Pengshui

The towns of Pengshui, Chongqing, sit between mountains and rivers, with Miao architecture and the Wujiang River gorge as the main sightseeing highlights. A weekend trip of 2 days and 1 night offers time for architecture, scenery and local food.

• Chiyou Jiuli City: This is China's largest complex of traditional Miao architecture, with stilt houses rising in tiers along the hillside. Arriving in the afternoon makes it easy to see the architectural details in daylight, then stay to enjoy and photograph the buildings after the lights come on.

• Ayi River: Gorge scenery is the main attraction here. Summer is the season for rafting, while autumn and winter are better suited to scenic walks. You can take a bamboo raft along the river or follow the Qinglong Valley boardwalk to see the mountain and river scenery and limestone caves. The river's name means “beautiful girl” in the Miao language.

• Wujiang Gallery: Ridges line both sides of the gorge above emerald-green water, inspiring the saying “A thousand li of the Wujiang, a hundred li of scenic gallery.” Boat trips depart from Silengbei Wharf. If you stay in the county town, the free viewing platform at Liangjiang Square is another place to enjoy and photograph the river and sunset.

• Mowei Mountain: With an average elevation of 1,500 meters and dense forests, this is a place to slow down, rest and breathe the woodland air. The clifftop viewing platform at Feiyunkou offers views of the sea of clouds and sunrise. Autumn brings a rich range of colors to the mountain forests.

Two-Day Itinerary

• Day 1: Depart from Chongqing → Have lunch in Pengshui county town, trying heart-and-lung rice noodles and dujuanzi → Visit Chiyou Jiuli City in the afternoon, including the Nine Gates and Jiuli Palace → Stay until the lights come on in the evening and photograph the night scenery → Return to the county town for Miao-style sour fish soup and stay overnight.
• Day 2: In the morning, choose a boat trip through Wujiang Gallery or head to the Ayi River for a walk and a bamboo raft ride → Try Yushan Sanxiang and chicken “tofu pudding” for lunch → If time allows, spend the afternoon in the forests of Mowei Mountain, or head straight back.

Local Food Specialties

Pengshui's dishes and snacks reflect Miao traditions and mountain ingredients. Many are included in the “360 Bowls of Chongqing Flavors” selection.

• Dujuanzi: This signature Pengshui snack is made by steaming sweet potato starch, giving it a soft, springy texture. It is usually served with a sour and spicy dipping sauce and fish mint.

• Yushan Sanxiang: This traditional banquet dish is recognized as intangible cultural heritage. Pork, eggs, sweet potato starch and other ingredients are steamed together to create a savory dish with a soft texture and a delicate lotus-leaf fragrance.

• Heart-and-Lung Rice Noodles: Recognized as county-level intangible cultural heritage, this is also a popular breakfast among Pengshui locals. Wide, flat, springy rice noodles are served with a specially prepared heart-and-lung topping and rich broth, then seasoned with toasted chili powder for a savory, spicy flavor.

• Chicken “Tofu Pudding”: Chicken breast is pounded by hand into a fine paste to create a texture as delicate as soft tofu, hence the description “eating chicken without seeing chicken.” The finished dish is white, with a rich, savory broth and a slightly sweet aftertaste.

• Miao-Style Sour Fish Soup: Wild fish from the Wujiang River is cooked in a specially prepared sour broth. The fish stays tender, while the soup has a distinctly sour and spicy flavor.

Accommodation and Transport Tips

• Where to stay: Consider staying near Liangjiang Square or Dazhuanpan in Pengshui county town. Both areas offer convenient dining, a relatively short taxi ride to Chiyou Jiuli City, and a good balance of hotel prices and amenities. For river views from your room, choose a riverside hotel along the Wujiang.
• By high-speed train: High-speed trains run from Chongqing East Station to Pengshui West Station, with the fastest journey taking about 40 minutes. From the station, a taxi to the county town or scenic area takes about 10 minutes.
• By car: From central Chongqing, take the G65 Baotou–Maoming Expressway. The drive takes about 2.5 to 3 hours. There are many bends on the mountain roads along the way, so slow down in wet weather.
• By coach: Direct coaches to Pengshui Bus Station depart from Chongqing's Sigongli Transport Hub.

Practical Travel Tips

• Chiyou Jiuli City tickets: Daytime admission costs 90 yuan, with discounts usually available when booking online in advance. Evening entry after 17:30 is usually free, but check the scenic area's announcements for that day. Exhibition halls are closed during evening hours, though you can explore the squares and lanes and photograph the night scenery. To see both the buildings in daylight and the evening lights, arrive after 3 p.m.
• What to wear: Routes through Chiyou Jiuli City and the Ayi River area include plenty of steps and mountain paths, so wear comfortable walking shoes. Miao outfits are available to rent at the scenic areas for photos, at about 50 yuan per outfit.
• Where to eat: Food within the scenic areas is relatively expensive. Consider returning to Pengshui county town for main meals, where you will find a better choice of local dishes and better value.
• Ayi River rafting: Rafting mainly operates in summer and has usually stopped by October. Bamboo raft rides and gorge walks are still options then. Before setting out, check with the scenic area to confirm which activities are operating that season.