Today I will tell you... yes, again about China, but this time not about Beijing, but about the Sichuan province. Sichuan Province is located in western China and is home to stunningly beautiful natural and fantastic man-made attractions. The capital of the province is the city of Chengdu, a metropolis with a population of 14 million. It is located on a plain that is called the "Paradise Country" (Tinfzhiguó) for its fertility and favorable climate. However, there are quite a lot of mountain ranges in Sichuan, because this is where Tibet begins, and many stunningly beautiful places located here are associated with the mountains. In the fall of 2011, I managed to visit these parts, and the next few publications will be devoted specifically to the Sichuan province, but now I will give you general utilitarian information about this amazing place.

It is impossible to get to Chengdu directly from Russia, so you will have to fly either through Beijing or Shanghai. I flew through Shanghai simply because tickets there were cheaper. The plane from Moscow arrives in Shanghai in the morning, around 11 o'clock. Flying from Shanghai to Chengdu is very easy - there are about 8 flights daily. I would advise you to pay attention to the fact that both your arrival and your departure further to Chengdu are at the same Airport (there are 2 in Shanghai). I also advise you to buy tickets so that the difference between arrival and departure is at least 5 hours, since the Moscow-Shanghai plane may be late, and if you have some extra time, you will be calm. You can order all tickets on the website www.elong.com, I used it and there were no incidents.

The flight from Moscow to Shanghai is 9 hours, from Shanghai to Chengdu - another 3. When you arrive in Shanghai, check your suitcases in the luggage room, and you will have several hours to eat and stretch your legs after a long sitting on the plane. You can leave the Airport by Maglev (electromagnetic levitation train, I wrote about it), or by metro. Please note that on Maglev the journey takes about 8 minutes (now it does not run at a speed of 431 km/h, but “travels” at 350 km/h), and on the metro the journey between the airport and the city takes about 45 minutes, you need to remember this, especially when you you're going back.

In the evening another short flight (3 hours after 9 it seems
short flight) and you are in Chengdu. Immediately when leaving the airport you will encounter a queue for a taxi. This has nothing in common with the organization of the Beijing queue, and among the taxi drivers there are often “hucksters”. If you wait in line completely, then most likely you will get an honest taxi driver, and everyone who calls you to go out of line is private owners, and they will try to overcharge the price. Taking an official taxi to the city center costs about 50 Yuan, a private taxi driver will try to charge you 150-200.

Once upon a time, during the period of the “three kingdoms”, the province of Sichuan was called the kingdom of Shu. It was one of the most progressive kingdoms on the territory of ancient China, and the concept that they live in Shu is still preserved in the minds of local residents. They speak a slightly different Chinese here, there are very few Europeans here, even fewer people speak English than in Beijing and much less than in Shanghai, so you will need to think through your every step in advance, all intended movements must be written in advance in Chinese and printed out . I have already described the technology and just take it very seriously.

There are many hotels in Chengdu, like everywhere else in China. The choice is very large. We checked into the Sichuan Tea Hotel. I booked the hotel, as usual, through www.сtrip.com. The hotel overall was not bad, although its best days were clearly past, but it was very well located, very close to a major shopping street a la Beijing's Wangfujin. The hotel is located right on a small historical side street full of cafes with special Sichuan cuisine, many shops and a bank nearby. The room was clean, although in some places a little “worn out by time”, for example with traces of persistent stains in the shower. The windows overlooked a small river, which was nice. There were no interruptions in the supply of hot water, and the necessary supplies appeared in the shower regularly. In general, the hotel is clearly worth the money (about $35 for a double room).

The climate in Sichuan may be favorable for farming, but it is not very favorable for photography. The main weather here is fog. There are quite a few sunny days, and there are almost no cloudless days. Snow may fall in winter, but not for long; the vegetation is green all year round. Summer is stiflingly hot, but spring and autumn are warm and pleasant. So I advise you to go here in spring or autumn.

Sichuan province is famous for its production of fabrics in general and, in particular, luxurious brocade. Near the hotel we came across a curtain store and bought ready-made brocade curtains there. A set of sewn curtains, including tulle, cost us 1000 Yuan (4800 rubles). I would like to note that a saleswoman from a nearby store who knew English, who was on her way home, helped us negotiate with the sellers. She stayed for us especially and left only when we had agreed on everything with the people in the curtain store. At the same time, in the store we were treated to the freshest tangerines and given a bottle of water.

Sichuan province is also famous for its cuisine. This is the spiciest cuisine in China, and perhaps in the whole world. Everything here is simply spicy, and for cooking they use a special variety of Sichuan hot pepper, which makes your mouth numb. And of course, the most exotic, most interesting, very tasty dish is the famous Sichuan HotPot. On the streets of Chengdu you can often see tables in the middle of which there are large iron cauldrons full of some kind of boiling liquid. This is HotPot. If you haven't eaten HotPot, you just don't know what spicy food is, so prepare yourself in advance - it's very spicy even for me, a big fan of spicy food.

