Pingle Ancient Town

Map of Pingle Ancient Town
Pingle Ancient Town Map
(Click to enlarge)
Pingle Ancient Town is a historical and cultural town with a history of more than two thousand years. It is located in Qionglai City, 65 kilometers (40 miles) southwest of Chengdu. You can see traditional stilt houses by the Baimo River, streets paved with blue stones, banyan trees aged over one thousand years, and exuberant and boundless bamboo woods. Everything here relaxes and refreshes tourists. The 'Nine Antique Heritages' of the town are ancient residences and streets, old banyan trees, ancient temples, the Golden Dam, the time-honored Leshan Bridge, folk activities, traditional paper workshops, local folk songs, and an ancient post road.
 

Ancient Residences and Streets

Pingle Ancient Town was an essential wharf in the past, with residences and streets gathered along the river. The buildings of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) and Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) in the town cover a total area of 59 acres (24 hectares), including 22 ancient streets. Most of the buildings have two floors. The first floor is a store, while the second floor is where local people live. The roofs of these buildings are decorated with blue tiles. Among them, the Li Family Courtyard is the highlight of the ancient buildings in west Sichuan for its large scale and delicate design.
 

Old Banyan Trees

Pingle Ancient Town owns numerous old banyans which were planted in the Tang Dynasty and Song Dynasty (960-1279). These trees are 1,000 years to 1,500 years old. The diameters of their crowns exceed 66 feet (20 meters). Take a stroll along the streets planted with these trees, you will feel like you are back in ancient times.
 

Ancient Temples

Pingle Ancient Town has a strong ambience of religious culture. There are a great number of famous temples. The Heavenly Officer Temple in Jinhua Mountian is famous for the Moya Giant Buddha that is solemn and vivid. The Guanyin Bodhisattva Monastery of the Tang Dynasty (618-907) features bronze sculpture and the 33 embodiments of the Bodhisattva.
 

Golden Dam

It was recorded that Yu the Great, the first emperor of the Xia Dynasty (21st -17th Century BC), scattered gold over the Baimo River to make a dam in order to prevent the heavy floods in Pingle. Thus, the dam was called the Golden Dam. From then on, the floods were controlled, and the fields were well irrigated. Later in the Qing Dynasty, the dam was renovated with bamboo baskets filled with pebbles, making it firm and stable.
 

Time-honored Leshan Bridge

The seven-span Leshan Bridge was constructed in 1861 during the Qing Dynasty. It measures 120 meters (394 feet) in length, 10 meters (33 feet) in width, and 17 meters (54 feet) in height. It is renowned as the 'First Bridge in South Qionglai', and the largest ancient stone bridge in Sichuan.
 

Folk Activities

The folk activities in Pingle Ancient Town are very colorful and interesting, including the Guanyin Bodhisattva Fair on February, 19th in Chinese lunar calendar, the City God Temple Fair on the 11th of the third lunar month, the Mountain God Fair on the 6th of the sixth lunar month, the River Lantern Show on the Qingming Festival (Tomb Sweeping Day), and the lion dance and ox dance from the 1st to the 15th of the first lunar month. Moreover, the Sichuan Opera has been very popular among the local since the Qing Dynasty.
 

Traditional Paper Workshops

The traditional paper workshops originated from the Southern Song Dynasty (1127-1279), and prospered in the late Ming Dynasty and early Qing Dynasty. 74 sites of paper workshops have been founded along the hills in the town.
 

Local Folk Songs

The local folk songs were invented by people who worked in the paper workshops. In ancient times, it required great efforts to crush the bamboo to make paper. To cheer themselves up, workers sang songs as they worked. With the advancement of social economy, the labor has been replaced by machines. Fortunately, the local work songs remain as a witness to history.
 

Ancient Post Road

The site of the ancient post road on the Dragon Riding Mountain (Qilong Mountain) in the town is well-preserved. As the relic of the Southern Silk Road, the post road of the Qin Dynasty (221BC -207BC) and Han Dynasty (202BC -220AD) winds along the mountain. The road was paved with huge pebbles, and high walls were built on both sides of it.
 

Attractions around Pingle Ancient Town

Apart from the town itself, the scenic spots near the Pingle Ancient Town are also fascinating, including the Folk Customs Courtyard, Lugou Natural Scenic Area, Jinhua Mountain Scenic Area, Golden Chicken Valley, and Huaqiu Mountain Scenic Area. 

The Folk Customs Courtyard, known as the 'Live Cultural Heritage' and the 'Pastoral Scene in Memory', is where folk craftsmanship and agricultural culture are well retained. The Lugou Natural Scenic Area is 1 kilometer (0.6 mile) northwest of the Pingle Ancient Town. It is known as the "Green Corridor and Natural Oxygen Bar". The Golden Chicken Valley to the southwest of the town is characterized by a sea of bamboos, a cable bridge, rock climbing and other outdoor activities.
 

Local Products

 Bamboo Weaving Porcelain
The bamboo weaving porcelain dates back to the Qing Dynasty. Local craftsmen use bamboo filaments to weave animals, birds, flowers, human, and other patterns on quality porcelains. As a unique bamboo weaving art in China, the exquisite bamboo-waved vases, cups, stationery, tea sets, wine sets and paintings are quite popular among tourists.

