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CHENGDU
At a glance |
General Information |
History | Travel |
Attractions
| Tours originating Chengdu
Attractions:
Thatched
Cottage of Du Fu |
Leshan Buddha | Daci
Si Temple |
Wangjiang
Lou Gongyuan Park |
Baoguang Si Temple
| Wenshu Yuan Temple
|
Dujiangyan Irrigation Project |
Anlan
Suspension Bridge |
Dragon-Taming
Temple | Erwang
Temple |
Qingchengshan Temple |
Mt. Qingcheng |
Qingyang Palace
|Tomb of Wangjian
| Wenshu Monastery
| Wuhou Memorial
Temple | Dinosaur
Museum |
Huang Long Valley (Yellow Dragon Valley) |
Salt Museum |
Anzihe
Panda Natural Reserve |Chengdu
Panda Breeding Research Base
 Chengdu
at a glance:
Enjoying another name of "Land of abundance" since ancient times, the center of
science and technology, commerce, trade and finance as well as leading hub of
transportation and communications in Southwest China. Location: located
between 10254' - 10453' east longitude and 3005' - 3126' north latitude, and in
the hinterland of China's Sichuan province. Neighboring areas:
Qinghai, Gansu, Shaanxi, Hubei, Hunan, Guizhou, and Yunnan Provinces, Tibet
Autonomous Region. Physical Features: mainly covered by plain.
Population: 9.9 million. Urban Population: 3.2 million.
Area: 12,300 sq. km. Nationalities: Han, Hui, Tibetan, Man,
Meng and Yi. Climatic Features: lies in subtropical humid climate
with free-frost period of about 337 days and average rainfall of 900-1,300 mm
per year, annual average humidity is 82%, and the sunshine ratio is 28%.
Average Temperature: 15.5C -16.5C. See our
Weather Page.
Rainfall: average rainfall
of 900 - 1,300mm annually. See our
Weather Page.
Mountains: Mt Qingchengshan, Mt. Emeishan.
Rivers: Minjiang River, the Tuojiang River and other over 40 rivers.
Products: grain, cooking oil, pork, and vegetables. Local
Highlights: giant panda and golden monkey, Chuanxiu (embroidery), bamboo
ware, tea.
General Information:
 Chengdu
(Ch'eng-tu), with over 2,000 years of history, this capital city of Sichuan province is one
of the most beautiful cities in China. The national government has even
determined that Chengdu is the cleanest city in China. Chengdu is sometimes
called the City of Brocade; the Jinjiang, which means brocade, is a river that
flows through the city. The breeding of silkworms and the weaving of brocade
were highly developed as early as the Han era (206 BC - 220 AD). Chengdu is
also known as the City of Hibiscus because of its several parks and the
wonderful flowers which grow even in the downtown area. Reportedly, Meng Cheng,
King of Shu and a fancier of hibiscus, had hibiscus planted along the walls and
edges of the streets in the 10th Century. The city is located in southwest China, in the west Sichuan plain, at the
confluence of the Nan and Fu rivers. An ancient walled city, it was the capital
of the Shu kingdom (3rd Century AD). It is an important regional center for
metallurgy, chemicals, machinery, and electronics. It is also considered to be
the cultural hub of southwest China; it is the site of Sichuan University and a
center of Sichuan opera. The province itself abuts the eastern border of
Tibet. Because of its location in the midst of some of China's most fertile growing
regions, Chengdu is also known as the Land of Abundance. Its markets are always
filled with fresh vegetables and fruits. Whether due to government
subsidies or cheap labor, most items are quite inexpensive, including fresh meat
and milk. Because of its
special economic strength and geographic location in southwest China, Chengdu
has been an important political center through the centuries. At least seven
local separatist governments organized in Chengdu. Climate in Chengdu is quite temperate. The weather is nice during the winter,
with lows of about 40C and highs around 55C. It never snows. However, since Chengdu is very humid, it always feels a little colder. Also due
to the humidity, Chengdu in summer is uncomfortable and muggy, especially when
the temperature rises to 90 degrees. With the combination of humidity and
surrounding mountains, Chengdu is almost always overcast. Although some
critics blame pollution for the overcast skies, historical records prove
otherwise. Chengdu has a population of nearly 10 million people who live
in the 12,000 sq. km region of which nearly 3 million live in the downtown area.
