Name: Dujiangyan

Chinese name: 都江堰

Province: Sichuan

Status: District

Population: 600,000 inhabitants

Area: 1,208 km²

Bordered by the Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture of Aba to the north and west, Dujiangyan is a city administered under Chengdu's jurisdiction—the capital of Sichuan.

History

Located near the epicenter of the Sichuan earthquake of May 12, 2008, Dujiangyan suffered severe damage and was threatened by catastrophic flooding. The Zipingpu Dam upstream from the city was gravely damaged, developing numerous cracks that threatened to collapse and inundate the entire settlement.

Former named Duanyan, Dujiangyan derives its name from the Dujiangyan irrigation system located nearby in the northwestern zone of the city. The city was rebuilt by the State Council and renamed in honor of this remarkable irrigation infrastructure.

Since gaining worldwide recognition through its UNESCO World Heritage listing, the city now attracts over 900,000 tourists annually.

Today

Regarded as a repository of Taoist cultural heritage, Dujiangyan is surrounded by numerous historical and cultural monuments. The city features temples, bridges, pavilions, and grottos—many intimately connected to Taoism. During your visit, you can explore the Fulong Temple, the Anlan Suspension Bridge, Yuecheng Lake, or the Qianfo Pagoda (the Pagoda of a Thousand Buddhas).

Local gastronomy is infused with Taoist philosophy, designed primarily to preserve health and honor traditional culture. The cuisine showcases a remarkable variety of snacks crafted from local ingredients, much like other ancient Chine cities. The most celebrated specialties include Jiang'an Bridge Baba, Zhao noodles, and Guo's boiled dumplings.

The primary tourist attraction, the Dujiangyan irrigation system sits on the upper course of the Minjiang River. It functions as a dam that captures water from the river's regular summer floods, storing it to mitigate winter drought. Built during the Qin Dynasty (221–206 BC), this infrastructure remains the world's oldest functioning irrigation system. In 2000, it earned recognition as a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Nearby, Mount Qingcheng ranks as the second most visited destination in Dujiangyan. Many travelers visit while exploring the city to marvel at pristine natural scenery and discover the origins of Taoism.

The ancestral home of giant pandas, Dujiangyan hosts an important panda research and breeding base. It is Chine's sole volunteer programme dedicated to panda conservation. Visitors can spend a day volunteering to care for pandas and experience unforgettable moments alongside them.

Climate

Nestled within the Sichuan Basin, Dujiangyan sits in a humid subtropical zone. The climate features two distinctly marked seasons: scorching summers reaching 32°C and frigid winters dropping to minus 5°C, yielding an annual average temperature of 24.4°C. Annual precipitation averages 1,200 mm.

Air

Dujiangyan has no airport of its own. Situated just 45 minutes from the city, the Shuangliu International Airport is the nearest option.

Train

From Chengdu's northern railway station, located 60 km away, you can take a train and alight at Dujiangyan Railway Station.

Bus

For moving around the city and reaching attractions, public buses are the most convenient option, covering all of Dujiangyan.

You can take bus lines 1 or 4 from Dujiangyan station.

Special shuttle buses numbered 101 or 102 serve Mount Qingcheng.

Taxi

Numerous taxis operate throughout the city and can quickly transport you to your desired destinations.

What to Do in Dujiangyan

• Marvel at the ingenuity of ancient Chine leadership by visiting the irrigation system.
• Explore Mount Qingcheng through hiking trails and trace the rich history of Taoism.
• Experience an unforgettable moment of magic with pandas at the panda research and breeding base.