Bifengxia (Bifeng Gorge) is located in Bifengxia Town, Yucheng District, Ya'an City, Sichuan Province. It is a national 5A-level tourist scenic area. The main part of the scenic area is an ecological grand rift valley, with vegetation coverage exceeding 95%. It is characterized by canyons, water landscapes, and vegetation, and gets its name from the lush forests that remain green all year round. Covering a total area of 20 square kilometers, of which 13.3 square kilometers are forested areas, the scenic area consists of three parts: the Wildlife World, the Ecological Canyon Scenic Area, and the Giant Panda Base.
History and Culture
Legend has it that Bifengxia is the place where Nüwa (a goddess in Chinese mythology) repaired the sky. In ancient times, the God of Water and the God of Fire fought for supremacy. In a fit of rage, the God of Water broke the pillar that held up the sky, causing the celestial firmament to crack and leak. Nüwa used colorful stones to mend the sky and sewed the cracks with a seven-star needle. She traveled day and night to save all living beings. Her body transformed into the canyons of Bifengxia, her hands became the Shizhi Butian Peak (Ten-Finger Sky-Mending Peak), and the "Nüwa Pool" in Bifengxia is said to be the place where Nüwa bathed while repairing the sky. In addition, Bifeng Temple, located on the top of Cuiping Mountain in Bifengxia, was first built in the Tang Dynasty and rebuilt in the Ming Dynasty. The temple buildings were constructed in accordance with the mountain's terrain, and originally included a Front Hall, Middle Hall, Main Hall, Huiling Pavilion, and Rear Hall arranged along the central axis. Although it has been destroyed and rebuilt several times, the existing structures include the Guanyin Hall, stone archway, stone lions, and incense burners.
Major Scenic Spots
Qiancengyan Waterfall (Thousand-Layer Rock Waterfall)
It is about 100 meters high and 10 meters wide. The waterfall rushes down from the top of the mountain, lands in the dense forests on the platform halfway up the cliff, then flows slowly down the mountainside and tumbles along the Thousand-Layer Rock. It is also known as "Sandie Yingxiu" (Three-Layer Beautiful Reflection). According to legend, there are 1,026 knife marks left by Nüwa on the rock wall, which are the original marks of her recording the days while mending the sky.
Bailongtan Waterfall (White Dragon Pool Waterfall)
It is 30 meters high and 10 meters wide, cascading down from the steep cliffs, splashing water all over the sky. Surrounded by swirling mist, the roar of the waterfall echoes through the canyon, and a 10-meter-deep pool has formed at the bottom of the valley. From a distance, it looks like a huge waterfall; up close, it resembles a giant dragon coiled on the top of the mountain, with magnificent momentum.
Qingyun Valley
Located at the bottom of the Qingyun Staircase, it is the junction of two canyons. Steep cliffs on both sides soar into the clouds; the sound of the stream in the valley is clear and pleasant; the forests are lush and green; the valley is deep and serene; waterfalls cascade down, and small streams gurgle. The air here is fresh with a high concentration of negative ions, earning it the title of "Natural Oxygen Bar". There is also a purple-red tea culture corridor built in the style of local residences along the river, displaying sculptures of historical scenes from the Ancient Tea Horse Road, tea art performances, and pictures of tea culture.
Bifeng Temple
Situated at the foot of Cuiping Mountain, it was first built in the Tang Dynasty. Having been destroyed in wars several times, it has been rebuilt repeatedly. Currently, only parts of the Guanyin Hall, Tianwang Pavilion, and Great Bell Tower remain. It is said that making wishes here is very effective.
Yuanyang Waterfall (Mandarin Duck Waterfall)
The downstream water splits into two streams on both sides: the larger stream on the left represents "yang" (the positive principle in nature), and the smaller stream on the right represents "yin" (the negative principle in nature). When the water volume is large in summer, the two streams merge into one. Next to the waterfall stands a "Wuxin Tree" (Heartless Tree), which forms a striking contrast with the interdependent waterfall.
Qinglongtan Waterfall (Green Dragon Pool Waterfall)
It is about 40 meters high and 6 meters deep, plunging down from the dense forests in the canyon and pouring into the valley bottom through several layers of strange rocks. According to legend, this is the place where the Green Dragon wept and transformed. The pool is so deep that its bottom cannot be seen, and the green water shimmers with light.
Giant Panda Base
Officially completed and opened to the public on December 28, 2003, it covers an area of 1,074 mu (approximately 71.6 hectares). Integrating multiple functions such as scientific research, breeding, and tourism, it is divided into three exhibition and visiting areas: Baixiongping (White Bear Flat), Kindergarten, and Returnee Giant Panda Paradise. As of February 2025, there are more than 60 giant pandas in the base.
