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How to Visit Dazu Rock Carvings from Chongqing: A Foreigner’s Step-by-Step Travel Itinerary

You land in Chongqing. You open Google Maps. You type “Dazu Rock Carvings”. And then… you see it: 2 hours away. No direct metro. No English signs on the bus. One review says: “Worth it — but only if you speak Chinese.”


That’s what stopped my friend James from Toronto last year.


He took a 3-hour bus ride, got off at the wrong stop, walked 1.2 km uphill in rain with no umbrella, and arrived just as the main cave closed at 5 PM. He saw two carvings — and missed the UNESCO-listed Beishan and Baodingshan entirely.


So — can a foreign traveler really visit Dazu Rock Carvings without stress, without language skills, and without wasting half a day?


Yes — if you follow this exact route.


As founder of DolphinUnion, I’ve helped over 1,000 travelers explore China’s top heritage sites — including Dazu. We’ve mapped every turn, tested every ticket machine, and even filmed how to ask for help in broken Chinese (with subtitles). This isn’t theory. It’s proven.

Here’s how to do it right.

Golden Buddha statue with many hands, a serene expression, surrounded by intricate carvings and figures in a richly detailed setting.
Baodingshan Grottoes

Step 1: Take the High-Speed Train — Not the Bus (chongqing travel itinerary)

Forget the 2.5-hour bus ride via Longshui.

The fastest, safest, most foreigner-friendly way is the Chongqing North Station → Dazu South Station high-speed train (G-train).

✅ Takes 30 minutes

✅ Runs every 30–45 minutes (6:30 AM – 9:00 PM)

✅ Costs ¥32 (~$4.50) one-way

✅ Has English announcements and digital departure boards

✅ No need to read Chinese characters — just match the station name: Dazu South (Dàzú Nán)


Pro tip: Buy tickets before you go. Use the 12306 app (we include a pre-configured English version in our DolphinUnion Travel Toolkit) or buy at the counter — just show your passport and say: “Dazu South, please.” Staff will point and smile. They’re used to it.

James tried buying on the bus — and paid ¥68 for a seat he didn’t need.

Don’t be James.


Step 2: From Dazu South Station → Beishan Grottoes (The First Must-See)

Exit Dazu South Station. Turn left. Look for the official taxi stand — not the drivers shouting “Dazu! Dazu!” near the gate.

Take a blue-and-white official taxi (license plate starts with 渝A). Tell the driver: “Beishan Grottoes, please.” Or show him this photo:

📸 (Imagine: A simple screenshot of “Beishan Grottoes” in Amap, circled in red)→ Our DolphinUnion guide includes this exact Amap screenshot — pre-downloaded, offline-ready.

The ride takes 12 minutes, costs ¥22–¥26 (metered), and drops you at the main entrance of Beishan Grottoes (Běishān Shíkè).


⚠️ Important:

  • Beishan opens at 8:30 AM, closes at 5:30 PM

  • Entry fee: ¥70 per person (cash or Alipay/WeChat Pay accepted)

  • English audio guide available for ¥20 (rental booth inside) — highly recommended

  • Real talk: Only 20% of signs have English text, but the audio guide explains every carving — including the famous “Thousand-Armed Guanyin”

Last year, a couple from Germany used our DolphinUnion audio script (PDF + voice recording) and spent 90 minutes exploring alone — no guide, no confusion.

That’s the power of preparation. (chongqing travel itinerary)

Ancient stone statues of seated figures beneath a tall pagoda, surrounded by trees. Incense burns in the foreground creating a serene atmosphere.
Beishan Grottoes

Step 3: The Two Must-See Caves — What to Prioritize in 4 Hours

You only have ~4 hours before the last train back to Chongqing (8:45 PM). So here’s your smart order:


✅ First: Beishan Grottoes (Běishān Shíkè) — 1.5 hours

Why? It’s the oldest section (built 892 AD), has the clearest carvings, and is fully wheelchair-accessible. Start at Cave 136 (“Water-Moon Guanyin”) — it’s stunning, well-lit, and has full English audio description.

Skip Cave 125 (“Drunken Monk”) — low light, hard to photograph, no English.

Stone statue of a deity seated on a stylized animal in a cave lined with rows of small carved figures. The walls are reddish-brown.
Beishan Grottoes

✅ Second: Baodingshan Grottoes (Bǎodǐngshān Shíkè) — 2 hours

Take a taxi from Beishan (¥18, 8 mins) or use the free shuttle bus (runs every 20 mins, 9:00 AM–4:30 PM).

