Just returned from Dujiangyan—seriously don't go between July-September

🌊 Back from Dujiangyan｜Avoid July-Sept! My sweat-soaked experience screams "off-peak is the way" Fresh out of Dujiangyan scenic area, my phone gallery is full of blurry crowd shots, my sun-protective jacket scorching hot on my back, throat parched—July-September is truly not the time! This trip taught me: Dujiangyan's beauty lies not in crowded "check-in tourism" but in immersive tranquility with fewer visitors. ------ ❌ Visiting Dujiangyan July-Sept? Check your "heat tolerance" first! As a Chengdu local, I took my parents there this summer (thinking "mountain retreat") only to get a brutal reality check: ☀️ Heatwave hell, walking through a "sauna" Scarce shade! The 1km walk from Lidui Park to Fulong Temple took 20 minutes—pavements sizzled like teppanyaki grills, sweat soaking through sun-protective gear. My elderly parents needed constant breaks; even fanning them was useless: "This isn't escape heat—it's a free sauna!" Locals confirmed: "July-August averages 30°C+, even we hide indoors with AC!" 🚶 2-hour queues for 5-minute views Erwang Temple steps were packed! Handrails polished shiny by crowds; photographing ancient flood-control tablets required squeezing past three groups. Anlan Suspension Bridge became a "human conveyor belt"—swaying planks terrified kids crying "Mom I want out!" Peak season turns even "viewing water" into a struggle. 💸 Overpriced food, scarce drinks, ruined experience "Water Conservancy Restaurant" charged 28 yuan for basic noodles—served lukewarm after 30-minute queues. Convenience store lines for water snaked endlessly, cold drinks sold out. My parents groaned: "Should've packed our own supplies." 📸 Photo ops demand combat skills At Qin Yan Lou viewpoint, my shot of Minjiang River's "Fish Mouth" division was photobombed by selfie sticks. Feisha Weir's flood channel—meant to showcase misty grandeur—got reduced to fragments by crowds. July-Sept turns scenery into mere backdrops. ------ ✅ March-May or Oct-Nov! Dujiangyan's "magic hours" As a locally-battered survivor, I plead: visit during spring/autumn instead! 🌸 March-May: Blossoms + heritage, gentle breezes Late March-April: Zhangsong Ginkgo sprouts new leaves; "Couple's Bridge" framed by violet violas. May brings hydrangea-covered trellises. Sitting in Qingxi Garden's bamboo chairs, watching water flow past "Recumbent Iron," even stone carvings whisper stories. 🍂 Oct-Nov: Autumn palette, "Land of Abundance" as oil painting Late October: Maples and ginkgos turn gold; Yulei Pavilion's red walls contrast golden leaves like spilled paint. November reveals Minjiang's gray stone shoals at "Fish Mouth," sunlight dancing on water like scattered jewels—empty vistas become NatGeo-worthy frames. ------ 💡 If you MUST go July-Sept... 4 survival musts: 1️⃣ EARLY BIRD WINS! Arrive by 7am (tickets sold from 8am)—enjoy 2 crowd-free hours! 2️⃣ "Heat armor" required! Thick-soled shoes (against scorching pavement), wide-brim hat + cooling sleeves, portable fan (10 yuan onsite vs. 5 yuan online). 3️⃣ Pack provisions! Only one convenience store—bring sandwiches, snacks, and 2 chilled water bottles (20 yuan/bottle inside). 4️⃣ Use shuttle service! 15 yuan/person (worth it!) from Lidui Park to Qin Yan Lou—saves 20,000 steps! ------ While leaving, a cleaner sighed: "October's Dujiangyan has ginkgo leaves gold like honey—even foreigners come specifically for photos." Suddenly I understood—travel isn't about checklists, but feeling. Dujiangyan's soul lives in spring breezes, the Minjiang's murmur at Fish Mouth, wind chimes at Erwang Temple—not July-Sept's frantic crowds and peeling sunburns. Next time, I'll wait for autumn. Who wouldn't want to sit on Anlan Bridge, watching the Minjiang flow gently through ginkgo-carpeted steps, listening to ancient weir tales carried by the wind?