Du Fu's Thatched Cottage杜甫草堂
Du Fu (712–770 CE) is considered China's greatest poet, and he spent four years (759–765) living in a thatched cottage in Chengdu, producing over 240 poems here — including some of his most famous works written during the An Lushan Rebellion. The site was abandoned after Du Fu left, rediscovered in the 15th century, and rebuilt as a memorial park. What you see today is a Qing-era reconstruction, but the adjacent museum holds original Song dynasty stone engravings of Du Fu's calligraphy. In autumn, the park's famous ginkgo tree turns golden and a lantern festival fills the evenings.
Chengdu · Visitor Guide2026-10-18
Quick Answer
Is Du Fu's Thatched Cottage worth visiting?
The memorial park of Tang dynasty poet Du Fu — reconstructed bamboo cottage, exposed stone inscriptions, and a museum of his life. ¥50. 2 hours.
Quick facts
| Ticket | ¥50 (as of June 2026). Student/senior ¥25. |
|---|---|
| Hours | 8:00–20:00 (summer), 8:00–18:30 (winter). |
| Recommended duration | 2 hours for the park, museum, and a circuit of the memorial halls. |
| Best time to visit | Autumn (October–November) for ginkgo colors and lantern festival. Spring for plum blossoms. Early morning for any season. |
| How to get there | Metro Line 4 to Caotangbeilu Station (草堂北路站), Exit C, then about a 10-minute walk. Or take Bus 58 from Chunxi Road to the Du Fu Caotang stop (20 min). |
| English signage | Partial |
| Wheelchair accessible | Partial |
| Du Fu's residence | 759–765 CE (Tang dynasty) |
| Poems written here | 240+, including 'Song of My Cottage Unroofed by Autumn Gales' |
| Park area | 24 hectares |
| Key features | Thatched cottage, stone inscriptions, Mill River, museum |
| Festival | Autumn lantern festival (September–November) |
What to expect
The park is divided into three areas: the Historical Zone (the original site and Du Fu's reconstructed cottage), the Art Museum (an excellent museum of Tang dynasty poetry and calligraphy), and the Garden Area (Mill River, bamboo paths, and pavilions). Start at the historical zone to find the actual site of Du Fu's cottage — a modest bamboo structure reconstructed in 1817 on the original footprint, with the Mill River (浣花溪) flowing past the gate.
The stone inscription corridor (石刻廊) holds Song dynasty reproductions of Du Fu's calligraphy — the originals were carved into stone in 1090 and have survived almost a millennium. The museum's second floor traces Du Fu's life through paintings and annotated editions of his poems. The most poignant section covers his years in Chengdu: he arrived as a refugee from the An Lushan Rebellion and spent four years here in relative peace before traveling further west.
The calligraphy panels throughout the park span his whole career. They include '春望' (Spring View) — '国破山河在，城春草木深' (The state is shattered, mountains and rivers remain; spring in the city, grass and trees grow deep) — written in 757 while Du Fu was trapped in rebel-occupied Chang'an, a few years before he ever reached Chengdu. The masterpiece of his Chengdu years, '茅屋为秋风所破歌' (Song of My Cottage Unroofed by Autumn Gales), was written at the cottage itself in 761.
How to get there
Metro Line 4 to Caotangbeilu Station (草堂北路站), Exit C, then about a 10-minute walk. Buses 19, 35, 58, 82 and 151 stop at Du Fu Caotang. DiDi from central Chengdu: ¥25–35, 20 minutes.
Best photo spots
- The thatched cottage from across the Mill River — framed by bamboo and willow
- The stone inscription corridor in morning light
- The ginkgo tree in the garden area (October–November)
- The calligraphy panels along the memorial hall
Tips
- Pair with a visit to the nearby Chengdu Research Base (pandas) in the same day — they are 20 minutes apart by DiDi
- The autumn lantern festival (September–November) adds an entirely different evening atmosphere to the park
- Come at opening (8 AM) to see the park empty — the atmosphere of bamboo and river is completely different without crowds
- The adjacent art museum is air-conditioned and holds some of the most important Tang dynasty calligraphy in existence
Scams to avoid
- Street vendors near the park claiming to sell Du Fu's calligraphy — all modern reproductions
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to know Tang poetry to enjoy this?
No — the park is a beautiful traditional Chinese garden regardless of your knowledge of poetry. The museum's bilingual placards explain Du Fu's life context clearly. If you do know his poems, the experience is richer, but the garden, river, and reconstructed cottage have their own appeal.
How does this compare to other Chengdu historical sites?
Du Fu's Cottage is smaller and more intimate than Wenshu Monastery or Jinli Street. It is essentially a literary memorial park with a small museum. If you are interested in Chinese poetry or Tang dynasty history, it is essential. If not, it is pleasant but skippable — unlike the pandas or Jinsha.
What is the lantern festival?
The Du Fu Thatched Cottage Lantern Festival runs September–November each year. Thousands of traditional Chinese lanterns are hung throughout the park and illuminated at night. The park stays open until 8 PM. It is particularly popular with Chinese families. The ginkgo trees are at their most photogenic during this period.
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