Baodingshan is the UNESCO heart of Dazu — dramatic cliffs, giant statues, and storytelling reliefs that look like ancient comic books.

Must-see:

  • The Reclining Buddha (Nirvana Sutra Cave) — 31 meters long, carved into the mountain

  • The Hell Scene (Diyu Tu) — vivid, slightly scary, but explained perfectly in English audio

  • The Six Patriarchs of Chan Buddhism — peaceful, meditative, perfect for photos

💡 Pro tip: Go to the top observation deck first, then walk down — less climbing, better views.

Don’t try to see all 10,000+ carvings. Focus on these 12 — we list them in our DolphinUnion Dazu Quick-View Map.

Ancient stone carvings of Buddhist figures and pagodas in a forested area. The scene has intricate details and a serene atmosphere.
Baodingshan Grottoes

Step 4: Eat Like a Local — Not at the Tourist Plaza

The food court at the Dazu South entrance sells ¥55 “heritage lunch boxes” — bland, overpriced, and full of fake “ancient recipes.”

Instead: Walk 300 meters south along Zhonghua Road (Zhōnghuá Lù) to Lao Cheng Ji (Lǎo Chéng Jī) — a family-run restaurant serving authentic Dazu noodles.

Try:

  • Dazu Sour Fish Noodles (Dàzú Suān Yú Miàn) — tangy, spicy, rich broth

  • Steamed Tofu with Pickled Mustard (Suān Cài Dòufu) — ¥28 total for two

  • Bonus: Owner speaks basic English and lets you watch noodles being hand-pulled

James ate at the plaza. His wife ate here. She said it was “the best meal of her entire China trip.”


Step 5: Return to Chongqing — Don’t Miss the Last Train

The last high-speed train from Dazu South to Chongqing North departs at 8:45 PM.

✅ Arrive at the station by 8:15 PM

✅ Find Track 3 or 4 (digital board shows “Chongqing North” in English)

✅ Scan your QR code or show your ID — no paper ticket needed

✅ Sit back. Watch rice fields and hills roll past. You did it.

Total time spent:

30 min train → 12 min taxi → 1.5h Beishan → 8 min taxi → 2h Baodingshan → 30 min lunch → 58 min return train = ~6 hours

Total cost (train + taxi + entry + food): ~¥240 / $34

Real experience: Yes.

Stress-free: Yes.

Worth it? Absolutely.


Need Help Planning Your Dazu Trip?

Dazu is not a “set-and-forget” destination. Small details make or break the day:

  • Which train to pick when there are 12 departures/hour

  • Where to find the English audio guide rental (hint: it’s not at the front desk)

  • How to politely ask for directions without pointing or shouting


That’s why DolphinUnion offers Dazu-specific support — not generic guides.

We provide:

✅ Pre-loaded Amap routes (offline, English labels, voice navigation)

✅ Video tutorial: “How to Buy & Scan Your Dazu Train Ticket” (with timestamps)

✅ WhatsApp chat support during your visit — reply in <5 mins

✅ Optional private car transfer (Chongqing ↔ Dazu, ¥480 round-trip, includes English-speaking driver)

👉 Get your Dazu Day-Trip Support Package now

Or contact us directly:

We don’t sell tours. We sell confidence.


Love Heritage? Try Our Full 144-Hour Chongqing World Heritage Route

If you loved Dazu, you’ll love our 144-Hour Chongqing World Heritage Itinerary — covering:

  • Dazu Rock Carvings (Beishan + Baodingshan)

  • Wulong Karst (Three Natural Bridges + Furong Cave)

  • White Emperor City (Baidicheng) — where poets wrote immortal verses

  • Plus: UNESCO-certified tea ceremonies, Tang Dynasty calligraphy workshops, and local historian meetups

Chongqing An 144-Hour Adventure Through World Heritage Sites
$9.99
Buy Now

All routes include:

✅ Real-time train/bus alerts

✅ English-speaking local guides (optional)

✅ Printable PDF maps + offline Amap files

✅ Cultural cheat sheets: “What to bow, when to accept tea, how to leave offerings”

👉 Download the Free Preview + China Travel Toolkit

 
 
 

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