Youyang

Youyang’s average summer temperature is about 25°C. Bring a light jacket for mountain areas and caves.

Youyang is located in southeastern Chongqing and has a high concentration of mountain and river scenery. It is home to a scenic area themed around the atmosphere of *The Peach Blossom Spring*, and you can also follow the Wujiang River to enjoy canyon and river views. It is a good destination near Chongqing for summer escapes and short trips.

• Youyang Peach Blossom Spring: A national 5A-rated scenic area centered on the setting and atmosphere of *The Peach Blossom Spring*. The highlight of the scenic area is the 3.5-kilometer Taigu Cave, where the temperature stays at 14-17°C year-round. Inside, you can see various stalactite formations.
• Gongtan Ancient Town: A riverside ancient town with a history of a thousand years. Its buildings follow the mountain terrain, and stilted houses are spread along the cliffside. In the early morning, mist often hangs over the Wujiang River, and in the evening you can take a boat trip through the Wujiang Gallery.
• Changpu Grassland: An alpine meadow at an elevation of 1,400 meters. In summer, the grass is lush, and you can see white wind turbines and the Rainbow Road. Evenings are good for watching the sunset, and you can also arrange camping and wide-open landscape photography.
• Dieshi Flower Valley: Known for its flower-valley scenery and exotic-style layouts. It is especially attractive in autumn when the pink muhly grass is in bloom. The scenic area also has a fighter jet model exhibition and NPC parades.

Classic 3-Day, 2-Night Itinerary

• Day 1: Arrive in Youyang and visit Peach Blossom Spring
  • Morning: Depart from downtown Chongqing. It takes about 4 hours by car, or about 2.5 hours by high-speed train to Youyang.
  • Afternoon: Head to Youyang Peach Blossom Spring Scenic Area. You can enter through the cave at the entrance, following a route that moves from deep and enclosed to open and spacious, then continue into Taigu Cave to view underground karst scenery. The cave is cool, so bringing a jacket is recommended.
  • Evening: Stay in Youyang County town. You can take a walk in Youzhou Ancient Town and try camellia oil hotpot and local street snacks.
• Day 2: Changpu Grassland and Gongtan Ancient Town
  • Morning: Drive to Changpu Grassland, about 45 minutes away. Walk around the wind-turbine viewing platform and Rainbow Road area to enjoy the cool environment of the alpine meadow.
  • Afternoon: Continue to Gongtan Ancient Town. The mountain-road drive takes about 1.5 hours. After arrival, check into a riverside stilted-house guesthouse.
  • Evening: Walk along the old flagstone streets of the ancient town, visit Xiqin Guild Hall, then wait by the river for sunset and enjoy the night views of the Wujiang River.
• Day 3: Morning mist over the Wujiang Gallery and return trip
  • Early morning: Get up early and take a slow walk through the ancient town. There are fewer visitors at this time, and light mist often hangs over the river. Fuxing Wharf and the riverside walkway are both good places for views and photos.
  • Morning: For breakfast, try a bowl of Gongtan mung bean noodles, an intangible cultural heritage snack. Then take a Wujiang Gallery cruise to enjoy the canyon scenery formed by sheer cliffs and emerald-green river water on both banks.
  • Noon: Try Wujiang tofu fish in the ancient town, then drive back to Chongqing to end the trip.

Must-Try Youyang Specialties

Youyang cuisine carries Tujia and Miao flavors. River fish, cured meats, and local snacks all have distinct characteristics.

• Wujiang Tofu Fish: A signature dish of Gongtan Ancient Town, made with live Wujiang River fish and tender tofu. The broth is rich, and the fish is delicate in texture.
• Gongtan Mung Bean Noodles: A local intangible cultural heritage snack with a soft, glutinous texture and a mellow flavor. They can be boiled or stir-fried and are a common local breakfast.
• Youyang Oil Tea Soup: A traditional Tujia breakfast. Tea leaves are stir-fried with oil and then boiled, with fried rice, peanuts, and other ingredients added. It has both tea fragrance and rice aroma.
• Camellia Oil Hotpot: A Youyang-style hotpot using camellia oil as the soup base. It has a light, refreshing aroma and goes well with freshly sliced beef chuck flap and thick-cut pork kidney slices.
• Tujia Cured Pork: Farmhouse smoked cured meat from the mountains. It has a pronounced aroma and firm texture, and is often stir-fried with garlic sprouts or wild vegetables.

Transport and Accommodation Guide

• Transport options:
  • Self-driving: Best for linking different attractions. From downtown Chongqing, take the Baomao Expressway; the whole trip takes about 4-4.5 hours. Mountain roads have many bends, and the surface can be slippery on rainy days. Driving during the day is recommended, and night driving should be avoided as much as possible.
  • High-speed train + transfer: Take a train from Chongqing North Railway Station to Youyang Station, about 2.5 hours. After leaving the station, you can charter a car or take an intercity bus to the scenic areas.
  • Coach: Direct coaches to Gongtan Ancient Town are available from Chongqing Sigongli Transport Hub. The journey takes about 4-5 hours.
• Accommodation suggestions:
  • Gongtan Ancient Town: If you want to enjoy the night views and early-morning river mist, stay inside the ancient town. Prioritize riverside stilted-house guesthouses on the second floor or above. In the off-season, river-view rooms cost about 150-300 yuan per night. First-floor rooms are relatively damp and more easily affected by noise.
  • Youyang County town: Suitable as a stopover for the first or last night. There are more accommodation choices, prices are relatively good value, and dining options are concentrated nearby.

Practical Travel Tips

• What to wear: Changpu Grassland is at a higher elevation, and the temperature is usually 6-8°C lower than in the county town, so bring a light jacket. The caves stay at 14-17°C year-round, so long sleeves are also needed for warmth. There are many flagstone paths and steps along the route, so wear comfortable flat shoes.
• Sun and mosquito protection: UV rays are strong in high mountain areas and along the river. Prepare sunscreen, sunglasses, and a sun hat. There are many mosquitoes in the mountains in summer, so carrying mosquito repellent is recommended.
• Travel note: Taigu Cave is 3.5 kilometers long, and the sightseeing route is one-way only—you can move forward but cannot turn back. It requires a certain level of stamina. If traveling with elderly people or children, plan according to the actual situation.
• Signal issues: Some mountain road sections, such as those around Changpu Grassland, have weak mobile signal. Download offline maps in advance.