If you dare to try HotPot, you will be seated at a table, a fire will be lit under your “basin”, and you will be given a sheet covered with hieroglyphs, where you can put a tick next to each word. Here you should note what exactly you want to be put in your HotPot. This is the most difficult thing. Don’t try to tick boxes at random, there are very extreme things here - all sorts of internal organs, possibly eyes, etc. But there are also simpler and more familiar beef, pork, and poultry. There are also greens, cucumbers, etc... In our case, a Chinese man passing by offered his help with translation, and we ordered breaded pork, beef, cucumbers, lettuce, duck tongues, chicken meat, and something else, I already I do not remember. I think it won’t be difficult for you to find help, although there are very few people who know English, but the Chinese are very friendly and will always help.

They will place bowls of aromatic oil in front of you, pour you tea and bring you a bucket of rice. I highly recommend bringing beer, you will need it. They will bring you everything you asked for raw, and all this must be thrown into the cauldron, which by then will boil, but leave one piece of each type raw. If you want them to bring you something else, point to this one raw piece, and they will understand. When ready, you need to fish out the ingredients from the boiling brew and eat them, washing them down with cold beer and eating unleavened rice. It's very tasty, especially if you like it spicy!

While I won’t tell you about the sights you can visit, let’s leave this for later. But I'll give you Mike's number. We met Mike in one of the temples in Chengdu; he knows English quite well and works as a guide, together with his friend, who has a small minibus. Mike offered to give us a couple of excursions, which we gladly agreed to. I advise you to contact him, and I think you will not regret it. His local phone number is 13388187527 (this is what you should dial if you are calling from a local phone). To call from Russia you need to add the China code - +86. Please note that he doesn’t know Russian at all, although he really loves our song about Katyusha.

Sichuan is located in the depths of southwest China. Since ancient times, Sichuan has been called "Land of Plenty" because the province is rich in natural resources. Sichuan is famous for being one of the important economic, industrial, agricultural, military, tourism, and cultural areas in China.

Why go to Sichuan?

Sichuan is real China, the cradle of Chinese culture and wisdom! If you really want feel and understand its culture, then you won’t find a better place than Sichuan. As the Chinese themselves say: “Once you come to Sichuan Province, you will never want to leave it.”

Sichuan has some of the most beautiful and breathtaking places to see: Yading Nature Reserve , Jiuzhaigou Nature Reserve, picturesque protected area Huanglong with many lakes, Buddha statue in Leshan, Mount Emeishan, Dujiangyan Irrigation System, Mount Qingchenshan, giant panda reserves. All these sites are included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. Another feature of Sichuan is the many monasteries located in the province; there are Buddhist and Lamaist monasteries.

Sichuan is famous for being one of the last habitats of pandas in the wild.

Emeishan Temple

Jiuzhaigou

Sichuan Province is the third most populous province in China, after Henan and Shandong provinces. Sichuan's landscape is very diverse, with everything from depressions to mountains. But, of course, the province is more famous for the fact that there are many beautiful mountain ranges on its territory.

Dujiangyan

Giant Buddha in Leshan

Residents of Sichuan differ from residents of other provinces in that they prefer a measured, quiet life. There is not such a crazy pace of life here as in other large cities in China, and Sichuan residents like to discuss all problems and matters for a fragrant green cup of tea in tea shops, which are located on almost every corner.

It is also worth mentioning about Sichuan cuisine. One of the very first questions from Chinese residents to travelers in Sichuan: “Have you already tried Sichuan samovar"? This is the main feature of the local cuisine, the so-called "Chinese samovar"(or Chinese name Hogo ), so I recommend trying it when the opportunity arises. The peculiarity of Sichuan cuisine is the abundance of spices and spiciness.

Sichuan is called the “gateway to Tibet”, because it is in the western part of this province that most tourists get acquainted with the customs and way of life of the Tibetan people. The nature in these parts is luxurious, the climate is mild, but the weather is different everywhere, so before traveling you should carefully study the situation on the route you are interested in.

The most favorable periods for travel are considered to be from April to May and from September to October. At this time, the landscapes are especially colorful and there are no massive crowds of tourists, which occurs during the peak season in July-August, when prices soar to the top of Everest. Especially on the border with Tibet and the Zhoergai meadows.

NATURAL ATTRACTIONS

Travelers should definitely visit Jiuzhaigou National Park and Trumpet Shell Valley. And in the Hengduan Mountains in the west, a fifth of the country’s rarest plants grow, including “living fossils” - fir and sequoia. In addition, this mountainous area is where 85% of China's giant pandas enjoy their lives!

