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Hechuan is a district in Chongqing Municipality about 70 km northwest of downtown Chongqing. The main visitor attractions in Hechuan are the Diaoyu Fortress and the old town of Laitan.
Understand
[edit | edit source]Hechuan’s main urban area is at the confluence of the Fu and Jialing rivers. Hechuan is a district in the northern part of Chongqing, where the Jialing, Fu and Qu rivers meet. The meeting of the three rivers has played an important role in the city’s development and has also shaped its riverside landscape. Hechuan is well known for its history, especially the Battle of Diaoyu Fortress during the Southern Song dynasty. Today, visitors can experience both its historical sites and its traditional riverside culture.
Get in
[edit | edit source]By bus
[edit | edit source]- 1 Hechuan Bus Terminal (合川汽车客运中心), 2 Beihuan Road (北环路2号) (multiple public buses stop outside the station, including bus nos. 118, 128, 528, 632, 808A, 808B, 813, 815, 825, 919, 959A and 959B), ☏ +86 23 42831998, +86 23 42846800. Hechuan’s main long-distance bus station. Buses arrive here from multiple bus stations in central Chongqing, including Chenjiaping Bus Station, Chongqing West Bus Station, Hongqihegou Bus Station and several other bus stations. The bus from Chongqing Jiangbei Airport also terminates here.
- 2 Hechuan Railway Station (Railway station), Gaoyang Avenue, Hechuan District, Chongqing, China (Trains from Chongqing North and Chongqing West Railway Stations), ☏ +86 23 42846800, toll-free: +86 23 42846800, kyfw@12306.cn. Hechuan Railway Station is the main railway station serving the city. There are frequent trains from Chongqing to Hechuan, and the journey takes about 25–40 minutes. Trains are a convenient option for visitors coming from Chongqing.
Get around
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By bus
Public buses cover the main urban areas and many tourist attractions in Hechuan. They are an inexpensive way to travel around the city.
By taxi or ride-hailing
Taxis and ride-hailing services are convenient for travelling between the railway station, city centre and tourist attractions.
By bicycle
Bicycles can be rented for exploring the riverside areas. Cycling along the rivers is a good way to enjoy Hechuan’s scenery.
See
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- 1 Diaoyu Fortress (钓鱼城, Diaoyucheng), Diaoyucheng Avenue (钓鱼城大道) (get a taxi or catch bus no 929A), ☏ +86 23 42822763. 08:30-17:00. One of the best preserved of the more than 80 mountain fortresses built during the Song Dynasty to resist the Mongol invaders. The fortress successfully repelled over 200 Mongol attacks before it was overrun in 1279. Mongol leader Möngke Khan was killed here in 1259 during the Siege of Diaoyucheng. ¥60.
- 2 Diaoyu Fortress History and Culture Museum (钓鱼城历史文化博物馆), 8/278 Yiwu Avenue (义乌大道278号附8号) (bus nos. 126, 632, 808A and 808B). Normal opening hours are Wed-Sun 09:00-17:00; however, since the museum is run by a local college, it often closes during major holiday periods. Museum devoted to the history of the Diaoyu Fortress. Free.
- 3 Hechuan Art Museum (合川美术馆), Dongjintuo Riverside Park, 619 Jiabin South Road (嘉滨南路619号东津沱滨江公园内) (on the west side of the park; take bus no. 225 or 815), ☏ +86 23 42715366. 09:00-17:00, closed on Mondays. Free.
- 4 Wenfeng Ancient Street (文峰古街) (between the Fu River No. 1 Bridge and the Jialing River Nanping Bridge; take bus no. 225 or 815). Tourist area consisting largely of imitation or rebuilt historical buildings plus a tiny number of genuine historical sites such as the Wenfeng Pagoda.
- 5 Chongqing Hot Pot Museum (重庆火锅博物馆), Yongning Street, Nanjin Street Subdistrict 南津街街道永宁街 (next door to the Chongqing Gongzhou Jinke Hotel), ☏ +86 23 42613613. 09:00-11:30, 14:00-17:30. Not to be confused with similarly named museums in central Chongqing. The museum is inside a 1930s warehouse that was originally used to store salt. Free.
