Yibin is a small city by China's standards in the southeast of Sichuan Province. It is the first city on the Yangtze River. Yibin is yet to make a significant impact as a tourist destination and is little-visited by Westerners.
Discover what’s in the city and start your Yibin tour here.
Yibin is on the Yangtze in south Sichuan Province.
- Destination: Yibin (宜宾)
- Urban area population in 2019: 801,733
- Area: 13,293 km2
- Elevation: 321 m
- Weather: Average daily highs range from 29°C (84°F) to 16°C (61°F).
- Postal Code: 644000
- Area Code: 0831
Yibin Highlights
Yibin's two notable tourist destinations are Lizhuang Ancient Town and Shunan Bamboo Sea.
It also has local attractions like the Mt. Cuiping Forest Park (located in Cuiping district) and notable landmarks like the Yibin Daguan Tower. You can get a spectacular view of the city and the Yangtze (the longest river in Asia) and a great outdoor experience from Cuiping Mountain.
Lizhuang Ancient Town
Yibin is famous for its ancient town Lizhuang, which was built in 200 BC (the Han Dynasty) and is located on the Yangtze. Lizhuang is approximately 20 km (13 miles) from the city of Yibin: a 40-minute drive. As you tour the town, you will see some of Sichuan's oldest streets and taste some popular local dishes in China: Chinese black tea, sliced pork, white rice cake...
Shunan Bamboo Sea
Shunan Bamboo Sea is the oldest and largest bamboo forest in China. It covers 120 square kilometers. The Bamboo Sea is among the most beautiful forests in China, and tourists enjoy and appreciate the breathtaking scenes and fresh air.
The natural streams and waterfalls found inside the forest allow water sporting activities. See The Top 4 White River Rafting Locations around Chengdu.
Accommodation and Life in the City
Yibin has well-distributed hotels, markets, and restaurants that offer a good service to its locals and visitors. They also provide a pleasant environment at reasonable prices. Don't expect anything like international quality/service though!
The below hotel picks are worth considering:
- Crown Plaza Hotel & Resort
- Kelton Haoting Hotel
- Zhuhai Eden Resort Hotel
- Huarong Hotel
Climate and Weather
Yibin experiences a humid and continental subtropical climate, which means that there are warmer months that receive minimal rainfall. This means the best time for hikers, bikers, and cruisers is between the months of May to September (summer).
The hot season lasts for roughly 4½ months, May to mid-September, with an average daily high temperature above 29°C (84°F).
The cool season lasts for 4 months, from November to February, with an average daily high temperature below 16°C (61°F).
Many tourists prefer visiting Yibin in fall between the months of September-November when the temperatures are more refreshing. In September, rainfall is minimal, and tourists can avoid the hot summer. See more on Sichuan's weather and climate.
Traveling to and from Yibin
Because of the strategic location of Yibin, there are many alternatives of accessing and touring the City from other local destinations.
Air Transport
There is a daily direct flight available from Chengdu to Yibin that takes approximately 1h and 40mins. Also, you can find flights from other major China cities to Yibin.
Yibin Caiba Airport serves six airlines. However, Yibin Wuliangye Airport is a new airport under construction in southern Sichuan Province that aims to serve Yibin after completion.
Rail: The Best Way to Travel from Chengdu to Yibin
Trains from Chengdu to Yibin are cheap and fast. It takes approximately 1h and 35 minutes from Chengdu to Yibin. If you want to search/book a train, you can visit the China Highlights Train Ticket Service, and choose the most suitable travelling option.
Yibin's three railway stations are:
- Yibin Railway Station 宜宾火车站: 302 Qianjin Road
- Yibin South Railway Station 宜宾火车南站: Baixi Town, Yibin County, Yibin
- Jinshawan Railway Station 金沙湾火车站: Xunchang Town, Gongxian, Yibin
Highways
At Chengbei Bus Station, Shiyangchang Bus Station, and Shuangliu Airport Bus Station there are scheduled buses that depart for Yibin every 1 to 2 hours. Tickets cost about 110 yuan and buses take about 4-5 hours.
Waterways
The Yangtze River is a natural inland waterway that provides water transportation and easy access to locations and districts that lie along the river.
See more on Sichuan transportation - Flights, Trains, Buses, and City Transport
Discover Yibin Your Way
Yibin not only has beautiful natural scenery but also interesting historical sites. If you are planning a trip to Yibin, you could consider extending one of our flexible and customizable Chengdu tours.
If you want to enjoy a hassle-free and personalized tour of China, just tell us your interests and requirements and we'll help you with all the planning.
