Diaoyu Fortress: A Song Dynasty Stronghold That Stopped the Mongols
Stand on the ramparts of Diaoyu Fortress and you're looking across the same valleys that witnessed one of medieval Asia's most dramatic sieges. Built during the Song Dynasty as one of more than 80 mountain fortresses raised to resist Mongol invasion, this fortress repelled over 200 attacks before finally falling in 1279. In 1259, Mongol leader Möngke Khan was killed here during the Siege of Diaoyucheng—a moment that rippled through the entire conflict. The fortress itself remains one of the best preserved of its kind, its walls and structures telling the story of a defense that held far longer than anyone expected.
- Located on Diaoyucheng Avenue; reach it by taxi or bus no. 929A
- Open 08:30–17:00; entry ¥60
- Phone: +86 23 42822763
Museums: From Military History to Chongqing's Spice Culture
Two contrasting museums give you different windows into Hechuan's story. The Diaoyu Fortress History and Culture Museum, housed near Yiwu Avenue, deepens your understanding of the fortress's role in Song Dynasty resistance—a free visit that works well as a companion to the fortress itself, though note it often closes during major holidays. For something more intimate, the Chongqing Hot Pot Museum occupies a 1930s salt warehouse on Yonglin Street and explores the history of a dish that defines Chongqing cooking. It's an unexpected cultural artifact, and entry is free.
- Diaoyu Fortress History and Culture Museum: W–Su 09:00–17:00; buses 126, 632, 808A, 808B; free
- Chongqing Hot Pot Museum: 09:00–11:30, 14:00–17:30; Yonglin Street, Nanjin Street Subdistrict; free
- Hechuan Art Museum: 09:00–17:00, closed Mondays; inside Dongjintuo Riverside Park on Jiabin South Road; buses 225, 815; free
Riverside Walks and Boat Cruises Along Three Rivers
Hechuan sits at the convergence of the Jialing, Fu and Qu rivers, and the best way to feel the geography is from the water. Cruise boats depart from Dongjintuo Riverside Park, offering daytime sightseeing cruises or evening trips that let you see the city lights reflected on the water. A longer round-trip option takes you to Caojie, an old fishing town downstream. The park itself is worth exploring on foot—a riverside path where locals walk and the Hechuan Art Museum sits quietly on the west side.
- Daytime sightseeing cruise: ¥58
- Nighttime cruise: ¥68
- Round trip to Caojie: ¥98
- Tickets via WeChat account of Hechuan Sanjiang Cruise Boat Company
- Dongjintuo Riverside Park accessible by bus 225 or 815
Wenfeng Ancient Street and Pagoda: Walking Through Rebuilt History
Wenfeng Ancient Street recreates the atmosphere of old Hechuan through rebuilt structures and a handful of genuine historical sites. The genuine centerpiece is Wenfeng Pagoda, a 13-storey structure dating from the early 19th century that still stands on the street where it was built. Climb it for a view across the area—the ¥10 entry fee to ascend opens up the river valleys and urban layout that have shaped Hechuan's development.
- Located between Fu River No. 1 Bridge and Jialing River Nanping Bridge
- Buses 225, 815
- Wenfeng Pagoda: 09:00–12:00, 13:00–17:00; climbing fee ¥10
Laitan Ancient Town: A Walled Settlement and Tang Dynasty Temple
About 30 km northeast of the main urban area, Laitan Ancient Town is a walled settlement that rewards a half-day trip. The primary draw is the Erfo Temple (Temple of the Second Buddha), founded during the Tang Dynasty and rebuilt during the Qing Dynasty—its architecture and setting show how Buddhist practice evolved across centuries in this region. The old town itself is free to explore; entry to the temple runs about ¥20. Buses to Laitan depart from the Hechuan Bus Terminal.
- Address: 47 Huilong Street
- Phone: +86 23 42561888
- Old town: free; Erfo Temple: approximately ¥20
- Buses from Hechuan Bus Terminal
Hechuan offers a rare chance to walk through military history, follow waterways that shaped a region, and explore how settlement and faith have layered themselves across centuries. Start with the fortress—it justifies the trip alone—then let the riverside parks, museums and outlying temples deepen your sense of what held meaning here. Plan a visit.