[2025 Dechang Attraction] Travel Guide for Phoenix Pavilion (Updated Jun)

A 30-minute high-speed train ride from Xichang will take you to the 2,000-year-old city of "Dechang," where the beautiful legend of Phoenix City is still told. This morning, I climbed the Phoenix Pavilion and saw a beautiful blue-purple street, the middle section of Changping Road. During the May Day holiday, Changping Road was quiet. It's simply peaceful for those of us who are afraid of crowds. Online, I saw the jacaranda streets of Xichang crowded with people and traffic, but Dechang offers a sense of tranquility. Local customs: Lisu ethnic group, fire grass weaving Recommended attractions: Phoenix Pavilion, Bell and Drum Tower Recommended food: Barbecue, hoof flower, tofu pudding

Dechang, a lesser-known treasure of a town, is located on the road from Xichang to Panzhihua. It's only an hour's drive from Xichang, but boasts even better sunshine, water quality, and air. With minimal temperature difference between day and night, the warm sunshine nurtures sweet and juicy strawberries. This town also holds a 2,000-year-old history and cultural treasures, making it a must-visit! Below is a detailed two-day itinerary for Dechang👇 📍Location: Dechang County is located in Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan Province, in the Anning River Valley. 🚗Transportation: It's super convenient to get there from Xichang. You can drive along the Jingkun Expressway southward, arriving in about an hour. The scenery along the way is also quite beautiful, making for a pleasant drive. If you don't want to drive, you can take a bus from Xichang Passenger Transport Station to Dechang. There are many buses, and the tickets are affordable. 👍️Must-see attractions: 1. Fenghuang Pavilion: This landmark building in Dechang has a unique design and is a modern replica of an ancient viewing pavilion with 11 floors. It showcases Dechang's thousand-year-old culture in its entirety. Walking up the stairs floor by floor is like traveling through a long river of history. From the viewing platform, you can enjoy a panoramic view of Dechang's landscape, where the town's charm blends perfectly with the natural beauty. In the evening, the illuminated Fenghuang Pavilion is absolutely stunning, creating a magical atmosphere. 2. Ziku Pagoda: This is a place where ancient people burned paper with writing on it, rich in historical and cultural significance. There are six Ziku Pagodas in Dechang, located in Cangsheng Palace, Cida, Yudong Temple, Liusuo, Mali, and Xiaogao. The most exquisite one, the Cangsheng Palace Ziku Pagoda, is right in front of Fenghuang Pavilion. Its exquisite carvings showcase the wisdom and aesthetics of the ancients. 3. Cangsheng Palace: Built during the Qing Dynasty through public funding, this palace is dedicated to Cangjie, the ancestor of Chinese characters. Unfortunately, it was under renovation and closed when I visited. It's recommended to check its opening status in advance before your visit. You might be lucky enough to go inside and experience the ancient sacrificial culture. 4. Sacred Heart Church: This century-old church, built in 1907 by French missionaries, is hidden among alleys and residential buildings. It blends Chinese elements with Gothic architecture, creating a unique charm. Although the exterior walls bear the marks of time, stepping inside, you'll be struck by a sense of solemnity and reverence. Sitting quietly inside brings a sense of peace. 5. Kuixing Pavilion: Also known as the Bell and Drum Tower, it was built in the 18th year of the Daoguang reign of the Qing Dynasty. Its architectural style, featuring flying eaves and brackets, is quite distinctive. Standing near Kuixing Pavilion, you can feel the rich historical atmosphere. There are also many local snack stalls nearby, perfect for a treat after exploring. 6. Haiguagou: This place is a paradise, with vast flower fields, clear streams, and various unique guesthouses. Strolling through it feels like stepping into a fairy tale. It's a great place for photography, whether you're capturing landscapes or portraits, you can easily create a magical atmosphere. 🎟️Tickets: Fenghuang Pavilion is free to enter, but some special exhibitions may charge separate fees. Ziku Pagoda, Cangsheng Palace, and Kuixing Pavilion are all free to visit. Sacred Heart Church is also free to enter. While experiencing the religious culture, please respect the rules and atmosphere of the place. Some areas of Haiguagou currently charge a fee. Check the official public account or ticketing platforms for specific prices. It's recommended to plan ahead. 💗Other tips: 1. For accommodation in Dechang, you can choose to stay in Dechang County. There are many hotels and guesthouses with affordable prices, convenient for traveling and dining. 2. Dechang's strawberries are truly exceptional. There are many strawberry picking gardens on the way back to Dechang, where you can experience the joy of picking your own strawberries at a lower price than buying them outside. 3. Don't miss out on the local cuisine, such as beef noodle soup, which has generous portions of beef and a rich broth; and mutton hot pot, a perfect way to warm up in winter. 4. Remember to check the weather forecast before your trip. Dechang has plenty of sunshine, so take sun protection measures. If you're going to Haiguagou, it's best to wear comfortable shoes for easy walking. My trip to Dechang was full of pleasant surprises. It has both a rich history and culture, and stunning natural scenery. Although two days is short, it's enough to experience the essence of this small town. If you're traveling to Xichang, don't miss Dechang. Pack your bags and set off to encounter the beauty of this charming town!

