Sichuan Travel and Tours Guide

Sichuan, known in ancient times as Bashu for the two states of Ba and Shu, is a large province in southwestern China, occupying an area of 485,000 square kilometers and providing a home to a population of 83 million.

Bashu, with the subtle spirit of its mountains and rivers converging to nurture generations of outstanding personages, enjoyed the reputation through the ages that "the natural beauty of the world can be found in Shu." The lofty and precipitous peaks of northwestern Sichuan are home to 8590 of China's rare giant pandas, which are famed as a national treasure. Four of Sichuan's most famous places - Jiuzhai Gully, the Yellow Dragon Scenic Resort, the Leshan Grand Buddha, and the Sleeping Dragon Hills - have been listed by the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization as World Natural and Cultural Heritage and among the Man and Biosphere Network. The province also has 9 key national scenic resorts, including Dujiang Weir, Mount Qingcheng, Jianmen Shudao (Sichuan Roads), Mount Gonga, the Sea of Bamboo of Southern Sichuan, Siguniang Mountains (the Four Maidens Mountains), the Xiling Snow-capped Mountains, I I national forests parks, 50 nature reserves, and more than 50 provincial scenic resorts. Sichuan boasts a varied topography, from plateaus, mountain ranges, and canyons to basins, hills, and plains; from rivers and lakes to hot springs and waterfalls; and from volcanic landforms to rosy cloud-shaped hills. It has always enjoyed the reputation of "landscape province". This is particularly true of western Sichuan, where you will find three of China's large forest regions and one of five large pastures. Upright snow-capped peaks tower over immense forest stretches.The Jinsha, Yalong, Dadu, and Minjiang rivers surge through winding canyons, forming many unusual, mysterious, and unique sights.

Known as a land of plenty, Sichuan has a long history and brilliant culture. The province includes 7 cities recognized by the central government as Statelevel historical and cultural cities. These are Chengdu, Zigong, Leshan, Yibin, Luzhou, Langzhong, and Dujiangyan. In addition, there are 40 key State-level reserves of cultural relics and 24 provincial-level historical and cultural cities or towns. Travellers can visit ancient irrigation works and towns. the former residences of famous Sichuan natives, Buddhist temples and Daoist shrines, forests of stone carvings, and prehistoric ruins, as well as modem art collections and state-of-the-art tourism facilities. Sichuan is home to 15 ethnic minorities, including the Tibetan, Yi, Qiang, and Naxi. Their traditional festivals offer another window on Chinese culture, including the lantern festival, the flower festival, horse racing, the torch festival, mountain pilgrimages, and others. The hospitality is legendary, and the native wines and cuisine are famous throughout the country and around the world.

Sichuan has vigorously developed tourism, transportation, and telecommunications. Comprehensive improvements in infrastructure have allowed the province to open its arms wider to visitors and to guarantee a visit full of mystery and wonder.

Follow Me to Chengdu

Chengdu is not only the capital of Sichuan Province, but also the economic and cultural center. Located along the southeastern reaches of the West Sichuan Plain, the city enjoys warm weather year-round, with an average temperature of 16 C. Chengdu has jurisdiction over 8 districts, 4 cities, and 8 counties, with an area of 12,390 square kilometers and a population of some 9.8 million. Throughout the long history of the city, it has also been called "Jincheng" and "Rongcheng".

Chengdu has abundant tourism resources and a rich cultural heritage. Within its territory are 6 key State-level and 33 provincial-level cultural relics reserves. With the city at the center of a transportation network, 10 State, provincial, or city-level scenic resorts have been developed, including Dujiang Weir, Mount Qingcheng, and the Baoguang Temple. In addition, there are more than 20 natural landscape attractions, including parks, botanical gardens, and zoos. The local ethnic minorities host several gatherings each year that display the unique charm of the region, such as the lantern festival, flower festival, water drawing off festival at Dujiang Weir, dragon-boat races in Xinjin and Jintang, and the Wangcong song contest held once each year.

The principal scenic attractions in Chengdu are the temple dedicated to the memory of Zhuge Liang (a hero of the Three Kingdoms), the Humble Cottage of Du Fu (a great poet), Yongling Tomb, the Wangjiang Tower, Funan River, the Baoguang Temple, the Panda Breeding Center, Dujiang Weir, Mount Qingcheng, the Xiling Snow-capped Mountains, the Liu Family Mansion, the Shrine to the Goddess of Mercy, the Dragon Pool, the Huashuiwan Hot Springs, Mount Jiufengshan, Nine-Dragon Gully, Mount Tiantai, the Qingyang Temple, Mount Heming, and the Chunyang Shrine.