 Huaqiu Tea
Huaqiu is a time-honored tea growing area. The Huaqiu tea was listed in the imperial drinks of the Qing Dynasty. Satisfied with the good quality of the tea, Emperor Kangxi bestowed upon Huaqiu a plaque inscribed with 'The First Tea Growing Area under Heaven'. Nowadays, Huaqiu Imperial Tea and Huaqiu Snow Bud Tea are popular with tourists both from home and abroad.
 
 

How to Get to Pingle Ancient Town from Chengdu

 Take a direct bus to the town from Xinnanmen Bus Station. The buses leave at 8:30, 9:30, 10:30, 11:30, and 13:00. The trip takes about 2 hours, and the fare is CNY 33.

Take a bus to Qionglai from Chadianzi Bus Station, Xinnanmen Bus Station, Shiyangchang Bus Station, or East Railway Station Bus Station. Upon arrival, take a Qionglai Bus 304 to the town.
 
Entrance Fee  Pingle Ancient Town: free of charge
Pingle Folk Custom Courtyard: CNY 10
Golden Chicken Valley: CNY 40
Outdoor Rock Climbing :CNY 40
Via Ferrata: CNY 80
Opening Hours All day long
- Last updated on Sep. 13, 2023 -
Questions & Answers on Pingle Ancient Town
Asked by Melissa from MALAYSIA | Sep. 12, 2023 04:54Reply
Travel from Dujiangyan to Pingle
Is it possible to travel from Dujingyan to Pingle Anciant Town - by train, bus? How much if I were to take a rented car/taxi? Any recommended accommodation nearby Pingle Ancient Town?
Answers (1)
Answered by Kevin | Sep. 13, 2023 00:08
00Reply


There is no train between. You may take a bus from Dujiangyan to Qionglai at first, taking about 2 hours; then change to a local bus at the tourist distributing center adjacent to Qionglai Railway Station to Pingle, taking another 30 minutes.
Asked by Madeleine from USA | Aug. 07, 2017 22:11Reply
Return Bus Schedule for Day trip to PingLe from Chengdu Xinnanmen Bus Station
Hello, I am planning a one day trip from Chengdu to the AncientTown so I would take a direct bus at Xinnanmen Bus Station, departing at 08:30, 09:30, 10:30, 11:30, 13:00 and 15:00. The ticket fare is CNY33/person, and it takes 2 hours.
Does it take me right into the ancient town to tour: Leshan Street - Leshan Bridge - The First Tea Garden - Li Family Compound - Folk House - Ancient Drama Stage - Museum of the Ancient Town - Millenary Banyan Tree - Guanyin Temple - Golden Chicken Valley - Folk Customs Courtyard?
Would you know how many hours I need to walk this route?
And for the return back to Chengdu, do I go back to same bus station? Would you know the bus schedule or when is the last 3 bus departure from PingLe to return to Xinnanmen Chengdu on the same day?
Do I pay the bus driver directly or do I need to buy all the bus tickets in advance at Xinnanmen?
Thank you for any information you can provide for this day trip to PingLe and if possible, the same info for Huanglongxi Ancient town.
Regards,
Madeleine
Answers (1)
Answered by Kate from UK | Aug. 08, 2017 04:02
10Reply


1. Well, I am so sorry that I just know this bus will take you to the walk distance of the old town’s entrance.
Generally speaking, it may take about one day to visit the old town.
I just find the information that the last bus from the old town to Xinnanmen may depart at around 18:00.
As I know, you may buy the ticket at the station near the old town.
2. Huanglongxi Ancient Town: As I know, it will also arrive near the gate of the town. It usually takes about 2-4 hours to visit the town, and the last bus from the town also departs at around 18:00. You may buy the ticket at the bus station near the town.
Asked by littlecute01 from MALAYSIA | May. 15, 2017 00:43Reply
Hi, I am planning a one day trip from Chengdu to Pingle Town.
I would like to ask if it is possible to visit Lugou Bamboo sea, Golden dam, ancient post road, old banyan trees and stroll around the town in one day? How would you suggest to travel? Should we booked a car from CD or getting around with cab is easily available at the town?

Thank you.
Sincerely,
KW
Answers (1)
Answered by Jeniffer from USA | May. 21, 2017 20:10
00Reply


As I know, it is possible to visit the whole town in one day. You can take a direct bus at Xinnanmen Bus Station, which departs at 08:30, 09:30, 10:30, 11:30, 13:00 and 15:00. The ticket fare is CNY33/person. It may be easier to walk in the old town when you travel there.
Asked by Jo Bogaertini from BELGIUM | Apr. 13, 2017 07:41Reply
I plan to go to Pingle Ancient Town for hiking and climbing. Where should I go?
Any info of guides, organisation at place for climbing? Any contact info?

thanks
BR
Jo
Answers (1)
Answered by Ellie from GERMANY | Apr. 17, 2017 01:56
10Reply


You can tour around this ancient town in the following route:
Leshan Street - Leshan Bridge - The First Tea Garden - Li Family Compound - Folk House - Ancient Drama Stage - Museum of Pingle Ancient Town - Millenary Banyan Tree - Guanyin Temple - Golden Chicken Valley - Folk Customs Courtyard
If you have enough time, you can find a hotel inside the town and visit Lugou Natural Scenic Area in the next early morning.
I didn't find the information about climbing organization. You can consult the local people when you arriving there.
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