The Chuanxi Bamboo Sea Scenic Area is located in Pingle Town, Qionglai City, Chengdu, Sichuan Province. It is a national 4A-level scenic area known for its bamboo forest canyons, waterfalls and springs, and Danxia landforms. The scenic area covers a total area of about 10 square kilometers, with a vegetation coverage rate of over 90%. The negative oxygen ion concentration reaches as high as 2 million per cubic centimeter, earning it the reputation of a "natural oxygen bar." The scenic area features China's first via ferrata climbing route, a 200-meter-long high-altitude glass walkway, and a 150-meter-high Danxia cliff. It also preserves ancient papermaking workshop ruins from the Ming and Qing dynasties, making it a comprehensive scenic area that integrates natural sightseeing, outdoor sports, and cultural experiences.
History and Culture
Pingle Town, where the Chuanxi Bamboo Sea is located, is a thousand-year-old ancient town with a history dating back to the Western Han Dynasty. The ancient papermaking workshop ruins preserved in the scenic area demonstrate the inheritance and evolution of Cai Lun's papermaking technology in the western Sichuan region, with a history of more than 1,000 years. Ancient craftsmen used the abundant local ci bamboo resources to make bamboo paper through 108 processes, including "cutting bamboo, soaking, boiling, pulping, and papermaking." During the Ming and Qing dynasties, the bamboo paper produced here was used as official documents. In the existing ruins, complete boiling pools, papermaking workshops, and other remains can still be seen.
In addition, Qionglai City, where the scenic area is located, was an important post station on the Southern Silk Road, and Pingle Town was once a bustling water and land port where merchants gathered. The existing bluestone ancient road among the bamboo forests was a necessary route for ancient caravans transporting silk and tea. Horse hoof prints and wear marks on the paving stones are still preserved today, bearing witness to the prosperity of ancient trade.
Main Attractions
Xianlü Muyun Bridge
Xianlü Muyun Bridge is a high-altitude glass walkway spanning the bamboo sea canyon, with a total length of about 200 meters and a vertical height of 150 meters from the valley bottom. The bridge deck is paved with three layers of laminated tempered glass and can accommodate 500 people at the same time. Walking on it, visitors can enjoy a 360-degree panoramic view of the bamboo sea. On sunny days, the glass reflection and the bamboo forest complement each other; in cloudy and misty weather, it feels like walking in the clouds. It is a landmark check-in spot in the scenic area.
Xianlü Lanyue Bridge
Connecting the two highest peaks in the scenic area, it has a span of 299 meters, a width of 2.5 meters, and a vertical height of 150 meters. As the world's first double-layer high-altitude panoramic corridor, it adopts a fully transparent design. The area beneath one's feet is as clear as if there were nothing there, making visitors feel as if they are strolling in midair and overlooking 100,000 mu of bamboo sea.
High-Altitude Viewing Platform
The entire platform is carved along the rock wall and has an area of about 400 square meters. Visitors can dine here while enjoying the beautiful scenery.
High-Altitude Glass Walkway
A glass walkway built on the cliff, with a total length of 260 meters, a width of 1.5 meters, and a vertical height of nearly 100 meters above the ground. It is a perfect combination of "water, forest, light, stone, and sound."
Deep Valley Boardwalk
About 2 kilometers long, built along the valley bottom, allowing visitors to observe the bamboo forest up close.
Bamboo Museum
The building's exterior adopts a bird's nest-style framework, with thick bamboo as pillars and thin bamboo as the skeleton, blending nature and tradition. Through three threads—bamboo craftsmanship, bamboo culture, and bamboo life—the museum displays the magnificent scenery of 100,000 mu of bamboo sea and the cultural landscape of coexisting with bamboo for thousands of years. Visitors can learn about bamboo papermaking, porcelain-bodied bamboo weaving, and other crafts here, and can also experience fully handmade operations, feeling the charm of bamboo weaving of "splitting bamboo into threads and using threads to make paintings."
