Things to do in Hongyuan

Emotang Flower Sea Scenic Area

Ermotang Huahai Scenic Spot is located in Rangkou Township, Hongyuan County. Starting from June every year, the tens of kilometers of Ermotang grassland turns into a sea of flowers. October. Different kinds of flowers bloom in different seasons, presenting a colorful flower sea wonderland, which is praised as "Sichuan Little Switzerland". In addition to the grassland flower sea landscape, the scenic spot also has more than 20 ice-stained lake landscapes of various sizes with intact ecological protection. Among them, the larger Cuoqiong Shenhai is equivalent to 200 football fields. Spectacular spectacle, the local herdsmen regard it as a "holy lake". The scenic spot is also equipped with an original ecological self-driving outdoor camp, a Tibetan cultural style street, hundreds of Tibetan culture-themed tent hotels and characteristic wooden villas, a lake and water central restaurant that can accommodate thousands of people at the same time, and camping tents. Available for tourists to rent.

Hongyuan Moon River

Hongyuan Yueliangwan is located in Hongyuan County, Ngawa Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture. The beautiful grassland in the scenic area seems like a green carpet, on which a slender curve is drawn by a clear river, like a crescent moon -- that is how the place got its name (yueliang means moon). It has an absolutely captivating scenery, attracting countless visitors who come here for sightseeing.

Waqie Tower Forest

The Waqie Prayer Flag Cluster is located in Waqie Township, Hongyuan County, Sichuan Province. Waqie Tower Forest means "big tent" in Tibetan, and the tower forest is surrounded by endless prayer flags, creating a spectacular sight. For photography enthusiasts, the rows of white pagodas and vast stretches of prayer flags are excellent subjects and one of the unmissable attractions.

Hongyuan Grand Grasslands

chuan xi mi jing lu ying di

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Jiuzhaigou National Park

Jiuzhaigou National Park features towering snow-capped peaks, lush forests, and stunningly colorful pools and shoals. Crystal-clear streams meander through the forests and shoals, complemented by traditional Tibetan wooden houses, prayer flags, and the unique traditional customs of the Tibetan and Qiang ethnic groups, earning it the name "beautiful fairy-tale world." Jiuzhaigou National Park is shaped like a "Y" and consists of three valleys—Shuzheng Valley, Rize Valley, and Zechawa Valley—with a total length of over 60 km. Fall is the golden season for sightseeing, as the mountain forests gradually shift in color from emerald green to golden yellow and then to fiery red, contrasting beautifully with the azure lakes and presenting an unforgettable picture.

Valley of the Yak Deer

Hongyuan Deer Valley, a natural ecological scenic spot with the theme of "wild sika deer", is located in the picturesque Hongyuan County. It is an ideal place for tourists to get close to nature and experience ecology. The scenic area covers an area of ​​more than 667,000 square meters, integrating deer watching, hiking, accommodation and dining, providing tourists with an unforgettable travel experience. Walking into the Deer Valley, the first thing that comes into view is the vast grassland and the leisurely strolling sika deer. These sika deer are different from subspecies in other places. They are a new subspecies that breeds in the special ecological environment of Hongyuan - Sichuan sika deer. They are large in size, with short tails and long hind legs, dense and small white spots, and a unique row of white spots on both sides of their backs, which is unique. Visitors can get close to these lovely sika deer in the feeding area and feel their gentle and curious personalities. In addition to watching sika deer, Deer Valley also has facilities such as grazing area, deer viewing pavilion, cafe, mountain trails, etc., so that tourists can experience the charm of nature in all aspects. In the cafe, tourists can taste the fragrant coffee while enjoying the beautiful grassland outside the window, feeling the perfect combination of nature and humanity. The mountain trails lead tourists deep into the heart of the grassland to appreciate the magnificent scenery on the plateau. Deer Valley also focuses on ecological science education, with an ecological science and technology museum and an ecological expo park, providing visitors with an opportunity to learn about the ecological resources of the Hongyuan area. Visitors can learn about the breeding and protection of sika deer, as well as the ecological environment and ecological value of the Hongyuan area. For tourists who want to stay overnight, there is a homestay in the Deer Valley - Guanlu Yashu. These homestays are located in the scenic area. At night, you can fall asleep under the stars and listen to the lullabies played by birds, beasts, insects and fish. In the early morning, tourists can also be surrounded by a group of deer outside the homestay, enjoy the first rays of sunshine together, and start a beautiful day. The scenic area also provides a variety of operational projects such as horse riding, archery, theme restaurants, grassland tent camping, open-air barbecue, etc., allowing tourists to fully experience the unique charm of the Hongyuan area. Hongyuan Deer Valley Scenic Area is not only a good place to watch wild sika deer, but also a comprehensive tourist attraction integrating natural ecology, cultural landscape and leisure and entertainment. Whether it is a family trip, a gathering with friends or a solo adventure, this place can bring tourists an unforgettable travel experience. Come to Hongyuan Deer Valley, be with the mountains and the wild, accompany the deer, and explore the "Deer Wonderland" on the plateau! Scenic spot qualifications: National 3A scenic spot Scenic spot features: Grassland, leisure, sightseeing, photography, river, wild sika deer, deer viewing homestay, philosophy cafe