HISTORY, CULTURE, CITIES

Sichuan is one of the places where the Chinese nation was born 2 million years ago. Civilization appeared there for about 25,000 years and subsequently formed into the highly developed Shu civilization, now represented by three masks on stilts and many archaeological finds. In ancient Chinese sources, Sichuan is referred to as Ba-Shu - in honor of two independent local kingdoms. The kingdom of Ba included Chongqing, the eastern lands of Sichuan along the Yangtze and some of its tributaries. To date, the province can be divided into four cultural zones: Ba, Shu, Panzhihua-Xichang and Sichuan.

Sichuan's national historic cities of Chengdu (the capital), Zigong, Leshan, Yibin, Luzhou, Lanzhong and Dujiar have preserved 40 priceless cultural relics.

Chengdu - a city with a 2,000-year history, the capital of Sichuan, a cultural and industrial center on an agricultural plain, and in addition one of the first printing centers in the country, which was famous for its luxurious satins, brocades and lacquerware.

The city is home to the 100-meter-high New Century Global Center building, which in 2013 was considered the tallest in the world. This building houses many hotels, offices and shops, 14 cinemas, an ice skating rink, a Paradise Island water park, an artificial beach under a huge LED screen, a pirate ship, a mirage of a Mediterranean village, an artificial sun that shines 24 hours a day and 15,000 parking spaces.

Dege- a city that has preserved the amazing library of Tibet.

Ganzi– a Tibetan city on a hill, a starting point for exploring the monasteries of Tibet.

Kandin– a guide city to the Tibetan region in the west of Sichuan province.

Lanmusi is a Tibetan city on the border of Gansu and Sichuan provinces, where you can enjoy horseback riding, views of two Tibetan monasteries and explore the site of "Sky Burial", one of the religious practices common in some provinces of China and the autonomous regions of Tibet.

Leshan- a city near which the world's largest Buddha statue is located.

Songpan- a small camp town at the foot of the mountain, serving as a base for excursions to the Jiuzhaigou Nature Reserve.

Xiangchen- a city on the main highway going to Yunnan.

Xichang– a picturesque city with a mild climate: in summer it is blown by cool breezes, and in winter it is characterized by warm and sunny weather.

GEOGRAPHY

Sichuan is part of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau in the west and the Red Basin (or Sichuan Basin) in the east. The province is located in the upper valley of the Yangtze River in southwest China. It borders on the north with the provinces of Gansu and Shaanxi, on the east with the territory of Chongqing Municipality, on the provinces of Guangzhou and Yunnan in the south, on the Tibet Autonomous Region in the west, and on Qinghai Province in the northwest. Sichuan was the most populous province of China before the division of Chongqing with surrounding areas.

The province is inhabited mainly by Chinese, Tibetans, the Hei minority and the Qiang people.

HISTORICAL HERITAGE

During the Three Kingdoms period (220-280), Chengdu was the capital of the Shu kingdom. Sichuan's historical heritage includes the Dujiangyan Irrigation System, the Leshan Big Buddha, the Sichuan Opera with its mystical changing faces spewing flames - one of the most popular opera houses in the country, the Emeishan Mountains and, of course, the famous local cuisine with the characteristic spicy and tart taste with such typical Dishes like Hot Pot, Smoked Duck, Gongbao Chicken, Twice-Cooked Pork and Mapo Tofu.

GIANT BUDDHA STATUE IN LESHAN

The Leshan Big Buddha is a 71-meter tall stone statue created during the Tang Dynasty. The Buddha was carved from the Emeishan rock at the confluence of the Minjiang, Dadu and Qingyi rivers near the city of Leshan in southern Sichuan province.

Emeishan Rock is one of the four sacred rocks of Chinese Buddhists (along with Putuoshan, Wutaishan and Jiuhuashan). The mountains and the area in which they are located are recognized as World Cultural Heritage.

The sculpture began to be created in 713 on the initiative of the Chinese monk Haitong, who hoped that the Buddha would calm the stormy waters that were preventing ships from sailing along the river. When the question arose about stopping funding for this project, the monk gouged out his eyes to prove the sincerity of his intentions. However, after his death, construction stopped. And only 70 years later, the governor-general of medieval China (jiedushi) decided to finance the project again. As a result, the construction was completed by a student of Haitun in 803.

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Abbreviation: Chuan /川/ or Shu /蜀/

Capital: Chengdu

Square: approximately 480,000 sq. km

Population: 84.74 million people

Location: in the southwestern part of China, in the upper tributaries of the river. Yangtze

People often call Sichuan a blessed land. The elevation of the area changes from west to east. The province is geographically divided into two parts - the Western Plateau and the Sichuan Basin. The Western Plateau is part of the Tibetan Plateau. Its average height is more than 4000 m. Plateaus and plains predominate in the Sichun Basin. The main river is the Yangtze along with its tributaries. The climate in the eastern part of the province is subtropical or monsoonal, while in the western part it is subtropical or high-altitude.

