10 Days in Yibin

Climb Cuiping's temple paths in the morning; at Hejiangmen the Min and Jinsha rivers join to form the Yangtze.

1. Cuiping Mountain park
2. Hejiangmen confluence

Settle into the scenic area and walk the green corridors around the central museum at an unhurried pace.

1. Shunan Bamboo Sea central scenic area

The cliff-hugging plank road and the cave temple sit on the gorge wall; give the walk a whole morning.

1. Tianbao plank road
2. Xianyu Cave

Shaded streams in the morning, then the multi-tier waterfall; in high water it carries real force.

1. Forget Worry Valley
2. Rainbow Waterfall

Riverside lanes and Qing courtyards downstream; the wartime-academia exhibition halls repay an unhurried visit.

1. Lizhuang Ancient Town

The museum district explains grain-liquor craft; Song poet Huang Tingjian floated wine cups at Liubeichi.

1. Wuliangye baijiu district
2. Liubeichi Park

Two hours east, karst pinnacles and the Xiaoyanwan sinkhole several hundred metres across; overnight in Xingwen.

1. Xingwen Stone Sea stone forest

A second day for the underground side — lit chambers and a look into the great dolina from the rim walk.

1. Xingwen show caves

A long day south to the cliffs where the ancient Bo people set coffins high on the rock face; start early.

1. Boren hanging coffins at Matangba

On the way back, the Changning old town is the home of liangao cold jelly noodles; a soft last stop before the train.

1. Shuanghe Ancient Town