Via Ferrata Climbing
Via ferrata is a featured outdoor sports project in the scenic area. The route is about 800 meters long and is divided into three routes: beginner, intermediate, and advanced. The beginner route is suitable for children and beginners, with a height of 30 meters and a duration of about 1 hour. The intermediate route has a climbing height of 80 meters and includes challenge sections such as suspension bridges and steel wire bridges. The advanced route requires climbing a 150-meter-high Danxia cliff and takes about 3 hours in total. The project is equipped with professional safety equipment, with coaches providing guidance throughout. The ticket price is 120 yuan per person.
Tour Routes：
One-Day Tour Route: Scenic area entrance (8:30) → Sightseeing bus to the starting point of via ferrata (10 minutes) → Via ferrata beginner route (1 hour) → Photos at the viewing platform (30 minutes) → Lunch (scenic area restaurant or bring your own dry food) → Walk to Xianlü Muyun Bridge (30 minutes) → Glass walkway tour (40 minutes) → Sightseeing bus return (before 16:30). This route covers the core attractions, with moderate physical exertion, and is suitable for most tourists.
In-Depth Tour Route: D1 Visit Pingle Ancient Town → Stay in an ancient town guesthouse; D2 Morning visit Chuanxi Bamboo Sea (same route as above), afternoon go to Jinhua Mountain near the ancient town to see Tang Dynasty cliff carvings (ticket 20 yuan), and at night experience the ancient town's night view. This route takes into account both natural landscapes and historical culture, and is suitable for tourists with sufficient time.
Travel Suggestions：
It is recommended to wear non-slip sports shoes. There are many stone-step paths in the scenic area, and some sections are slippery. For the via ferrata project, long sleeves and long pants are required, and slippers and sandals are prohibited.
The glass walkway has fewer people in the morning, making it better for photos. In summer, from 11:00 to 15:00, the sunlight is strong, so attention should be paid to sun protection. It is advisable to bring a sun hat and sunscreen (SPF30 ).
The intermediate and advanced via ferrata routes are physically demanding. It is recommended to warm up in advance. Tourists with high blood pressure or heart disease should not participate.
Notes：
Smoking and open flames are prohibited in the scenic area. Violators will be fined 50-200 yuan. Running and jumping are prohibited on the glass walkway, and sharp objects that may scratch the glass are prohibited.
For the via ferrata project, safety equipment must be worn, and coach instructions must be followed. Equipment must not be removed without authorization during the activity. Children must be accompanied by adults (1:1 ratio).
There are many mosquitoes and insects in the bamboo forest. It is recommended to wear long pants and apply mosquito repellent. There is a lot of rain in summer, so a folding raincoat can be carried (sold in the scenic area at 10 yuan each).
The last sightseeing bus in the scenic area is at 17:30. It is recommended to arrange the descent time reasonably to avoid walking on mountain roads at night. The shuttle bus from Pingle Ancient Town to the scenic area stops running at 18:00.
Transportation：
Self-driving: Chengdu city → Chengwenqiong Expressway → Qionglai West Exit → Pingle Town. The drive takes about 1.5 hours. The scenic area parking lot charges 10 yuan per day.
Bus: Chengdu Xinnanmen Bus Station and Chadianzi Bus Station have daily direct buses to Pingle Ancient Town. The journey takes 2 hours, and the fare is 45-50 yuan. From Qionglai city, take Bus No. 306 to Pingle Ancient Town. It runs every 30 minutes, takes 40 minutes, and costs 6 yuan.
Scenic Area Transportation: There is a shuttle bus from Pingle Ancient Town to the scenic area entrance, costing 5 yuan per person and taking 10 minutes. Sightseeing buses in the scenic area cost 10 yuan per person (one way) and can be ridden multiple times.
Opening Hours：
The scenic area is open all year round. Daily opening hours are 8:30-17:30, with entry stopping at 17:00. The via ferrata project is open from 9:00 to 16:30 (until 16:00 in winter). The ancient papermaking experience activity is held from 10:00 to 15:00 (one session every hour). The glass walkway may be temporarily closed in extreme weather such as strong winds and heavy rain.
Tickets：
The ticket price is 60 yuan per person.