AN IDYLLIC LAND FOR POETIC DWELLING
– Memorable encounter with Chengdu and other places of Sichuan province
Chengdu lies on the west of Sichuan Basin and in the center of Chengdu Plain. Known as “the land of abundance” since the ancient times in China, Chengdu is a sub-provincial city that serves as a capital city of Sichuan Province in China. Plenty in gifts from nature, Chengdu annually attracts millions of travelers streaming into the city to experience its wonders, leaving tourists intoxicated with its beauty. It is a city that also goes by the name of “Storehouse of Heaven.” Let us step into this mysterious land and explore what the real city unveils.
MULTICOLORED HEAVEN IN DEEP VALLEYS
The first tourist attraction that is strongly recommended is Jiuzhaigou — literally the Nine Village Valley — which is the home of nine Tibetan villages in the region. It is located in the Aba Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, within Sichuan Province, covering a 35-kilometer land that features perennial snow-topped mountain peaks, verdant and lush forests, serene lake, and rare and precious birds and animals, all contributing to Jiuzhaigou’s unique view. Upon entering the resort, you will find yourself strolling in a haven of peace, leaving behind nothing but earthly troubles.
Jiuzhaigou is a world of water. Whether you meet serene lakes or plunging waterfalls, you will enjoy yourself so much and linger with no thought of leaving for home. The local people call the numbers of lakes as haizi, meaning “little sea.” Jiuzhaigou has 108 haizi of varying sizes and shapes, but of invariant limpidity to the bottom of the lakes. Some are hidden in the valleys, and others inlay the virgin forest. On sunny days, algae and sediments at the bottom project colorful light rings. Thus, the locals have awarded the lakes another name: “Multicolored Sea.”
A romantic local legend has it that a long, long time ago, there lived a charming and kind-hearted goddess in the mountain east of Jiuzhaigou and an industrious and chivalrous god in the mountain west of this region. As time went by, they fell in love. One day, the god presented a big and shiny divine mirror to the goddess as a token of love. The goddess was so excited that the mirror slipped from her trembling fingers and dropped to the valleys, breaking into 108 pieces, which turned into the 108 twinkling and glittering crystal lakes.
ELYSIUM FIELDS FOR THE EARTHLY BLISS
A number of devout Buddhists live in Chengdu, which is one of the birthplaces of Buddhism in China. Mount Emei, located in the southwest of Sichuan Basin and one of the Four Scared Buddhist Mountains in China, is considered as a holy land by locals.
It is characterized by various Buddhist temples, including Baoguo Temple, Wannian Temple, Qingyin Pavilion, as well as the Golden Summit, the top peak. To reach Mount Emei’s summit, you will follow the zigzag and tortuous paths, along which you will feast your eyes on the charming scenery and appreciate the ancient architectural works of various styles. Soon you will trudge along a staircase that seems to lead to the Heavenly Southern Gate. When you reach the peak and look around in the distance, you will find yourself carried away by the overpowering endless vistas of mountains beyond mountains and scenery beyond scenery.
In Mount Emei, each season has its distinctive beauty: bright flowers in full bloom covering the green slopes in spring, spectacular summer thunderstorms which are rarely seen elsewhere, blue rivers running across the mountains overlaid with fallen leaves in fall, and snow-capped mountains that stage a quiet solemn spectacle of particular interest. Thanks to the peaceful natural landscape of Mount Emei, it has long been a preferred gathering place that inspired many great classics of ancient poets or calligraphers. Nowadays, in a cultural sense, Mount Emei has been awarded as one of the world’s cultural heritage sites by UNESCO.
HOLY PILGRIMAGE FOR BUDDHISTS When it comes to the Mount Emei Scenic Area, Leshan Giant Buddha is also supposed to be included. Carved into the side of Mt. Lingyun, the colossal statue was made in the 8th Century AD and is considered to be the largest stone Buddha in the world, and by far the tallest pre-modern statue. One glance at the Maitreya Buddha from a distance can leave you in awe of its splendor and majesty.
Leshan Giant Buddha is located in the east of the mountain and the joint of Minjiang River, Dadu River and Qingyi River. The solemn Buddha sits on the cliff of Xijiao hill, with his hands on his knees and streams running below his feet.
Standing 71 meters tall, with the head of 14.7 meters high and 10 meters wide, the Maitreya Buddha is known as an exotic flower of Chinese Buddhist culture, given its magnificence and honor.
EXPLORE THE UNKNOWN SECRETS OF GIANT PANDAS
Chengdu, as the natural range of the world-famous giant pandas, is regarded as the homeland for Chinese national treasure — pandas. The Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding is a must-visit place, where a great number of plants and as many as 10,000 clumps of bamboos are cultivated to provide for the animals’ diet and habitat.
Aren’t pandas adorable? If you are a big fan of giant panda, come and make friends with them!
The giant pandas look cuddly and cute, but they are much bigger than what people usually think. And they are likely to be “lazy,” in that they like to eat and sleep the whole day. Pandas are good tree-climbers and are also good at swimming. Sometimes, if you are lucky enough, you could witness newborn panda babies at the research base.
This is also a perfect place for parents to bring their kids. Children can have fun watching these cute creatures while learning and broadening their horizon.
LEISURE TIME FOR RAMBLING ALONG ALLEYS In this vibrant city, Wide and Narrow Alleys, which are three ancient streets restored in the architectural styles of Ming and Qing Dynasties, epitomize the past time. For the locals, they are in fact symbols inside the memory.
In other words, this site sums up Chengdu, a city full of historical memories, heritage as well as spiritual outlook and cultural charm.
The wide alley was called Xingren Lane during Qing dynasty and it symbolizes the leisurely attitude towards life — a pursuit of a slow-paced and carefree lifestyle.
Walking along the south-north passageway of the wide alley, you will reach the narrow alley, which was named Taiping Lane in early ancient times. Here, not only can you relish the local authentic snacks, you can also watch shadow plays in the courtyards.
By contrast, another lane called Jing Alley is built as a modern area for locals, which seems like a melting pot for people with multiple-cultural background. Many international friends prefer to hang out here, enjoying the white night in bars, or the spicy hotpot on the streets.
AT THE END
A saying goes that, “full of merit, yet poetically, man dwells on this earth.” Chengdu, a city full of tranquility and coziness, is an ideal paradise for urban residents seeking to escape the chaos for a while. Walking along the ancient lanes and tracing back to the past memories inside this city, we gain a sense of satisfaction in relishing the moments and seizing the days in this charming city.