Qianjiang Self-Driving Tour Strategy

A self-driving tour in Qianjiang is truly unique. It boasts many ancient architectural relics and is a cultural holy land in the Bashu region. Whether it’s humanistic or natural landscapes, everything here is extremely developed, instilling boundless passion and dreams. Below, I share a self-driving tour strategy for Qianjiang.

Qianjiang, this small town in southeastern Chongqing, holds a profound weight in my heart. After leaving my ivory tower, I spent three very important years in this city of valleys and rivers. Its mountains and waters, its flowers and plants, its people and events, are all cherished memories I cannot let go of. Sometimes, what fascinates people is not some sentimentality or reminiscence, but rather an unforgettable fragrance, like the acacia flowers lining the streets in May, or the osmanthus scent that wafts by in August. Whether you believe it or not, every memory needs a taste to stay vividly etched in the mind. For me, Qianjiang is the acacia of May and the osmanthus of August. Today, I want to share my Qianjiang trip during the May Day long weekend.

Qianjiang is known as the “throat of Yu and E”, and although it’s a bit far from the main city of Chongqing, its transportation network is well-developed. Traveling by car, plane, or train is very convenient.

Transportation

Car: Four Kilometer Bus Terminal/Longtoushan Bus Terminal

Train: Chongqing North to Qianjiang, many trips available from morning till night

Plane: Wuling Mountain Airport is not very big, and there aren’t many routes. You can check on Qunar or Ctrip.

Self-Driving Tour: From Chongqing Banan toll station to Qianjiang main city is about 248 km, about 3 and a half hours by car along Baomao Expressway. There are many tunnels, which might be a bit uncomfortable for those from the plains. But it’s also a characteristic of Chongqing. It’s a masterpiece under the karst landform. There are many tunnel groups here, the tunnels are long and deep, quite a sight to behold!

I made a very reasonable plan for the May 1 long weekend. On the 30th, I drove back to my hometown, Yushan Ancient Town, overnight. My hometown is also a very beautiful place, isolated from the world, with clear water and lush mountains, and fragrant air. When I calm down, I will specifically take time to take photos and write articles, recording the subtle beauty of this thousand-year-old town.

But the main point is to talk about Qianjiang. To be honest, there are many places to stop and play in Qianjiang. You can bask in the sun and play cards on Lovers’ Mountain, enjoying a leisurely afternoon; have a farm meal on Running Horse Mountain, play some mahjong on the sun-drenched yard, or go fishing and admire flowers on the Yuanyuan Mountain of Shihui. Life is a simple beauty.

Zhuoshui Ancient Town Rain and Wind Corridor Bridge

Zhuoshui Ancient Town is located in the southeastern corner of Qianjiang District, on the bank of the main tributary of the Wujiang River, “Tangyan River” (A Pengjiang). The main residents are Tujia and Miao people. Zhuoshui Ancient Town is 26 km from the main city of Qianjiang, and the Yuhua Railway, Yuxiang Expressway, and 319 National Highway all converge and pass through here, making transportation extremely convenient.

It is understood that Zhuoshui Ancient Town was originally called “Baiheba”. During the Yuan and Ming Dynasties, it belonged to the Youyang Tusi jurisdiction. As an important commercial location, it has always been an important station and trading post. Since the late Qing Dynasty, it has become an essential route for the Sichuan and southeastern Yichang Road, Business Road, and Salt Road. In the 24th year of the Republic of China, people called Zhuoshui “Zhuoheba”, and it was already an important town with merchants gathering and shops lining up side by side. The booming trade rapidly promoted the exchange of goods between the local area and the outside world, creating a prosperous and glorious history, even surpassing the Qianjiang County town of the same period, and together with Youyang Longtan and Gongtan, it was known as the “Three Famous Towns of Youyang”. PS: Zhuoshui belongs to Qianjiang, Qianjiang, Qianjiang

(Daily Rain and Wind Corridor Bridge)

(Rain and Wind Corridor Bridge covered in snow)

Zhuoshui Ancient Town is a place where Qianjiang tourism focuses on development. During my three years in Qianjiang, Zhuoshui was also a place I frequented. The biggest sight here is the Rain and Wind Corridor Bridge, 303 meters long and 5 meters wide, now renamed Canglang Bridge. The Rain and Wind Corridor Bridge rose to fame because of a sudden fire on November 28, 2013. The majestic corridor bridge burned to ashes overnight. The news dominated Sina, NetEase, Baidu, and Sohu, and the internet was filled with voices of regret and sadness.

