TheDazu District (大足区) is in the western part ofChongqing Municipality. It is home to the famous Dazu Rock Carvings (大足石刻), which are aUNESCO World Heritage Site.
Dazu District is part of the Chengdu-Chongqing economic zone approximately 55 km fromChongqing's central urban area and 155 km fromChengdu.
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.
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 designatedUNESCO 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.
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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 ranging from 5°C to 15°C. In rural areas, temperatures can drop even further, sometimes approaching 0°C. Compared to coastal cities in southern China, such as Hong Kong, Dazu’s winters are noticeably colder, and locals tend to dress warmly, especially due to significant temperature differences between day and night.
Spring in Dazu lasts from March to May, while autumn spans from September to November. Spring is mild, with temperatures averaging between 15°C and 25°C, though rainfall increases, resulting in higher humidity. Autumn is considered one of the most comfortable seasons, with average temperatures around 20°C to 26°C, making it ideal for outdoor activities.
Most buildings in Dazu lack heating systems, so residents rely on heavier clothing to keep warm during colder days. In summer, air conditioning is commonly used, and public spaces like shopping malls and restaurants maintain a consistent temperature, providing a comfortable environment for both locals and visitors.
Travellers arriving at Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport in Yubei District have several options for getting to Dazu:
Dazu is 1½-2 hours west of central Chongqing and about three to three and a half hours south-east ofChengdu and can be reached via the bus station in either city. The fare is ¥43 from the Caiyuanba (菜园坝) bus station in Chongqing and ¥89 from the East Railway Station Bus Station (东站汽车站) in Chengdu.
In Dazu‘s main urban area, there are two bus stations with buses to many of the sites:
Bus route 205 links the old station to the new station.
Transportation options within Dazu include taxis, buses, motorcycle taxis, pedal-taxis, shared bicycles, and three-wheeled vehicles calledsanlunche (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 theWeChat/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.
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.
Combination | Includes | Peak season | Off season | |||||
Baodingshan carvings | Beishan carvings | Digital movie | Transportation | Full price | Discount | Full price | Discount | |
A | ![]() | - | ![]() | ![]() | 170 | 120 | 165 | 115 |
B | ![]() | - | - | ![]() | 130 | 75 | 115 | 70 |
C | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | 190 | 130 | 180 | 125 |
D | ![]() | ![]() | - | ![]() | 150 | 85 | 130 | 75 |
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.
Dazu is an average semi-urban district of around a million people and at first sight, it may appear that there isn't much to see or do within the area besides going there to view the famous rock carvings. But in fact, that isn't quite true.
One interesting option would be to bike around the verdant farm lands. No rentals are available so bring your own bike. The route to the most impressive carvings located at Baodingshan (宝顶山) is rather scenic and could offer a potential biking destination. It does however require biking up several long steep stretches and Chinese drivers are notoriously dangerous. Wear bright colors and leave early if you choose this option!
There are plenty of opportunities to buy trinkets within urban Dazu and at many of the cave sites. One local specialty to look for is purple stone jadite, which is carved into a variety of trinkets, from pendants for ¥10 to large statues running into the thousands of yuan.
There are numerous restaurants located within the area. The buffet breakfasts at Dazu Bingguan are a good deal at ¥15. Dazu is located in China's spice bowl and famous spicy hotpot is widely available for those who wish to test their intestinal fortitude.
A minimarket is located next to the Longzhong Road bus station and every block has a couple of stores selling food.
Cold beer is plentiful in restaurants throughout Dazu and water and soft drinks are readily available at the rock carving sites. Anything near the site will be price inflated as expected.
Numerous hotels are located in Dazu's urban area and around Baodingshan, though not all will accept foreigners.
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