Pengshui
A Miao county on the Wujiang River Gallery, where rafting through the emerald waters of the Ayi River canyon pairs with the sea of clouds on Mount Mowei and the Miao-style architecture of Chiyou Jiuli City.
Pengshui Miao and Tujia Autonomous County lies in the Wuling Mountains of southeastern Chongqing, with the Wujiang River flowing south to north through the county town. It has the largest Miao population of any county in Chongqing, and Miao culture runs deep. The main sights cluster around the county town: to the south, the Ayi River is a national 5A-rated scenic area (China's top tier), its emerald canyon perfect for summer rafting and walks along cliffside boardwalks; on the left bank of the Wujiang, Chiyou Jiuli City is a vast complex of Miao-style buildings, especially striking at night; to the west, Mount Mowei rises to about 1,500 m, offering cool summers with seas of clouds and rime ice and snow in winter; and boats leave from the county town's pier to cruise the Pengshui section of the Wujiang River Gallery. Farther afield, the Luojiatuo Miao village in Anzi offers Miao songs, long-table banquets and homestays in stilted houses, while Yushan Ancient Town is known for its thousand-year-old salt springs and its "Three Delicacies of Yushan." The best time to visit is Jun–Sep for cool weather and rafting; spring and autumn are mild, and winter brings snow on Mount Mowei. Since the Chongqing–Xiangxi high-speed railway opened, central Chongqing is about 1 hour from Pengshui, and the Chongqing–Hunan Expressway also passes through the county. Tourist shuttles or taxis run from the county town to the Ayi River and Jiuli City, but driving is recommended for the Miao villages and Yushan. Allow 2–3 days: one for the Ayi River, one for Jiuli City and the Wujiang River Gallery, and one for Mount Mowei or a Miao village. Pengshui can be combined with Wulong and Gongtan Ancient Town in Youyang for a trip along the Wujiang.
Top sights
- Ayi River – An emerald-coloured gorge on a tributary of the Wu River, with cliffs rising on both sides and clear green streams, famed for gorge rafting…
- Chiyou Jiuli City – A Miao cultural complex on the left bank of the Wu River, where the Jiuli Palace, Nine Gates and stilt houses are impressive and the night…
- Mowei Mountain – A forested mountain with an average elevation of about 1,500 m, cool in summer and known for sea of clouds, sunrises and winter snow scenes.
- Wujiang Gallery (Pengshui) – The gorge section of the Wu River flowing through Pengshui, where sightseeing boats glide between cliffs past mountains and Miao villages.
- Luojiatuo Miao Village (Anzi) – A well-preserved high-altitude Miao village with timber stilt houses built along the mountainside, where you can hear Miao songs and enjoy…
- Yushan Ancient Town – A thousand-year-old town that grew up around its salt springs, famous for its salt industry remains, old streets, and local snacks such as…
Itineraries
- Southeast Chongqing, Wujiang River & Tujia Ancient Towns – A self-drive route connecting Wulong, Pengsu, Gongtan, Youyang, and Qianjiang to experience karst landscapes, the Wujia…