Wildlife World
It consists of a drive-through beast viewing area, a walking area for docile animals, and an animal behavior exhibition area. A total of about 1,000 individual animals of 70 species are raised in the park (counted in terms of heads, pieces, or tails). Among them, there are 14 species of national first-class key protected animals such as Siberian tigers, golden snub-nosed monkeys, and jaguars, as well as rare exotic animals like white lions and white tigers.
Tour Routes
Full Route (6-7 hours): Elevator — Qianceng Waterfall — Red Lanterns — Youfeng Bridge — Changshou Mountain — Bailongtan (Dragon Viewing Platform) — Nüwa Pool — Tianweng Bridge — Cuiping Mountain (Xiaoxitian Ethnic Village) — Nüwa Temple — Yanü Garden — Bifeng Temple — Primitive Forest Exploration Reception Station — Scenic Area Exit — Reception Center.
Short Route 1 (1 hour): Reception Center — Elevator — Qiancengyan Waterfall — Yuanyang Waterfall & Wuxin Tree — Yanü Garden — Scenic Area Gate Exit.
Short Route 2 (2-3 hours): Elevator — Qianceng Waterfall — Red Lanterns — Youfeng Bridge — Changshou Mountain — Bailongtan (Dragon Viewing Platform) — Nüwa Pool — Tianweng Bridge — Cuiping Mountain (Xiaoxitian Ethnic Village) — Nüwa Temple — Yanü Garden — Scenic Area Exit — Reception Center.
Giant Panda Base + Left Canyon (3-4 hours): Take a sightseeing bus from the scenic area entrance to the Giant Panda Base → Xiaoxitian → Tianweng Bridge → Taojin Beach → Nüwa Pool → Tianlong Lingyun → Red Lanterns → Suspended Coffins → Shizhi Butian Peak → Qiancengyan Waterfall → Qingyun Staircase → Return to Tourist Center.
Giant Panda Base + Right Canyon (2-3 hours): Take a sightseeing bus to the Right Canyon Entrance → Yuanyang Waterfall → Pingcui Small Waterfall → Qinglongtan Waterfall → Dragon Viewing Platform → Yanü Garden → Fushan Bridge (take a sightseeing bus) → Giant Panda Base.
Right Canyon + Giant Panda Base + Left Canyon (4-5 hours): Qingyun Staircase → Yuanyang Waterfall → Pingcui Small Waterfall → Qinglongtan Waterfall → Dragon Viewing Platform → Yanü Garden → Fushan Bridge (take a sightseeing bus) → Giant Panda Base → Xiaoxitian → Tianweng Bridge → Taojin Beach → Nüwa Pool → Tianlong Lingyun → Red Lanterns → Suspended Coffins → Shizhi Butian Peak → Qiancengyan Waterfall → Qingyun Staircase → Return to Tourist Center.
Travel Tips
- If you have plenty of time, it is recommended to spend a whole day visiting to fully experience all the scenic spots in the area.
- Tourists traveling with the elderly and children can choose short routes or take sightseeing buses to save energy.
- When watching giant pandas, try to keep quiet and do not disturb their daily life.
- When visiting the scenic area in summer, take precautions against sunburn and mosquitoes; when visiting during the rainy season, remember to bring rain gear and be careful of slippery surfaces.
Precautions
- There are many mountain roads in the scenic area, and the ground is occasionally slippery. It is recommended to wear comfortable sports shoes or hiking shoes.
- Abide by the scenic area regulations and do not feed animals casually, especially in the Wildlife World and the Giant Panda Base.
- Keep your personal belongings safe and be alert to pickpockets in crowded places.
- There are some steep cliffs and canyons in the scenic area. Be careful when visiting and do not approach dangerous areas.
Transportation
- Public Transportation: Special tourist buses to Bifengxia Scenic Area are available in downtown Ya'an. Alternatively, you can first take a regular bus to Bifengxia Town, then transfer to local transportation to reach the scenic area.
- Self-Driving: Depart from Chengdu, take the Chengdu-Ya'an Expressway, exit at Ya'an North Toll Gate, and then follow the road signs to Bifengxia Scenic Area. The distance from Chengdu is 146 kilometers.
Opening Hours
The regular opening hours are 08:30 - 17:00. The specific opening hours may be adjusted according to seasons and special circumstances. It is recommended to check the official website of the scenic area or make a phone call for consultation in advance.
Tickets
Bifengxia Scenic Area is divided into three visiting zones: the Ecological Canyon, the Giant Panda Base, and the Wildlife World, with different ticket prices for each zone.
Ecological Canyon Ticket: CNY 100 per person.
Wildlife World Ticket: CNY 180 per person.
Giant Panda Base Ticket: CNY 90 per person.
The actual ticket prices shall prevail as announced by the scenic area.
You can search for the official WeChat public account of the scenic area "碧峰峡景区" to get the latest updates.