Bifengxia is located in Bifengxia Town, Yucheng District, Ya'an City, Sichuan Province. It is a National 5A Tourist Attraction. The main body of the scenic area is a large ecological rift valley, with vegetation coverage exceeding 95%. It is characterized by gorges, water scenery, and vegetation, and is named for its lush forests and evergreen verdure throughout the four seasons. The scenic area covers 20 square kilometers, of which 13.3 square kilometers are forest land. It consists of three parts: the Wildlife World, the Ecological Gorge Scenic Area, and the Giant Panda Base.
History and Culture
Legend has it that Bifengxia is the place where Nüwa repaired the sky. In ancient times, the Water God and the Fire God fought. In a rage, the Water God broke the pillar supporting the sky, and the sky leaked. Nüwa used colorful stones to repair the sky and used the Seven-Star Needle to sew it together. She rushed about day and night to save all living beings. Her body turned into the gorge of Bifengxia, and her hands became the Ten-Finger Sky-Mending Peak. The "Nüwa Pool" in Bifengxia is said to be the place where Nüwa bathed when she repaired the sky. In addition, Bifeng Temple at the top of Cuiping Mountain in Bifengxia was first built in the Tang Dynasty and rebuilt in the Ming Dynasty. The temple buildings follow the mountain terrain. Along the central axis, there were originally the Front Hall, Middle Hall, Mahavira Hall, Huiling Pavilion, Rear Hall, and other halls. Although it has been repeatedly destroyed and rebuilt, the existing Guanyin Hall, stone archway, stone lions, incense burner, and others still remain.
Main Attractions
Qianceng Rock Waterfall
About 100 meters high and 10 meters wide, the waterfall water pours down from the top of the mountain, lands in the dense forest on the platform halfway up the cliff, then flows slowly from the mountainside and descends along Qianceng Rock. It is also called "Three-Tiered Reflecting Beauty." According to legend, there are 1,026 knife marks left by Nüwa on the rock wall, which are the original traces of her recording the days when she mended the sky.
Bailong Pond Waterfall
30 meters high and 10 meters wide, it surges down from the steep cliff, splashing water everywhere. The water mist curls around, and the sound of the waterfall shakes the gorge. At the bottom of the valley, it forms a 10-meter-deep pool. From a distance, it looks like a huge waterfall; up close, it resembles a giant dragon coiled atop the mountain, majestic and powerful.
Qingyun Valley
Located at the bottom of the Qingyun Stairs, it is the junction of two gorges. On both sides, steep cliffs rise into the clouds. In the valley, the stream water is crisp and pleasant, the forest is verdant, the valley is deep, waterfalls pour down, and small streams murmur. The air is fresh and rich in negative ions, so it is called a "natural oxygen bar." There is also a purple-red residential-style tea culture corridor built along the river, displaying sculptures of historical scenes from the Tea Horse Road, tea art and tea ceremony performances, and pictures of tea culture.
Bifeng Temple
Located at the foot of Cuiping Mountain, it was first built in the Tang Dynasty and was repeatedly destroyed by war and rebuilt. At present, only part of the Guanyin Hall, Tianwang Pavilion, and the Great Bell Tower remain. It is said that making wishes here is very effective.
Mandarin Duck Waterfall
The water flowing downstream splits into two on both sides. The left stream is larger and represents yang, while the right stream is smaller and represents yin. In summer, when the water flow is larger, they merge into one. Beside it is a "Heartless Tree," forming a strong contrast with the waterfall's interdependence.
Qinglong Pond Waterfall
About 40 meters high and about 6 meters deep, it flies down from the dense forest of the gorge, passes through several layers of strange rocks, and pours into the bottom of the valley. According to legend, this is the place where the Azure Dragon sobbed and transformed. The pond is bottomless, and the blue scales shimmer with waves.
Giant Panda Base
Officially completed and opened to the public on December 28, 2003, it covers an area of 1,074 mu and integrates scientific research, breeding, and tourism. It is divided into three exhibition and visiting areas: Baixiong Ping, the Kindergarten, and the Returnee Giant Panda Paradise. As of February 2025, there are more than 60 giant pandas in the base.
Wildlife World
It consists of a drive-through beast sightseeing area, a walking tour area for gentle animals, and an animal behavior display area. The park houses about 1,000 wild animals of 70 species (heads, birds, and tails). Among them are 14 species of national first-class key protected animals, such as Siberian tigers, golden snub-nosed monkeys, and jaguars, as well as rare premium animals such as white lions and white tigers.
