The 8 Best Small Towns Near Chengdu for an Easy Escape
Tea houses on slow rivers, Ming-dynasty lanes, and Hakka guild halls, all within a day trip of Sichuan's capital.
Last updated June 25, 2026
Spring cherry blossoms at Qingyang Palace in Chengdu, China. · Tito Zzzz
Chengdu rewards the slow traveler, and nowhere proves it better than the cluster of old towns scattered across the Sichuan basin. Within an hour or two of the city you can swap the ring roads for stone-paved lanes, wooden tea houses leaning over rivers, and the smell of huajiao (Sichuan pepper) drifting from a dozen open kitchens.
These are not theme parks. Most grew up on the old Tea Horse Road or around irrigation works and salt routes, and many still function as living villages where locals play mahjong and soak their feet in the river on a hot afternoon. A few are polished for weekend crowds; others stay genuinely sleepy, especially midweek.
Below are eight towns ranked for how rewarding they are as a trip from Chengdu, with the best things to see and eat, who each one suits, and exactly how to get there. Pair any of them with a panda morning or a noodle crawl and you have a near-perfect Sichuan itinerary.
Planning a trip to Chengdu?
| Place | Location | Getting there | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Huanglongxi Ancient Town | About 40 km south of Chengdu | About 1 hour by car or taxi; or take metro/bus combinations toward Huangshuiwan, roughly 60-90 minutes | First-timers and families wanting the classic ancient-town look |
| Jiezi Ancient Town | Chongzhou, about 50 km west of Chengdu | About 1.5 hours by car; or bus from Chengdu's Chadianzi station to Chongzhou, then a local bus | Travelers wanting a calmer, less commercial town |
| Pingle Ancient Town | Qionglai, about 90 km southwest of Chengdu | About 1.5-2 hours by car; or bus to Qionglai, then a connecting local bus to Pingle | A relaxed overnight and tea-house afternoons |
| Anren Ancient Town | Dayi County, about 50 km west of Chengdu | About 1 hour by car; or bus from Chengdu to Dayi/Anren, roughly 1.5 hours | History buffs and museum lovers |
| Luodai Ancient Town | Longquanyi District, about 20 km east of Chengdu | About 40-50 minutes by car; or metro toward Longquanyi plus a short bus/taxi | A quick half-day escape close to the city |
| Dujiangyan | About 60 km northwest of Chengdu | 30-40 minutes by high-speed train from Chengdu, then a short taxi or bus | Combining history, hiking, and pandas in one day |
| Langzhong Ancient City | Northeast Sichuan, about 220 km from Chengdu | About 3 hours by high-speed train from Chengdu to Langzhong, then a short taxi | An overnight trip and serious history |
| Shangli Ancient Town | Near Ya'an, about 140 km southwest of Chengdu | About 2-2.5 hours by car; or high-speed train to Ya'an, then a local bus or taxi | Photographers and anyone seeking peace and quiet |
1
Huanglongxi Ancient TownAbout 40 km south of Chengdu Google
The most famous old town near Chengdu is also one of the prettiest, a Ming and Qing river settlement where six surviving streets run down to the water beneath ancient banyan trees. It has served as a backdrop for countless Chinese films and TV dramas, so the lanes feel cinematic, lined with teahouses, temples, and snack stalls. Come for the riverside, where in summer families wade and splash in the shallow channels that thread through town. It can get busy on weekends, so arrive early or stay into the evening when the lanterns come on and the day-trippers thin out.
- Riverside teahouses under the old banyan trees
- Gulong Temple and Zhenjiang Temple
- Yikousu (one-bite crispy snacks) and zhang feinian beef
- Splashing in the river channels in summer
Best for: First-timers and families wanting the classic ancient-town look
Getting there: About 1 hour by car or taxi; or take metro/bus combinations toward Huangshuiwan, roughly 60-90 minutes
2
Jiezi Ancient TownChongzhou, about 50 km west of Chengdu Google
Set at the foot of the Qingcheng foothills, Jiezi has roots in the Tang dynasty and a quieter, more local feel than Huanglongxi. The main draw is a calm grid of old wooden shopfronts, small bridges, and a riverside walk, with the Tang-era Ming-style buildings well preserved and crowds noticeably lighter on weekdays. Don't leave without trying yeerba, a steamed rice cake wrapped in a fragrant leaf, sold warm from street stalls. It pairs beautifully with a half day at nearby Qingcheng Mountain.
- Yeerba rice cakes and tang chang spicy rabbit
- Riverside walk and the old Tang-style streets
- Zitong Palace and the town's stone bridges
- Easy add-on to Qingcheng Mountain
Best for: Travelers wanting a calmer, less commercial town
Getting there: About 1.5 hours by car; or bus from Chengdu's Chadianzi station to Chongzhou, then a local bus
3
Pingle Ancient TownQionglai, about 90 km southwest of Chengdu Google
Pingle sits on the Baimo River and claims a 2,000-year history as a staging post on the Southern Silk Road and Tea Horse Road. Giant banyan trees shade the riverbanks where teahouses set tables right at the water's edge, and bamboo rafts drift past in the warmer months. Beyond the main town, the surrounding hills hold bamboo forests and the Lugu Lake-style scenery of the Tiantai Mountain scenic area, making it a good overnight base. It feels lived-in and relaxed, built for lingering over endless cups of tea.
