Wujiang Gallery and Gongtan Ancient Town: a two-day trip from Chongqing

Quick answer

Checked September 2026.

• Wujiang Gallery: a stretch of gorges on the Wujiang River in south-east Chongqing, between Pengshui and Gongtan in Youyang. The water is green, with steep cliffs and forest on both banks. The best way to see it is by boat.
• Gongtan Ancient Town: in the southern part of the gallery, where the Wujiang and Apeng rivers meet. It is a riverside town with more than 1,700 years of history. About 1.3 km of stone-paved street and more than 400 Tujia stilt houses survive, and there is no entry ticket.
• How long: from central Chongqing to Gongtan by car is about 3.5–4 hours one way. There and back in one day is too rushed, so two days and one night works best. It is often paired with Jiuli City in Pengshui.

At a glance

Checked September 2026. The ratings come from the Chongqing Municipal Commission of Culture and Tourism Development's list of A-grade tourist attractions in Chongqing (as of December 2025).

Where exactly is the Wujiang Gallery?

The Wujiang Gallery is not a gate you walk through. It is a stretch of river. When people in Chongqing say "a thousand li of Wujiang, a hundred li of gallery", they mean the gorges of the Wujiang between Pengshui and Youyang. There are two main places to board a boat: Wanzu Pier in Pengshui County at the north end, and Gongtan Ancient Town in Youyang County at the south end. Both county governments call their own stretch the Wujiang Gallery. For Pengshui it is Xiniu, Mafeng and Panggong gorges above Wanzu. For Youyang it is the stretch from Gongtan up to Wanmu.

In more detail:

• The Wujiang rises in Guizhou, flows north into Chongqing and joins the Yangtze at Fuling. Along the gallery, dams downstream have raised the water. In some places it is calm like a lake (Wanzu Lake, Lujiao Lake, Hongdu Lake); in others it narrows into gorges.
• Right across the river from Gongtan is Yanhe County in Guizhou. Sit by the water in Gongtan, and the mountain opposite is already another province.
• Many itineraries say "Wujiang Gallery boat trip" but not where you board. Where you board decides how the day goes. Board at Wanzu, and the boat goes with Pengshui and Jiuli City on the same day. Board at Gongtan, and you stay the night in Gongtan and take the boat the next morning.

Which boat trip should I take?

If you are short on time, take the loop from Wanzu Pier. It takes about 1 hour, starts and ends at Wanzu, and fits on the same day as Jiuli City. To go all the way to Gongtan by water, take the long-route boat from Wanzu to Gongtan, about 2.5 hours one way, which runs to the seasonal timetable. If you are already staying in Gongtan, take a boat from Gongtan upstream towards Wanmu. Youyang County calls the stretch from Gongtan to Wanmu the best part of the gallery.

• There are traditional-style painted boats and modern boats. On the Pengshui side there are 2 traditional-style painted boats and 5 modern boats. On the Gongtan side there are both large boats and small painted boats.
• The timetable changes with the seasons. In the week you set off, we check that season's timetable and then decide which boat to take on which day. Boat fares go by the scenic area's notice on the day, and we book at the actual price.

What is there to see in Gongtan Ancient Town?

Gongtan is one long old street built into the hillside along the river: a stone-paved street about 1.3 km long, more than 400 Tujia stilt houses on both sides, and a few old courtyards and guild halls in between. It was once a transfer port for salt on the Wujiang. There were dangerous rapids in the river that boats could not pass, so goods were carried past the rapids by porters and loaded onto boats again. That is how the town grew up.

Seven places worth stopping at:

• The old stone street: the stone slabs rise and fall along the riverbank, with steps up and down all the way. In the slabs by the roadside you often see small holes about the size of a fist. Porters resting on their way propped up their loads with a wooden pole, and over the years the poles wore these holes into the stone.
• Xiqin Guild Hall: built in the Guangxu years of the Qing dynasty by Zhang Pengjiu, a merchant from Shaanxi, as a hall where merchants from outside met to do business.
• Ran Family Courtyard: an old family house that has survived in the town.
• Xia Family Courtyard and Dong Family Ancestral Hall: see how Tujia houses and a family ancestral hall fit their rooms onto a steep slope.
• Chuanzhu Temple and Sanfu Temple: the town's old temples.
• The "First Pass" stone: this was once the gate of the old street. The gate itself has gone, and only a large stone carved with the words "First Pass" is left.
• The stilt houses from the river: look up from the riverside and the wooden houses stack up the hillside, layer on layer. This is the classic view of Gongtan. The painter Wu Guanzhong described it as "a Tang street, a Song town, grandma and grandpa's home".

