Mianzhu・Qingping (Golden Qingping) Macaron-colored Fairy Tale Town
Chengdu Self-Drive 1.5h Direct Access to a Free Fairy Tale Town! The entire area is filled with macaron-colored houses perfect for photos, a forest train weaving through the valley, and shallow riverbanks where you can wade for free, with a natural summer temperature of 26°C. Facilities include a non-motorized amusement park, cute pet feeding, making it easy and stress-free for kids. In the evening, there’s a Qiang ethnic bonfire party. In summer, visit Firefly Valley to see fireflies. A one-stop weekend trip for photos and water fun!
Tags: Mining town transformed into a fairy tale village, colorful mural streets, forest sightseeing train, parent-child water play non-motorized park, Qiang ethnic customs, free panoramic viewing platform, linked with Yunhu National Forest Park, Firefly Valley
Address: Qingping Town, Mianzhu City, Deyang City (also known as Golden Qingping)
Key Highlights: Former mining village transformed into a fairy tale town, streets lined with macaron-colored houses, walls painted with playful murals like Snow White and forest animals, 90% forest coverage, average summer temperature only 26°C, a natural summer resort and oxygen bar. The entire town is free to enter, with facilities including a forest train, glass water slide, stream shallow beach, and petting zoo. Take photos and stroll with kids during the day, visit the folk square in the evening, and check out Firefly Valley in summer. Few crowds, moderate commercialization, and a Japanese-style healing vibe perfect for casual photos.
1. Tickets & Basic Opening Information
The town’s streets, rainbow suspension bridge, Yunshang Yard viewing platform, non-motorized park, and riverbank trail are all free to enter, no main entrance fee.
Optional paid activities (choose as needed):
Forest sightseeing train: 20 RMB one way, 30 RMB round trip, 2.7 km route through ginkgo forest and flower valley, 30-minute ride.
Glass water slide + water park combo: 48 RMB/adult, 28 RMB/child, shallow water play facilities.
Pet feeding feed: 5 RMB/portion, feed deer, ponies, rabbits.
Qiang ethnic Tusi feast and bonfire party: from 60 RMB per person, includes folk song and dance performances.
Opening hours:
Town open 24 hours; amusement projects operate 9:00–18:00; two daily fairy tale float parades at 9:30 and 15:00.
Parking:
Public parking lot in town center 10 RMB/car all day; free parking available with consumption at local farmhouses and guesthouses along the route.
Seasonal Highlights:
June–September: Peak summer resort season, icy cold creek water for wading, July–September combined with Firefly Valley firefly viewing.
March–May: Wildflowers and gesang flowers bloom in the mountains, fewer people for peaceful colorful street photos.
October–November: Golden ginkgo forest, full autumn mountain atmosphere.
Winter: Quiet Qiang ethnic snow scenery, combined with Lutang Hot Springs for a two-day loop.
Recommended Visit Duration:
2 hours for street photography + viewing platform; 4 hours for full experience including train, water park, and petting zoo.
2. Self-Drive Directions (from Chengdu)
Route:
Chengdu city → Chengwan Expressway → exit at Mianzhu South Toll Station → straight on Demaolu Road to Qingping Town, about 90 km, 1.5 hours drive, fully paved road, easy for regular cars.
Precise navigation: Golden Qingping Fairy Tale Town Visitor Center
✅ One-day loop without backtracking:
Full-day at Qingping Fairy Tale Town → evening firefly viewing at Firefly Valley (overnight stay recommended)
Qingping Fairy Tale Town → Yunhu National Forest Park, two-day mountain and water fairy tale trip
Nianhua Valley water play → Qingping Fairy Tale Town for photos and water fun
Public Transport:
35 minutes by high-speed train from Chengdu East to Mianzhu South Station, then 40 minutes by taxi to Qingping Town, about 50 RMB one way.
Mianzhu Bus Center urban-rural bus direct to Qingping town, 10 RMB fare, 5-minute walk to town entrance.
3. Seven Beautiful Photo Spots
1. Macaron Fairy Tale Main Street
The soul of the town, pastel pink, blue, yellow, and green low-saturation colored houses, walls covered with cartoon fairy tale murals, paired with a rainbow walkway. Low-angle vertical shots extend the street view, perfect with light-colored dresses and straw hats in a Japanese fresh style. Best lighting in soft morning light and warm sunset glow.
2. Yunshang Yard Panoramic Viewing Platform (Free High Point)
Free viewing platform on the back mountain of the town, 360° overlooking the colorful village, Mian Yuan valley, and Longmen mountains. Stunning aerial views on clear days, perfect sunrise and sunset atmosphere, very few visitors.
3. Seven-Color Rainbow Suspension Bridge
A popular suspension bridge crossing Mian Yuan River, great for overhead shots of colorful houses, streams, and green mountains together. Ideal for group photos and dynamic portraits, with a breezy, atmospheric vibe.