- 6 Wenfeng Pagoda (文峰塔), Wenfeng Ancient Street (文峰古街), ☏ +86 18996212278. 09:00-12:00, 13:00-17:00. A 13-storey pagoda dating from the early 19th century. Climbing the pagoda costs ¥10.
- 7 Laitan Ancient Town (涞滩古镇), 47 Huilong Street (回龙街47号) (about 30 km northeast of the main urban area; buses to Laitan depart from the Hechuan Bus Terminal), ☏ +86 23 42561888. A walled town with a number of historical sites. The most notable site is the Erfo Temple (or Temple of the Second Buddha), which was founded during the Tang Dynasty and rebuilt during the Qing Dynasty. Entry to the old town is free but there is a fee of about ¥20 to enter the Erfo Temple.
Do
[edit | edit source]Cruise boats depart from a pier in the middle of Dongjintuo Riverside Park. The fare is ¥58 for a daytime sightseeing cruise and ¥68 for a nighttime cruise (as of Jan 2026). A round trip to the old fishing town of Caojie (草街) costs ¥98. Discounts are available for children and seniors. Tickets may be purchased on the WeChat account of the Hechuan Sanjiang Cruise Boat Company (合川三江游船公司).
Buy
[edit | edit source]- 1 Hechuan Specialty Store, 92 Heshi Road, Hechuan District,Chongqing,China (In the urban area of Hechuan District), ☏ +86 139 9613 6498. A local specialty shop selling traditional Hechuan products and food souvenirs. It is a convenient place to look for local specialties such as Hechuan Taopian and other packaged foods to take home.
- 2 Hechuan Taopian General Factory Store, 20-3 Sujia Street,Hechuan,Chongqing,China.
- 3 ChongQing Xinhua Bookstore Hechuan Branch, 2 Jiaotong Street,Hechuan District,Chongqing (In the central urban area of Hechuan District), ☏ +86 23 42824440. A local Xinhua Bookstore selling books, stationery, educational materials and cultural products. It is a useful place for visitors looking for Chinese books, local culture-related publications and small cultural souvenir.
Eat
[edit | edit source]- Hechuan Taopian (Local specialty), Hwchuan District,Chongqing,China (Available at local specialty shops and food streets in Hechuan). Hechuan Taopian is a tradition local sweet made from glutinous rice,walnuts,sugar and candied rose.It is thin,soft and sweet,and is one of Hechuan's best-known local specialties.It is also a popular souvenir 人民币20-50.
- Hechuan Roupian (Local traditional dish), Hechuan District,Chongqing,China (Available at local restaurants in Hechuan). Hechuan Roupian is a traditional dish from Hechuan. It is made mainly with pork and vegetables, and is fried until golden and crispy on the outside while remaining tender inside. It is one of Hechuan’s best-known local dishes. 人民币30-60.
- Hechuan Yangroufen (Rice noodles with mutton), Hechuan District,Chongqing,China (Available at local noodle shops and restaurants in Hechuan). Hechuan Yangroufen is a local rice noodle dish served with mutton and a savory broth. It is commonly eaten as a breakfast or casual meal and is one of Hechuan’s traditional local foods 人民币15-30.
- Sanhui Pidan Douhua (Tofu with preserved egg), Sanhui,Hechuan District,Chongqing,China (Available at local restaurants in Sanhui). Sanhui Pidan Douhua is a traditional local dish combining soft tofu with preserved egg and a savory sauce. It is a popular local specialty associated with Sanhui in Hechuan. 人民币15-30.
- Laitan Yinmi Wuji Zhou (Laitan chicken and rice porridge), Laitan Ancient Town,Hechuan,Chongqing,China (Available at restaurants in Laitan Ancient Town). Laitan Yinmi Wuji Zhou is a traditional chicken and rice porridge associated with Laitan Ancient Town. It is made with black-bone chicken and local yinmi rice and is a traditional specialty of the area. 人民币20-40.
Drink
[edit | edit source]Sleep
[edit | edit source]- 1 Chongqing Gongzhou Jinke Hotel (重庆恭州金科酒店), 38 Wenfeng Ancient Street (文峰古街38号) (next door to the Chongqing Hot Pot Museum), ☏ +86 23 85135888. Check-in: 14:00, check-out: 12:00. A four-star hotel. Room rates start from about ¥250 per night.