Pingle Ancient Town (day trip)

Pingle Ancient Town, 95 km southwest of Chengdu, is one of the better-preserved historic river towns in Sichuan. The town sits at the confluence of two rivers, with wooden buildings on stilts over the water, bamboo bridges, and bamboo-rafting operations. Despite being a tourist destination, it retains a functioning town character.

The main pleasure is wandering the waterfront lanes, eating local food, and watching bamboo rafts navigate the river. Several guesthouses in traditional buildings make it possible to spend a night here away from the city noise. Take a bus from Chengdu's Ximen bus station; the journey takes about 2 hours.

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Pingle Ancient Town is built on land first settled during the Qin dynasty (about 2,300 years ago), and the current riverside architecture of wooden stilted buildings along the Baimo River dates largely from the Ming and Qing dynasties. Unlike the reconstructed historical towns at Jinli and Kuanzhai Xiangzi, Pingle is an actual settlement where people live and work, which gives it a more authentic atmosphere despite the tourist presence.

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