4. Forest Train Track Curve
Vintage green sightseeing train runs through ginkgo forest and stream valley. The curve is a popular photo spot, wide-angle shots capture the train, colorful wooden houses, and green mountains, reminiscent of a Studio Ghibli animation.
5. Riverbank Shallow Water Play Area
Gentle mountain stream shallow beach, water only ankle-deep, spring water is icy cold and clear. Free to catch small fish and wade to cool off. Large lawn by the shore for picnic tents, backed by colorful houses, a core area for family outings.
6. Miner Culture Heritage Park
Preserves old mining tracks, vintage mining carts, and miner relief sculptures. Industrial style meets fairy tale style, a niche vintage documentary photo spot to learn about the town’s transformation from mining village to fairy tale village.
7. Qiang Culture Folk Square
Stone walls blending Tibetan and Qiang styles, folk sculptures, site of the evening bonfire party. Great for ethnic documentary photos, with Qiang ethnic song and dance and fairy tale drama performances at night.
4. Two Classic One-Day Itinerary Plans
Plan ① Chengdu One-Day Round Trip Parent-Child Easy Line (No Overnight)
08:30 Depart Chengdu by car, 10:00 Arrive at Qingping Fairy Tale Town
10. 10 Photo stops at colorful streets, rainbow bridge, Yunshang viewing platform
11. 30 Ride the forest sightseeing train through mountains and valleys
12. 30 Taste Qiang ethnic copper pot cured meat at local farmhouse
13. 30 Glass water slide, non-motorized park, river shallow beach water play and cooling
15:30 Leisure stroll at miner park and folk square
17:30 Depart for return, 19:00 Back in Chengdu
Plan ② Two-Day Deep Summer Resort Romantic Line (with Firefly Valley)
Day 1
09:00 Depart Chengdu, 10:30 Arrive at town
All-day photo stops at streets, train, water play, pet interaction, lawn picnic
18:00 Dinner with Qiang ethnic Tusi feast, watch folk bonfire party
20:00 Enter Firefly Valley to watch thousands of fireflies
22:30 Return to fairy tale-themed guesthouse in town, enjoy mountain starry sky at night
Day 2
Early morning climb to Yunshang viewing platform for sunrise over village, light mountain hiking and fresh air
After a light lunch, drive to Yunhu Forest Park to visit alpine lakes, return in the afternoon
5. Authentic Local Qiang Ethnic Farmhouse Cuisine
Qiang ethnic copper pot highland cured meat (signature must-order)
Local mountain-smoked old cured meat, cooked with highland potatoes and fresh bamboo shoots over firewood, a classic dish of northern Sichuan Qiang ethnic cuisine, good value for a small pot serving 6 people.
Mian Yuan River cold sour soup fish
Wild river fish from mountain spring water, tender meat with no muddy taste, warms and refreshes after water play.
Home-style simple meals: stone-milled tofu pudding, corn bread, seasonal highland wild vegetables
Street snacks: handmade cold jelly, steamed mountain mushrooms with egg, local pickles
Main meals cost 45–60 RMB per person, generous portions, clearly priced with no overcharging.
6. Travel Photo Outfit & Golden Shooting Light
Outfit Recommendations:
Colorful streets: pure white, cream, light pink, light green dresses, cotton-linen new Chinese style, straw hats. Low saturation light colors blend softly with macaron walls, avoid dark black clothing.
River shallow water play: quick-dry casual dresses, bring water shoes + a change of clothes; mossy slippery mountain paths prohibit high heels.
Mountain area has large temperature differences between morning and night, always bring a light jacket even in summer.
Best Shooting Times:
Morning 09:00–11:00: Few tourists, soft light fills colorful houses, peak time for photos.
Evening 16:30–18:00: Warm sunset light fills streets and river surface, golden reflections on water, full atmosphere.
After rain clears: mountain greenery saturation doubles, colorful walls look clean and bright, no filter needed for photos.
7. Practical Tips to Avoid Pitfalls
Mountain area has weak mobile signal overall, travel in groups, do not walk alone into undeveloped back mountain trails.
Water play limited to gentle river shallow areas; deep pools and strong currents are dangerous, swimming strictly prohibited; after heavy rain, creek water rises for 24 hours, keep away from riverbanks.
Summer forest has many mosquitoes, always carry insect repellent and sunscreen; valley has large day-night temperature differences, cool evenings.
Weekends in summer are crowded; visit on weekday mornings to enjoy colorful streets and drone spots alone.
Practice leave-no-trace; trash bins are sparse in town, carry out all your trash to protect the valley ecology.
Separate ticket required for Firefly Valley; no flashlights or direct torchlight on fireflies to avoid killing them.
Mountain roads have many village bends in the latter half; visibility is poor at dusk, slow down and honk when passing curves.