Located in the largest bamboo park in China, Wangjianglou Park, the Wangjiang Tower is renown for its relics of the female poet Xue Tao of the Tang Dynasty. The principal structure in the park is the Chongli Pavilion, also known as the Wangjiang (Overlooking the River) Tower. It was reconstructed in the late Qing Dynasty. The four-story tower rises 30 meters from the banks of the river. The golden eaves, red pillars, and gold-plated roof provide an impressive view and has become a symbol of Chengdu.

Du Fu was a renowned poet of the Tang Dynasty who lived from 712 to 770. A recluse, he built a humble cottage in the western outskirts of Chengdu. Now a tourist attraction, the Humble Cottage includes a grand corridor, epic hall, brushwood door, the Du Fu Shrine, and a pavilion built over the foundation of the original cottage.

Located in the southern suburbs of Chengdu, the Memorial Temple of Zhuge Liang occupies an area of 37 square kilometers. Early in the Ming Dynasty, the hall was merged with a neighboring temple dedicated to Zhaolie Emperor Liu Bei of Shu Kingdom. This explains the ancient plaque hung over the gate to the temple, which reads, "Temple of Zhaolie Emperor."

Follow Me to Leshan and Meishan

At the confluence of the Qingyi. Dadu, and Minjiang rivers, Leshan and Meishan cities are found in the southwest of the Sichuan Basin. Leshan enjoys fame as the "Fragrant Kingdom of Crabapples" due to the abundance of flowering Chinese crabapples. Its long history and culture have combined with unique natural beauty to make Leshan a famous scenic spot. Among its wellknown attractions are the world's largest statue of the Buddha, Mount Emei, the ancient temple at Wuyou, and the Thousand-Buddha Cliff. Sites under the jurisdiction of Meishan include the Sansu Shrine and Mount Wawu.

Standing at the toot of Mount Lingyun to the east of Leshan, the incredible Leshan Buddha is the largest .lone image of the Buddha in the world. Work on the masterpiece of religious sculpting hegan in 713, the I irst year of the reign of the Tang Emperor Kaiyuan, and lasted more than 90 years.

Located in the southwestern corner of Meishan county, at the center of a 160-km corridor between Chengdu and Leshan,the Sansu Shrine was the former residence of Su Xun, So Shi, and Su Zhe, famous writers from the Northern Song Dynasty (960-1127).

Mount Emei is within the boundaries of Emeishan City, some 140 kilometers to the southwest of Chengdu and 33 kilometers to the east of Leshan. The mountain has four peaks, known as the Great E, 2nd E, 3rd E, and 4th E. The peaks rise one higher than the next to unfold into a vast and verdant scene, giving rise to the claim that "Emei's beauty is the finest under heaven." One of four famous Buddhist mountains in China, Emei includes several attractions, such as Baoguo Temple, Fuhu Temple, Leiyin Temple, Chunyang Palace, Da'e Temple, the Qingyin Pavilion, Hongchun Plain, Xian's Temple, Xixiang Pool, Golden Roof, Ten-Thousand-Year Temple, and White Dragon Cavern. In 1997, Mount Emei and the Leshan Grand Buddha were added to UNESCO's list of World Natural and Cultural Heritage.

Located to the southwest of Hongya County and more than 50 kilometers from Mount Emei, Mount Wawu (Tiled House Mountain)has rivaled Mt. Emei in tame throughout the ages. Named for its flat summit, which resembles the tile roofed houses of ancient China, the mountain covers an area of more than 10 square kilometers. The summit is blanketed in primitive firs and dragon spruces. Several waterfalls can be found at Mount Wawu. Among these, the Lanxi cataract drops 1,040 meters and is the most famous. Dove trees and azaleas spread along the mountain crest, providing a spectacular backdrop to mountain views. The mountain is snow-capped during for about five months, giving the mountain a decidedly northern appearance.

Ecological Protection

There are 11 forestry preserves and 50 nature reserves of various types in Sichuan Province. In the transition zone in western Sichuan, where the Sichuan Basin meets the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, stands a forest of snow-capped peaks. Alternating mountains and valleys are blanketed by vast forests that are a heaven for wildlife and rare plant species. As part of the 1999 China EcoTour Year, Sichuan hosted many activities related to ecological protection, including tour packages that make visitors aware of the majesty of the giant panda, mountaineering, rafting. and skiing.