Sichuan is the third most populous province in China. Only Henan (92.56 million) and Shandong (90.79 million) are more populated. Due to its rich natural resources and beautiful scenery, Sichuan is called a paradise in China.

In the province, thanks to natural conditions, agriculture is very developed. This is the most famous territory in China where agricultural products are produced for sale. Agricultural products are diverse. The main crops are sunflower, cotton, peanuts, sesame and sugar cane. Among fruits, the largest harvest comes from citrus fruits. The province also has developed industry: steel, coal mining, electronics, petrochemicals, electric power, mechanical engineering, building materials, food and brewing. The territory is also rich in natural gas reserves. Here is the most important base for its production in China. Iron reserves account for 13% of the total Chinese reserves. In addition, the territory has rich flora and fauna. About half of the animal and plant species found in China can be found in Sichuan Province. It is also the birthplace of China's national treasure, the Giant Panda.

UNESCO listed Jiuzhaigou, Yellow Dragon National Park, Emeishan Mountains, Leshan Giant Buddha and Qingchengshan Mountains as World Heritage Sites in 1992, 1996 and 2000, respectively.

There are 42 universities in the province. Hundreds of research institutes and 1.1 million scientists and technologists. Sichuan is rich in tourist attractions. More than 850 pandas (representing 85% of all individuals of this rare animal in the world) live in the province. There are 8 national parks and 40 nature reserves in Sichuan.

The Yangtze (6,300 km), the third longest river in the world, flows from west to east of the province.

The Sichan Satellite Launch Center is also located here.

Giant panda /熊猫/

Since 1963, when the first cub was born in captivity at the Beijing Zoo, 100 more giant pandas have been born in China in the same way. By 2003, the percentage of surviving cubs in Sichuan increased from 30 to 90. In 2002, Chinese scientists were able to clone the giant panda's sex hormone gene, which should increase the birth rate of pandas. In addition, scientists are conducting programs to protect pandas living in the wild. More than 40 protected areas in Sichuan province and northwestern Shaanxi and Gansu are home to about 1,000 individuals. The total area of ​​the protected area is 16,200 square meters. km. Government measures to protect the environment have had a positive effect on the increase in the number of pandas. To connect separate areas of the artificial forest and help pandas living in different territories contact each other, about 20 biological corridors were created. This should increase the chances of pandas being born. The first laws to protect pandas were adopted in 1957, since then poaching and hunting them is considered illegal in China. The Center for the Protection of Giant Pandas creates all the conditions to prepare pandas for their return to the wild world.

To preserve valuable animals, the Ministry of Forestry began the construction of 17 “biological corridors” connecting protected areas. This is part of a program to protect the giant panda and its habitats. Only about 1,000 pandas still live in the wild across a vast area of ​​Sichuan, Shaanxi and Gansu. They were divided into separate groups consisting of several to 100 individuals. Biological corridors run through the forest, their width is about 2 km, skirting roads and populated areas. The Giant Panda Conservation Project was ratified in 1993. Since then, the conditions of 13 old reserves have been improved and 14 new ones have been created. The work was completed in 2003.

As part of a long-term cooperation program between China and the United States, the US Zoo Association will annually invest 1.2 million US dollars to create natural areas and biological corridors for pandas. In response, the San Diego Zoo received the right to conduct research on two Chinese pandas. Experts believe that international cooperation will help achieve significant results in the study of panda breeding in captivity. There are currently 20 wild representatives of this species at the giant panda breeding center in Wulong National Park. It is no longer possible to return them to the wild, since they have lost the habit of getting food on their own. It is rare to see a baby panda in nature. The catastrophe that caused the decline of pandas occurred in the 80s, when the number of bamboo shoots (the main food of pandas) began to decline. Thus, the first step towards the extinction of the species was taken.

Professor Pan Wenshi was invited to conduct scientific research on giant pandas and white-headed monkeys in the wild. He is known for his work in the field of ecology and environmental protection. He was also awarded the Paul Jatty Award (the most valuable award given by the World Wildlife Fund). Professor Pan's team equipped the pandas with radio collars, which is necessary to obtain information about periods of activity, seasonal migrations, feeding habits and reproduction. Field expeditions were also conducted to study animal behavior on site. According to the professor, the population decline is caused by human activity. His theory echoes the work of Zhang Hemin, head of the Wulong Giant Panda Conservation Center, and panda researcher Zhang Guiquan. They also believe that human interference with wildlife is the main reason for the extinction of giant pandas.

The giant panda looks like a bear. These funny animals are white except for black paws and spots around the ears and eyes. Zoological studies have proven that pandas appeared 600,000-700,000 years ago. Giant pandas live in humid and dense bamboo thickets in mountainous areas, at altitudes of 2000 to 4000 m. They are not used to living in extreme climatic conditions. They make their dens in tree hollows and mountain caves. They are now often used as a symbol of friendship between China and other countries. Pandas were presented to the DPRK, Japan, USA, Britain, Germany, Spain, Mexico and other countries.

