This riverside park is dedicated to Xue Tao, a Tang dynasty poet who lived in Chengdu and is remembered for making her own colored paper for writing verse. The park is best known for its bamboo collection, with over a hundred varieties planted along paths near the Jin River, and for the multi-story Wangjiang Tower after which it's named.
Wangjianglou Park on Wangjiang Road in Wuhou District is a riverside garden built around the memory of Tang-dynasty poet Xue Tao, known for her poetry and for a style of decorative paper she reputedly created using water from a well within the park grounds. The park is best known for its bamboo collection, with more than 400 species planted across the grounds, ranging from towering timber bamboo to delicate ornamental varieties, making it one of the most significant bamboo gardens in China. A cultural relic zone contains the multi-story Wangjiang Tower, Xue Tao's well, and several pavilions and halls with poetry inscriptions, while the surrounding free garden area offers riverside paths along the Jin River. A visit covering both the free garden and the ticketed cultural relic zone takes about ninety minutes; visitors only walking the free riverside paths can do so in under an hour. The bamboo groves are most vivid in spring and summer after the rainy season, when new shoots and mature groves are both at their greenest; the park is calmest on weekday mornings and busier with local visitors on weekend afternoons, particularly in the free garden areas.
| Admission | Adult ¥20 ($2.80) for the cultural relic zone; garden area free · Child Discounted rate available |
|---|---|
| Hours | Garden area 6:00-21:00; cultural relic zone 8:00-18:00 |
| Typical visit | 1-1.5 hours |
| Best time | Spring and summer, when the more than 400 species of bamboo are at their greenest |
| Getting there | Metro Line 2 to Sichuan Gymnasium Station, then a 15-minute walk |
| Address | 300 Jiuyanqiao, Wangjiang Road, Wuhou District, Chengdu |
Location
300 Jiuyanqiao, Wangjiang Road, Wuhou District, Chengdu
30.6328, 104.0911 View on map
Highlights
- Collection of more than 400 bamboo species, among the largest in China
- Multi-story Wangjiang Tower within the cultural relic zone
- Xue Tao's well and associated Tang-dynasty poetry sites
- Riverside paths along the Jin River in the free garden area
- Pavilions with poetry inscriptions related to Xue Tao
Tips for visiting
- Visit in spring or summer when the bamboo groves are at their greenest
- Pay the small cultural relic zone fee to see Wangjiang Tower and Xue Tao's well, which the free garden area does not include
- Weekday mornings are quieter than weekend afternoons, especially in the free riverside sections
- Wear comfortable shoes for walking the winding paths through the denser bamboo groves
- Combine with a walk further along the Jin River riverside paths, which connect toward central Chengdu
When to visit
Spring and summer, when the more than 400 species of bamboo are at their greenest, visited on a weekday morning for the calmest crowds.
Accessibility
Main paths in the free garden area are paved and flat; some paths within the denser bamboo groves and around the cultural relic zone are narrower and less even, which can be difficult for wheelchair users.
Frequently asked questions
How long does a visit to Wangjianglou Park take?
A visit covering both the free garden and the ticketed cultural relic zone takes about ninety minutes; the free riverside paths alone take under an hour.
Is it worth it for kids?
Yes, the extensive bamboo groves and riverside paths offer plenty of space for children to explore, even without engaging with the poetry history.
Is photography allowed?
Photography is allowed throughout the park, including within the cultural relic zone.