Culture & History
Du Fu Thatched Cottage
4.5(4,321 reviews)
2-3 hours
$8 USD
Best time: Spring for gardens
About
Du Fu Thatched Cottage is a museum and park dedicated to Du Fu, one of China's greatest poets from the Tang Dynasty. Du Fu lived in this thatched cottage for nearly four years during which he composed over 240 poems. The site features reconstructed traditional buildings, beautiful gardens, bamboo groves, and exhibition halls about the poet's life and works.
Photos
See what Du Fu Thatched Cottage really looks like
Highlights
- Reconstructed thatched cottage
- Beautiful bamboo gardens
- Poetry exhibition halls
- Tang Dynasty architecture
- Peaceful walking paths
The Honest Truth
What guidebooks will not tell you - the real deal from someone who lives here
- The 'thatched cottage' is a reconstruction - the original was destroyed centuries ago
- It is more of a beautiful park than an authentic historical site
- If you do not care about Chinese poetry, you might find it boring
- The gardens are genuinely beautiful, especially in spring
- Local elderly people come here to exercise and play mahjong - it is part of the charm
What to Actually Expect
- A large, beautiful park with traditional-style buildings
- Lots of bamboo, ponds, and walking paths
- Poetry exhibitions that require some background knowledge to appreciate
- A relaxed, local atmosphere unlike the tourist-heavy Panda Base
What to Avoid
- Do not visit if you have zero interest in Chinese poetry or gardens
- Do not expect to see an actual ancient cottage - everything is rebuilt
- Do not miss the Tang Dynasty site museum in the back - it is the most authentic part
- Do not visit on rainy days - many paths become slippery
Practical Tips
- Spring is best for garden views
- Read some Du Fu poems before visiting
- Allow time for the gardens
- Good for photography
- Less crowded than other attractions
Quick Facts
- Duration
- 2-3 hours
- Price
- $8 USD
- Best Time
- Spring for gardens
- Category
- Culture & History
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