The Shunan Bamboo Sea tourist attraction is located at the junction of Changning and Jiang'an counties, Yibin City, Sichuan Province, China. It is a national 4A-level tourist attraction and a national tourist resort. The scenic area integrates bamboo landscapes, mountains and waters, lakes, waterfalls, and ancient temples, and is the largest natural bamboo forest scenic area in the world with a vegetation coverage rate of 92.4%. The overall shape of the scenic area is "zigzag", about 13 kilometers long from east to west and about 6 kilometers wide from north to south, with a total area of 120 square kilometers. More than 70,000 mu of green bamboo covers 27 steep ridges and more than 500 peaks, with 58 species of bamboo in 15 genera growing here.
History and Culture
The Shunan Bamboo Sea has a long history of bamboo planting, and bamboo culture has continued for more than 2,000 years from the Eastern Han Dynasty to the present. The relief "Phoenix-Snake-Bamboo Composite Totem" on the Eastern Han Dynasty portrait stone coffin in the suburbs of Nanxi, Yibin proves that the local ancestors prevailed in bamboo totem worship. In the Northern Song Dynasty, the Shunan Bamboo Sea was named Wanlingqing. The famous poet Huang Tingjian visited here and saw the ocean of green bamboo, so he used a broom as a pen to write the three characters "Wanlingqing" on the Huangsan Stone, hence the name. The Shunan Bamboo Sea is the birthplace of Chinese bamboo craftsmanship and one of the three major bamboo carving centers. "Bamboo Sea Bamboo Huang" has been rated as a national intangible cultural heritage.
Main Attractions
Huaxi Thirteen Bridges Area
Huaxi is about 5 kilometers long, and the stream flows down the valley. In March, when peach blossoms and plums are in bloom, the stream is full of falling flowers, and bees and butterflies chase each other, hence the name Huaxi. By this stream, there are thirteen bridges built in the Ming and Qing dynasties, namely Daughter Bridge, Gulong Bridge, Longevity Bridge, Wanshun Bridge, Zhuangyuan Bridge, Jielong Bridge, Zhongyi Bridge, Tongxin Bridge, Jixian Bridge, Huixian Bridge, Guxi Bridge, Yuwang Bridge, and Gaosheng Bridge. Each bridge has its own story.
Bamboo Sea Tianbao Peak
Taking the cable car directly to the top of the mountain, you can have a 360° overlook of the magnificent scene of the bamboo sea, and see the sea of clouds churning when the weather is fine.
Xianyu Cave
A natural karst cave wonder, with thousand-year-old Buddha statues hidden in the cave and various stalactites, known as the "Fairyland on Earth in the Bamboo Sea Fairyland".
Qinglong Lake
The "Jiuzhaigou" in the bamboo sea. Taking a bamboo raft on the lake, you can enjoy the lake and mountain scenery and experience the quiet beauty of the bamboo forest secret realm.
Jade Corridor
A winding bamboo forest path several kilometers long, with green bamboos on both sides and bamboo leaves forming a shade, suitable for hiking and photography.
Colorful Waterfall
A natural waterfall in the depths of the bamboo forest, where water flows down from a high place, and when exposed to sunlight, the water mist refracts colorful lights.
Food
Bamboo Shoot Stewed Chicken
The deliciousness of bamboo shoots is perfectly integrated with the aroma of free-range chicken, rich in nutrition.
Bamboo Shoot Bacon
The salty aroma of bacon is paired with fresh and tender bamboo shoots, with a unique taste and full Sichuan flavor.
Bamboo Tube Rice
Rice steamed in a bamboo tube, with a light bamboo fragrance, soft and chewy and delicious.
Spring Tofu Pudding
Tofu pudding made with mountain spring water, tender and smooth, paired with homemade dipping sauce, extremely delicious.
Tickets
The ticket price is 100 yuan per person.
You can search for the official WeChat public account "蜀南竹海景区" on WeChat to get the latest updates or purchase tickets online.
Opening Hours
Open all day.
Tour Routes
The following are several recommended tour routes:
Essence Route: D1 Chengdu - Yibin - Shunan Bamboo Sea - Tianbao Village - Xianyu Cave - Fairy Lake - Haizhonghai - Stay in Bamboo Sea; D2 Guanyun Pavilion - Wangyou Valley - Bamboo Sea Cableway - Jade Corridor - Guanhai Tower - Chengdu.
Visiting Route: Depart from Chengdu on the first day, arrive at Shunan Bamboo Sea after lunch, visit Wangyou Valley Scenic Area and go to Shunan Bamboo Sea Museum; on the second day, go to Xianyu Cave after breakfast, climb Guanhai Tower to enjoy the panoramic view of the bamboo sea and Jade Corridor after lunch, and return to Chengdu in the afternoon.
Two-day Parent-Child Tour: Museum - Wangyou Valley - Haizhonghai - Xianyu Cave/Tianbao Village - Huaxi Thirteen Bridges - Yongjiang Village.
Three-day Summer Parent-Child Tour: Guanyun Platform - Haizhonghai - Xianyu Cave/Tianbao Village - Longyin Temple - Huaxi Thirteen Bridges - Wangyou Valley - Museum - Xanadu - Yongjiang Village - Qidonggou.
Transportation
- Self-driving: About 4-5 hours from Chengdu, Chongqing, and Yibin.
- High-speed rail + carpooling: There are direct buses from Chengdu, Chongqing, and Yibin to Shunan Bamboo Sea.
- Long-distance bus: There are direct buses from Chengdu, Chongqing, and Yibin to Shunan Bamboo Sea.
Must-Visit Attractions
- Xianyu Cave: A natural karst cave with thousand-year-old Buddha statues and various stalactites, with deep Buddhist and Taoist cultural heritage.
- Jade Corridor: A several-kilometer-long bamboo forest path with green bamboos forming a shade, an excellent place for photography and punching in.
- Colorful Waterfall: A natural waterfall in the bamboo forest, where colorful lights appear when exposed to sunlight, with a spectacular view.
Tour Tips
- Spring and summer (March-June): The bamboo forest is lush and the climate is cool, a summer resort; autumn and winter (September-December): The bamboo forest is golden in autumn, and you can enjoy the morning mist of the bamboo sea in winter. You can choose the tour time according to your preferences.
- The scenic area is large, so you can choose to take the scenic area sightseeing bus or cable car to save energy and time.
- You can stay in the characteristic bamboo houses in the scenic area to experience original ecological life.
Notes
- There are many mosquitoes in the depths of the bamboo forest, so it is recommended to carry mosquito repellent spray.
- Some hiking routes are slippery, so it is recommended to wear non-slip shoes.
- Respect nature, do not damage the bamboo forest, do not litter, and protect the environment of the scenic area.