Ziyang

Ziyang has a subtropical monsoon climate, making spring and autumn more comfortable times to visit. Ziyang combines a long history with a strong sense of everyday life. Tang and Song dynasty stone carvings, mutton soup, and the lemon industry are all important clues to understanding this “original home of the Shu people.” The following route is suitable for first-time visitors.

• Anyue Stone Carvings: An important representative of Chinese stone-carving art. Excavation began in the Northern and Southern Dynasties and flourished especially during the Tang and Song dynasties. Today, there are 100,000 surviving cliff-carved statues. The Purple Bamboo Guanyin and the Reclining Buddha have a distinctive Bashu regional character. The sites are scattered, making them well suited to a slow self-drive trip.
• Chen Yi Former Residence: A 4A-rated red culture scenic area that focuses on the youth and life story of Chen Yi, a founding marshal of the People’s Republic of China. The courtyard has a simple, unpretentious style and is suitable for family study trips and red culture visits.
• Ziyang Museum: The building is shaped like a “gaiwan” teacup. Inside, exhibits include Han dynasty bronze chariots and horses, replicas of stone carvings, and other displays that help visitors understand Ziyang’s history in a systematic way. Closed on Mondays.
• Fengling Park: Once used as an outdoor filming location for the CCTV Spring Festival Gala, this is also a city park frequently visited by Ziyang residents. The park has Yanhu Lake, pavilions, terraces, and arched bridges. From higher ground, you can look out over the urban area.
• Zikushan Park: China’s first Chinese-character culture theme park, with the “Ziku Tower” as its core cultural symbol. It is also one of the larger forest parks in Ziyang’s urban area, where visitors can climb up for views of the Tuojiang River.
• Piludong Grotto: One of the representative sites of the Anyue Stone Carvings. The “Purple Bamboo Guanyin” statue inside the grotto has an elegant, graceful posture and is known as the “Eastern Venus.” It is a good place to appreciate the details of stone-carving art.

Itinerary Route Plan

• Day 1: Culture and Local Life in Ziyang Urban Area
  • Morning: After arriving in Ziyang, first visit Ziyang Museum. Start with the “Ziyang Man” related content and Han dynasty history exhibits to learn about the city’s background. It is recommended to make a reservation in advance through the mini program.
  • Afternoon: Head to Sanxian Culture Park and climb Sanxian Pavilion for a view over the city. Then go to Fengling Park and walk along Yanhu Lake to enjoy the lake reflections and urban green landscape.
  • Evening: Go to Zhongxue Road Pedestrian Food Street, where you can try time-honored chuanchuan skewers, Yizhong cold noodles, and huang guokui, while experiencing Ziyang’s nighttime dining atmosphere.
• Day 2: Visit Anyue Stone-Carving Art
  • Morning: Drive or take a coach from Ziyang’s urban area to Anyue County. The journey takes about 1.5 hours. After arrival, visit Yuanjue Cave to see the craftsmanship of Tang and Song dynasty cliff carvings.
  • Afternoon: Continue to Piludong Grotto to see the “Eastern Venus,” or visit Wofoyuan to view the giant reclining nirvana statue of Shakyamuni. Return to Ziyang or Chengdu in the evening.

Must-Try Local Foods

Transport and Accommodation Tips

• Getting Around:
  • Intercity Transport: It takes about 25 minutes by high-speed train from Chengdu East Railway Station to Ziyang North Railway Station, with tickets around 42 yuan. Driving is also possible, taking about 1.5 hours.
  • Local Transport: In Ziyang’s urban area, you can take taxis or buses. If you are going to Anyue to visit the stone carvings, self-driving or hiring a car is more suitable. A 7- to 9-seat chartered vehicle costs about 600–800 yuan per day. The main reason is that the stone-carving sites are spread out.
• Where to Stay:
  • Consider staying near Ziyang Wanda Plaza or Ziyang North Railway Station, where transport is relatively convenient and dining options are more concentrated. You may consider Weihai Yunju Hotel, which offers good value for money, or Ziyang Howard Johnson Hotel, which is suitable for families with children and has a surf pool and buffet breakfast.

Notes

• Reservation Reminder: Ziyang Museum is closed on Mondays. Before setting off, confirm its opening hours and complete your reservation in advance.
• Stone-Carving Road Conditions: Some stone-carving sites in Anyue, such as the Banyueshan Giant Buddha, may be temporarily closed due to mountain maintenance. Some mountain roads are narrow, so drive carefully and check the latest opening status of the scenic areas in advance.
• Food Timing: Many long-running local shops in Ziyang, such as those selling huang guokui and potato bread, may open late or close once sold out. It is best not to schedule them too early in your itinerary.