Planning a Qingcheng Mountain day trip usually starts with a big question: should you choose the Front Mountain or the Back Mountain? Located just a short high-speed rail ride from downtown Chengdu, this Taoist holy site lets you trade traffic for misty green ridgelines, ancient temples, and waterfalls you can practically walk under. This guide covers everything you need to decide before you go – front or back mountain, how to get there, what to pack, and what a realistic one-day game plan looks like.
Qingcheng Mountain Day Trip: Which Side to Pick?
Qingcheng splits into the Front Mountain (前山) and the Back Mountain (后山), separated by a few kilometers of mountain road. For a day trip, you can only do one – trying to squeeze in both will just leave you rushed and exhausted.
Front Mountain (前山) – Taoist Temples and Classic Scenery
This is the famous side, the one you’ve seen in photos. It’s packed with ornate Taoist temples and stone pathways, and it even served as a filming location for the classic TV series Journey to the West (《西游记》).
- Ticket: 80 RMB (students 40 RMB; seniors 65+ free)
- Time needed: 3 to 4.5 hours
- Don’t miss: Jianfu Palace (建福宫), Tianshi Cave (天师洞), Shangqing Palace (上清宫), Laojun Pavilion (老君阁) at the summit, and Yuecheng Lake (月城湖)
- Cable car: 35 RMB one-way, 60 RMB round-trip
- Boat across Yuecheng Lake: 5 RMB
Local insight: This is the side to pick if you’re visiting with kids or older family members, want to soak up Taoist culture and ancient architecture, or just prefer a gentler day out. The cable car takes the sting out of the steepest stretches.
Back Mountain (后山) – Waterfalls, Streams, and Real Hiking
The Back Mountain is wilder and greener. Think gorges, streams you can wade into on a hot day, waterfalls, and thick forest that’s earned the nickname “natural oxygen bar.” It draws a younger, more adventurous crowd – and you should save your summer trip for this side.
- Ticket: 20 RMB (students 10 RMB)
- Time needed: 5 to 7 hours
- Don’t miss: Tai’an Ancient Town (泰安古镇), Wulong Valley (五龙沟), the Longyin Gorge Plank Road (龙隐峡栈道), Cuiying Lake (翠映湖), and Feiquan Valley (飞泉沟)
- Cable cars: Jinli Cableway, 30 RMB one-way; Baiyun Cableway, 45 RMB one-way
Heads up: The trails get slippery fast when it rains. Check the forecast, and if the weather looks rough, it’s smarter to switch to the Front Mountain plan.
How to Reach Qingcheng Mountain from Chengdu
The easiest way by far is the intercity high-speed train: Xipu Station (犀浦站) → Qingchengshan Station (青城山站).
- Ride time: 25 to 35 minutes
- Fare: about 10 RMB
- Frequency: trains run regularly, but they sell out fast on holidays – book ahead.
From Qingchengshan Station:
- To the Front Mountain: take bus 101 (2 RMB) or the scenic-area shuttle
- To the Back Mountain (Tai’an Ancient Town): a direct minibus runs straight there – no transfers needed
Qingcheng Mountain Opening Hours
| Season | Hours | Last entry |
|---|---|---|
| Summer (May–Sept) | 8:30–17:30 | 17:00 |
| Autumn & winter | 8:30–17:00 | 16:30 |
Practical Tips for Your Qingcheng Mountain Day Trip
Wear the right shoes. The stone paths get mossy and slippery, so leave the smooth-soled sneakers at home. You’ll want grippy, non-slip footwear. And even in summer, the mountain runs cooler than the city – pack a light jacket.
Bring your own water and snacks. Prices creep up near the summit. Stash a bottle and some trail food in your bag and save your money for a proper meal at the bottom.
Book your ticket online. Tickets are real-name registered. Buy yours in advance through the official WeChat account “Qingcheng Mountain and Dujiangyan” (青城山都江堰), then scan your ID card at the entrance to get in.
Eat at Tai’an Ancient Town (if you’re on the Back Mountain side). Local specialties worth trying: old-style smoked bacon (老腊肉), tofu pudding rice bowls (豆花饭), and Qingcheng pickles (青城泡菜).
Pair it with Dujiangyan. Lots of travelers combine the Front Mountain with Dujiangyan (都江堰), the ancient irrigation system, in a single day. They’re close together and make a strong combo.
Pro tip: Buy your return train ticket before you start climbing. Cell signal gets patchy on the trails, and evening trains back to Chengdu fill up quickly.
Sample Qingcheng Mountain Itineraries
- One-day culture route: Chengdu → high-speed rail → Front Mountain (temples, cable car, summit) → return to Chengdu
- One-day hiking route: Chengdu → high-speed rail → minibus to Tai’an Ancient Town → Back Mountain trails → return to Chengdu
- Two-day slow version: Day 1 on the Front Mountain, overnight in Tai’an Ancient Town, Day 2 on the Back Mountain. The relaxed way to experience the whole mountain.
Whichever side you pick, you’re in for a day that feels a world away from Chengdu’s busy streets. Check the weather, book your train, and get ready for ancient temples, green trails, and some of the freshest air in Sichuan.
