Bashan Grand Canyon

Deep in the Daba Mountains where Sichuan, Chongqing and Shaanxi meet: canyon boardwalks, karst caves and a sea of clouds at Luopanding, with Tujia culture in Dukou and the Luojiaba Ba people's site telling tales of the ancient Ba Kingdom.

The Bashan Grand Canyon lies in the northeast of Xuanhan County, Dazhou, Sichuan, on the southern slopes of the Daba Mountains where Sichuan, Chongqing and Shaanxi meet. About 140 km long, it climbs from around 450 m to roughly 2,480 m at Luopanding, a landscape of karst caves, sheer cliffs and streams with over 80% forest cover. The scenic area is rated national 4A; in 2023 it passed the landscape-quality assessment for 5A (top-tier) status and is working toward full 5A rating. The main visitor areas are Taoxi Valley (Elephant Cave, canyon boardwalks, rafting) and Luopanding (cable car, sea of clouds, cliff-edge attractions and winter skiing). The gateway, Dukou Tujia Township, has guesthouses, food and the show *Dream of the Ba Kingdom*. Nearby you can also visit Wanyuan's Batai Mountain, the Luojiaba Site Museum in Puguang (China's first museum dedicated to Ba culture), and Yanglie Water Town and Echeng Mountain near the Xuanhan county town. The best seasons are Jun–Aug for escaping the heat and rafting, and Oct–Nov for red autumn leaves; skiing is possible in winter. Getting there: drive from Dazhou or Xuanhan town via the G65 Baotou–Maoming Expressway, exiting at Xinhua interchange, about 1–1.5 hours; once Fankuai Station on the Xi'an–Chongqing high-speed railway opens, you can transfer from the train. Allow 2–3 days: one for Taoxi Valley, one for Luopanding, and another half to full day for Batai Mountain or Luojiaba. Temperatures vary greatly in the mountains, so bring a jacket; in the rainy season, watch for rockfall and notices of rafting closures.

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