A Perfect Day Trip Guide to the Amazing Dazu Rock Carvings in Chongqing

One-Day Travel Guide to the Dazu Stone Carvings in Chongqing: An Amazing Journey Through a Thousand Years!

When it comes to the Dazu Stone Carvings, they’ve been sitting on my travel list for years. I’ve heard it’s “a thousand-year myth carved in stone,” and finally, I arranged a weekend to check it out. What I didn’t expect was that this trip not only fulfilled all my imaginations about stone carving art but also brought me a lot of unexpected fun. Hidden in these thousand-year-old carvings are the ancient people's everyday life in their "social circle"! From the unconventional Thousand-Hand Guanyin to the lively lives of gods, this place really made me feel the diversity and authenticity of ancient life. If you have a day, why not follow my route to discover it too?

Dazu Stone Carvings: The "Social Circle" of Gods in Stone

When you think of stone carvings, don’t you usually picture solemn and aloof Buddha statues? But the Dazu Stone Carvings completely changed my perspective! The artisans from the Tang and Song dynasties really knew how to have fun. Their creativity when carving was more imaginative than we are today. Here, you can see not just the golden Thousand-Hand Guanyin, but also gods drinking and eating skewers, young couples sneaking romance, and even the daily life of a “working-class” woman raising chickens. This place is definitely not like an ordinary temple; it’s a vibrant “picture of human life.”

Transportation Guide (Super Detailed!)

Whether you prefer public transport or driving yourself, the Dazu Stone Carvings are easy to reach. Here’s a look at your best options!

1. By Bus

• Ticket Purchase: I recommend booking in advance via the "Yukexing" WeChat account.
• Chongqing City—Dazu: One-way fare is ¥30~70, about 1.5 hours.
• Dazu Bus Station—Baoding Stone Carvings: Transfer to bus 205 and get off at "Baoding Police Station" (¥3, about 1 hour), then walk for 3 minutes to the entrance.

2. By Car

• Navigation Point: Search for "Dazu Stone Carvings Baoding Mountain Visitor Center."
• Toll Fees: ¥43, the whole journey takes about 1.2 hours.

3. By High-Speed Train

• Chongqing West Station—Dazu South Station:
  • Recommended Train: G5342 (departing at 10:10, arriving at 10:48).
  • Ticket Price: ¥32 (38 minutes).
• Dazu South Station—Baoding Mountain Visitor Center: Take a taxi directly (¥67, about 50 minutes).

Recommended Itinerary

For your itinerary, I suggest starting with Baoding Mountain, then heading to North Mountain for a better time arrangement, allowing you to fully appreciate the different charms of the carvings. Here’s the detailed plan👇:

Morning Tour: Baoding Mountain

• 📍Time: 9:30—12:30
  Start at the Dazu Stone Carvings Museum at the entrance, and check out the 4K immersive movie introduction (I skipped this, only to find out later that there was a documentary narration, lol).
  Key must-see carvings:
  • Thousand-Hand Guanyin: A dazzling golden statue, super impressive—perfect for upward shots on your phone!
  • Six Realms of Rebirth Diagram: Make sure to listen to the explanations; otherwise, you may just be a spectator without understanding much. It can get a bit crowded, though.
  • Reclining Buddha: This half-reclined figure has a truly striking visual impact; try using a wide-angle lens for a panorama.

Lunch Break: Local Specialty Food

• 📍Time: 12:30—14:30
  After exploring Baoding Mountain, you must be hungry, right? Walk back to Defu Street and pick any local restaurant; they are all pretty good. My recommendations:
  • Hot Pot Rabbit @ Zhiwei Xiang: A group meal with rabbit meat, average ¥70 per person. The pairing of rabbit hot pot with pickled radish is phenomenal.
  • Wolf Tooth Potatoes @ Dingjiapo: A simple snack stall, fried potatoes sprinkled with spicy sweet-and-sour sauce, average ¥10 per person—great value!

Afternoon Exploration: North Mountain Carvings

• 📍Time: 14:30—16:00
  Take a taxi from Dazu city to North Mountain; the fare is about ¥8, taking around 8 minutes—very convenient.

The atmosphere at North Mountain is quieter and less crowded compared to Baoding Mountain, making it a perfect spot for taking photos! The carving lines here are softer, and it’s highly recommended to capture shots in the gentle light of sunset.
Key carvings include:

• Sun and Moon Guanyin: The expression of this statue is very gentle; you need to get up close to see the details clearly.

Return Transportation Info

Finally, you can head back around 16:00—if you’re not in a rush, you can explore a bit more.

1. Long-Distance Bus

• North Mountain—Dazu Bus Station: Take a taxi (¥8, about 8 minutes).
• Dazu—Chongqing Main City: Bus fares ¥40~68, about 1.5 hours; the last bus is around 20:00.

2. High-Speed Train

• North Mountain Carvings—Dazu South Station: Take a taxi (¥65, about 55 minutes).
• Dazu South Station—Chongqing West Station: For example, G8745 (departing at 18:08, arriving at 18:35), takes around 27 minutes. The latest train, G8513, departs at 20:57.

Photo Spots You Must Visit

For photography enthusiasts, remember these must-visit spots:

• Thousand-Hand Guanyin: Shoot from the side with a low angle, avoiding the crowds.
• Huayan Three Saints: Stand in front and strike a few leg-lengthening poses—they’ll definitely make you look slim and tall.
• Turning Wheel Sutra Cave (North Mountain): Just stand in one doorway and frame the background; it’ll radiate an artistic vibe.

Expense Summary (Fully Transparent, No Pitfalls)

According to my one-day spending summary, the whole trip averages about ¥335~500—super worth it!
Here’s a rough budget breakdown:

• Bus / Train: ¥90 (bus+train) / ¥80 (high-speed train+taxi).
• Entry Fee: ¥135 (without movie)~¥180 (with movie).
• Meals: ¥80 (hot pot + snacks).

If you drive yourself, your costs will be similar to the high-speed train estimates. All in all, this kind of cost-effective weekend getaway is highly recommended!