Shu'nan Bamboo Forest, Sichuan, China

5Darron Gedge's G 5:00 PM Feb 27, 2015

Magnificent but hard to get around
Caught a bus from Xinnanmen Station in Chengdu to Bamboo Sea in south of Sichuan, only to find that rather than going directly to the National Park gates, we got dropped off in the middle of nowhere in a town called Changning Zhuhai. The journey took 5 hours. An hour later an English speaking local helped us catch a public bus to the park. Entrance fees to the park were 112 rmb for adults. We stayed inside the park at the Pinnacle Hills hotel for 150rmb. They had a restaurant which served food based on bamboo. Quite tasty. This was not far from the first cable car, which was good as there is no public transport within the park. Made friends with a Chinese family who took us around for the day. Went on two cable cars, the second which went across a massive chasm. On the other side was an amazing pathway built into the red sandstone cliffs. Saw numerous ancient relics and statues. Then the path follows small lakes in the bamboo forest. On the second day we hired a driver for half a day (150 rmb) and went to "colourful waterfall" and the Longyin temple. Both were excellent. It is a good place to stay for two days. Don't neglect the pleasant walking track along the Moxi Brook. It was a mission getting back to Chengdu. From my experience of waiting in the bus station in Changning, it seems there is a lot more transport to Chongqing than to Chengdu.

4arutherford 5:00 PM Nov 4, 2012

Mystery in the Mist
We arrived at the Bomboo Sea on a rainy, misty day. The weather was terrible and the mist so heavy you looked at everything as if you had on a veil. Still it was magical, temples placed precariously on the cliffs, bamboo forests waving in the wind. I've never been in a place that has so many plants of the same species. It was a spiritual experience. A caution - wear sturdy shoes if you want to hike through the forest. The many steep, stone stairs and slippery boardwalks are quite dangerous in places.