The town you see has been moved: in 2009, for the Wujiang Pengshui hydropower station, the old buildings of Gongtan were moved as a whole and rebuilt at Xiaoyintan, a little over a kilometre downstream. The original site lies under the reservoir. So the old street you walk today was rebuilt after the old buildings were moved as a whole.

To compare Gongtan with other old towns around Chongqing, see ancient towns near Chongqing.

How do I get from Chongqing to Gongtan, and how long does it take?

Gongtan has no railway station, so the last part has to be by road. From central Chongqing, drive the Chongqing–Hunan expressway and then mountain roads into Gongtan: about 3.5–4 hours one way. By train you first go to Pengshui or Youyang and then change to a car into the mountains, which takes a lot of time with luggage. That is why we always drive, door to door.

• Private car: from the city, take the Chongqing–Hunan expressway (G65) past Nanchuan and Wulong to Pengshui, then head south into Gongtan. The whole way is a mountain expressway south of the Yangtze, with many tunnels and bridges.
• The car fits the group: 2–4 people get a 7-seat car, 5–6 people get a 9-seater, and 7–8 people get a 15-seater. For a bigger group, tell us how many of you there are and we match the vehicle to the group. If you have a lot of luggage, tell us how many large suitcases, and we match the vehicle to the luggage.
• Places to stop on the way: Jiuli City in Pengshui is on this road (see Jiuli City). Wulong is on the same expressway too (see our Wulong guide). So people rarely make the trip just for Gongtan. It is usually combined with these two.
• By train: there is no train straight to Gongtan. First go to Pengshui or Youyang, then change to a road vehicle into the mountains. For overseas visitors, changing, finding a taxi and the language are all a hassle, so a private car is the better choice.
• Can I do it there and back in a day? In theory, yes, but you spend seven or eight hours in the car. You arrive too late for the town at night, and there is no time for a boat trip. We do not suggest it. For places you can visit there and back in a day, see day trips from Chongqing.

How do I combine it with Jiuli City and Wulong, and how many days do I need?

Two days and one night are enough for the Wujiang Gallery, Gongtan and Jiuli City. Jiuli City, Wulong and the Wujiang Gallery are on the same expressway corridor, so going in order means no doubling back. If you only have one day, go to Jiuli City plus a short boat trip, return to the city the same day and skip Gongtan.

• If you want to add Wulong too, tell us and we will put it into your private itinerary.
• Our 5-day route goes this way: on day 2 you go to Wulong and stay there; on day 3 you see Jiuli City and take the Wujiang Gallery boat, and return to the city in the evening; on day 4 you see the city itself. See our private tour routes.
• From September to April, the Three Natural Bridges in Wulong close at 16:30. So Wulong goes on a day when you arrive in the morning, not at the end of a day on the road.

When is the best time to go?

You can go all year round. On sunny days the water is a clear, bright green. On grey days and in winter there is often mist on the river, like an ink painting. Both are beautiful, the photos are just different. Avoid China's long public holidays (above all 1 to 7 October), when the old town and the boats get crowded.

• In spring there are flowers on the hillsides. In autumn the hills turn yellow and red.
• Winter is misty, and you cannot see the far peaks clearly, but the river and the old town close up are still worth seeing. For Chongqing's winter fog, see Chongqing in winter.
• Gongtan is very quiet on weekdays.

Are there many steps? Can older people or people with limited mobility go?

The boat is very easy: you sit and watch the whole way. Gongtan Ancient Town is built on a steep slope, with the stone paths going up and down and lots of steps. If you are travelling with older family members, or anyone with limited mobility, tell us before you set off. The guide plans which parts to walk and where to sit down and rest, at your pace and to your strength.

• We plan around the slowest walker in the group: the boat first, then walking the parts that suit each person. You can skip the courtyards with steep climbs.
• The stone paths are slippery after rain. Wear flat shoes with a good grip.
• See Chongqing for seniors.

Is it worth staying a night in Gongtan?

Yes. Most day visitors leave in the afternoon. In the evening the stilt houses light up, the lights reflect on the river, and only then does the town go quiet. Stay a night, take the boat the next morning, and you will not have to rush the drive back.

• Places to stay in Gongtan are mainly small riverside guesthouses. If you want to stay a night, tell us and we will book your room for you.
• Rooms facing the river look across to the mountains of Guizhou.

What is there to eat in Gongtan?

In Gongtan you eat Tujia food. The local specialities listed by Youyang County include stir-fried mung bean noodles, mushroom meatballs, cured pork stir-fried with wild fern, pig's trotters stewed with dried radish, and pork ribs stewed with dried cowpeas.

• If you do not eat spicy food, say so in advance and the guide will tell the kitchen when ordering. See non-spicy food in Chongqing.

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