These neighboring attractions lie off the main tourist circuit in Chengdu, each offering insight into a notable figure in the city’s history. Visitors to the park can stop at a traditional teahouse for tea made from water drawn from the Xue Tao Well or wander amid the 150 species of bamboo (a favorite plant of Xue Tao).
A visit to the neighboring tomb—the only known above-ground burial site of an imperial Chinese ruler—reveals the only life-size statue of Wang Jian, along with a series of stone statues depicting soldiers and musicians. Some sightseeing tours of the city stop at the park, along with other Chengdu attractions, such as the giant panda breeding center, Wide and Narrow Street, and Factory Memorial Park.
Wangjianglou Park and the tomb are must-sees for history buffs, literary-minded travelers, and those looking for an escape from the crowds.
Give yourself 90 minutes to two hours to tour both the park and nearby tomb.
Wear comfortable shoes suitable for walking over uneven surfaces.
It’s free to enter the park, but the tomb and a few other structures charge an entrance fee.
To get to Wangjiang Tower Park, take Bus 19, 35, or 1107 to Wangjianglou Gongyuan station.
Both attractions are open daily throughout the year, though it’s a good idea to avoid visiting on Chinese national holidays when they’ll get crowded with domestic tourists. The best time to enjoy the park is in spring (March to June) and fall (September to November) when the weather is mild.
In addition to being a celebrated and prolific poet, Xue Tao was known for inventing a type of delicate paper, today known as Xue Tao Paper, made from water drawn from the well found within the park. Colorful and delicate, the paper was considered of much better quality than the standard coarse, yellow paper used at the time.