The current Canglang Bridge is the rebuilt corridor bridge. While it still possesses the same awe-inspiring grandeur, some things are truly irreplaceable. No matter how good it is, it’s not the same as it used to be. Therefore, if you want to see a certain view, go travel now. If you like someone, tell them bravely. Time really doesn’t wait for anyone.

The main structure of the Rain and Wind Corridor Bridge in Zhuoshui Ancient Town is made entirely of wood, with the building materials interlocked by mortise and tenon joints, straight and diagonal insertions, forming a sturdy and precise structure. The bridge has three-story towers and pavilions, with about a hundred carved wooden windows on both sides that can be opened and closed freely. Red lacquered long benches are placed inside the bridge.

Zhuoshui Ancient Town is surrounded by mountains on all sides, a rare Tujia water town in the Wuling Mountains. It is a thousand-year-old town that combines Tujia stilted houses, water transport wharves, and commercial towns. History has left behind numerous cultural relics and folk cultural heritage in Zhuoshui Ancient Town. The cultures of Bashu, Tujia, Daxi, and Chinese civilization intertwine here, forming Zhuoshui Ancient Town’s unique folk customs and ethnic cultural charm, attracting countless tourists.

(Local Mung Bean Paste)

(Horse Rolls)

Speaking of food, the most famous local delicacies are mung bean paste and horse rolls. Both are inexpensive. Go ahead and eat your fill. You won’t be able to eat much anyway. Zhuoshui’s green pepper and small fish are also good. Remember to try them!

Qianjiang Small South Sea The Most Beautiful Dammed Lake

Qianjiang Small South Sea, originally called Small Yinghai, is located in Qianjiang District, Chongqing, bordering Enshi, Hubei. It is a national 4A scenic area. Small South Sea is a mountain, water, island, and canyon landscape integrated highland freshwater dammed lake scenic area. People call it the “pearl of the deep mountains”, “a fairyland on earth”. Small South Sea is one of the most well-preserved ancient earthquake sites in China.

There are many buses from Qianjiang to the South Sea, basically one every 45 minutes. Transportation is still very convenient. It’s about 32 km from Qianjiang to the South Sea, approximately a one-hour drive. The road conditions are good, all paved asphalt roads. You can also choose the expressway, but I recommend taking the secondary road, as the scenery along the way is beautiful and breathtaking.

In the great earthquake of the sixth year of Xianfeng in the Qing Dynasty (1856), the valley entrance was dammed to form a large swamp. The earthquake relics of Dakuaiyan, Xiaokuaiyan, the broken beacon cliff, and the rock-built dam are still clearly visible today. Small South Sea is surrounded by beautiful peaks, the entrance to the lake has strange rocks standing tall, streams meander, and the lake has crisscrossing waterways. The three islands of Chaoyang Temple, Lao’guanping, and Niubei are covered in ancient pines, tea flowers reach for the clouds, there are thatched houses and bamboo buildings, and the sound of roosters crowing and dogs barking, a scene of idyllic countryside.

Among the three islands in the South Sea, the largest and most beautiful is Niubei Island. This is not only because it has produced many beautiful and lyrical folk stories and myths, mysterious and timeless, with rich meaning. It’s also because it’s peaceful and natural, unpretentious. It is also an island of pine wind, where flowers and plants grow among the trees, blooming continuously throughout the year. There are monkey groups, musk gardens, and chickens, dogs, pigs, and sheep on the island, along with thatched houses and bamboo buildings. The Daoqian Creek behind Niubei Island, although not wide, is very deep, cutting off the connection between the island and the mainland. On the other side, are jagged, broken walls, watching over the giant bull entering the water.

There are many snacks on the island, and the crabs in the South Sea Lake are very fat and plump, and the fish are the same. Grilled fish, fried crabs, and grilled shrimp are all delicious. The South Sea is one of the sources of drinking water for the people of Qianjiang. The water quality here is excellent, and the fish and shrimp are abundant. A leisurely boat ride on the lake is especially pleasant.

