One-Day Travel Guide from Chongqing Main City to Jiangjin Zhongshan Ancient Town

Of course! Here is a complete budget-friendly one-day self-guided travel guide from Chongqing main city to Zhongshan Ancient Town in Jiangjin District, all within 100 yuan. The trip mainly uses public transportation, balancing cost-effectiveness and experience, perfect for students or travelers on a budget.

📍 Destination Introduction: Zhongshan Ancient Town
Located in the southern part of Jiangjin District, Chongqing, by the Qijiang River, it is a thousand-year-old Bayu mountain-water ancient town.
Features: Bluestone roads, stilted buildings, old teahouses, intangible cultural heritage oil-paper umbrellas, and scenic views of Sunxi River.
Free admission, no ticket required, some small attractions may have voluntary charges.

💰 Total Budget Control: Within 100 yuan
✅ Includes: Round-trip transportation + lunch + snacks/drinks + small souvenirs
❌ Excludes: Accommodation (one-day trip), taxi (except when necessary)

🚇 Step 1: Depart from Chongqing Main City (7:30 AM - 9:30 AM)

Recommended departure points: Near Metro Line 1 "Daping Station" or "Shiyoulu Station"

Option 1: Bus + Long-distance Bus (Most economical)
Daping → Caiyuanba South Square
Take bus 418 or 416 (fare 2 yuan)
About 30 minutes
Caiyuanba South Square Bus Station → Jiangjin Chenjiaping Station
Long-distance bus, about 1 hour, fare about 25 yuan
Departure times: 6:30 AM - 6:30 PM, every 30 minutes
Jiangjin Chenjiaping Station → Zhongshan Ancient Town
Transfer to the rural passenger bus from Jiangjin to Zhongshan Ancient Town
About 1.5 hours, fare about 18 yuan
Departure points: Jiangjin West Ring Station / Jiangjin Bus Station (make sure to confirm)

✅ Total transportation cost for this segment: 2 + 25 + 18 = 45 yuan

⚠️ Tip: You can also take a direct bus from "Chongqing West Station" to Zhongshan Ancient Town (holiday tourist line), but regular service is limited, so the above method is recommended.

🕙 Morning: Arrive at Zhongshan Ancient Town (around 10:30 AM - 12:00 PM)
Get off at "Zhongshan Ancient Town Visitor Center" or "Changkǒu," then walk into the town’s core area.
The ancient town is free to visit. Stroll along Sunxi River and check out:
Thousand-year-old Ficus tree
Yan Yu Alley (bluestone old street)
Stilted building clusters
Old teahouses (try a 2 yuan cup of gaiwan tea)

☕ Recommended experience: Have tea at an old teahouse (2 yuan/cup) to enjoy the slow life.

🍜 Lunch: Authentic local snacks (budget within 30 yuan)

Restaurants in the town are affordable. Recommended:
Tofu pudding rice + cured meat: about 15 yuan (generous portions, local favorite)
Hot and sour noodles or rice noodles: 8-12 yuan
Cold cake or iced jelly: under 5 yuan to cool off

✅ Suggested to choose "riverside farmhouse" or "ancient town canteen" style small eateries for affordable and authentic meals.

🍽 Total meal cost control: within 25 yuan

🌳 Afternoon: In-depth exploration (1:00 PM - 4:00 PM)
Visit the intangible cultural heritage oil-paper umbrella workshop
You can watch the making process; some shops allow free entry
If you want souvenirs: mini oil-paper umbrellas start at about 20 yuan, bargaining possible or just take photos without buying
Climb up for a panoramic view of the town
Walk the "Love Theme Trail" or "Yanlong Mountain Trail"
Free, excellent views, great for photos
Bamboo raft drifting (optional)
Cost about 30 yuan/person, over budget → ❌ Not recommended for this trip
Play and take photos by the river
Sunxi River water is clear and shallow; in summer, you can take off your shoes and wade
Safety first, watch the current

📸 Must-photograph spots:
Ancient town archway
Stone bridge and its reflection
White walls, black tiles, stilted buildings
Grandma selling glutinous rice cakes scene

🚌 Return: Zhongshan Ancient Town → Chongqing Main City (depart before 4:30 PM)
Zhongshan Ancient Town → Jiangjin West Ring Station
Take the return rural bus (last bus around 5:00 - 5:30 PM)
Fare 18 yuan
Jiangjin West Ring Station → Caiyuanba South Square
Long-distance bus, about 1 hour, fare 25 yuan
Note the latest departure time: about 6:30 PM
Caiyuanba → Any point in main city
Bus/metro, about 2 yuan

✅ Total return transportation cost: 18 + 25 + 2 = 45 yuan

💰 Total Cost Summary:

Item Cost (yuan)
---------------------------
Outbound transport 45
Return transport 45
Lunch 25
Drinks + snacks 5
Gaiwan tea experience 2
Total 122 yuan

⚠️ Exceeding by 2 yuan? Don’t worry—here’s an optimization plan:

✅ Money-saving tips (reduce to within 100 yuan)
Change lunch to tofu pudding rice + pickled vegetables (12 yuan)
Bring your own water bottle, refill at visitor center
Skip tea drinking, just take photos
Choose cheaper carpool options (like local ride-sharing, save 5 yuan one way)
Depart from University Town/Yangjiaping? Possibly closer, save 10 yuan

🎯 Optimized total spending can be about 95 yuan

📝 Friendly Tips
Recommended travel days: Saturday or Sunday, more bus services
Wear comfortable shoes! The ancient town has many slopes and bluestone roads
Bring sunshade umbrella and mosquito repellent
Good mobile signal, supports mobile payment, but carry 10 yuan cash in case some stalls only accept cash
Respect local residents, avoid taking photos of private courtyards without permission

🌟 Summary in one sentence:
Explore Zhongshan Ancient Town for 100 yuan by "starting early, spending lightly, and focusing on experience." See the thousand-year-old old street, drink 2-yuan tea, eat a bowl of tofu pudding rice, and touch the most authentic Bayu local life.

Wishing you a pleasant journey and a treasure trove of old town memories! 📷🍃