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Voykit pocket guide · China
Mianyang
绵阳
Spend 1–2 days in Mianyang: see People's Park, Tie Niu Square and Fu Le Shan Park, then catch a bus to Beichuan Qiangcheng for a half‑day day‑trip.
Mianyang is Sichuan’s second‑largest city, a transport hub with rail and air links to major Chinese cities. Its compact centre lets you walk most attractions in a few hours, while nearby nature and cultural sites are reachable by short bus rides, making a 1‑2‑day stay sufficient for a quick look.
- Country
- China
- Local name
- 绵阳
- Best months
- Mar–May, Sep–Oct
- Avoid
- Jul–Aug (hot, rainy)
- Stay
- 1 night
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- CNY
- Money
- Alipay and WeChat Pay accept Visa, Mastercard, JCB and Amex cards; single payments over ¥200 carry a fee of about 3% on a foreign card (smaller ones are free), and per-payment and yearly caps apply — check the app. Keep a second way to pay.
- Daily spend
- Budget ¥250–¥350 excl. bed · Mid ¥450–¥600 excl. bed · High ¥800+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- A roaming eSIM from outside China routes traffic through its home network, so Google, WhatsApp and Instagram work without a VPN — the simplest setup.
- Emergency
- Police 110 · Fire 119 · Ambulance 120
- Plugs
- Types A, C, I · 220 V · 50 Hz · Many sockets take flat two-pin (A), round two-pin (C) and angled three-pin (I) plugs; UK plugs need an adapter.
- Tipping
- Restaurants: No tip; upmarket hotels add 10–15% service.; Taxis and DiDi: No tip.; Tour guides and drivers: Expected on organised tours: about ¥100–200 a day for a guide, ¥50–100 for a driver.; Hotel porters: Not expected; ¥10–20 in luxury hotels.
- Water
- Not for drinking from the tap; bottled water ¥2–5, and kettles and free bottles in hotel rooms. Restaurants serve hot water or tea.
- Toilets
- Public toilets are frequent and free; squat toilets outside hotels and malls. Carry tissues — many have no paper.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Bus ride | ¥2 |
| Taxi (10 km (6.2 mi))Taxi (6.2 mi (10 km)) | ¥12–18 |
| Street food snack | ¥5–¥15 |
| Bowl of rice vermicelli | ¥10–¥20 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- MIG · Mianyang South Suburban Airport
- Class 4D, military‑civilian joint use; flights to Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Kunming, Hangzhou.
Typical fares
- MIG → City centre (taxi)
- ≈ ¥70, 30 min (check)
- Mianyang Railway Station → Bus Terminal
- ¥2 by bus, 10 min walk
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Local buses cost ¥2 per ride; metered taxis start at ¥6 flag fee, ¥12–18 for a 10 km (6.2 mi) trip. Most sights are 5–15 min walk from the park area.Local buses cost ¥2 per ride; metered taxis start at ¥6 flag fee, ¥12–18 for a 6.2 mi (10 km) trip. Most sights are 5–15 min walk from the park area.
See and do
Known for
- People's Park
- Tie Niu Square
- Science City (restricted)
- Beichuan Qiangcheng Tourism Zone
- Fu Le Shan Park
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Beichuan Qiangcheng Tourism Zone | Bus from Mianyang Bus Terminal, every 10 min; ~1 h ride. | ≈2 h round‑trip |
| Wanglang National Nature Reserve (Pingwu) | Direct shuttle bus from Mianyang Bus Terminal, every 30 min; 3.5–4 h drive. | ≈8 h round‑trip |
| Jiuhuang Mountain Scenic Area | Bus 22 from city centre to Xianhai, then transfer; ~30 min total. | ≈3 h round‑trip |
Sleep
- City‑centre budget hotel
- Within 5 min walk of People's Park; good for 1 night.
- Mid‑range hotel near Railway Station
- Close to train and bus terminals; convenient for day‑trips.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello | 你好nǐ hǎo |
| Thank you | 谢谢xièxiè |
| How much? | 多少钱？duōshǎo qián? |
| Where is the bus stop? | 公交站在哪里？gōngjiāo zhàn zài nǎlǐ? |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Handshake and a nod; use surnames with a title; avoid: Hugs and cheek kisses
- Face: Disagree privately and indirectly; avoid: Correcting or embarrassing someone in front of others
- Gifts: Give with two hands; expect the gift to be refused once or twice and opened later; avoid: Clocks, umbrellas, white flowers, sets of four
- Business cards: Present and receive with both hands, read it, keep it on the table; avoid: Writing on it or pocketing it at once
- Queues and crowds: Hold your ground politely in scrums at buses and lifts; avoid: Taking pushing personally
- Temples: Walk clockwise around Tibetan stupas and prayer wheels; remove hats; avoid: Touching statues or photographing where signs forbid
- Politics: Listen; follow your host's lead; avoid: Raising Tibet, Taiwan, Xinjiang, 1989 or the party leadership
- Numbers and colour: Red and 8 are lucky; red envelopes carry money gifts; avoid: Writing names in red; the number 4
Scams and watch-outs
- Science City is closed to most foreigners; no entry without special clearance.
- Buses can be crowded at lunch and weekend peaks.
- Winter can be cold and dry; pack a warm jacket.
Mianyang is generally safe; keep an eye on crowded buses and carry your ID; night‑time streets are well lit.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Mianyang yet. Suggested stay: 1 night. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- People's Park
- Tie Niu Square
- Science City (restricted)
- Beichuan Qiangcheng Tourism Zone
- Fu Le Shan Park
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikivoyage: Mianyang, revision 5286633 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5286633
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/mianyang). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.