Nowadays, more and more tourists are choosing to visit China, with fewer restrictions enabling them to fulfil a lifetime's dream. The southwestern province of Sichuan is a favourite destination for its ethnic diversity, long history and closeness to the magnificent Himalayan range and the Tibetan Plateau. Sichuan Province is a popular destination for its diversity of natural attractions, ethnicities and ancient culture as well as its laid-back lifestyle, epitomised in its capital city, Chengdu, a fascinating mix of high rises and traditional homes and temples.
Chengdu is one of China's most liveable cities for its slower pace of life, its many green spaces, its cultural buildings and events and the surrounding agricultural countryside of the Red River Basin. The city's teahouses are the place to while away an afternoon drinking fragrant Chinese tea, chatting with friends and watching the world go by, with evenings taken care of by more bars and clubs than there are in Shanghai! Daytrips from the city reveal ancient towns, national parks and, an hour's drive away, the spectacular Himalayan foothills, gateway to the world's tallest peaks and the remote Tibetan Plateau.
Two of the most outstanding visitor destinations in and just outside town are the archaeological dig at the Sanxingdui pits and the world-famous Giant Panda Breeding Research Base. The most important finds for 30 years, the weird but magnificent golden masks, jade carvings, bronzes and tools excavated here have since toured the world's most important museums, displaying a late Shang/Western Zhou culture more than 3,000 years old which suddenly ended when its religious and royal treasures were dumped into the pits and sealed over. Everyone who visits Chengdu also visits the Panda Breeding centre, home to 60 of the planet's favourite bears and focusing on conservation of the endangered species and their release into their natural habitat. Panda breakfast time at 09:30 is the best time to see them, and there's a fascinating museum as well.
Wuhuo and Wenshu temples and the famous complex of small temples and pavilions on the site of the revered 8th century classical poet Du Fu's original thatched cottage are all must-sees, and Wangjian Tower Park with its 150 bamboo species and elegant pagoda is good for a relaxing walk away from the bustle of the city. The Tibet quarter is fascinating, crammed with tiny stores selling religious artefacts and handicrafts set next to Tibetan Buddhist temples and monasteries. Most of its residents still wear their traditional costumes, versions of which make great souvenirs of your visit.
For a stroll through old China, Kuan Alley, Jing Alley and Zhai Alley are the three most authentic and untouched streets in the city and are protected areas for their ancient buildings. Part of the old walled city built in the late 17th century for soldiers and their families. Mostly entertainment streets nowadays, with bars, coffee shops and clubs, the three stone-paved little streets lit at night with traditional lanterns are a romantic reminder of the past within easy access from hotels in Chengdu City Centre.
Two of the holiest Buddhist sites in the province lie a daytrip from Chengdu; the huge carved stone Buddha set in the cliffs of Lingyun Shan above the confluence of the Dadu and Min rivers, and the nearby Lingyun Temple with its museum dedicated to Haitong, the legendary Tang Dynasty monk who carved the massive sculpture from the rock walls. The Buddhist holy mountain of Emei Shan is close by, and lovely Yiling Snow Mountain is two hours' drive from the city, with alpine flowers in spring and summer and deep snow gleaming on its peaks in winter. Stone Elephant Lake is an ecological reserve famous for its untold acres of tiger lilies, with mountainous Bi Feng Xia centred around a massive gorge with numerous waterfalls and panda habitats.
Lek Boonlert is an editor and content reviewer at DirectRooms and is responsible for all Chengdu City Centre Hotels content.
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