The port city of YIBIN sits where the Jinsha Jiang and Min Jiang combine to form the Chang Jiang , the main body of the Yangzi. A well-ordered, modern place, Yibin is also home to the Wuliangye distillery , producing China's second-favourite spirit. However, there's little to do here beyond organising transport out to surrounding sights: westerly Chuiping Park offers a lengthy flight of steps from Zhenwu Lu up to views over the town and river junction, while Daguan Lou , a former gate tower on central Mazhang Lu, has been co-opted as the inevitable stylish tea house.

 

Around 2km across, the town focuses on a central crossroads ; from here Shangbei Jie runs north, Minzhu Lu runs south into Nan Jie, Zhongshan Lu heads east to the docks , and Renmin Lu runs west. Beimen long-distance bus station is 250m northwest of the centre off Zhenwu Lu , the highway in from Zigong which skirts the western side of the city. For somewhere to stay , try either the reasonable Xufu Binguan, at 14 Renmin Lu, just west from the crossroads (tel 0831/8221582, fax 8223986; ¥150-200), or the new and friendly Post and Telecommunications Hotel (tel 0831/8247388; ¥30-150), next to the post office on Nan Jie. If you want to vary the usual canteen fare, seek out the Jingsheng tea house - more of a dumpling and light-meal restaurant - on Renhe Jie, which runs south off Renmin Lu.

Beimen station handles traffic to Chongqing, Chengdu and Zigong; for regional sights, catch a city bus from beside Daguan Lou south over the river to Nan'an bus station (15min; ¥1), from where early morning services to the Bamboo forest and Gongxian depart. Ferries to Luzhou and Chongqing leave daily from the docks on the eastern side of town.