Chongqing Dazu Rock Carvings: Opening Hours & Ticket Price

Dazu Rock Carvings are located 100-km from downtown Chongqing and require dedicated trip planning.

To help you prepare your trip, this guide provides detailed information on the travel season’s operating schedule and ticket pricing.

Tickets & Opening Time of Dazu Rock Carvings

Opening Hours: 8:30 AM – 6:00 PM (Last entry at 4:30 PM)

Ticket Type	Price (Approx.)	What’s Included
Baodingshan Only	115 CNY	Main Scenic Area + Museum
Beishan Only	70 CNY	Beishan Grottoes
Combo Ticket	140 CNY	Both Sites (Best Value)

🚌How to Get to Dazu Rock Carvings

Option 1: Private Transfer (Recommended)

Why we recommend the private transfer for Dazu:

• Efficiency: A driver takes you door-to-door (Hotel to Baodingshan Entrance) in about 1.5 – 2 hours.
• Cost:  Depends on how many people and what vehicle you choose.
• The “Dual Site” Advantage: If you want to see Baoding AND Beishan, having a car waiting for you is a game-changer. Finding a taxi between the two remote sites can be tricky.

Option 2: High-Speed Train (Requires Transfer)

• Step 1: Train from Chongqing West(重庆西站) or North(重庆北站) to Dazu South Station (大足南站). (~40-60 mins).
• Step 2: The station is still 40-km away from the carvings. You must take a tourist bus (Bus 205) or a taxi (~40 mins) to reach Baodingshan.
• Only good for travelers who are tight on travel fund.

🎟️What to See at Dazu Rock Carvings

Dazu Rock Carvings isn’t just one spot. It’s a cluster of 70+ sites, but you only need to care about two:

1. Baodingshan (Must-Visit Main Site)

If you only have time for one, go here.

• The Star: The Thousand-Hand Guanyin. After an 8-year restoration using real gold leaf, she literally glows in the dark. It is mesmerizing.
• The Sleeping Buddha: A massive reclining Buddha that stretches 31 meters long.
• The Wheel of Reincarnation: Detailed carvings showing the cycle of life and the punishments of hell.

2. Beishan (Smaller & Quieter)

Located about 10-15km away from Baoding.

• Who is it for: History lovers, photographers who want no crowds.
• The experience: Older, smaller, darker, and much quieter. The statues here are more intricate.

🍜 What to Eat at Dazu Rock Carvings | Food & Tips

• Lunch: There is a local food street near the Baodingshan exit. The food is standard tourist fare.
• Better Option: Ask your driver to take you into Dazu Town for “Dazu Carp” (邮亭鲫鱼 – Youting Jiyu). It’s a spicy braised fish dish that is famous in the region.
• Guides: You can hire English-speaking guides at the entrance. It is highly recommended because there are zero English explanations on the detailed stories carved into the walls. Without a guide (or a good audio app), you are just looking at rocks.

Historical Background of Dazu Rock Carvings

The Dazu Rock Carvings emerged in the late Tang Dynasty and continued to flourish through the Five Dynasties, Song Dynasty, and Ming–Qing periods. Unlike earlier cave temples like Dunhuang or Longmen, which were imperial or monastic projects, Dazu’s carvings were primarily funded and created by local communities, monks, and lay believers. This gave rise to an art style that is:

• Deeply humanistic
• Rich in daily-life themes
• Emotional and expressive
• Philosophically inclusive, combining Buddhist compassion, Taoist harmony, and Confucian ethics

The result is a cultural treasure that feels both intimate and grand — a museum

Chongqing Dazu Rock Carvings, an spectacular cultural treasure where art, religion, and history are masterfully carved into the very landscape of China.

These extraordinary carvings continue to captivate, educate, and inspire, standing as an enduring symbol of human creativity and spiritual devotion for the world to cherish.

❓People Also Ask