Eastern Sichuan's "Little Jiuzhaigou" Can't Be Hidden Anymore!
See waterfalls and explore caves in Gengren Valley, perfect for a weekend trip
Ladies, listen up!
If your impression of Sichuan is still stuck on the crowded Jiuzhaigou, then you’re really missing out!
This time, I discovered a hidden treasure deep in the mountains of Qu County, Dazhou, known locally as the "Little Jiuzhaigou of Eastern Sichuan" — Gengren Valley. This place combines mountains, water, caves, gorges, springs, waterfalls, forests, and rocks all in one, and it also has the country’s only Gengren cave-dwelling tribal site. The best part — it’s just a 2-hour high-speed train ride from Chengdu, tickets cost only a few dozen yuan, and you can explore the highlights in 2-3 hours without tiring your legs. A one-day, one-night weekend trip unlocks a healing journey of “exploring an ancient tribe + playing in the water and breathing fresh air”! 🌿
1. Why is Gengren Valley called the "Little Jiuzhaigou of Eastern Sichuan"?
Unique mountains, waters, and stones; ancient Gengren, ancient caves, ancient tribe
Gengren Valley is located in the middle-northern section of the Huaying Mountain Range. It is a national 4A-level tourist attraction and a national forest park, renowned for its “unique mountains, waters, and stones; ancient Gengren, ancient caves, ancient tribe.” The karst landscape here has created nearly a hundred scenic spots — Longqiu Waterfall, Divine Dog Howling at the Sky, Strange Stone Valley, Gengwang Cave, Old Dragon Cave... It integrates mountains, water, caves, gorges, springs, waterfalls, forests, and stones, with ever-changing scenery throughout the seasons.
The country’s only Gengren cave-dwelling tribal site, a 3,000-year journey back in time
A thousand years ago, the Gengren were a strong and martial ethnic minority in Eastern Sichuan and the oldest indigenous people of Qu County. The scenic area preserves the only Gengren cave-dwelling tribal site in the country and the Gengren Cultural Exhibition Hall. Entering the cave dwellings, you have to bend down in many places, and looking up you can see traces of the Gengren ancestors’ slash-and-burn farming, tiger hunting, and fishing.
Boating on the underground river in Old Dragon Cave — paddling inside a cave is so cool
Among the cave groups, Old Dragon Cave is the largest and most spectacular, with an underground river and lake where you can boat. Inside, the stalactites take on countless shapes, and sunlight pours in from the cave entrance, scattering dazzling light spots on the cave walls. A visitor commented: “It’s very culturally rich. It’s best to walk up the mountain to see the beautiful scenery, and take the sightseeing bus down.”
2. How to play? Follow this one-day, one-night “exploration” itinerary!
Transportation Guide
🚗 Self-driving (highly recommended!): Navigate to “Gengren Valley Scenic Area.” From Dazhou or Qu County, take the Nandaliang Expressway and exit at the “Gengren Valley” interchange, about 2.5 km straight ahead. The scenic area is only 13 km from Qu County town.
🚄 High-speed train + carpool: Take the high-speed train from Chengdu East Station to Dazhou South Station (about 1.5 hours), then carpool to Gengren Valley (about 1 hour, around 37.5 yuan per person for 4 people). You can also take bus No. 2 from Qu County Train Station to Sancha Intersection, then transfer to the “Qu County–Gengren Valley” shuttle van (10 yuan per person).
🎟️ Ticket reference: Tickets cost about 49-55 yuan per person; sightseeing bus one-way 10 yuan, round-trip 18 yuan; Old Dragon Cave boat ride about 35 yuan. It’s recommended to choose Route A (about 80 yuan), which covers more attractions.
⏰ Best time to visit: Spring and autumn have the most pleasant climate; summer is perfect for cooling off. Opening hours: summer 8:00-17:30, winter 8:30-17:00.
