Yibin is renowned for two things: its location at the junction of the Min and Yangzi rivers (essentially the head of the Yangzi, or Yangtze if you're old school) and the distinction of being known as the "Liquor Capital of China." The latter accolade comes thanks to the over 600 Yibin distilleries, which produce the juice for some 30 major brands, including China's premier bai jiu brand, Wuliangye.

Aside from being the home of the headwaters of both one of the China's great rivers and its most popular spirits, Yibin's surroundings include a wealth of geographical features perfect for numerous outdoor activities, and its long history and cultural significance make for plenty of sights, though some require a day trip out of town. 

You might want to swing by Yibin's Daguan Tower first to give traditional thanks to the guardian tower for making your visit possible. The tower sits on the head of an infernal dragon, preventing the fell creature from escaping its prison and wreaking havoc above ground. We know this to be true because it has worked for many, many years. 

For a great view of the city, head to Cuiping Shan (Cuiping Mountain), which rises from the middle of town. True nature lovers will want to head a bit further afield for a hiike through Shunan Zhuhai (South Sichuan Bamboo Sea), where Ang Lee's breakout film Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon was shot.  In addition to hauntingly beautiful swaying bamboo forests, the Bamboo Sea also features mountains, rivers, karst caves, lakes, falls and a smattering of atmospheric Buddhist temples. 

Spelunking enthusiasts should head to Xingwen Stone Cave Forest (also know as the Xingwen County Stone and Geological Park) for the 83 astonishing stalactite caves dotting the wooded landscape, including the popular Hall of Cascading Light. Continuing on a stony tip, If paleontology is your thing, try the Shibei Village Dinosaur Fossil Museum (Shibei Konglong).

If all that hiking and climbing puts a few knots in your muscles, you'll appreciate the Yibin area's many wen quan (hot springs). Try asking your hotel concierge where they're at by saying: Hao de wen quan zai nali? They'll likely answer: Xibu Daxiagu wen quan (Xibu Daxiagu Hot Spring), a top tourist spot 32 kilometers outside of town, and have other recommendations besides.

Sichuan guide | Yibin Attractions | Chengdu flights
Yibin Hotels | Yibin tours & activities
Related Posts on the China Travel Blog

History

The Yibin region, populated for some 40,000 years and once considered the Chinese terminus of the Silk Road, has produced a wealth of historically significant characters. You might consider one of those characters to be the local spirit, now a leading national brand, Wuliangye, which boasts has a history of over 600 years and claims to have been the favorite of emperors and great poets alike.

Yibin was also home to some of China's greatest painters and calligraphers, including Huang Binlao, Zi Dan and Bao Bichen, each of whom founded their own distinctive schools.
 
During the War of Resistance against Japan, the National Drama School took refuge in the area for six years, an incubation period that saw a generation of new playwrights and film directors such as Cao Yu and Xie Jin emerge. During the war, Yibin native Zhao Yiman laid down her life for the anti-Japanese cause, becoming a national heroine in the process. She was joined by other renowned Yibin revolutionaries like Li Shuo Xun, Yu Zehong and Liu Hua in her defense of China. 

Yang Hansheng, a Chinese literary guru, and Tang Junyi, a philosopher, were also Yibin natives. Finally, Yibin is also the hometown of Li Peng, the fourth premier of the People's Republic of China.

Today, Yibin, a city of some three million inhabitants, serves as an important inland port, a role that has brought it both a share in modern China's prosperity as well as a healthy measure of its crowding and pollution, though escape into the Bamboo Forest and surrounding countryside is an always-available option.

Climate

This subtropical city doesn't just have dry and rainy seasons like the countries to the south. Yibin has four clearly demarcated seasons. Spring comes early, summer is extremely humid, autumn has a lot of rain, and winter yields a little frost or snow. The average frost-free period lasts 340 days. Raingear and highly breathable clothes are recommended.

Finding accommodations in Yibin is generally not a problem. If you're budget's a little tight, try the Yibin Grand Hotel, which has rooms from RMB 200-300. Those who see four stars in their future should check out the Huarong Hotel, located right downtown. For five stars and all the fixins, the pleasantly green Eden Resort Hotel Yibin occupies a choice spot by the river just outside of town. 

If you've stayed in a Yibin hotel and have your own recommendations, help your fellow travelers out by sharing your experience, either by creating your own Yibin hotel review or commenting on an existing hotel review.   

You'll have plenty of opportunity to experience Sichuan's legendary spice in Yibin. If can stand the heat, try any one of the city's numerous local restaurants or street vendors for the staple ranmian (burning noodles), eaten for breakfast, lunch and dinner. 

Less fiery are tender bamboo shoots from the Bamboo Sea to the south, yellow fish and yellow pickle soup; luobiao buns, a kind of sticky rice bun filled and wrapped in plant leaves; jellied bean curd made from soybeans and peanuts; Nanxi County thin-sliced pork; snowy chicken slices; Xinwen County black-boned chicken; and Yibin-style soacked duck eggs, which are carefully shelled and then marinated in a spicy sauce.

If you're looking for foreign food you might ask your hotel concierge, say "weiguo canting" (that's pronounced ts-an-ting) for "foreign restaurant," though the results aren't likely to delight.

If you have any helpful information to offer about dining in Yibin, let us know about it, either in the comments section below or by adding your own Yibin restaurant reviews to ChinaTravel.net.

Getting Around

Yibin Taxi

Almost all local taxis are red with a yellow top-lamp. ¥ 3 RMB is the basic fee, after that it'll be ¥ 1.2-¥ 1.5RMB per kilometers. Taxis run 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Yibin Bus

Expressway buses run to Chengdu and Chongqing hourly, and to neighboring counties several times a day.

Yibin Train 

Trains run to Chengdu and Chongqing, as well as other local counties at least daily. "Train station" is Chinese is "huo che zhan."

Telephone: (86) 831 233 7004
Email: xxzx@yibin.gov.cn

Yibin Airport

Yibin has an airport with regular flights to Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu, Chongqing, Kunming, Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Beihai and others. Airport in Chinese is "fei ji zan."

The Yibin Airport is in Laiba, about 7km northwest of Yibin. It can be reached via taxi or bus No.8.

One thing that you're sure to see in Yibin's markets is a wealth of bamboo products. In recent years, bamboo cultivation (and associated forest cover) and the number of artisans that us bamboo have risen significantly, and there are literally hundreds of products to choose from.

Authorities in the area have worked hard to make the most of this renewable resource and have gone to lengths, preserving, protecting and regulating its extraction to ensure sustainability. That means you can shop without the image of clear-cut forests and homeless pandas clouding your conscience....
 

You'll find all the usual traditional Chinese festivals from Chinese New Year to Mid-Autumn festival, but there is another festival here you'll find nowhere else and that is the Yibin Liquor God Festival, running from December 17-19. Propitiations to the liquor god take the form of performances, Chinese drumming, mock "sacrificial" ceremonies, and improptu singing and dancing (there is liquor involved after all), all at the foot of Liquor God Hill.

If you happen to make it you might find the ceremony to unfold somewhat mechanically, but that's to be expected of a festival fully designed and delivered by a big corporation. Yes, this festival is the promotional brainchild of WuLiangYe, Yibin's oldest and most prestigious distiller, but you've got to give them credit for trying to add a little color to the local cultural scene.

If you have any helpful information to offer about Yibin art and entertainment, let us know about it, either in the comments section below. Chinatravel and legions of travelers will forever be grateful to you for it!