Chengdu /成都市/

Chengdu is also called the Brocade City or the Hibiscus City. Excavations at the ruins of Sanxingdui and Jinsha have proven that Chengdu was already a political and cultural center more than 3,000 years ago. More than 2500 years ago, it became the capital of the kingdom of Shu (spring and autumn period, 770-476 BC). Since that time, it has been the capital of 6 kingdoms.

In 256 BC. The Dujiangyan Irrigation System was built in Sichuan. Thanks to the project, Chengdu has forgotten what droughts and floods are. And the plain became the most fertile region of China. For two thousand years it was called nothing more than “blessed land.”

The city is located between 30.05 and 31.26 degrees north latitude, 102.54 and 104.53 degrees east longitude. The climate here is subtropical. The average annual temperature in Chengdu is 15.5 C, and the average precipitation is 997 mm. The altitude varies from northwest to southeast. Mountains and hills make up about 30% of the total area. The average height is 500 m. The highest point is at 5,364 m, and the lowest is 387 m. More than 40 rivers with a total water volume of 26.4 billion cubic meters. m flow through the city. Among them are the Minjiang and Tuojiang rivers.

Chengdu has been included in the list of 24 famous historical and cultural cities in China since 1982. In the city, on an area of ​​11,936 square meters. km there are 7 districts, 4 satellite cities and 8 counties, home to 10.04 million people. In the eastern part of the city there is an industrial zone. In the south there are research and educational institutions, including major universities, research institutes and a high-tech development zone. The western part is the area of ​​commerce and entertainment, and the business part of the city is the political, cultural and financial center.

Chengdu is the most important industrial center in Southwest China. Major industries include electronics, mechanical engineering, metallurgy, chemicals, textiles and food processing. Here is the center for the development of high-tech industries: computer science, biological pharmacology, the creation of new materials and environmental protection technologies.

Sichuan is famous for its shu embroidery, along with xiang (Henan), yue (Guangdong) and su (Suzhou).

Shuangliu International Airport in Chengdu is one of the six largest in China. It is connected by more than 260 air routes throughout the country and the world. Over the past decades, a network of highways, railways and airlines has been formed linking Chengdu with the entire country. Train routes from Chengdu lead to Kunming, Baoji, Chongqing and Daxian. The construction of the Nanning-Kunming railway link connected Chengdu with the seaports of southern China.

Chengdu is a famous tourist center. There are many nature reserves and national parks around it.

Du Fu's House /杜甫草堂/

Du Fu's house is located in the western suburbs of Chengdu. Du Fu (712-770), one of the greatest poets of the Tang era, was born into the family of an official in Gongxian County, Henan Province. Since childhood he was interested in science. As a young man, he traveled widely throughout China and eventually settled in Chang'an (modern Xi'an), the capital of the Tang Dynasty at the time. In 759, poverty and misfortune forced the 47-year-old poet to move from Chang'an to the outskirts of Chengdu. Of the 1,400 surviving poems, 240 were written during the 4 years of living in this modest house. At the time of Du Fu, the Tang Dynasty was already in decline. The social unrest made him suffer, but it gave him a deeper understanding of the times. His numerous works reflect the suffering of people and his views on what is happening. One night, a hurricane tore off the thatch roof of his house. This made him think about the thousands of unfortunate people who, like him, have no roof over their heads. In his poems, he wished that everyone had a home. The deep social context and high artistic level of Du Fu's poetry place him among the greatest poets of the Tang era.

There is a human-sized statue of the poet in the house. He tugs at his beard thoughtfully. After crossing the small bridge and climbing the stairs, you can find yourself in the Du Fu memorial. Stelae, stone tablets and clay sculptures of the poet made before the 14th century are exhibited here. In the back of the house you can see 150 copies of various editions of his poems, including texts printed using wooden blocks and handwritten ones, as well as publications after the establishment of the People's Republic of China and translations into English, French, Russian, Japanese and 11 other foreign languages. Visitors can also familiarize themselves with 2,700 biographies, booklets and notes about his life. More than a thousand books and paintings are kept in Du Fu's house. He entered not only Chinese, but also world literature.

Now the house is surrounded by 20 hectares of garden, where more than 30 types of plums grow. Flowers in the garden bloom all year round, filling the air with fragrance.