Dechang County is under the jurisdiction of Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan Province. It has an average altitude of over 1,200 meters and a history of over 2,000 years. It is a must-see stop on the Southern Silk Road, which "reaches the capital in the north and connects to Mengzhao in the south." We stopped here for a night after passing through Xichang. The next day, we spent half a day visiting the historical sites in the city. The attractions are relatively concentrated, and there is no entrance fee. 1. Phoenix Pavilion, Cangsheng Palace, and Ziku Pagoda (Photo 1) These three sites are all on Phoenix Mountain. Phoenix Pavilion is a landmark building in Dechang. The 11-story ancient-style pavilion is magnificent. Ziku Pagoda was built during the Daoguang period of the Qing Dynasty and features exquisite reliefs. Cangsheng Palace was built during the Qing Dynasty and is dedicated to Cangjie, Kuixing, and Wenchang Dijun. The Phoenix Pavilion is stunning when the lights come on. I recommend you go and see it. You can also stroll around the square and learn about the story of Cangjie creating Chinese characters. Sacred Heart Church and the Bell and Drum Tower are separated by an overpass, both in front of the old city wall. 2. Sacred Heart Church (Photo 2) is a Catholic church built by French missionaries in 1907. The design is exquisite, with Jingdezhen porcelain inlays, flying eaves, vase and lotus patterns, and archways. Chinese elements and Gothic style are combined. 3. Bell and Drum Tower (Photo 3) is also known as Kuixing Pavilion. It was built in 1848 and is simple and elegant, with many plaques. There are many shops selling snacks and other items in the ancient city, so you can take a leisurely stroll. Dechang is worth a stop!

🔥Dechang, an important post on the ancient Silk Road and the Tea Horse Road, is a small town by the Anning River, possessing a low-profile and little-known beauty. Here, you can find the unique tranquility of the Panxi region. As you walk through, you can admire historical relics, experience the local life, and visit ancient buildings at every step, feeling the beauty of time accumulation. 🏯The newly built Fenghuang Pavilion on the north bank of the Anning River, though a newly constructed antique-style building, stands out as the most eye-catching scenery whether under the bright sun or when the lights first come on. Standing here, slowly savoring the charm of this small town in the warm breeze of the Anning River Valley, is the most comfortable experience of this trip to Dechang. 👉About Fenghuang Pavilion: Fenghuang Pavilion is an ornamental antique-style pavilion with 11 floors. The exhibition area tells the thousand-year history and development story of the beautiful Phoenix City, Dechang. The main exhibition areas are distributed across three underground floors and three above-ground floors of the pavilion, including the Dechang Historical Evolution Exhibition Hall, Dechang Development Achievements Exhibition Hall, Red Army's Long March through Dechang Exhibition Hall, Dechang Cultural Landscape Exhibition Hall, Lisu Ethnic Folk Culture Exhibition Hall, and Phoenix Culture and Dechang Exhibition Hall. 📸How to play: If you're not interested in the exhibition halls, it's also nice to walk around the pavilion and take photos from multiple angles. The area around the pavilion, now known as Fenghuang Mouth, has been transformed into a public park for citizens to relax. There are many citizens jogging, running, and cycling here. Climbing up to the Fenghuang Pavilion's viewing platform, you can see the Anning River flowing quietly below and have a panoramic view of the entire Dechang county, with excellent scenery. 🎫Ticket: Free admission. The overall visiting time is about 2 hours. 📍Address: Lingyuan Road, Dezhou Street, Dechang County, Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture. The scenic area has a dedicated paid parking lot, and there are no issues with parking even on holidays. Dechang county is very small, and the attractions are not far from each other. It is recommended to take a taxi or cycle there. However, riding an electric scooter to this point will exceed the operating range, so you need to park in the non-motorized vehicle parking spaces on the roadside and then walk up the mountain. Below Fenghuang Pavilion is the Cangsheng Palace, with green tiles, red eaves, carved beams, and painted rafters, offering a unique and elegant tranquility in its winding paths.