One-day, one-night highlights itinerary (follow it to avoid getting lost)
Day 1: Enter the valley in the afternoon → Gengren cave-dwelling tribal site → Gengwang Valley → Old Dragon Cave boat ride → Stay at Dangqu New Village
It’s best to arrive around 1-2 PM. Start from the visitor center, cross the Covenant Bridge into the core area. Choose Route A to see Divine Dog Howling at the Sky and the Gengren cave-dwelling tribal site, and experience the primitive feeling of “bending and crawling” inside the cave dwellings.
First stop: Gengwang Valley + Strange Stone Valley. Walk along the canyon trail, the roar of Longqiu Waterfall is thunderous, and Strange Stone Valley is full of bizarre rocks, with natural bonsai scenes every few steps.
Second stop: Old Dragon Cave (a must!). Take a boat on the underground river, stalactites inside the cave are varied and beautiful, and the underground river and lake glow with a mysterious blue under the lights. The cave is cool like natural air conditioning, perfect for summer.
In the evening, stay at a farmhouse inn in Dangqu New Village styled after Eastern Sichuan residences. Nearly 100 inns can accommodate 1,500 people simultaneously, with options for all budgets. A netizen shared: about 60 yuan per person including food and lodging, and the owner is enthusiastic and helps plan routes.
Photo spots you’ll want to keep forever:
· Entrance of Gengwang Cave: sunlight pours through the round cave entrance, perfect for silhouette shots with a great atmosphere
· Inside Old Dragon Cave: dazzling light spots on the cave walls under the lights, great for side profiles
· In front of Longqiu Waterfall: capture the moment water splashes, full of vitality
Day 2: Gengren Cultural Exhibition Hall → Longhua Temple → Return trip
Highlight! Sleep in naturally in the morning, then visit the Gengren Cultural Exhibition Hall to learn about this 3,000-year-old tribal legend. The hall displays Gengren bronze weapons, tiger-shaped belt hooks, and other artifacts, and you can try rubbing patterns to take home.
At noon, enjoy an authentic Gengren meal at Dangqu Old Stove: Dengzhanwo dried tofu (intangible cultural heritage technique, crispy outside and tender inside), Geng family cured meat (smoked with cypress branches), and Zhouhe Qiaoke fish soup (milky and fragrant). Return leisurely in the afternoon.
3. Outfit tips + survival checklist
👗 Outfit formula
· 👟 Non-slip sports shoes are a must! The plank roads and cave floors are slippery; wrong shoes will cause falls
· 🧥 Light jacket: it’s cooler inside the caves, needed for the Old Dragon Cave boat ride
· ☀️ Sunscreen + hat: essential for long outdoor activities
· 🦟 Mosquito repellent: many mosquitoes near the water
🎒 Must-bring list
· 📱 Power bank: running out of battery while taking photos is common
· 💡 Flashlight: some cave areas are dimly lit, better to bring one for peace of mind
· 💧 Water and snacks: limited supply points on the mountain
· 🗑️ Trash bags: practice leave-no-trace travel, starting with yourself
Final words
Gengren Valley is not a “trendy check-in spot.” It is the tribal site of the Gengren ancestors’ slash-and-burn farming from 3,000 years ago, an underground secret realm where underground rivers and caves intertwine, and the roaring Longqiu Waterfall that has thundered for a millennium — the “Little Jiuzhaigou of Eastern Sichuan.”
Here, you can bend and crawl through cave dwellings to feel the wildness of the ancient tribe, boat on the underground river in Old Dragon Cave, and enjoy authentic Geng family cured meat in Dangqu New Village. Tickets cost only a few dozen yuan, a 2-hour high-speed train ride from Chengdu, and 2-3 hours of walking without tiring your legs — this kind of “exploration + oxygen therapy” weekend can’t be bought in the city!
While the caves are cool and the ancient tribe is still waiting for you, ladies, just go for it! 🏔️🔦