Chengdu is located in the northwestern part of the Sichuan Basin, about 1600km
(1000 miles) due west of Shanghai. The City is located between the
neighboring areas of Qinghai, Gansu, Shaanxi, Hubei, Hunan, Guizhou, and Yunnan
Provinces, Tibet Autonomous Region. Nationalities include Han, Hui,
Tibetan, Man, Meng and Yi. Gourmets should not pass up the chance to try
out the Sichuan cuisine in Chengdu. It is substantially hotter and spicier than
those of the other provinces. Chengdu's cuisine has been described as
"one of China's most outstanding". The many local specialties include Grandma
Chen's Bean Curd (Chen Mapo Dofu) with minced meat, chili oil and wild pepper
sauce and Husband and Wife Beef Slices. In downtown area, long and wide avenues
flanked by high-rise buildings and local shops and stores are dotted with
luxuriantly-grown green trees, and well-trimmed pretty flowers. Indeed, it is a
beautiful city full of vigor and vitality. Besides the local teahouses, snack
bars and bazaars (also known as free markets) are still the popular places for
tourists to frequent. One can either taste the typical Sichuan cuisine, local
wine and tea or sort out his shopping of local special products like Shu
embroidery pieces, bamboo-woven porcelain-ware and lacquer-ware or familiarize
himself with local folklores and customs.
History:
Chengdu was founded during the time of the Qin in the 3rd century BC, before
the Qin's conquered all of China in 221 BC. Already at that time it was
considered to be important enough to be given the name Chengdu. Its location on
a fertile but dry plain led the Qin to establish the world's first large-scale
irrigation system, based on the diversion of the Min River. Still in operation
today, this irrigation system is said to support the world's densest agrarian
population. During the
Han Dynasty (206 BC - 220 AD) which followed, Chengdu first picked up its
nickname "Brocade City", as it became the center of a thriving silk brocade
industry. Under the Qin and into the Han Dynasty Chengdu was the seat of
the commandery of Shu. After the collapse of the Han Dynasty in 220 AD and the
disintegration of imperial control, Chengdu became the capital of the kingdom of Shu. It was renamed Yizhou after it was brought under imperial control again
during the
Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD), but broke away again to become the capital of
the Early and Later Shu kingdoms in the 10th century. Chengdu developed into a
booming business and trade town during the Tang Dynasty. There were
hundreds of lacquerers and jewelers; the silver filigree work of Chengdu is
still some of the best of its kind in China today. At this time the
merchants of Chengdu became the first in the world to use paper money. Chengdu
has continued to prosper as an important city throughout its history, despite
periods of strife under the Mongols in the 13th century and under the rebel
Zhang Xiangzhong in the 17th century. World War II brought an unexpected
wave of prosperity to Chengdu as the Kuomintang (Chinese Nationalist) party
under
Chiang Kai-shek fled to Sichuan Province to escape the invading Japanese
forces. They brought with them business people, workers and academics, who
founded many of the industries and cultural institutions which continue to make
Chengdu an important center. After 1949, the city developed into an important
transportation junction; the railroad lines to Chongqing, Baoxi and Kunming met
here and highways lead to neighboring regions. The industrial base is very
broad, including light and heavy manufacturing, aluminum smelting and chemicals.
The textile industry remains important, with cotton and wool milling added to
the traditional silk brocade and satin production. There was a school run by the
state here as far back as the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC-8 AD). There are
14 institutions of higher education, including Sichuan University founded in
1927, several research institutes and an institute for minorities. There
are three universities in Chengdu, including Sichuan University, and many
scientific and technical schools, plus an institute for the education of members
of the Tibetan minority and a school of traditional Chinese medicine.
