Jindao Gorge Scenic Area is located in Jindao Gorge Town, Beibei District, Chongqing City, adjacent to the Huaying Mountain Range. It is a national 4A-level tourist attraction and also a municipal-level scenic spot in Chongqing. Jindao Gorge features canyon natural scenery as its core, combining the unique beauty of karst landforms with the vividness of canyon streams, and is known as the "First Gorge in Eastern Chongqing". The scenic area is generally a canyon-shaped landform, with a total length of about 10 kilometers and a total area of 6.2 square kilometers, among which the core scenic area covers about 3.5 square kilometers. Most buildings in the scenic area are built according to the terrain of the canyon, mainly including tourist centers, plank roads, pavilions, cable bridges and other facilities. Among them, the hanging plank road has a total length of about 3 kilometers and there are 7 cable bridges in total. These buildings not only meet the needs of tourists for sightseeing but also integrate with the natural landscape without damaging the original style of the canyon. Jindao Gorge is characterized by its natural landscapes of dangerous gorges, majestic mountains, beautiful waters, numerous waterfalls, clear pools and exotic caves. On both sides of the canyon, the cliffs are as steep as cut, covered with lush vegetation, with gurgling streams and flying waterfalls and flowing springs everywhere. There are also karst cave groups formed hundreds of millions of years ago, making it a natural ecological scenic spot integrating exploration, sightseeing and leisure.
History and Culture
The naming of Jindao Gorge has profound folk legends and historical origins. According to legend, at the end of the Ming Dynasty, Zhang Xianzhong, the leader of the peasant uprising, led his troops to campaign in Sichuan and Chongqing areas. His general Zhang Dingguo fought fiercely against the enemy here and lost a golden knife. Later generations named this place Jindao Gorge to commemorate this event. This legend has added a strong color of historical legend to Jindao Gorge and has become an important part of the local folk culture.
From a geological history perspective, Jindao Gorge was formed in the Permian period about 260 million years ago. After natural processes such as crustal movement and water erosion, it gradually formed the current canyon landform. Most of the rocks in the scenic area are limestone, and after hundreds of millions of years of erosion, they have created rich karst landform landscapes such as caves, stalactites and stalagmites. These geological relics are not only natural treasures but also witness the evolution history of the earth, with important geological research value. In addition, Jindao Gorge Town, Beibei District, where Jindao Gorge is located, has been an important village in the Bayu area since ancient times. The local area retains Bayu folk culture, such as Chuanjiang Haozi (boat trackers' chant) and Bayu wood carving and other folk arts. These cultural elements are combined with the natural landscape of Jindao Gorge to form a unique regional cultural system.
Main Attractions
Cangdao Cave (Hidden Knife Cave)
Cangdao Cave is one of the iconic attractions of Jindao Gorge, located in the middle section of the canyon. The cave entrance is about 5 meters high, 3 meters wide, and the cave depth reaches more than 20 meters. According to legend, this is where Zhang Dingguo lost his golden knife in those years, hence the name Cangdao Cave. The cave is full of various-shaped stalactites and stalagmites. These calcium carbonate deposits have formed strange landscapes such as "Golden Knife Hanging on the Wall" and "Stone Monkey Watching the Knife" after tens of millions of years of accumulation, which look even more fantastic against the light. Outside the cave is adjacent to a stream, and the stream flows past the cave, forming a pleasant contrast with the landscape inside the cave, making it a must-visit place for tourists to check in.
Xuantian Waterfall (Hanging Sky Waterfall)
Located on the Rizhao Cliff on the right side of the upper gorge entrance of Jindao Gorge, the mountain cliff is towering and straight up to the sky. A silver-white flying spring falls from the sky along the majestic mountain terrain, with a waterfall height of about 150 meters and a width of about 10 meters. On the left side of the waterfall mouth, there is a square stone cave, and it is impossible to verify who chiseled it, when and for what reason.
