Dujiangyan Irrigation System is a world heritage and one of the top attractions in near Chengdu city. The 2300-year-old water project work is a representative of ancient Chinese wisdom and the source of a Land of Abundance of Chengdu.
Though Chengdu is praised as the ‘Land of Abundance’, over 2,200 years ago, the city was threatened by the frequent floods caused by the flooding of the Minjiang River, a tributary of the Yangtze River. At that time, the local official of the Shu state, Li Bing, together with his son, decided to construct an irrigation system on the River t prevent flooding. After a lengthy study and years’ hard work by the local people, the great Dujiangyan Irrigation Project was completed. Nowadays, the project still plays a crucial role in draining off floodwater, irrigating farms and providing water resources for more than 50 cities in Sichuan province.
Dujiangyan
Recommended Length of Visit:
- 0.5 ~ 1 day
Dujangyan Irrigation System protect Chengdu city from flooding Minjiang River. During the low-water season, about 60% of water of the Minjiang River is brought into the inner river for irrigation, while 40% of the water drawn into the outside river. The whole project consists of three parts, namely Yuzui, Feishayan and Baopingkou, which interact with each other perfectly to form an effective water conservancy project. Yuzui, literally means the mouth of a fish in Chinese, is a watershed dividing the river into the parts: inner river and outside river. It is like a big fish lying in the Minjiang River. Feishayan, the second part of the project, is a spillway that diverts the sand and stones of the inner river in to the outer river. Baopingkou, literally means a neck of a bottle, is used to bring water into the inner river from Minjiang.
The opening hours of the Dujiangyan:
07:30 – 18:30
Ticket Fees:
- Entrance Fee – 80 RMB
- Optional In-park Golf Car - 20RMB
The newly-built Panda Base in Dujiangyan was opened in 2011. It is the research center to rescue and disease control of wild giant pandas. Visitors can experience a one-to-two days volunteer program to get close to cute pandas, working with Chinese staff there to take care of the pandas. Or pay for taking a picture with little panda. Only 20 visitors are allowed to take a picture with the panda a day. More about Dujiangyan Panda Base
Business Hour:8:00 – 17:00
Ticket Fees:: RMB55
Location: Shiqiao Village, Qingchengshan County, Dujiangyan Prefecture.(about 50 km northeast of central Chengdu)
It was originated from about 978 years’ ago. During the traditional festival, local people drained water off the dam, offering sacrifices to the gods and ancestors on the banks every Qingming Festival in Dujiangyan. Nowadays, the official held the ceremony of the festival with many traditional activities so that people can have a better understanding about the history of Dujiangyan irrigation project. At the beginning of the festival, an ancient ritual is held, with an orator reading an ode to Li Bing and his son. Then a sacred dance with dress from the Warring States Period (475-221 BC) is performed. The whole sacrificial ritual shows the admiration, praise, and esteem of local people towards their forefathers.
The festival is held by every Qingming Festival. The highlight of the Draining Water festival is the Water Releasing Ceremony. A bamboo pole dance is the beginning of the ceremony. After an official, with ancient costume, riding a horse, passes the message for the water releasing to begin, strong workers open the cofferdam to release the water
Dujiangyan has an old part of the town that is next to the irrigation of the park of Dujiangyan itself. It is worth to walk through the small town with its rebuilt old style houses and city gates after the 2008 earthquake. Dujiangyan Old Town is a good add-on to do for half an hour or one hour, even if you are just visiting the irrigation park. Dujiangyan is also a very pleasant place to stay one night in while you are traveling in Chengdu. More about Dujiangyan Old Town
Business Hour:24h
Ticket Fees:: Free of Charge
Zhongshuge is a bookstore with unique design of its mirror ceiling that reflects the lights, providing a very surreal space within the store. It was known as “the most beautiful bookstore of China”. More about Dujiangyan Zhongshuge Bookstore
Business Hour:10:00 – 21:00
Ticket Fees:: Free of Charge
Location: F2, No.1 Rongchuang, Zhizhen Road, Baoping Community, Yutang, Dujiangyan
It is fine to visit Dujiangyan city all year round, but the best time is between March and June or from September to November. The temperature of hot summer can be reach to 35 degrees, while in winter the average temperature is approximately 5 degrees.
Dujiangyan is located 50km northwest to the city of Chengdu. One may get there by bus, train or hire a car.
There are scheduled bullet trains from Chengdu to Dujiangyan City every 30 minutes a day. The price of ticket is 15 RMB. Visitors can take the trains at Chengdu North Railway Station.
Travelers can get a long-distance bus to Dujiangyan city from Chadianzi Bus Station. There are air-conditioned buses running from Chengdu to Dujiangyan every 5–10 minutes. It takes about 45 minutes. And once you arrive at Dujiangyan Bus Station, you can take a taxi to Lidui Park, where the Dujiangyan Irrigation System located.
The number one thing to see in Dujiangyan is the Irrigation Park. It can be combined with a visit to either Qingcheng Mountain or Dujiangyan Panda Base into a one-day tour from Chengdu. Or if you are going to further places north/northwest of Chengdu to Jiuzhaigou, Bipenggou, Dagu Glacier or Siguniang then Dujiangyan can a stop in such a tour. Below are recommended Dujiangyan tours:
Dujiangyan is a neighboring tourist destination which is only about 50km from Chengdu downtown. It is famous for the ancient Dujiangyan Irrigation System which was built more than 2000 years ago but still functions very well. The sacred Taoist mountain Qingcheng is also located close to Dujiangyan city.
Only seeing the cute Giant Panda is fun, but doesn't seem to be as memorable and meaningful as do dome volunteering works to same this endangered species of Giant Panda. So why not take a day to stay longer with the pandas, besides you can help to do many volunteering works, including clean enclosure, preparing bamboos, etc.
This is a ground tour to Jiuzhaigou from Chengdu. Within 4 days you will have close experience to beautiful nature in Jiuzhaigou and Huanglong. The amazing waterfall and turquoise lakes in Jiuzhaigou will drop your jaws. The stunning calcium lakes of Huanglong will also take your breath away. This tour also visits Dujiangyan Irrigation System.
