CityOutline guide

Wenchuan

County in Sichuan, China

Photo: Raqueli, Public domain via Wikimedia Commons

Overview

Wenchuan (汶川) is a small county in Sichuan’s Aba Tibetan-Qiang Autonomous Prefecture, which straddles the confluence of the Min and Zagunao Rivers. Wenchuan county is one of only 4 counties that are the main location of China’s Qiang (羌) ethnic group – the others being Lixian, Maoxian and Beichuan.

Getting there and around

Getting there

Wenchuan is easily accessible by bus from Chengdu. Buses coming down from Jiuzhaigou/Songpan and from Hongyuan/Ma’erkang to Chengdu also stop in Wenchuan.

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Getting around

Unless you have your own vehicle, you will need to hire taxis or minivans for local travel, although there are local walks directly out from Wenchuan.

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Airports and nearby hotels

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Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport

Chengdu (Shuangliu) · International · CTU

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Read before you go to Wenchuan

Articles and travel topics about Wenchuan and China.

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Full travel guide

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UnderstandBeing on the main route from Chengdu to Jiuzhaigou National Park, Wenchuan used to be a ‘passing through’ place where tourist groups stop off for meals or visit the traditional Qiang village of Taoping (桃坪) in…

Get inWenchuan is easily accessible by bus from Chengdu. Buses coming down from Jiuzhaigou/Songpan and from Hongyuan/Ma’erkang to Chengdu also stop in Wenchuan.

Get aroundUnless you have your own vehicle, you will need to hire taxis or minivans for local travel, although there are local walks directly out from Wenchuan.

SeeThe Qiang villages and natural scenery are the biggest draws of the area. Although the earthquake did much damage it is now possible to visit the area and tourism is slowly picking up.

DoWenchuan is becoming a more tourist-orientated town. There are plenty of restaurants and shops, a couple of vegetable markets, and a pleasant small-town atmosphere.

BuyThe China Construction Bank, approximately across the street from the museum/library, has ATMs that accept foreign credit and debit cards.

EatThe Qiang are famous for collecting wild vegetables and also for their cured ham (腊肉) so it’s well worth having a Qiang meal – very healthy and full of flavor.

DrinkThe Qiang have a traditional mild alcohol called ‘za jiu’ (咂酒) or ‘sucking wine’. At festivals this is drunk through communal long bamboo straws from a single, large jar.

SleepThere are at least five hotels in Wenchuan.

Sources and licences

Guide text adapted from the Wikivoyage article "Wenchuan" by its contributors, available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read on Wikivoyage · Contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0
Summary from the Wikipedia article "Wenchuan County", available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Wikipedia
Photo: Raqueli, Public domain via Wikimedia Commons

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