Tour Routes：
Full Route (6–7 hours): Elevator — Qianceng Waterfall — Red Lantern — Youfeng Bridge — Changshou Mountain — Bailong Pond (Dragon Viewing Platform) — Nüwa Pool — Tianweng Bridge — Cuiping Mountain (Xiaoxitian Ethnic Village) — Nüwa Temple — Yanü Garden — Bifeng Temple — Primitive Forest Adventure Reception Station — Scenic Area Exit — Reception Center.
Short Route 1 (1 hour): Reception Center — Elevator — Qianceng Rock Waterfall — Mandarin Duck Waterfall and Heartless Tree — Yanü Garden — Scenic Area Mountain Gate Exit.
Short Route 2 (2–3 hours): Elevator — Qianceng Waterfall — Red Lantern — Youfeng Bridge — Changshou Mountain — Bailong Pond (Dragon Viewing Platform) — Nüwa Pool — Tianweng Bridge — Cuiping Mountain (Xiaoxitian Ethnic Village) — Nüwa Temple — Yanü Garden — Scenic Area Exit — Reception Center.
Panda Base Left Gorge (3–4 hours): Scenic area entrance, take the sightseeing bus to the Panda Base → Xiaoxitian → Tianweng Bridge → Taojin Beach → Nüwa Pool → Tianlong Lingyun → Red Lantern → Hanging Coffin → Ten-Finger Sky-Mending Peak → Qianceng Rock Waterfall → Qingyun Ladder → Return to the Visitor Center.
Panda Base Right Gorge (2–3 hours): Take the sightseeing bus to the Right Gorge entrance → Mandarin Duck Waterfall → Pingcui Small Waterfall → Qinglong Pond Waterfall → Dragon Viewing Platform → Yanü Garden → Fushan Bridge (take the sightseeing bus) → Panda Base.
Right Gorge Panda Base Left Gorge (4–5 hours): Qingyun Ladder → Mandarin Duck Waterfall → Pingcui Small Waterfall → Qinglong Pond Waterfall → Dragon Viewing Platform → Yanü Garden → Fushan Bridge (take the sightseeing bus) → Panda Base → Xiaoxitian → Tianweng Bridge → Taojin Beach → Nüwa Pool → Tianlong Lingyun → Red Lantern → Hanging Coffin → Ten-Finger Sky-Mending Peak → Qianceng Rock Waterfall → Qingyun Ladder → Return to the Visitor Center.
Travel Suggestions：
If time is sufficient, it is recommended to spend a full day fully experiencing the various attractions in the scenic area.
Visitors bringing elderly people and children can choose short routes or take the sightseeing bus to save energy.
When viewing giant pandas, try to keep quiet and do not disturb their lives.
When visiting the scenic area in summer, pay attention to sun protection and mosquito prevention; during the rainy season, remember to bring rain gear and be careful of slippery surfaces.
Precautions：
There are many mountain roads in the scenic area, and the ground is occasionally slippery. It is recommended to wear comfortable sports shoes or hiking shoes.
Observe the scenic area's regulations and do not feed animals at will, especially in the Wildlife World and the Giant Panda Base.
Keep personal belongings safe and beware of thieves in crowded places.
There are some steep cliffs and gorges in the scenic area. Pay attention to safety when visiting and do not approach dangerous areas.
Transportation：
Public transportation: There are tourist shuttle buses from Ya'an city to Bifengxia Scenic Area. You can also first take a bus to Bifengxia Town, then transfer to local transportation to the scenic area.
Self-driving: Departing from Chengdu, take the Chengya Expressway, exit at Ya'an North Exit, then follow the road signs to Bifengxia Scenic Area. The distance from Chengdu is 146 kilometers.
Opening Hours：
The usual opening hours are 08:30–17:00. The specific opening hours may be adjusted according to seasons and special circumstances. It is recommended to check the scenic area's official website in advance or consult by phone.
Tickets：
Bifengxia Scenic Area is divided into three tour areas: the Ecological Gorge, the Giant Panda Base, and the Wildlife World. Ticket prices vary for each area.
Ecological Gorge ticket: 100 yuan/person.
Wildlife World: 180 yuan/person.
Giant Panda Base: 90 yuan/person.
The actual prices of the scenic area shall prevail.