A Family Outing Near Chengdu! 2 Days in Maoxian + Songpinggou for Ultimate Relaxation

Last week, I took the kids to check out Maoxian and Songpinggou—fewer crowds, beautiful scenery, and not tiring at all. Here’s the detailed guide! 1. Transportation 🚗: Departed Chengdu by high-speed train at 11:16 AM, arrived in Maoxian at 12:19 PM. The bus station is right outside the train station. Took a bus for 10 RMB per person to the county government, then a taxi for 6 RMB to the hotel—super convenient! 2. Accommodation 🏨: Chose "Qiancheng Qiansu Red Rose Hotel" [Photo 3]! Moderately priced, with views of green mountains and watchtowers right outside the window. The kids were so happy waking up to the scenery, plus breakfast included—very hassle-free. 3. Attractions 🌇: After dropping off luggage, headed straight to the China Qiang Ethnic Museum [Photo 4]. It was quiet and perfect for kids to learn about Qiang culture. Originally planned to visit the Ancient Qiang City, but it was too far and hot, so we switched to Pingtou Qiang Village [Photo 5]. The village, restored from an original settlement, had a great vibe. The Nuo Opera square was impressive, and the roadside roses were beautiful—perfect for taking photos of the kids [Photo 6]! 4. Dinner 🍱: Ate at "Pinwei Nongjia Copper Pot" [Photo 7]! The restaurant was very busy, the meat portions were generous, and the kids loved it. After dinner, we took a relaxing walk along the river back to the hotel—felt great for digestion 🏃‍♀️. 5. Day 2 Itinerary ✨: Got up early to catch the 9:00 AM opening ceremony at Ancient Qiang City [Photo 8]. It lasted about 10 minutes with just pigeons and a simple performance—somewhat disappointing. Then took a pre-booked shared taxi to Songpinggou for 70 RMB per person round trip, about 1.5 hours to the scenic area. 6. Songpinggou Activities 🌊: Entrance ticket was 70 RMB per person. We chose a one-way sightseeing bus for 50 RMB per person (rode up and walked down, strolling slowly with the kids). - Changhai Lake [Photos 9-11]: Blue sky, white clouds, green mountains, and clear water—every photo looked great. The kids had a blast chasing the wind here! - Five-Color Pool [Photo 12]: The water was so clear you could see the moss underwater, like stepping into a fairy tale. The kids squatted there watching for a long time. - Love Sea [Photos 13-14]: The lake surface looked like a piece of blue sky had fallen in. Sunlight made the water sparkle like diamonds. The kids called it the "Star Sea." - Pearl Waterfall [Photo 16]: The view from behind the pavilion was stunning! The lake and mountains made every shot a masterpiece. - Baishi Lake [Photo 17]: Walking along the plank road surrounded by pine trees, with a gentle breeze swaying the branches, was incredibly soothing for the kids. We spent about 3 hours exploring. At 3:00 PM, took the bus back to the county town and visited the farmers' market to buy cherries priced 8-12 RMB per jin [Photo 18]. You can bargain, and the kids were so happy holding a full bag of cherries. 7. Return Trip 🚅: Took a 10 RMB shared taxi from the market entrance to the train station. The 6:46 PM high-speed train back to Chengdu ended the trip perfectly!