Shenying Gorge (Divine Eagle Gorge)
Shenying Gorge is located in the upper section of Jindao Gorge, with a total length of about 1.5 kilometers, and is the most dangerous section of the canyon. The cliffs on both sides of the canyon are as high as more than 100 meters, with a slope nearly vertical. A large number of birds inhabit the cliffs, among which eagles are in the majority, hence the name Shenying Gorge. The stream in the canyon has a large drop, forming many waterfalls. Among them, Shenying Waterfall has a drop of about 30 meters. The water flows down from the top of the cliff into the deep pool below, splashing water and making a magnificent sound. In addition, a hanging glass plank road is built in Shenying Gorge, with a length of about 200 meters and a height of about 80 meters from the ground. Tourists can walk on it to overlook the magnificent scenery of the entire canyon.
Shitou Gorge (Lion Head Gorge)
Less than 200 meters from Shenying Gorge is Shitou Gorge, the second scenic spot in the upper section of Jindao Gorge. Here, the canyon rocks stand abruptly, forming a narrow and deep stream valley. Under the plank road, the stream sometimes sings softly and sometimes sounds like a drum beating. At the right bank of the sharp turn of the plank road along the canyon cliff, a huge rock protrudes into the canyon sky. Under the lion head (shaped rock), there is a green deep pool, and the pool water shines like jadeite.
Maitreya Buddha
The Maitreya Buddha landscape is located in the lower section of Jindao Gorge. It is a natural stone statue formed by hundreds of millions of years of weathering and erosion of natural rocks. The stone statue is about 10 meters high and 8 meters wide, shaped like a sitting Maitreya Buddha with a kind and vivid facial expression. Under the stone statue, there is a clear pool with an area of about 50 square meters and a depth of about 2 meters. The pool water is clear to the bottom, and the pebbles at the bottom of the pool can be clearly seen. The Maitreya Buddha landscape is surrounded by lush vegetation and green trees, making it a good place for tourists to rest and watch natural wonders.
Laojun Zuijiu (Laojun Drunk)
After passing through the deep and tortuous pools strung like beads, there is a 50-meter-long stone niche in the middle of the lower section. The niche is small at the top and large at the bottom, shallow at the top and deep at the bottom, and the bottom of the niche can accommodate more than 100 people. A silver curtain falling from the top of the niche scatters pearls and splashes jade, floating in the air, as if it is from the sky, which has drunk the gods in the sky. That's why there is a story that the gods' mounts privately came to the mortal world to enjoy the happiness of human family.
Tour Routes
The tour routes of Jindao Gorge are mainly divided into two types: the full hiking route and the half leisure route, and tourists can choose according to their physical strength. The full hiking route is: enter from the South Gate (Tourist Center) of the scenic area, visit Shenying Gorge, Cangdao Cave, Maitreya Buddha and other attractions in turn, and finally exit from the North Gate of the scenic area. The whole journey is about 10 kilometers, and the hiking takes about 4-5 hours. This route allows you to fully visit all the core attractions of the scenic area and experience the entire scenery of the canyon, suitable for tourists with good physical strength. The half leisure route is: enter from the North Gate of the scenic area, take the scenic sightseeing bus to Cangdao Cave, then hike to visit the lower section attractions such as Cangdao Cave and Maitreya Buddha, and then return to the North Gate along the original road. The whole journey is about 5 kilometers, and the hiking takes about 2-3 hours, suitable for the elderly, children and tourists with general physical strength. In addition, the scenic area also has an exploration route. Enter from the side of the glass plank road in Shenying Gorge and hike along the path beside the canyon stream, which allows you to get close to the stream and waterfalls. It takes about 3 hours and is suitable for tourists who like outdoor exploration. However, attention should be paid to safety on this route, and it is only allowed to enter during the designated opening hours of the scenic area.
Travel Suggestions
- Suggested travel duration: It is recommended to arrange 5-6 hours for the full tour and 3-4 hours for the half tour. If including taking photos, resting and experiencing entertainment projects in the scenic area, 1-2 hours can be appropriately added.
- Best travel season: April-May and September-October every year are the best travel seasons for Jindao Gorge. At this time, the temperature is pleasant, the vegetation in the canyon is lush, the water volume of waterfalls is abundant, and the scenery is the best; the temperature is high in summer, but the canyon is cool, which is also a good choice; the temperature is low in winter, and some sections may be icy, so attention should be paid to anti-skid.