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Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding

The Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding is home to many adorable giant pandas, and you can observe these charming national treasures up close. Located in the northern suburbs of Chengdu, the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding is approx. 10 km from the city center, and its construction fully simulates the wild living environment of giant pandas, with lakes, streams, bamboo forests, lawns, and more. The Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding has many "panda villas", which are enclosed leisure areas for pandas. Each features an outdoor yard and an indoor rest room. When the weather is cool, the giant pandas play in the yard, and visitors can watch the adorable pandas through the railings; when the weather is hot, the giant pandas hide in the air-conditioned rest rooms, and visitors can only watch them through the glass. You can also see pandas in the new area of the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, and they are our hero pandas. The pandas' home is bigger, and their activity range is wider. Seeing pandas is the main draw, but there is plenty more to do and see. A must-visit is our landmark building — the internet-famous Panda Tower. As a new landmark of Chengdu, it stands at the highest point of the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding. The tower is 69.8 m tall with 11 floors. Its exterior resembles a giant bamboo shoot, while the interior is shaped like a blooming hibiscus flower. Inside, 81 platforms are distributed throughout, allowing visitors to enjoy the views of the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding from multiple angles. There is also the Art Museum (New Building) located in the dense forest area of the new district, which uses emerging exhibition methods such as multi-sensory interaction, lighting installations, interactive installations, and thermal sensing to create immersive exhibition scenes for visitors. The new area of the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding plans to set up science popularization display boards and interactive facilities with rich content and diverse forms in four major zones, so that visitors can learn about giant pandas while watching them and enhance their interactive experience. On festivals related to animal and environmental protection, themed science popularization activities will also be carried out for visitors of different age groups, such as interactive lectures, family-friendly science popularization, mystery exploration games, and other activities that combine education with entertainment. When you're tired from playing, you can also go enjoy a musical — "Panda": it vividly presents to the audience the scene of magical animals, with the giant panda as their representative, coexisting harmoniously, sharing nature, and loving life on the beautiful and fertile land of Chengdu, Sichuan. Through the form of a musical, it reflects the livable landscape of Chengdu, Sichuan, and the simple and leisurely life of the local people. In terms of total area, it has increased from the original 1,035 mu to 3,570 mu, expanding by 2.5 times. During the expansion, the original topography and landforms were fully followed and preserved, and the multi-level landscape belts of mountain valleys formed by mountain gullies and streams were utilized to create 11 giant panda venues, multiple science popularization venues, and visitor pedestrian streets and other sightseeing locations. After the expansion project is completed, it can accommodate no fewer than 180 giant pandas and companion animals such as red pandas and golden snub-nosed monkeys. As of now, multiple giant pandas and red pandas have moved into the "new homes" in the expansion area, and rare animals such as golden snub-nosed monkeys will also be waiting to welcome everyone in the future. In terms of design, the new area is equipped with ample visitor facilities in accordance with 5A attraction standards. It not only provides basic facilities such as sightseeing vehicles and tourist restrooms, but also equips the hill commercial street, the exit commercial street, and scattered commercial complexes in various zones with a large number of tourism service facilities. The planned business formats include dining, souvenir sales, postal services, cinemas, theaters, and experiential education, among others, and the quantity is sufficient to meet visitor demand. After nearly a year of operation, in response to the practical issues of the new area's large size and uneven distribution of supporting facilities, the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding has added multiple beverage vending machines, direct drinking water dispensers, and shared convenience facilities throughout the new area to improve the visitor experience. Next, the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding will further supplement and improve visitor rest facilities, inquiry service facilities, and guide and navigation facilities to meet visitor needs. The expanded Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding will help Chengdu build a demonstration site of harmonious coexistence between humanity and nature, improve conditions for giant panda research and conservation, protect biodiversity, fully demonstrate the brand value, cultural value, and economic value of giant pandas, and build the cultural tourism brand of "Sanxingdui, Jiuzhaigou, and Giant Pandas: A Leisurely Journey Through Sichuan." New businesses and projects such as the Panda Art Museum, IMAX Theater, and Panda Theater are now open, meeting visitors' needs for dining, entertainment, sightseeing, shopping, and leisure while they watch giant pandas.

