Chengdu
Chengdu, abounds in tourist resources, such as Temple of Marquis Wu,a memorial shrine of the prime minister, Zhuge Liang of the Shu Kingdom (221-263A.D. ); Du Fu’s Thatched Cottage, a monument to the Tang Dynasty(618-907A.D)poet, Du Fu; Tomb of Wang Jian(847-918A.D) the emperor of theformer Shu during the Five Dynasties period; Wenshu Monastery, an active Buddhist monastery housing 200 odd Buddhist figures and objects, Qingyang Temple, a well-known Taoist temple first built in the Tang Dynasty(618-907 A.D); the River-view Pavilion Park, a bamboo part suited for a quiet stroll. In the vicinity of the city, there are a 2000-year-old water conservancy project, Dujiangyan Irrigation System, a Taoist mountain called Qingcheng Shan (Green-city mountain) and a Buddhist monastery called Baoguang Monastery (Divine Light Monastery). In addition, about 160 kilometers away from Chengdu lies the largest Buddha statue Leshan Grand Buddha and a Buddhist sacred mountain, Mt.Eme 。All the historical sites andscenic spots are well worth a visit, not to say, the tea houses, the local cuisine and thetraditional arts and crafts.
Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding
the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding is located in the northern suburb of Chengdu on Futou Hill. It is 10 km from downtown Chengdu, and can be reached by the Panda Road. Giant pandas at the Chengdu Research Base live in large naturalistic habitats, which help the visitor to understand how these animals live in the wild . It is an excellent recreational area and a highlight of any visit to Chengdu
Leshan Grand Buddha
The Leshan Giant Buddha is a statue of Maitreya (a Bodhisattva usually represented as a very stout monk with a broad smile on his face and with his naked breast and paunch exposed to view) in sitting posture. The Buddha is located to the east of Leshan City, Sichuan Province, It is 71 meters (about 233 feet) high, and has three-meter-long (about 11 feet) fingers. The eight-meter-long (about 27 feet) instep is big enough for one hundred people to sit on and the 28-meter-wide (about 92 feet) shoulder is large enough to be a basketball playground, at the confluence of three rivers, namely, Min River, Qingyi River, and Dadu River. The statue makes itself the most renowned scenic spot in Leshan City. In December, 1996, the location of the Buddha was included by UNESCO on the list of the World Heritage sites. Begun in the year 713 in the Tang Dynasty, and finished in the year 803, the statue took people more than 90 years to carve. During these years, thousands of workers had expended their efforts and wisdom on the project. As the biggest carved stone Buddha in the world, Leshan Giant Buddha is featured in poetry, song and story.
Jiuzhaigou valley
Jiuzhaigou valley is known as the "a Fairy tale world”. Jiuzhaigou sits on 103°46′—104°4′E and32°15 ′-33°19′N, the jagged Jiuzhaigou valley reaches a height of more than 4,800 m, thus comprising a series of diverse forest ecosystems. Its superb landscapes are particularly interesting for their series of narrow conic karst land forms and spectacular waterfalls. Some 140 bird species also inhabit the valley, as well as a number of endangered plant and animal species, including the giant panda. Inhabited by Tibetans, the nine villages and alpine lakes, affectionately called "Haizi", are like reflecting mirrors or crystal jade blocks inlaid in Snow Mountains and forests. At the end of Zechawa Valley is the Chang (Long) Lake and the end of Rise Valley are virgin forests. From south to north, both valleys stretch and meet at Nuorilang. The drop between the two valleys and Shuzheng Valley is over 1,000 meters, with 114 lakes lying downward in an echelon manner, on which are 17 waterfalls, 11 rip currents and 5 travertine beaches, formulating alpine lake clusters and travertine spots that are rarely seen in China and even in the world. A fairyland on earth, Jiuzhaigou collects the primitive, natural beauties best demonstrated in its lakes, waterfalls, beaches, water currents, snow peaks, virgin forests and Tibetan customs. |