Travel:
 By Rail:
Chengdu Railroad Station is the key station in the southwest area, more than 60
trains depart from Chengdu every day taking more than 120 thousands of people to
all the major cities in China. Major rail lines include Chengdu Line to
Chongqing City, Baocheng Line to Baoji City, Chengkun Line to Kunming City and Chengda Line to Daxian
county. Neikun Line to Neijiang city
and Dawan Line from Dachuan city to Wan Zhou city is still under construction
and will join the rail network to make Chengdu the center of the rail traffic. By Road:
The whole mileage of highway in Chengdu area is over 1,000 miles (1,600km),
including 4 major trunk lines: Chengdu-Chongqing, Chengdu-Mianyang,
Chengdu-Leshan, Chengdu-Ya An. A new highway Chengdu-Nanchong is under
construction. To southwest and northwest of China, Chengdu is connected by state
freeways including main lines of Chuanzhang (to Tibet), Chuandian (to Kunming),
Chuanshan (to Xi'an) and Chuanqing (to Xi'Ning). Inner province freeways also
provide convenience to Chengdu to reach every big and small towns within the
vicinity of Sichuan province. By Air:
Chengdu Shuang Liu airport is one of the biggest airports in the southwest China,
it is linked by air with over 60 cities (over 160 airlines) including Lhasa
(Tibet), such as Beijing, Shanghai, Xian, Wuhan, Guangzhou, Kunming, Tianjin,
Shenyang, Dalian, Harbin, Urumqi, Guilin, Hangzhou, Fuzhou, Xiamen,
Zhengzhou, etc., and it is connected by international airlines to cities like
Singapore, Hong Kong, Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur. The annual volume of flow is
over 6 million people, one of the biggest in China next to Beijing, Shanghai and
Guangzhou. Chengdu Shuang Liu airport is the only one in China that operates
daily flight to Tibet.
Attractions:
(
= voted as the highly recommended
attractions to visit)
Tours:
|
Chengdu City Tour |
Full Day Tour |
Starting at 09:00 in the hotel lobby, the first stop today will be the
Du Fu
Thatched Cottage. One of the most famous Chinese poets in
Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD) - Du Fu
(712-770) lived there for four years after he retired. Around the Cottage is a
very cozy park full of various kinds Tea Houses well worth a visit as well as a
sip. Next stop is
Wu Hou Prince Temple (Temple of the Duke Wu) in the southern
outskirts of the city, which dates back to 3rd century. Lunch with hot & spicy
local food if you have showed your strong interest for it. Afternoon sightseeing
will include the Mosque and the
Sichuan Museum.
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|
Leshan Day Tour |
Full Day Tour |
Leshan lies about 104 miles (167km) south of Chengdu. Tour today starting at
08:00 from the hotel lobby will be focused on the
Great Buddha which is the
world's largest statue of the sitting Buddha. It will take less than 3 hours to
get there by the newly built highway. Our guide will climb with you from the
head of the Buddha down to its feet totaling 232ft (71m) in height. The
sitting Buddha is carved (713-803) on one side of the Lingyun Hill by the Mingjiang River. Strangely enough, the Lingyun
Hill itself looks like a sleeping Buddha from afar. Lunch is included in the
tour.
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Dujiangyan Irrigation System
|
Full Day Tour |
See possibly the oldest functioning Irrigation
System in China. Devised originally by Li Bing and his son in 256 BC, it was the
first biggest attempt to make the Yangtze River beneficial to people along the
downstream in Chengdu area. After one hour and thirty minutes' drive, you will
be astounded by the ingenious and huge water-controlling masterpiece. There are
many vendors nearby to sell typical local souvenirs which could be a lot of fun.
Lunch is included in the tour.
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Tibet
Adventure |
7D/6N |
Chengdu, Lhasa, Chengdu.
Click here for Tour Details.
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