Du Fu House Museum /杜甫草堂博物馆/

Du Fu House Museum is a true national treasure. It was built in honor of one of China's greatest poets. You can also have a great rest here. The area is 16 hectares. The museum is surrounded by flowers. Even in the cold winter, evergreen bamboos remind you of spring. Currently, all the attention of society and scientists is aimed at archaeological discovery. On October 4, 2001, 14 workers were repairing sewer pipes near the entrance to the museum when they discovered the mine. It is believed to have been used during the Tang times. In the following weeks, museum workers recovered 30 ceramic objects and fragments of Tang-era buildings from the ground. After this, archaeologists from the Chengdu Institute of Cultural Treasures and Archeology got to work, and discovered a huge amount of ceramic tableware from the Tang period. Of these, 106 items turned out to be intact: bowls, basins, jugs and vases, cups, chess pieces, tiles, bricks, as well as iron, copper and stone objects. The tiles and bricks are decorated with images of animals and flowers, and some ceramic objects have hieroglyphs on them. Almost at the bottom of the mine, archaeologists discovered lacquerware. On one of them there are bright red hieroglyphs, the size of which is about 1.5 square meters. see. Most of the recovered items replenished the museum's collection. Although the history of Chengdu dates back more than 2,500 years, the discovery of household items from the Tang era is still quite rare. In addition, archaeologists excavated a stone pedestal weighing 1.5 tons. Its length reaches 1 m, width - 60 cm, and height - 80 cm. It dates back to the Ming era. The stem of a porcelain incense burner also interested specialists because the image of a human face on it very much resembles a bronze human mask excavated in Sanxingdui, 40 km from Chengdu. Archaeologists have concluded that various eras have left traces of their existence near the museum. Objects from the Tang era are buried at the very bottom, and relics from the Ming and Qing dynasties are located on top. Fortunately, only a few items were damaged, which shows how people in various dynasties tried to preserve Du Fu's house.

Temple of Zhuge Liang /武侯祠/

Zhuge Liang Temple is located in the southern suburbs of Chengdu. The temple area covers 37,000 square meters. m. The temple is surrounded by red walls, and old cypress trees cast a shadow on the buildings. It is built in a typical style of ancient Chinese architecture. The temple was erected in honor of Zhuge Liang (181-234), a famous Chinese statesman and strategist of the 3rd century. He was the personification of wisdom in Chinese legends. As Prime Minister of the State of Shu (221-263), he contributed to the unification of Southwest China and the development of the economy and culture. The tomb of Liu Bei (161-223, reigned 221-223), the first ruler of the kingdom of Shu, is also located here. Visitors can see not only statues of Liu Bei and Zhuge Liang, but also thousands of steles, wooden plaques over doors, charcoal braziers, bronze tripods, bells and a drum that Zhuge Liang used in battle. All this is necessary to study the history of the kingdom of Shu.

Park around Wangjiang Tower /望江楼公园/

To the east of the Zhege Liang Temple and near the campus of Sichuan University there is a park with an area of ​​12 hectares. Tang Dynasty poetess Xue Tao lived here and wrote her famous poem.

A path lined with green bamboos leads straight to the ancient tower. Various types of bamboo and flowers can be found here. Among the bamboos, in addition to such valuable species growing in Sichuan, there are specimens from Southern China and Japan. Some of them have lush foliage, others have nodes at the base, and still others have straight, narrow leaves, similar to the tail of the legendary phoenix. The sun's rays, filtering through the foliage, appear light green.

Yongling Mausoleum (Tomb of Wang Jian) /永陵/

The Yongling Mausoleum is located near Sandongqiao, in the eastern suburbs of Chengdu. Wang Jian (847-918, reigned 907-918), founder of the Shu kingdom (907-925) during the era of 5 dynasties and 10 kingdoms (907-960), is buried here. He was born in Henan, where he lived most of his life during the last years of the Tang Dynasty. At that time, the power of the court weakened, so military leaders fought for control of the state. As a young man, Wang Jiang supervised slaughterhouses, salt transportation, and trade. Towards the end of the Tang dynasty, he joined the Tang army and within a few years reached the rank of commander-in-chief. In 903, the Tang court awarded him the title of Prince of the Kingdom of Shu. After the fall of the Tang in 907, China split into many small states. There were 5 dynasties in the North, and 10 kingdoms in the South. In 907, Wang Jiang founded his state in Sichuan. During his 11 years of reign, Shu was one of the strongest and richest kingdoms in the Southwest. After his death, he was buried in Chengdu. Typically, mausoleums for rulers were built deep underground, but Wang Jian's tomb is an exception due to the groundwater beneath Chengdu. If a mausoleum is built deep in the ground, the body can quickly rot. Wang Jian's mausoleum, one of the few in China, was built on the surface of the earth. During construction, workers first built a tomb from large stones, and then covered it with tons of earth. More than 1000 years have passed since its construction. Many earthquakes occurred during this time, but the tomb withstood the weight of the earth and did not collapse. When the famous Chinese architect Liang Sicheng (1901-1972) visited the mausoleum in the 50s, he was delighted with its design. Upon entering the mausoleum, visitors were greeted by a row of stone statues of Wang Jian's subordinates, civil officials and generals. From above, the mausoleum looks like a huge mound. Its height is 15 m and its diameter is 90 m. Inside the mausoleum there is a tomb, 30.5 m diagonally, 6 m wide and 20 m high. The tomb consists of three parts: a huge stone platform, a stone vessel and a statue of the ruler. There is a platform in the center of the tomb. Wang Jian's coffin is placed on a platform. When the tomb was opened in 1942, not a single bone was found, only the remains of wood and iron rings were found. At the end of the tomb sits an 86-centimeter statue of Wang Jian. Between the platform and the statue there is a vessel in which oil for the “eternal lamp” was stored. Although the lamp did not burn forever, it used up all the oxygen in the room, thereby saving the tomb from rapid decomposition. On both sides of the platform there are bas-reliefs depicting two dancers and 22 musicians. All of them served in the court ensemble. 22 musicians play various instruments: flutes, zither, drum and shells. It is obvious that the musicians and dancers are dressed in Tang period costumes. Wang Jian was a music fan. According to archaeologists, these are the most valuable images of court musicians of the Tang Dynasty. They are invaluable for studying sculpture and music, the structure of the court ensemble and the costumes of dancers. The tomb was looted shortly after the northern kingdom destroyed Shu. But still, during the excavations, about 400 objects made of silver, jasper, copper and iron were discovered. The prince's jasper seal is considered the most valuable. It, one of two discovered in China, was intended for use by a ruler in the other world. The second seal was found in the tomb of the Ming Emperor Wanli (1573-1620), in Beijing. A copy of the seal, as well as other finds, can be viewed in the exhibition hall of the mausoleum. Finds from the 5 Dynasties and 10 Kingdoms era are rare, so the Wang Jian Mausoleum is a real treasure trove for studying this period.

