A Guide to Visiting Bai Gongguan: How to Avoid Tourist Traps and Overpriced Experiences

Visiting Bai Gongguan without proper planning can really lead to pitfalls! This time, I’ll share my personal experience to help you avoid the “aunties” and various tricks, so you can have a comfortable trip without regrets.

My Day: Blood Lessons Inspired by Xiaohongshu

I was in Chongqing and initially saw many people recommending Bai Gongguan and Zhangzi Cave, with some mentioning Ciqikou Town. So, I decided to go for a “historical exploration + classic attractions” day trip, but due to a few overlooked pitfalls, my whole day almost turned into a disaster.

Here’s how I planned my itinerary: I left Huguang Guild Hall, took bus 503, which costs 2 yuan per person, and got off at Ciqikou Town to spend some time walking around. Although Ciqikou is also famous, it wasn’t my main target, so after a quick stroll, I called a Didi and spent 10 yuan to get to the entrance of Bai Gongguan. Transportation was fine overall, but the real “trap” started right at Bai Gongguan.

Here’s the situation, as soon as I arrived at the entrance, the aunties just rushed over. They kept saying that the scenic area was more than ten kilometers away and that I had to take their car for 50 yuan each to get there. At the time, I thought, “Let me check it out first,” so I wandered around, but no matter where I went, they were always following me. This soft and hard sell strategy is just too hard to resist!

In the end, I obviously didn’t believe the aunties and called another Didi. But to my surprise, the driver wasn’t even sure if he could take me directly to the scenic area. At that moment, these aunties started persuading the driver, insisting that “the car can’t go up” and “tourists can’t walk up.” I could tell the driver was also at a loss, but in the end, he caved to them and the fare shot up to 120 yuan, with four of us having to sit in their little blue sightseeing car. This was truly a “tax on my IQ,” but I learned a valuable lesson.

Let me stress this again: You absolutely do not need these sightseeing cars to visit Bai Gongguan!

Bai Gongguan is free to enter! You just need to make an appointment in advance through the official WeChat account “Hongyan Lianxian,” and when the time comes, you can enter with your ID. So, those so-called “convenient cars” by the aunties are completely unnecessary.

Transport Strategy: How to Get to Bai Gongguan Smoothly

Fail-safe arrival plan: Bus + Walking

1. Bus option: Take bus “210” directly to the entrance of Bai Gongguan. This route is particularly reliable for friends coming from Jiefangbei and Yuzhong area. It’s also cheap, costing only about 2-3 yuan per person.

2. Taxi selection: If you don’t want to wait for the bus, you can call a Didi or taxi directly, but remember to select “Direct to Bai Gongguan” as your destination, and don’t easily believe suggestions from others on the way.

One sentence takeaway: Don’t trust any external vehicle until you reach the entrance!

Tickets and Reservations: Free Entry is Key

Bai Gongguan is free, but you need to make a reservation in advance. The reservation steps are simple:

• Follow the WeChat account: Hongyan Lianxian
• Make an online reservation: Register and choose an open time slot, then get your QR code or just scan your ID.

Here are a few tips:

• Entry time: The last admission time is 16:30 every day, and the park will clear out at 16:50, so try to arrive early to avoid cutting it close.

• Consequences of no reservation: If you don’t make a reservation, you might be denied entry at the door.

• There are no mandatory consumption items in the park, so you really don’t need to worry about extra charges.

The internal visit to Bai Gongguan is entirely free, and the entry experience is quite smooth—no complicated security checks or ID verifications. However, since it’s a historical site, I recommend keeping the noise down and maintaining some respect.

Important Notes: Avoid the “Aunties” Tricks

Here’s the key! Those “enthusiastic aunties” at the entrance of Bai Gongguan are often third-party vehicles; their most common trick is—misleading information, creating anxiety, to get you to cough up cash.

• Don’t be fooled by claims like “the scenic area is far, the bus can’t go up, the journey is difficult”—they’re simply not true.
• Always remember: Bus 210 stops directly at the entrance to the scenic area!

What if they won’t let you go? Just smile politely and refuse, then continue walking away without engaging further.

Scenic Area Introduction: A Look at Bai Gongguan and Its History

Once you enter Bai Gongguan, you’ll find it’s a site of great historical significance and was once a prison site. Inside the museum, there are various text explanations and historical document displays, mostly in a picture and text format. There are many accounts of revolutionary fighters’ deeds and the facilities used to detain them. For history buffs, it’s truly a rare cultural experience.
Tip: If you’re not too interested in this history, you can opt for a brief visit to avoid wasting too much time.

Current Status of Zhangzi Cave: Don’t Waste Money!

Lastly, if you’ve made up your mind to visit both Bai Gongguan and Zhangzi Cave, hold on a second. Recently, Zhangzi Cave is under maintenance, and there’s a high chance it won’t be open. There’s no need to spend extra on transportation to get there; Bai Gongguan is already sufficient for a full day of sightseeing.

Here’s the main point: Bai Gongguan is free and fun, while Zhangzi Cave is currently closed. Save the transportation expenses for Zhangzi Cave!

To sum up in one sentence: If you want an easy and budget-friendly trip, watch out for overly “enthusiastic” people, the 210 bus is the way to go!