When I first went there a few years ago, the Small South Sea was still very primitive. When I went back this year, I found that the pedestrian walkways had already been built, greatly improving safety. This not only prevented tourists from trampling on the area at will but also made the scenic area more harmonious.

The weather was great on May Day. Blue sky, white clouds, green mountains, and blue waters. The entire journey was filled with the sweet fragrance of acacia flowers. Taking a deep breath, it feels intoxicating! There are also many wild flowers here. If you are a country kid, the primitive nature here will awaken many childhood memories.

There are also many dinosaur models on the island, so children won’t be bored. The pterosaurs and Tyrannosaurus Rex are made so realistically and dynamically, they are quite amazing! There are also dinosaur eggs that you can take pictures with and play around.

Due to time constraints, I didn’t climb the mountain to see the panoramic view. Small South Sea is also a place I frequently go to in Qianjiang. Taking photos, picnicking, camping, it’s all excellent here. Whether it’s the sunset glow filling the sky, the thin clouds and mist at sunrise, or the hazy fog on a rainy day, the Small South Sea is like a fairyland. If you love beautiful scenery, you must not miss it!

Tujia Thirteen Villages A Place of Tranquility

The beauty of the Small South Sea is known to all. But deep within the Small South Sea, there is a pristine land like a paradise, the Chongqing Qianjiang Tujia Thirteen Villages Scenic Area. This lesser-known place holds an indescribable charm. The Thirteen Villages Daughters Valley, a place suitable for rest and relaxation. There are direct buses from the Small South Sea to the Thirteen Villages, costing 7 yuan.

Right next to the parking lot at the entrance is the Ethnic Museum. Those interested in the Tujia and Miao people can visit it. You can see many Tujia folk customs exhibitions, realistic wax figures, and Miao and Tujia costumes. The Miao silver ornaments are quite exquisite, with meticulous craftsmanship. The ticket is part of the Small South Sea package, costing 68 yuan. So if you come to the Small South Sea, you have to go to the Thirteen Villages, no matter what. After all, you’ve already paid for the ticket, so why not?

Opposite the museum is the Yanwan Flower Sea. Currently, the azaleas are in full bloom. In a while, when all the flowers are planted, it will be a different kind of view.

From a distance, it’s still beautiful with a layered effect. There are many cool pavilions on top. In the summer, sitting in the pavilions at night, smelling the occasional scent of flowers wafting by, looking at the twinkling lights of fireflies in the night sky, with the playful night breeze gently brushing against your hair, you feel a sense of tranquility, as if you’ve returned to the days of your childhood, when your family would gather on the yard to enjoy the cool evening air and gaze at the stars.

There is a small stream between the flower sea and the museum, where you can catch crabs and shrimp, have a barbecue, camp out, do whatever you want.

I forgot to mention, here you can also rent ethnic costumes, immersing yourself further in the local customs. This outfit I wore was pretty good. The bright colors contrasted sharply with the fresh green of nature, so it was very eye-catching in photos and the subject stood out. You can play like that too.

I took a few photos that I’m relatively satisfied with, and I’m sharing them with you. Ethnic costumes are really worth trying. Perhaps the exotic style will refresh your perspective and make you see things in a new light.

The first village I went to was Longxu Village. There’s an old tree at the entrance of the village that my master really liked. So he insisted on taking pictures of it. I’m not a tree person, I prefer to look at the mountains, rivers, flowers, and plants all around.

There’s a young girl picking peas in the field. The farm dishes here are all grown and sold locally, pure and natural, pesticide-free. So when you come to the Thirteen Villages, eat your fill of farm food. The rice noodles, bacon, and various vegetables here are all grown by the Tujia people themselves. Go ahead and eat, if it’s not fresh, come find me!

Each village is like a fresh oxygen bar, surrounded by mountains and shaded by trees. That’s the most direct feeling I get.

The next stop after Longxu Village was Dawangping. The reason we were attracted here was the ancient tree with a sign. The tree is hundreds of years old, and it’s still flourishing. They say an ancient tree nurtures the people of a place. Having a century-old tree like this, the village is more peaceful and prosperous.

The population isn’t very big, typical Tujia stilted houses. Please note: these are all original features, not a facade project of later renovations. Most of the people here are the original Tujia residents. As time goes by, many households have moved to Qianjiang city or the South Sea town, leaving behind those who prefer to stay put.

