This small city about three and a half hours north of Chengdu by bus is the hub for a series of wonderful hikes through the surrounding countryside along shady flagstone roads lined by cypress trees (see Hike 6 under Hike Excerpts). The city itself, although for the most part unremarkable, has preserved a small section of its ancient town which includes a beautiful 14th century bell-drum tower (below right), the south gate topped by an old gate house (below left), and some original two- and three-story wooden buildings (below middle and to the right). What remains has been protected in a rather haphazard manner as cars are still permitted to honk their way through the crowds along the narrow street which passes under the bell-drum tower and the old building facades have in many cases been transformed by modern additions. The Old Town is still well worth a look nonetheless. Puan is sometimes referred to by its old name of Jiange.
