Discover an ancient manmade wonder and a site of natural and cultural beauty on this private day trip out of Chengdu. Learn about the incredible UNESCO-listed Dujiangyan Irrigation System before visiting Mount Qingcheng, one of the most important centers of Taoism in China.
Your personal guide picks you up from your hotel in the morning at 7:30 am and chauffeurs you out from Chengdu to Dujiangyan. It takes about one hour to get there by car on the highway. Here, venture out to the Dujiangyan Irrigation System, a massive project originally constructed around 256 BC by the Qin state. Located on the Min River tributary of the Yangtze, the system was designed to conserve water and control flooding, and still irrigates 2,046 square miles (5,300 sq km) of land today. Your guide explains how the immense undertaking altered the Sichuan basin into a region of abundance while eliminating floods from nearby areas.
After visiting Dujiangyan, replenish your energy with lunch and then drive to Mount Qingcheng. The site where the deity Huangdi, or Yellow Emperor, studied, the mountain is one of the most important centers of Taoism in China, and is regarded as one of the "most peaceful and secluded mountains under heaven." Take a cable car to the top of the mountain to see the historic Shanqing Temple and its ancient relics, then visit the Laojun Pavilion, which sits on Qingcheng's highest peak. Enjoy spectacular views of the region before heading back down and driving back to Chengdu.