Dujiangyan Irrigation System /都江堰水利枢纽工程/

The Dujiangyan Irrigation System in Sichuan Province demonstrates the highest level of scientific and technological development in ancient China. It became a milestone in the world history of irrigation. The Dujiangyan system was built without a dam. It still supplies water to numerous canals covering an area of ​​670,000 hectares in Sichuan province. Thanks to the construction of an irrigation system, even in ancient times these lands became a real granary of China.

In the third century, a Chinese poet, to glorify the wealth of Sichuan, wrote the following lines:

Here man rules the rain and the drought,

There is no hunger here,

Crop failures are also unknown,

Everyone in the Celestial Empire knows how fertile this land is!

And now in China Sichuan is considered a rich land. But not everyone knows why. In fact, it's all thanks to the construction of the Dujiangyan irrigation system more than 2,200 years ago.

Dujiangyan is 55 km from Chengdu. This is the oldest irrigation system in the world, which is still in use today. In ancient times, every summer the Minjiang River (a tributary of the Yangtze River) drowned the lands of the Sichuan Basin. And in winter it was covered with ice. Therefore, the governor of Sichuan, Li Bin, decided to correct the existing situation and began construction of an irrigation system in 256 BC. The river was divided down the middle by a long embankment. The inner part was used for irrigation. Downstream, on one side of the inland river, there is a narrow strait between two hills. It was called the Precious Cork channel. Through this canal, water from the river enters the irrigation network. Just above the canal, two canals run windingly, connecting to the outer part of the river. This ensures that there is enough water in the interior even during the dry season. During a flood, excess water returns to the river flow. Minjiang. The flow of water in the canal is balanced by a dam. It is made of bamboo cages filled with stones. This is the main secret of Dujiangyan. The technology used is an example of practicality and reliability. Once completed, the system provided water to 160,000 hectares of arable land. It currently serves an area of ​​670,000 hectares. Thanks to the irrigation project, the Sichuan Basin has not experienced drought for more than 2,000 years. The Dujiangyan system is recognized throughout the world as one of the most impressive hydraulic engineering projects. And now this is one of the main attractions of Chengdu.

The city government has invested more than 200 million yuan (US$24 million) to improve the environment in the Qingcheng Mountain and Dujiangyan Irrigation System areas. 280,000 sq. m. were demolished. m of buildings, factories, schools, hotels and 1097 residential buildings were relocated to preserve the natural beauty of these places. UNESCO specialists supported the initiatives of the Chinese authorities. In February 2000. Professor Les Molly, an expert from UNESCO, called the Qingcheng Mountains one of the most beautiful in Asia. In recent years, 300 million yuan (US$36 million) has been spent on the reconstruction of Dujiangyan city, cleaning up and installing street lighting. So now the city is decorated with trees and flowers during the day, and many lanterns at night.

The natural scenery around Chengdu is varied and amazingly beautiful: clear blue rivers and green hills. It’s hard to believe that this land owes its beauty and fertility to the talent and skill of the people who lived here 2000 years ago. Qin dynasty government official Li Bing and his son designed and organized the construction of a huge irrigation system in the north-west of Chengdu. They were posthumously awarded princely titles. And on the mountain, not far from the ingenious watershed system, the Temple of the Two Princes still stands.

