Visiting Du Fu Thatched Cottage in Chengdu is a must to experience the charm of the great poet

After flying from Shanghai to Chengdu in the morning, head straight to the hotel Hello Hotel (Sichuan University Branch on Kehua North Road, Chengdu) for check-in. Since the hotel is not far from Du Fu Thatched Cottage, I rode a shared bike directly there. You can ride the shared bike all the way to the entrance of the scenic area (there are several entrances to the scenic area, so it's recommended to choose one based on your location). I can recommend staying at the Chengdu Du Fu Thatched Cottage Manxin Hotel, which is super close to the hotel, and I ended up staying there. 16:00 Enter the scenic area. The Du Fu Thatched Cottage is quite large, and it took me about half an afternoon to visit the entire area, but the truly worthwhile spots are mainly a few key points of interest. The cottage itself is very simple and unadorned, with nothing particularly special. A quick look and some photos are all you need. If you feel the need for a guide, you can hire one for an introduction, but I personally don't think it's necessary. The scenic area also introduces the experiences of Li Bai, as well as the shared experiences of Du Fu and Li Bai, and finally mentions Qu Yuan. These three historical figures had similar aspirations. Therefore, there are statues of all three in the square outside the cottage. Inside the scenic area, there are various statues of Du Fu and other poets, which you can also skip if you prefer. The scenic area also displays a variety of orchids and plum blossoms, and the landscaping is well done, making it suitable for visiting in spring and summer. The flower paths suitable for photography can get crowded, but around 16:50, there are usually fewer people. It is not recommended to visit the Tang Dynasty ruins at the northernmost part of the scenic area, as the facilities are old and not well-maintained, resembling an abandoned site. 18:00 Exit the scenic area. There were no shared bikes at the entrance. At this point, it is recommended to walk to Qinghua Road, where you can find bikes. Don't make the same mistake I did by walking south, as that area is Huanhua Creek Park and a villa district, with no shared bikes. Of course, if you're taking a taxi, you can ignore this advice.