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Dujiangyan Irrigation System

都江堰
Dūjiāng Yàn
OutdoorsHalf day (4-5 hours)8 AM – 6 PM85/100 popularityLast verified 2026-05-17
A stunning aerial shot of a river bridging lush green farmlands in India.

2300-year-old still-functioning irrigation system — UNESCO World Heritage and the engineering miracle that made the Sichuan Basin habitable.

At a glance

What it is
Outdoors
Also known as
都江堰 (Dūjiāng Yàn)
Opening hours
8 AM – 6 PM
Time needed
Half day (4-5 hours)
Best time to visit
Spring or autumn for water + foliage; morning
Getting there
Taxi / DiDi from metro
English
English tours available
Cards accepted
Visa, Mastercard
Entry
Passport booking required · tickets & prices →
Wi-Fi
Free Wi-Fi
Address
Park Road, Dujiangyan City, Sichuan · 都江堰市公园路
See Dujiangyan Irrigation System tickets & tours

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Dujiangyan Irrigation System map & getting there

Map of Dujiangyan Irrigation System (都江堰) in Chengdu — nearby streets and metro stations

Taxi / DiDi? Show the driver: 都江堰市公园路 · Park Road, Dujiangyan City, Sichuan

Built 256 BCE by Qin governor Li Bing, Dujiangyan diverts the Min River without using a single dam — a ‘no-dam dam’ that has irrigated the entire Chengdu Plain (the breadbasket that made Sichuan habitable for 30M people) for 2300 continuous years. UNESCO inscribed 2000. The three components — Fish Mouth diversion levee, Flying Sand weir, Bottle Neck channel — are still the ones built by Li Bing’s workers. Entry 80 RMB. Allow half day. The 308m Anlan Cable Bridge (1803, swinging suspension bridge over the diversion) is the iconic photo. 50 km from Chengdu — 30 min by high-speed train (¥15) from Chengdu West to Dujiangyan station. Combine with Qingcheng Mountain (15 min taxi) for a full day.

Highlights

  • Fish Mouth (鱼嘴) DiversionWhere the Min River splits — the engineering miracle
  • Anlan Cable Bridge1803 swinging bridge; iconic photo, 308m
  • Erwang TempleTemple honoring Li Bing and his son; mountainside

What Chinese travelers actually do here

Distilled from Chinese-language travel notes — the practical tips most English guides miss.

  • Spring and autumn show the most water and the best foliage; in low-water months the Fish Mouth looks far less dramatic.
  • Walk the Anlan Cable Bridge early; by midday it gets crowded and the gentle swaying with many people on it unnerves some.
  • Climb to Erwang Temple for the overhead view of the whole diversion; most day-trippers skip it and miss the best angle.
  • Bring your passport; it is required to enter, and cards work here, but small cash helps for shuttle carts and snacks.
  • Use the internal shuttle cart between the entrance and far points to save your legs for Qingcheng later the same day.
  • Morning light favors the Fish Mouth and bridge photos; afternoon haze in the basin tends to flatten the river views.
  • Free wifi exists but is patchy in the park; download an offline map before you arrive so you can follow the river route.

Photos

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Peaceful river scene with lush forest and traditional water wheel for irrigation.
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Watch creators visit Dujiangyan Irrigation System

Each clip is timestamped to the moment the creator arrives at this stop.

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Frequently asked questions about Dujiangyan Irrigation System

How do I get to Dujiangyan from Chengdu, and how long does it take?
Take a high-speed train from Chengdu West station to Dujiangyan station; the ride is about 30 minutes and tickets are roughly 15 RMB. Bring your passport, as it is required to buy and board the train and to book the site entry. From Dujiangyan station, a short taxi or local bus reaches the irrigation park entrance.
Can I visit Dujiangyan and Mount Qingcheng on the same day?
Yes, this is the standard day-trip pairing. They sit about 15 minutes apart by taxi. Most visitors do the irrigation system in the morning, when light is best for the Fish Mouth and Anlan Cable Bridge, then move to the front of Mount Qingcheng. Allow a full day and start early to fit both comfortably.
What is actually worth seeing at a 2,300-year-old irrigation system?
The Fish Mouth diversion levee, where the Min River splits without any dam, is the engineering centerpiece and still works today. The 308-metre Anlan Cable Bridge swings over the channel for the iconic photo, and Erwang Temple on the hillside honors the builder Li Bing. Entry is 80 RMB and the site easily fills half a day.

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