Guarding northern Sichuan's mountain passes, Guangyuan is the gateway of the ancient Shu plank roads, the birthplace of China's only empress Wu Zetian, and home to cliff-carved Buddhist grottoes.
History & culture
On the perilous road between Sichuan and the central plains, Guangyuan saw the wooden gallery 'plank roads' clinging to cliffs and the 7th-century rise of Wu Zetian, born here before becoming China's sole reigning empress.
What to see & do
- ◆Jianmen Pass and the ancient Shu plank road
- ◆Huangze Temple, dedicated to Wu Zetian
- ◆Thousand-Buddha Cliff grottoes
- ◆Cuiyun Corridor's ancient cypress avenue
- ◆Zhaohua old town
What to eat
- ●Guangyuan cold noodles (liangmian)
- ●Konjac 'tofu' dishes
- ●Mountain mushrooms and cured meats
Getting there
High-speed rail (Guangyuan) sits on the Chengdu–Xi'an line (~1.5h from Chengdu); the passes and grottoes need local transport.
Avoid the pitfalls
- Jianmen Pass and the plank roads involve real hiking — wear proper shoes.
- Sites are spread along the old road; a car or tour saves time.
- Mountain weather changes fast; bring layers.
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