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Dujiangyan Scenic Area

The Dujiangyan Irrigation System is located along the main branch of the Lancang River, west of Dujiangyan City. It was constructed in the Qin dynasty around 256 BC by Li Bing, Prefecture Chief of Shu County, and his son. It is one of the few ancient Chinese water conservancy projects that has remained preserved and intact. The project consists of three primary works—Yuzui Diverting Embankment, the Feishayan Spillway, and the Baopingkou Water Inlet, and two secondary works which include the Baizhangdi (the thousand-feet dam) and Renzidi (the y-shaped dam). They divide the Yongjiang River into an outer and an inner branch, the former of which is used to divert floods and the latter for irrigation. This has allowed the Western Sichuan plateau to become "the land of abundance" as we now know it.

No. 4 of Best Things to Do in Sichuan and Chongqing

Mount Qingcheng

Mount Qingcheng has long been praised as "Tranquil Paradise under Heaven," with its peaks encircling like city walls—hence the name. Legend says Zhang Daoling of the Eastern Han dynasty established Taoism here in a thatched hut, making it the ancestral home of Celestial Master Taoism, where temple incense still burns today. The mountain divides into front and back sections: the front features Taoist temples and cultural relics, commonly referred to as "Mount Qingcheng" by most travelers; the back excels in natural landscapes like pools, waterfalls, streams, and gorges, making it ideal for hiking and summer retreats. The highlights of Qianshan are concentrated. Starting from Jianfu Palace beside the mountain gate, follow the ancient stone steps upward past Natural Picture, Tianshi Cave, Chaoyang Cave, and Shangqing Palace, with the summit's Laojun Pavilion as the final vantage point. Tianshi Cave, also called Changdao Temple, is one of the mountain's largest Taoist complexes—its front courtyard holds a millennium-old ginkgo tree allegedly planted by Zhang Daoling, while the cliffside Ink-throwing Trough behind is said to be where the celestial master drew mountains with vermilion ink. Painting master Zhang Daqian once resided at Shangqing Palace, styling himself "Guest of Qingcheng." At the mountain's base, Yuecheng Lake's mirror-like waters add ethereal beauty to the lush greenery. The rear mountain entrance is the quaint Tai'an ancient town. From here, the trails connect Wulong gully and Feiquan gully into a loop, with views like Misty spring triple pools, Double spring water curtain cave, and Hundred-zhang long bridge accompanied by the sounds of water and shaded woods. The Longyin gorge walkway built along cliffs overlooks rushing streams below, making it a dedicated hiking route. The mountain stays pleasantly cool even in midsummer. The front mountain and back mountain entrances are not connected, usually requiring separate itineraries. Most 1-day tours choose one of the two. The front mountain's main temples can be visited in half a day, while the back mountain loop is longer and requires reserving most of a day. Travelers wishing to see the sunrise often ascend the mountain a day early, staying overnight at mountain temples for convenient morning viewing.