Pujiang (蒲江, Pújiāng) is a county in Sichuan, about 80 km southwest of Chengdu. It is known for its tea culture, ancient towns, scenic lakes, and Taoist temples. Pujiang makes a pleasant short trip from Chengdu for travelers interested in quieter, less commercialized destinations.
Understand
[edit]Pujiang County covers an area of around 600 km², and a population of 460,000 in 2020. It lies in a fertile basin with a mild climate, ideal for growing tea. The county seat, Pujiang Town, is the main transport hub and base for exploring the surrounding sights.
Xilai Ancient Town, which is also in Pujiang County, is covered in a separate article.
Get in
[edit]- By bus – Long-distance buses connect Chengdu (Xinnanmen Bus Station, Shiyangchang Bus Station) with Pujiang in 1.5–2 hours.
- By train – The Chengdu–Ya’an high-speed railway has a stop at Pujiang Station. From there, local taxis and buses reach the town center. As of October 2025, Pujiang Station is closed for the purpose of completing a major upgrade. It will reopen in May 2026. In the meantime, you will have to get off at Chaoyang Lake Station and take a bus from there.
- By car – About 1.5 hours via the Chengdu–Ya’an Expressway (成雅高速).
Get around
[edit]The county town is small and can be explored on foot or by local taxi. To reach scenic areas, use local buses or hire a car.
See
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- 1 Stone Elephant Lake Ecological Resort (石象湖生态风景区), 86km Exit, Chengdu-Ya'an Expressway (成雅高速公路86公里出口处) (Arrange a car to take you there or catch a bus no. 1 from outside Pujiang Bus Terminal), ☏ +86 28 88591888, [email protected]. March–April: 08:30-18:00, May–October: 08:30-17:30, November–February: 09:00-17:00. A fantastic park with acres upon acres of live tulips and tiger lily flowers as well as nature walks and boat rides, and stone carved animals. The best time to go is during the Tulip Festival in early Spring and when the Tiger Lillies bloom in late summer, however, various flowers are usually in bloom from March through August and the nature walks are open year round. Bring your camera. Also bring a picnic lunch or eat in one of the several Chinese restaurants and noodle shops there. The park is about an hour and 15 minutes drive of pure highway driving south of Chengdu. ¥100.
- 2 Xilai Ancient Town (西来古镇, Xīlái Gǔzhèn) (from Pujiang, take a local minibus or taxi (~15 minutes)). A historic riverside town that can be visited on a daytrip from Chengdu. It is known for its well-preserved Ming and Qing dynasty architecture, old stone streets, ancient banyan trees, and local tea culture.