- Riverside teahouses beneath ancient banyans
- Bamboo rafting on the Baimo River
- Strolling the Tea Horse Road heritage streets
- Day hikes in nearby Tiantai Mountain
Best for: A relaxed overnight and tea-house afternoons
Getting there: About 1.5-2 hours by car; or bus to Qionglai, then a connecting local bus to Pingle
4
Anren Ancient TownDayi County, about 50 km west of Chengdu Google
Anren is unlike the other towns on this list: instead of a single old street, it has one of China's densest clusters of museums and Republican-era mansions. The Liu Family Manor, the lavish estate of a notorious early-20th-century landlord, anchors the town, while the sprawling Jianchuan Museum Cluster covers everything from wartime history to the 2008 earthquake. Tree-lined avenues of 1920s and 30s villas give the place an elegant, faded grandeur. It rewards anyone curious about modern Chinese history rather than just snacks and selfies.
- Liu Family Manor estate and museum
- The Jianchuan Museum Cluster
- Republican-era mansions and tree-lined boulevards
- Quiet teahouses away from the crowds
Best for: History buffs and museum lovers
Getting there: About 1 hour by car; or bus from Chengdu to Dayi/Anren, roughly 1.5 hours
5
Luodai Ancient TownLongquanyi District, about 20 km east of Chengdu Google
The closest town on this list is also the easiest half-day trip, and it offers something distinctive: Luodai is a center of Hakka culture, settled by migrants centuries ago who kept their language and customs. The standout sights are the ornate guild halls, especially the Huguang Guild Hall and Guangdong Guild Hall, with their carved wooden screens and courtyards. There's even a hillside replica of the Great Wall above town. Come hungry, as Hakka dishes like salt-baked chicken and stuffed tofu turn up alongside Sichuan staples.
- Huguang and Guangdong guild halls
- Hakka salt-baked chicken and niang doufu
- The hillside Great Wall replica
- Old Hakka lane and teahouses
Best for: A quick half-day escape close to the city
Getting there: About 40-50 minutes by car; or metro toward Longquanyi plus a short bus/taxi
6
DujiangyanAbout 60 km northwest of Chengdu Google
Best known for its UNESCO-listed irrigation system, built more than 2,000 years ago and still in use, Dujiangyan also has an atmospheric old quarter worth wandering. The covered Nanqiao Bridge glows with carvings and lanterns at night, and the riverside lanes are packed with teahouses and snack stalls. The town doubles as the gateway to Mount Qingcheng, a birthplace of Taoism with forested temple trails, and to the Dujiangyan Panda Base, a quieter alternative to Chengdu's main center. Fast trains make it one of the simplest day trips from the city.
- The ancient Dujiangyan irrigation works (UNESCO)
- Nanqiao Bridge lit up after dark
- Mount Qingcheng's Taoist temple hikes
- Dujiangyan Panda Base
Best for: Combining history, hiking, and pandas in one day
Getting there: 30-40 minutes by high-speed train from Chengdu, then a short taxi or bus
7
Langzhong Ancient CityNortheast Sichuan, about 220 km from Chengdu Google
Langzhong is one of China's four best-preserved ancient cities and well worth the longer journey for anyone with an overnight to spare. Its huge grid of Tang and Song-era courtyard houses, temples, and city walls sits in a horseshoe bend of the Jialing River, and the whole place feels remarkably intact. It was a center of imperial examinations, and the restored Gongyuan exam hall is a highlight. Local specialties read like a checklist: Zhang Fei beef, Baoning vinegar, and steaming bowls of beef noodles.
- Gongyuan imperial examination hall
- Tang and Song courtyard mansions and city walls
- Zhang Fei beef and Baoning vinegar
- River views from Huaguang Tower
Best for: An overnight trip and serious history
Getting there: About 3 hours by high-speed train from Chengdu to Langzhong, then a short taxi
8
Shangli Ancient TownNear Ya'an, about 140 km southwest of Chengdu Google
For travelers chasing quiet, Shangli is the antidote to weekend crowds: a small, genuinely sleepy town of Qing-dynasty wooden houses, arched stone bridges, and a clear stream running through the center. It sat on a branch of the Tea Horse Road, and the misty, green setting on the rainy edge of the Sichuan basin gives it a soft, painterly feel. There's little to do but wander, photograph the bridges, and sit with a pot of tea, which is exactly the point. Pair it with Ya'an's Bifengxia area if you want to extend the trip.
- Qing-era wooden streets and stone arch bridges
- Riverside teahouses with mountain mist
- Quiet Tea Horse Road heritage
- Easy add-on to Bifengxia near Ya'an
Best for: Photographers and anyone seeking peace and quiet
Getting there: About 2-2.5 hours by car; or high-speed train to Ya'an, then a local bus or taxi
Good to Know
Getting around High-speed trains serve Dujiangyan, Langzhong, and Ya'an and are the fastest, most reliable option; book through the official Railway 12306 app or at the station. For towns without train links (Huanglongxi, Pingle, Jiezi, Anren), a private car or Didi is far easier than piecing together buses.
When to go Spring and autumn are most comfortable. Summer is hot and humid but ideal for the riverside water play at Huanglongxi and Pingle. Avoid Chinese public holidays (early May, early October) when these towns are packed.
Midweek beats weekends The popular towns near Chengdu fill with city day-trippers on Saturdays and Sundays. Visiting Tuesday to Thursday means quieter lanes, easier teahouse seats, and better photos.
Payment and language Most stalls and teahouses expect Alipay or WeChat Pay; set these up before you travel, as cash and foreign cards are awkward. English is limited outside Chengdu, so a translation app and screenshots of place names help a lot.
Each of these towns offers a different angle on Sichuan, from Hakka guild halls and imperial exam halls to riverside tea and 2,000-year-old engineering. Pick one near town for a lazy half day or base yourself in Pingle or Langzhong overnight, and pair it with Chengdu's pandas and food scene for a trip that balances buzz with calm. Start with whichever fits your schedule, and let the slow pace do the rest.