Lugou Bamboo Sea

Lugou Bamboo Sea

Lugou Bamboo Sea is a national AAAA-level tourist attraction.

Chengdu’s Lugou Bamboo Sea is the closest bamboo forest to downtown Chengdu. With over 16,000 acres of forest and bamboo coverage, the vast sea of bamboos is a spectacular sight. Driving straight from the ancient town into the Lugou Natural Scenic Area, you’ll be surrounded by lush bamboo groves and clear streams along the way, creating a refreshing experience.

Lugou is known as the Bamboo Sea of Qionglai. A winding road stretches into the valley, making walkers feel as though they are strolling through mountains with ever-changing scenery. The valley floor is scattered with large bluestones, and the bamboos growing on the rocks are mostly local cizhu bamboo—common in the western Sichuan plains—which is rich in fibrous and resilient, making it a primary material for papermaking.

Remains of Song Dynasty paper mills are scattered throughout the valley. At the site of a paper mill dating back to the Southern Song Dynasty, sunlight filters through the swaying bamboo, casting dappled light on ancient stone mills, stone mortars, and stone troughs—now covered in moss and overgrown with grass. The mills here were water-powered, so the waterway system was intricately designed. The large water mills have been abandoned, but small ones can still be found on the right side of the water channel. Though they’re still in operation, they’re now mainly used to grind cornmeal.

The Lugou Natural Scenic Area is located about one kilometer northwest of Pingle Town, covering an area of 8.6 square kilometers. It borders three nearby towns—Huojing, Youzha, and Shuikou—and boasts over 16,000 acres of forest and bamboo coverage. From an elevated vantage point, the expansive bamboo sea is a breathtaking view. You can drive directly from the town area into the scenic zone, all the way to the base of the 798-step Fish Cliff path. Along the way, you’ll be accompanied by shady bamboo groves and crystal-clear streams that invigorate the senses. It’s hailed as the “Twenty-Li Green Corridor, Natural Oxygen Bar” and the “Secluded Valley Gallery of the Ancient Town.” Within Lugou, you can find historical relics such as the Ming Dynasty official Yang Shen’s inscribed stone “Hanlü Immortal Pass,” a natural stone Buddha statue approximately 100 meters tall, ancient papermaking workshops, the Heavenly Official’s Sword-Testing Stone, the Heavenly Official’s Tomb, and Marshal’s Well. It’s said that the area north of Lugou is a frequent haunt of giant pandas. Heading east up to Fish Cliff, you can still see remnants of Red Army battle shelters. From atop Fish Cliff, you’ll get panoramic views of Youzha and Huojing, and on clear days, the Qionglai Mountain Range is sharply visible. Climbing to Jian Shanzi offers an outstanding vantage point for viewing the full landscape of the ancient city of Linqiong—the best spot to take in the beauty of Western Sichuan. Stretching southwest and northeast from Lugou, the area is covered with endless green bamboo. With “no bitter winter winds nor scorching summer heat,” it feels like a true “Hidden Paradise.”

Address: Pingle Town, Qionglai City, Chengdu, Sichuan Province

Type: Forest

Rating: AAAA

Recommended Visit Duration: About 2 hours

Opening Hours:

9:00-17:30

Ticket Information:

Gate Price: 12.0 RMB