They raise their own chickens, ducks, cows, sheep, there are turtledoves and bamboo chickens. You can get both poultry and game here. It’s nice to try some countryside game.

The people on the yard grow and dry their own tea leaves. Be sure to drink some old eagle tea. I love it!

Daily farm life, herding cows, farming the land, life is simple yet leisurely. Not everyone has the chance to experience the joy of “picking chrysanthemums under the eastern fence, leisurely seeing the southern mountain” (a famous line from a poem by Tao Yuanming). Many people who have left rural towns will yearn for the days of planting rice, herding cows, and digging in the earth. That carefree rural life is also a kind of happiness.

On the way back, I saw a pig being slaughtered. I don’t know if they have this custom of eating hot pot all over the country. Around the Spring Festival, the Youxiuqianpeng area often does this, making killing a pig and eating hot pot the main weekend entertainment. Farm-raised pigs have more tender meat and a different flavor than those from breeding farms. Come to the Thirteen Villages, you can eat locally grown farm pigs. You foodies know what I mean!

We then stopped for a while in Hejia Village, which is also quite famous. It’s Hou Tianming’s home. There’s a TV series called “Hou Tianming’s Dream”, and this is a major filming location.

This motivational comedy, if you have time, you can also check it out, it’s pretty good!

This is the birthplace of mountain songs. The Tujia people are good at singing, the Miao people are good at dancing. Basically everyone in the village can sing and dance, whether it’s an elderly man or a young woman, they can all sing a few songs. Six-Bowl Tea and Sending the Lover Tune, they can sing them off the top of their heads. I used to love singing along with everyone when I was backpacking. They also have a popular mountain-top singing competition, you sing and I sing, it’s quite interesting.

This Grandma Zhang in the village is a Tujia mountain song master. You wouldn’t believe she’s already in her seventies. She’s not afraid of strangers, and she’s not at all shy. She just starts singing loudly and with gusto. If you are interested, you can also sing with her, but outsiders generally don’t understand the local Hakka dialect, and I can only understand most of it.

Look at her good teeth, I bet she’s put many young people to shame. Good environment, good water, you can raise good people.

Grandma Zhang sells snacks here, deep-fried potatoes. I must strongly recommend you try them, the seasoning is particularly good, the potatoes are fragrant and crispy.

The Colorful Dragon Gate of Baishou Village, the Population and Culture Grand Courtyard, is also a must-see when you come to the Thirteen Villages. It’s a bit like a courtyard house in the north, but it’s a Tujia courtyard house. The ancient and elegant Tujia architectural style is a specific display of folk customs. It’s inhabited by Tujia people. It’s interesting to see their daily life!

The yard in the middle is the stage for the local Tujia Hand-Waving Dance. Whenever there is a major festival, the Tujia people will dance the Hand-Waving Dance here, creating a magnificent spectacle. Unfortunately, I didn’t encounter this grand occasion when I was there. This is a picture I found online from before, so you can make do with it.

The people of the Thirteen Villages still live a relatively traditional lifestyle. Firewood meals are very fragrant, large winnowing baskets are used to dry tea leaves, radish, corn, and other crops, and stone mills are used to grind beans and make tofu…

This courtyard has very good feng shui. It’s said that many families have twins. The picture shows a pair of brothers. If you also want to be blessed with this great fortune, why not come and stay in the Thirteen Villages for a while. Maybe you’ll be blessed by the feng shui of the place and also have twins, haha.

(Homemade bacon)

The Thirteen Villages are a non-typical farm-style experience. You can find places to eat in each village. They are all farm-style dishes, homemade bacon; fresh vegetables grown by themselves; wild fish caught from the South Sea.

In any case, it’s a taste you won’t experience in the big city. Your taste buds and tongue need a different flavor from time to time, don’t you think?

If I could, I hope I could stop my footsteps

If I could, I hope you could come with me to Qianjiang

If I could, I hope we could hide away in the Thirteen Villages

In the wisps of smoke, I’ll wait for you on the stilted house; as the sun sets, we’ll walk hand in hand through the forest; in the evening, we’ll sit back to back in the flower valley and watch the fireflies and the stars. This lifetime, all the romance I’ve cherished, I want to share it all with you here!