheng Mountain: Qingchengshan Road, Qingchengshan Town, Dujiangyan City, Chengdu (back mountain ticket 20, front mountain 80)
📍 Dujiangyan: Gongyuan Road, Dujiangyan City, Chengdu (ticket 80)
🚄 Transport: Chengdu Xipu → Qingchengshan Station high-speed train 30 minutes, 10 yuan, better than driving
🌡️ Qingcheng back mountain average temperature 22℃, creek water cools your feet and refreshes your mind
✨ Photo spots:
· Qingcheng back mountain Wulong Valley: bamboo forest, streams, wooden plank paths, wear Hanfu or white dresses for a time-travel feel
· Dujiangyan South Bridge night view: open 24 hours, “blue tears” lights + covered bridge, phone night mode is amazing
· Yangtianwo Square panda selfie: stop by during the day
🍜 Food: Qingcheng Mountain vegetarian meals 30 yuan per person, local farm chicken at the foot of the mountain, Dujiangyan old mom’s pig’s trotter soup, Chengdu Kuixinglou Street ice jelly and egg cake (eat on the way back)
⚠️ Honest tips to avoid pitfalls:
· Front mountain is for temple visits and stairs, back mountain is for water and hiking. In summer, focus on the back mountain
· Don’t buy “golden plums” at the park entrance, they are dyed with saccharin
· South Bridge lights turn on after 8 PM, don’t go during the day expecting to see them
🗺️ Two classic routes
① Western Sichuan summer escape route (5 days 4 nights, ideal for taking time off)
Day 1 Chengdu → Maobiniang → Shuangqiao Valley → stay in Danba
Day 2 Danba → Moxi Park → Tagong Grassland → Xinduqiao (stay)
Day 3 Xinduqiao → Litang → Shangri-La Town (rest and prevent altitude sickness)
Day 4 Daocheng Yading short trip (Chonggu Meadow + Pearl Lake) → stay in Shangri-La Town
Day 5 Return to Chengdu (if time allows, swap Day 4 for Jiuzhaigou 3 days 2 nights)
② Chengdu weekend route (2 days 1 night, friendly for workers)
Day 1 Chengdu → Qingcheng back mountain creek walk → Dujiangyan South Bridge night view → stay in Dujiangyan
Day 2 Dujiangyan scenic area → Yangtianwo panda → Xipu back to Chengdu for hot pot
💰 Budget reference (per person)
· Jiuzhaigou 3 days 2 nights pure play: tickets 280 + accommodation 200 × 2 + transport about 400 + food and drinks 300 ≈ 1,400–1,800 yuan
· Siguniang Mountain 1-day tour (Chengdu round-trip carpool): tickets 150 + car 78 × 2 + food and drinks 100 ≈ 500–600 yuan
· Lugu Lake Sichuan side 2 days 1 night (Lijiang in and out): tickets 70 + accommodation 200 + carpool share 100 + boat 100 + food and drinks 200 ≈ 700–900 yuan
· Qingcheng Mountain + Dujiangyan 2 days 1 night: high-speed train 20 + tickets 100 + accommodation 200 + food and drinks 150 ≈ under 500 yuan
🎒 Summer Sichuan unified pit avoidance pack
✔️ Plateau (Jiuzhaigou / Siguniang / Yading / Lugu Lake): SPF 50+ sunscreen + sunglasses + face scarf, UV rays can cause uneven skin tone in minutes; don’t wash hair or bathe the first night
✔️ Onion-layer dressing: short sleeves + sun protection clothing + windbreaker, temperature difference starts at 15℃
✔️ Jiuzhaigou / Sanxingdui / Panda Base peak season all require advance booking, don’t gamble on tickets at the gate
✔️ Chengdu plain 33℃ + muggy, visit museums (Sanxingdui / Wuhou Shrine) during peak heat, don’t force yourself to wander Kuanzhai Alley
✔️ Mild spicy = local medium spicy, when ordering say: “mild spicy, less Sichuan pepper, less chili oil, add more if needed”
Don’t just focus on Chengdu hot pot 🌶️ when visiting Sichuan in summer
These 4 places cover water scenery, snow mountains, lakes, and bamboo forests,