Yanzuo Zen Temple 4 Days 3 Nights Travel Guide
🗓️ Itinerary Overview (4 days 3 nights, budget 4000 RMB)
· Budget Allocation: Transportation about 1200 RMB + Accommodation about 900 RMB + Meals about 1000 RMB + Tickets and Experiences about 300 RMB + Flexible Reserve 600 RMB
· Route Features: Centered around Yanzuo Zen Temple, deeply explore Xiaoqian Ancient Town, combining ancient architecture appreciation, intangible cultural heritage experiences, and ancient town cuisine.
🏯 Day 1: Arrive in Deyang, initial exploration of Xiaoqian night scene
· Transportation: Take the high-speed train to Deyang Station. After exiting, there are two ways to get to Xiaoqian Ancient Town: one is by taxi, about 40 minutes; the other is by bus (such as route 109) to Xiaoqian Town, about 50 minutes.
· Accommodation: Highly recommend staying inside or near Xiaoqian Ancient Town for a more complete experience.
· Deyang Xiaoyuanli Hotel (Xiaoqian Ancient Town Branch): Four-star, opened in 2023, new facilities, high rating of 9.8/10, only 560 meters from Yanzuo Zen Temple, walkable.
· Zhonglin Business Hotel (Yanzuo Zen Temple Branch): Cost-effective, large rooms, well-reviewed by guests, suitable for self-driving or business travelers.
· Homestays in the ancient town: such as Jinmanjia Homestay, Yuhu Garden, etc., offering a more local living atmosphere.
· Evening: After settling in, you can stroll along Banbian Street. This street is half Sichuan-Western residential style and half Hui ethnic style, very distinctive. Find a small shop for dinner and enjoy the peaceful night of the ancient town.
🙏 Day 2: A day of tranquility at Yanzuo Zen Temple, ancient architecture tour
· Morning: After breakfast, head to Yanzuo Zen Temple. The temple opens at 08:00, it is recommended to arrive early; the morning light and tranquility are best for visiting.
· Main highlights:
1. Longhu Relic Pagoda: The only existing Yuan Dynasty brick pagoda in Sichuan Province, a nationally protected cultural heritage site. The pagoda is 37 meters tall, 13-story multi-eaved style, with copper bells hanging at the four corners of the eaves that chime beautifully in the wind. The pagoda is climbable (usually only some floors are open; during special periods like the Spring Festival, climbing for blessings is allowed, fee about 10 RMB).
2. Ming Dynasty Sutra Library: Built during the Ming Chenghua period, with a dougong bracket system, single-eave hip roof, simple and solemn.
· Special experience: Find a spot inside the temple to drink tea. Many visitors mention that drinking tea under the relic pagoda or in the temple’s tea room while listening to the wind chimes is a rare relaxation.
· Noon: You can have vegetarian meals or local snacks inside the temple or return to the ancient town.
· Afternoon: Continue to explore other highlights of the ancient town, all within walking distance:
· Wusheng Palace: A guild hall built by Hunan merchants during the Qing Dynasty, with a beautiful ancient opera stage where you can sit around, drink tea, and watch performances.
· Jiangxiao Ancestral Hall: A memorial hall for the “Three Filial Sons in One Family,” the Jiang Shi family. Next to it is Jiang Gong’s tomb where you can even drink tea and experience the unique Sichuan relaxation.
· Linggu Spring: Known as the “Baotu Spring of Deyang,” local people often sing and dance in the rain shelter corridor, full of local life atmosphere.
· Evening: Have dinner on Banbian Street, which is also a street of halal cuisine with many options.
🍜 Day 3: Ancient town food tour, intangible cultural heritage experience or surrounding exploration
· Morning: Sleep in, then go to Banbian Street and Hui Minority Street for food. Recommended to try:
· Snacks: Yang San Mixed Sugar Guokui (charcoal grilled, often with a queue), juice beef, Hong’er spicy hot pot (30-year-old shop).
· Main meals: Halal restaurants like Layangzi (only open at noon), Yushi Halal; for steak hot pot, Qingfangyuan is recommended, with large, tender beef chunks.
· Afternoon: Choose one of two options
· Option A (Deep ancient town): Visit the mosque, a Hui ethnic mosque with Sichuan-Western residential style. Then find a café in an old house renovation, such as Loushi Shuxia or Banran Coffee, to relax and zone out.
· Option B (Surrounding expansion): If you like intangible cultural heritage, take a taxi to Mianzhu New Year Painting Village (about 30 minutes by car). Experience New Year painting rubbing (white paper 5 RMB, red paper 8 RMB, gold lettering 10 RMB), and stroll around the quiet village.
· Evening: You can stay in Deyang city or continue staying in the ancient town. If going to the city, you can visit Wenmiao Square to feel the city’s lively atmosphere.
🏞️ Day 4: Museum wrap-up, leisurely return
· Morning: Head to Deyang City Museum or Deyang Stone Carving Art Wall. The stone carving art wall is very distinctive and great for photos.
· Noon: Have a good meal in Deyang city, such as trying local stir-fried dishes.
· Afternoon: Pack and return according to high-speed train schedule.
📝 Practical Information Checklist
· Yanzuo Zen Temple:
· Tickets: Free, but must book in advance! You can book through related official accounts or channels. If fully booked on the day, it is said you can enter through pilgrim channels, but it is recommended to plan ahead.
· Opening hours: 08:00-17:30.
· Flower viewing tips: If visiting in May-June, endless summer hydrangeas bloom; it is recommended to go in the morning as flowers may wilt in the afternoon; before 9 am or during lunch hours, fewer people, good for photos.
· Xiaoqian Ancient Town: Most attractions (Wusheng Palace, Jiangxiao Ancestral Hall, Linggu Spring, Banbian Street, Mosque) are free to enter.
· Transportation: Attractions in the ancient town are concentrated, walk or ride shared electric scooters. Taxi from Deyang to Xiaoqian takes about 40 minutes, costs about 45 RMB.
· Pagoda climbing: Longhu Relic Pagoda may not be open for climbing regularly; usually open during Spring Festival (first to fifteenth day), fee 10 RMB/person.
💡 Final few hard-earned tips to avoid pitfalls
· Book! Book!: Although Yanzuo Zen Temple is free, you must book to enter; don’t just show up empty-handed.
· Flower season waits for no one: For hydrangea viewing, the best period is mid-May to early June, and flowers are best in the morning, wilting in the afternoon.
· Food caution: Halal food is a big feature of Xiaoqian, but some restaurants (like Layangzi) only open at noon, plan your time accordingly.
· Relaxation experience: Drinking tea in front of Jiang Gong’s tomb, under the opera stage at Wusheng Palace, or under the pagoda at Yanzuo Zen Temple is a unique Xiaoqian experience—don’t miss this “Sichuan relaxation.”