Dazu District

Understand

Dazu District is part of the Chengdu-Chongqing economic zone approximately 55 km from Chongqing's central urban area and 155 km from Chengdu. Dazu was established in 758 CE during the Tang Dynasty, with its name symbolizing "abundance and prosperity." The district has a population of 1.07 million.

History During the reign of Emperor Daizong (758 CE), large-scale religious rock carvings began in the Dazu area. By the Southern Song period (1127–1279 CE), Dazu rock carvings reached their peak, especially concentrated in areas like Baoding Mountain and Beishan. These carvings feature Buddhist stories, Taoist deities, and Confucian rituals, reflecting a unique blend of the three religious traditions. In the Ming and Qing periods (1368–1912 CE), Dazu’s strategic location made it a significant military stronghold. The Ming Dynasty established defense institutions, and during the Qing Dynasty, commerce between Dazu and surrounding areas was enhanced, furthering the region’s economic and cultural development. After the establishment of the People’s Republic of China in 1949, Dazu gradually developed into an important agricultural area within Chongqing. In 1999, the Dazu Rock Carvings were designated UNESCO World Heritage Site, prompting extensive conservation and research. In 2011, Dazu was upgraded to a district within Chongqing Municipality, marking a historic shift and the beginning of a period of rapid development. Leveraging its cultural heritage, Dazu transformed into a modern district focused on tourism and cultural industries.

Climate

Dazu experiences a subtropical monsoon climate. Summers are typically hot and humid, lasting from June to September, with temperatures frequently exceeding 30°C and rarely dropping below 24°C at night. Like much of southern China, Dazu experiences heavy rainfall during the summer, often with sudden downpours that may disrupt daily activities temporarily. Winters in Dazu are relatively cold and dry, with temperatures generally ra

Getting there

By plane Travellers arriving at Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport in Yubei District have several options for getting to Dazu:

Bus: Seven buses to Dazu depart daily from the coach station located between Terminal 2A and Terminal 2B. Train: Chongqing Metro Line 3 connects the airport to Chongqing North Station, where you can catch a high speed train to Dazu South Station. Taxi：The distance from Jiangbei International Airport to Dazu City is approximately 100 km, and the journey usually takes around 1.5 hours by car. The estimated taxi fare ranges from ¥250 to ¥350, including highway tolls. After reaching Dazu City, you can take Bus No. 205 from the Dazu District Bus Terminal directly to the Baodingshan Rock Carvings Scenic Area. The bus fare is approximately ¥6, and the travel time is around 30 to 40 minutes.

By train 1 Dazu South Station (大足南站), Chongqing-Kunming Expressway, Youting Town (the train station is linked to Dazu Bus Station and Dazu Passenger Transport Center via public bus routes 204 and 206 respectively). This station is located on the Chengdu-Chongqing high-speed railway line, with eight daily trains departing from downtown Chongqing to this station. Five high-speed trains depart from Chongqing West Railway Station, taking approximately 26 to 33 minutes, with ticket prices set at ¥40 for second class, ¥64 for first class, and ¥131 for business class. One high-speed train departs from Chongqing North Railway Station, taking around 37 minutes, with ticket prices at ¥49 for second class, ¥77 for first class, and ¥87 for business class. Two high-speed trains depart from Chongqing Shapingba Railway Station, taking approximately 34 minutes, with ticket prices at ¥39 for second class, ¥62 for first class, and ¥125 for business class. For exact ticket prices, please refer to the China Railway 12306 app.There are eight high-speed trains departing from Chengdu to Dazu South Station every day, all departing from Chengdu East Station. The travel tim

Getting around

Transportation options within Dazu include taxis, buses, motorcycle taxis, pedal-taxis, shared bicycles, and three-wheeled vehicles called sanlunche (三轮车). The taxi fare in Dazu District is as follows: during the daytime (06:00 to 21:59), the starting fare is ¥5, and each additional 0.5 km after the initial 2 km is charged at ¥1.2. At night (22:00 to 05:59), the starting fare is ¥6, and each additional 0.5 kilometers is charged alternately at ¥1.4 and ¥1.3. Hiring a bicycle is a good way to get around this city. The use of Songuo e-bikes is straightforward（for more information for using Songuo e-bikes, visit the website -松果出行 ）. Users need to download the Songuo Mobility app or use the WeChat/Alipay mini-program, register, complete identity verification, and then scan to ride. No deposit is required. The fare is ¥2 for trips within 4 km, with an additional ¥0.5 per kilometer beyond that. An extra charge of ¥0.1 applies per minute if the ride exceeds 30 minutes. To complete the ride, users park the bike at a designated station and tap 'End Ride' in the app. As noted above, there are two bus stations in Dazu's urban area. The newer bus station at 15 Longzhong Road is the one that services the local area, including the rock carvings. Numerous travel agencies in Dazu District, central Chongqing and Chengdu offer tours to the carvings that will take the hassle out of travel, but at a cost.

See

Dazu Rock Carvings The Dazu Rock Carvings comprise 5 locations in Dazu District: Beishan, Baodingshan, Nanshan, Shizhuanshan, and Shimenshan. The ticket prices for the Dazu Rock Carvings are categorized into single tickets and combination tickets, prices vary by season, and there are discounts for students and seniors. The table shows available combinations and the prices for single items.

The transportation option gives a round trip through the Baodingshan Rock Carvings Scenic Area. Peak season prices are in effect from March 1 to November 30 each year, off-season prices from December 1 to February 28/29 of the following year.

Baodingshan Site

1 Dazu Rock Carvings Visitor Center (大足石刻游客中心) (take bus No. 205 from the public bus stop located outside either of the main bus stations in Dazu. The ticket price is ¥3, and the travel time ranges from 30 to 45 minutes, depending on the number of stops for passenger pick-up and drop-off along the route), ☏ +86 023-43785531, [email protected]. 08:30-16:30, no tickets sold after 16:10. All visitors to the rock carvings at Baodingshan are required to come to the visitor centre first. After purchasing your tickets (or printing hard copies if you bought tickets online), you may then board a shuttle bus to Baodingshan. The visitor center includes a souvenir store and a cinema. (updated Oct 2024) 2 Dazu Rock Carvings Digital Cinema (大足石刻数字影院), X406, Dazu District (inside the Dazu Rock Carvings Visitor Center), ☏ +86 23 43766699. 09:30-15:10. The cinema includes a tourism service area, digital cinemas, and a cultural exhibition a