- Items to carry: It is recommended to carry a light backpack with mineral water (at least 2 bottles per person, about 1000 ml), snacks, sunscreen products, rain gear (the weather in the canyon is changeable), non-slip sports shoes (most of the plank roads and paths in the canyon are stone steps, and some sections are slippery). If you plan to hike the whole journey, you can carry trekking poles to assist walking.
- Entertainment project experience: There is a stream descending project in the scenic area (open from May to October every year), with an experience duration of about 1.5 hours. It is necessary to make an appointment at the tourist center of the scenic area in advance, and it is recommended to wear quick-drying clothes to participate; in addition, there are folk performances near the North Gate of the scenic area, one at 10 am and one at 2 pm every day, each lasting about 30 minutes, and you can arrange time to watch.
- Catering arrangement: There are 3 catering points in the scenic area, located at the South Gate entrance, beside Cangdao Cave and at the North Gate exit respectively. They mainly provide Chongqing characteristic snacks and simple meals at moderate prices. Tourists can eat at these places or bring their own snacks.
Notes
- Some sections in the canyon are narrow and slippery. Running and chasing are prohibited throughout the journey. The elderly and children must be accompanied by adults when walking, and avoid getting close to the cliffs and the edge of the stream.
- The stream descending, exploration and other projects in the scenic area have certain risks. Participants must meet the physical conditions specified by the scenic area (such as aged 12-60 years old, no heart disease, hypertension and other diseases), and strictly follow the guidance of coaches.
- Smoking and littering are prohibited in the scenic area. There are designated smoking areas and trash cans in the scenic area, and it is necessary to consciously maintain the ecological environment of the scenic area.
- When visiting the caves, it is forbidden to touch the stalactites and stalagmites. These geological relics are very fragile, and touching them will affect their growth and shape.
- In case of severe weather such as heavy rain and thunder and lightning, the scenic area may temporarily close some sections or suspend opening. Tourists need to pay attention to the announcements of the scenic area and follow the arrangements of the staff.
- The plank roads and cable bridges in the scenic area have limited load capacity. When there are many people, they must pass in turn to avoid crowding.
Transportation
- Public transportation: Take Rail Transit Line 6 from Jiefangbei, Yuzhong District, Chongqing to Beibei Station, transfer to the passenger bus from Beibei to Jindao Gorge after exiting the station. The bus departs from 7:30 to 16:30 every day, once an hour, with a journey of about 1.5 hours. After arriving at Jindao Gorge Town, take the scenic sightseeing bus (about 10 minutes' drive) to the South Gate of the scenic area.
- Self-driving: Depart from the main urban area of Chongqing, take Yuwu Expressway (G93) to Beibei Interchange and exit, then drive along Beijin Highway. The whole journey is about 80 kilometers, with a driving time of about 1.5 hours. There are parking lots at both the South Gate and North Gate of the scenic area, with a total of about 500 parking spaces. The parking fee is 10 yuan per day for small cars and 20 yuan per day for large cars.
- Tourist bus: Major travel agencies in Chongqing have tourist buses to Jindao Gorge, which generally depart from the main urban area at 8 am every day and return at 5 pm, with a journey of about 1.5 hours. Tourists can sign up through travel agencies.
Opening Hours
The opening hours are adjusted according to seasons. March 1 to October 31 every year is the peak tourist season, and the opening hours are from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm, with entry stopped at 4:00 pm; November 1 to February 28 of the next year (February 29 in leap years) is the off-season, and the opening hours are from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm, with entry stopped at 3:30 pm. The opening hours of caves, glass plank roads and other attractions in the scenic area are consistent with the overall opening hours of the scenic area. The stream descending project is open from May 1 to October 7 every year, from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm every day, and no experience appointments are accepted after that time. In addition, during legal holidays such as the Spring Festival and National Day, the scenic area will appropriately advance the opening time (7:30 am) and extend the entry stop time (to 4:30 pm in peak season and 4:00 pm in off-season), subject to the on-site announcement of the scenic area.
Tickets
Ticket price: 85 yuan per person (including one-way cableway + one-way ferry). You can search for the official WeChat account "金刀峡旅游" to get the latest news or buy tickets online.
Online Booking
Click here to jump to the Trip.com ticketing platform for ticket purchase.
