Back from Bazhong, I really don't recommend going in August to September. I just want to be honest.

📅 Three-day, two-night itinerary overview Day 1: City → Guangwu Mountain (Shibayue Pond) → Stay at Guangwu Mountain guesthouse Day 2: Guangwu Mountain → Nuoshui River (caves + rafting) → Stay at Nuoshui River farmhouse Day 3: Nuoshui River → Kongshan Tianpen (meadow + sunset) → Return trip ✨ Must-visit spots & activities (exclusive fun for August-September) 1️⃣ Guangwu Mountain · Shibayue Pond (ticket 120 RMB, half price for students) The water in August is the most magical! Walk along the plank road, the waterfall clusters form a crystal curtain, and you can even see little rainbows when the sunlight hits it~ The highlight is the "water forest" section, where the creek water covers your ankles and the stones are slippery, so remember to wear non-slip shoes! ⚠️ Small tips: Arrive before 8 AM to avoid crowded tour groups; bring a bottle of iced sour plum juice, sitting by the pond to drink it after walking is super refreshing~ 2️⃣ Nuoshui River · Cave clusters (ticket 100 RMB, includes 2-3 caves) Praised by "Chinese National Geography" as the "World Cave Expo Park"! Recommended caves are "Lion Cave" and "Building Cave" — Lion Cave has variously shaped stalactites that look like lions or lotuses; Building Cave looks like an underground palace, and the lighting makes it stunningly beautiful! 💦 Hidden activity: After the caves, you can go rafting on the Nuoshui River (open in August, 150 RMB/person). The current is gentle but very cool, and the splashing water instantly cools your face~ 3️⃣ Kongshan Tianpen (ticket 80 RMB, sightseeing bus 30 RMB) Known as the "Shangri-La on the Sichuan-Shaanxi border"! The meadows in August-September are as green as matcha cake, with wildflowers everywhere (cosmos, Persian chrysanthemums), perfect for taking photos with a Japanese movie vibe~ 🌅 Must-do: Go up the mountain after 4 PM to catch a "grassland sunset," where the sunset dyes the clouds orange-pink and the wind smells of fresh grass! You can stay overnight at a mountaintop guesthouse; if lucky, you might see the Milky Way (bring a thick jacket, as it’s only about 18°C at night~) 💰 Budget for three days and two nights (for 2 people) ✅ Transportation: Self-driving from nearby cities (about 4-5 hours from Chengdu/Chongqing), fuel + tolls ≈ 500 RMB; city taxi/car rental ≈ 200 RMB/day ✅ Accommodation: Guangwu Mountain guesthouse (view room) ≈ 300 RMB/night; Nuoshui River farmhouse (with kitchen) ≈ 200 RMB/night; Kongshan mountaintop guesthouse (standard room) ≈ 350 RMB/night (total ≈ 850 RMB) ✅ Tickets: Guangwu Mountain 120 + Nuoshui River 100 + Kongshan 80 = 300 RMB/person (600 RMB for 2) ✅ Food: Local farmhouse dishes 40-60 RMB per person (must-try: cured pork rib soup pot, white fungus soup), about 400 RMB for three days ✅ Others: Rafting 150 RMB/person + snacks and drinks ≈ 300 RMB 👉 Total budget ≈ 2750 RMB (for 2 people) 🍜 Bazhong food map (locals’ secret favorites) ▪️ Enyang sugar sesame cake: The crust is so crispy it flakes off, inside is brown sugar and sesame filling, sweet but not greasy! Perfect with a bowl of covered tea~ (Recommended small stalls in the old town alleys, 3 RMB each) ▪️ Tongjiang white fungus soup: Freshly cooked white fungus soup with goji berries and red dates, drink it cold in summer! Smooth like jelly (available at breakfast stalls/farmhouses, 5 RMB per bowl) ▪️ Nanjiang yellow goat soup pot: Freshly slaughtered yellow goat meat stewed until tender, the broth is incredibly flavorful! Dip it in dry chili sauce for the best taste (most authentic at farmhouses near Nuoshui River, about 50 RMB per person) ▪️ Cured pork ribs stewed with lotus root: Bazhong people’s autumn ritual! The ribs are salted and roasted, then stewed until falling off the bone, the lotus root is powdery and soaked with meat aroma (old restaurants in the city, about 40 RMB per person)