Laitan Travel Guide
The ancient walled city of Laitan often gets overlooked by China's international tourists, but it conceals a fascinating mix of 400 antique houses and a sprinkling of Qing Dynasty temples.
- Worth It?
- Laitan is worth an overnight visit for anyone craving another foray into ancient Chinese life and architecture.
- What to Do
- walk the old alleyways, visit ancient temples, admire the stone Buddha.
- Best Time to Go
- after the heat and rains subside, generally between September and November.
- How Long?
- A day or two is enough time to enjoy the atmosphere.
This entire region (the Hechuan Scenic Area) has many historic sites that are worth exploring. The concentration of authentic houses in Laitan paints a vivid picture of life in ancient China. The city's well-preserved walls were built 1,100 years ago and are an ever-present reminder of Laitan's history.
Among the many temples in Laitan are the Hanging Temple, Huguo Temple and Laitan Temple. The latter is the grandest and boasts an upper-level palace that can also be explored. Connecting these sites to the rest of the town is a rustic, flagstone street. On a hillside outside of Laitan, visitors can admire a massive Buddha sculpture that is one of the largest in the region.
Travel to Laitan - Getting There
Henchuan is the gateway to Laitan historic city, with regular buses crossing from here to the People's Liberation Monument in Chongqing (about an hour). From here visitors are well-positioned to connect to any number of cities across the country. Regular flights from Chongqing connect to Hong Kong (2 hours, 15 minutes), Beijing (2 hours, 10 minutes) and Shanghai (2 hours).
Laitan Things to Do
Laitan Attractions
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