Introducing Chengdu

Chengdu, located in southwest of China, is the capital of Sichuan province. The city is also one of the most important economic centres, transportation and communication hubs in south-western China. More than four thousand years ago, the pre-historical Bronze Age culture of Jinsha established itself in this region. The fertile Chengdu Plain, on which Chengdu is located, is called Tianfuzhiguo in Chinese, which literally means "the Country of Heaven", or more often seen translated as "the Land of Abundance". Currently it is a metropolis that has managed to retain its greenery, old wooden houses and traditional artisans. The most scenic spot in Chengdu is Jiuzhaigou, which also known as Nine Villages Valley since it consists nine Tibetan villages within the area. If you love to see the charming Chinese Giant Panda, Wolong Giant Panda Natural Reserve is a must when travelling to Sichuan Province.

Attractions

 

The Wolong Giant Panda Natural Reserve – Located in south-west of Wenchuan County, this is a state-level nature reserve specifically protecting the giant panda and other rare wild animals and plants. The reserve abounds in wildlife and has 20 rare plants under key state protection. It is the largest and best-preserved haven of natural species. In 1980, it was included into UNESCO’s ‘men and biosphere’ network.

The Jiuzhaigou Scenic Area – A key state-level scenic area known for its undisturbed primitive beauty, the sea is listed as a world natural heritage. The area was named Jiuzhaigou (nine stockades gully) because there are nine Tibetan villages nearby. Jiuzhaigou is a 40-mile valley in Min Mountain, and most of the scenic spots are located in the Rize and Zecha valley. The Chinese Kung Fu movie ‘Hero’ of Zhang Yimou and starring by Ziyi Zhang was filmed here, which makes it more attractive and a must-see for the beautiful scenery.

The Du Fu Thatched Cottage – An idyllic 24-acre park and museum in honour of the Tang Dynasty poet Du Fu at the western outskirts of Chengdu, it is adjacent to the Flower Rinsing Creek. In 1961, the Chinese government established the Du Fu Thatched Cottage as a National Heritage site.

The Marquis Wu’s Shrine – Situated in the southern suburbs of Chengdu, it was built by Li Xiong of the Western Jin dynasty (265-316AD) in memory of Zhu Geliang, Prime Minister of the Shu Kingdom (220-263AD). He was also known as Marquis Wu and renowned for his wisdom and dedication to duty. In the shrine there are 47 historic figures and sculptures of the Shu Kingdom, some 40 steel and stone tablets, more than 30 plaques and dozens of ancient tripods, incense burners, bells, drums and other relics.

The Qingcheng Mountain – This is a famous Taoist mountain and a world cultural heritage. It was named Qingcheng (azure city) because the green mountains join together to form an enclosure that looks very much like a city wall. The mountain has 36 peaks, the highest standing 5000 feet above sea level. A number of famous Taoists had also stayed there practising Taoism. Over the years, many Taoist temples had been built on the mountain and 38 still remain. It is also famous for being one of Kung Fu birthplaces in China.

The Xichang Satellite-launch Centre – The centre is a large-scale spacecraft-launching base, equipped with complete facilities and advanced technologies, which has a strong capacity for spacecraft launching and experiments. The centre was first opened for visitors on September 1, 1988.

The Emei Mountain – One of the four sacred Buddhist Mountains in China, Emei Mountain is a famous scenic resort and a world natural heritage. It got the name Emei (beautiful eyebrow) because its two main peaks look just like the eyebrows of a beautiful lady. The mountain is home to 2,000 different animal species and over 3,000 plants species, many of which are quite rare. The four grandest views on the mountain are the Buddha radiance, the sea of cloud, sunrise and the Buddha lamp.

The Leshan Giant Buddha Statue – Carved on the western cliff of Lingyun Mountain, the Buddha statue is the largest Buddha sculpture in the world. Work on the 233-feet high statue started in 713, with funds raised by monk Haitong, and took 90 years to complete. The seated Maitreya Buddha was cut out from the rock cliff, with its head at the same height of the summit and its feet on the river. Originally, on top of the Buddha there was a 13-story pavilion, called Daxing Pavilion. In the Song Dynasty, it was renamed Tianning Pavilion.

The Green Goat Temple – The most popular Taoist temple in Chengdu, it is a dynamic, dazzling complex where two bronze goats at the main altar have been polished smooth by worshippers as the Chinese believes the goat as a lucky and divine animal brings good fortunes to people.

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Our Tour Packages featuring Chengdu :

| China Great Wall and Panda | China: Hidden Dragon | A Taste of Southwest |

| China Panorama |