Guangyuan

Known as 'the world's most impregnable pass' (天下第一雄关), Jianmen Pass has guarded the northern approach to Sichuan for over 2,300 years. The sheer 200-meter cliffs on either side of the narrow gap create a natural fortress that was never successfully breached by force — it always fell through treachery or siege. Today, visitors can walk along the cliffside plank road, hike through dense forests, and climb the 72 peaks of the Jianmen Mountains. The cable car offers stunning aerial views of the pass and surrounding valleys.

This Buddhist temple complex, perched on the banks of the Jialing River, was built during the Tang Dynasty to honor Wu Zetian after she became emperor. The temple houses a remarkable collection of Tang Dynasty stone carvings, including a 5-meter-tall statue of Wu Zetian herself — the only such statue in China. The surrounding halls contain over 1,200 Buddhist sculptures carved between the Northern Wei and Tang dynasties, offering one of Sichuan's finest collections of ancient Buddhist art.

A dramatic 4-kilometer gorge carved by the Jialing River through limestone mountains, Moon Valley showcases 5,000 years of transportation history in one spectacular corridor. Ancient plank roads cling to cliff faces alongside modern highways, railways, and even a Song Dynasty stone road — all built at different heights along the same gorge walls. The valley's name comes from the moon-shaped reflection on the river at night. Stalactite caves within the gorge feature colorful formations illuminated with dramatic lighting.

Often called 'the living Great Wall of trees,' the Cuiyun Corridor is a 200-kilometer ancient road lined with over 10,000 ancient cypress trees, some dating back 2,000 years to the Qin Dynasty. This green tunnel of towering trees served as the main military supply route between Sichuan and Shaanxi. The oldest trees have been given individual names and are protected as national cultural relics. Walking beneath these ancient giants is a profoundly peaceful experience, with sunlight filtering through canopies that have sheltered travelers for millennia.

A pristine wilderness area protecting one of China's most important biodiversity hotspots. The reserve is home to over 100 giant pandas, golden snub-nosed monkeys, takin, and more than 430 bird species. Unlike many panda reserves, Tangjiahe offers genuine wilderness trekking through old-growth forests, alpine meadows, and crystal-clear streams. The lack of mass tourism infrastructure means you'll likely have the trails to yourself — a rarity in China's nature reserves.