Four Ancient Irrigation Projects of China

/中国古代四大水利枢纽工程/

The four ancient irrigation systems built in China include the Dujiangyan in Sichuan, the Liying Canal in Guilin, the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, the Grand Canal from Beijing to Hangzhou, and the karez in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region (a well system that allows the use of groundwater).

Qingchengshan Mountains /青城山/

Not far from Chengdu are the Qingchengshan Mountains. This is one of the places where Taoism originated. This is the only religion for which China is the homeland. The mountains are still a religious center where many Taoist temples and shrines can be found. Originating in the Qingcheng Mountains in 143 BC, Taoism became one of the major religions in Southeast Asia. But for tourists it is also a great place for a summer holiday. The journey to the top (1600 m above sea level) will take 4 hours. The Qingchengshan Mountains, 16 km from the city of Dujiangyan, were called “the most tranquil place in the Celestial Empire” in ancient times. In early spring or summer mornings, the mountains are shrouded in fog, which makes the steps to the top damp. The dark green forest consists of pines, firs and cypresses. And the silence is broken only by the chirping of birds, the sound of a waterfall and the footsteps of tourists. Even in ancient times, Chinese hermits and poets admired a special sense of calm. China's four famous Taoist mountains, in addition to Qingchengshan, include Longhushan in Jiangxi, Wudanshan in Hubei, and Laoshan in Shandong. In 2000, the Qingcheng Mountains and the Dujiangyan Irrigation System were listed as World Heritage Sites.

Lao Tzu's concept of "Wu Wei" /老子的“无为”观念/

Lao Tzu's concept of "Wu Wei" formed the basis of the philosophy of Taoism. Literally translated, “wu wei” means “do nothing.” But the true meaning implies much more. Alone, the Chinese character "wu" means "does not exist", but when combined with "wei", it simply becomes a negative. Translating “wei” is more problematic. Nowadays it is usually translated as “intend”, “for the sake of”. And together they are better translated as “to act without action.” "Wu Wei" cannot be seen as aspiration and inertia or passivity. In fact, in the context of management, "wu wei" means "to put minimal pressure on the individual, thereby encouraging his independence." The purpose of applying Taoism in management is to create an environment that holds the individual accountable for performance, and thus increases efficiency and productivity. In the mid-18th century, French physician and thinker Frances Quinceney translated Lao Tzu's Wu Wei as a concept of laissez-faire. This idea greatly inspired Adam Smith, who later established the principles of a free market economy. Influenced by these classical concepts, people strive for reconciliation when dealing with difficulties and conflicts. Conflicts are simply not needed. This is clearly different from the Western style of confrontational management.

Ruins of Jinsha /金沙遗址/

Just like the ruins of Sanxingdui, Jinsha were discovered by chance. On February 8, 2001, construction workers were working on the construction of a facility in the village of Jiansha. Unexpectedly, they found items made of ivory and jasper in the ground. The police soon arrived and the facility was closed. Since then, archaeologists have recovered from the ground more than 1,000 items made of gold, jasper, bronze, stone and about a ton of ivory. Most excavations date back more than 3,000 years. Many of them are very similar to those recovered from Sanxingdui. For example, a golden mask and a bronze figurine of a man immediately resemble in their style the bronze masks and statues from the ruins of Sanxingdui. The design on the gold ribbon excavated at Jinsha is similar to the design of the golden scepter (a symbol of princely power in the kingdom of Shu) from Sanxingdui. The ribbon was used to decorate a person's head. Unlike the scepter, the ribbon has an image of an arrow piercing a bird. The ribbon ornament looks more like a symbol of a certain ethnic group. Judging by its size, the ribbon may have been the headdress of Prince Shu. Many jasper products are priceless. The ancient Chinese called a jasper square with a round hole inside cong. Its height is 22 cm. Under a microscope, it is noticeable that the smallest ornaments are carved on it. Jasper cong was used in sky sacrifice rituals in Ancient China. Its shape reflects the Chinese ideas about the structure of the Universe - the sky is round and the earth is square. At that time, rulers believed that with the help of cong, people could communicate with their ancestors and gods. In fact, cong was not made in Sichuan. It came here from the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze. The earliest cong were discovered in Liangzhu, Zhejiang Province. They are over 7000 years old. This confirmed that Sichuan had more trade links with the outside world than previously thought.

Sichuan is located in a depression, so in ancient times it was geographically isolated. But thanks to the finds in Jiansha, archaeologists were convinced that Sichuan traded not only with the inhabitants of the Yellow River and Yangtze valleys, neighbors from the provinces of Yunnan and Guizhou, but even with the population of North Vietnam. Through Sichuan, cultural and economic exchange took place between the territories of the middle and lower reaches of the Yellow River with Southeast Asia. 170 stone statues of people, tigers, snakes and turtles were excavated in Jinsha. These are the oldest statues ever excavated in Sichuan. This is also the first time that more stone figurines of animals than humans have been excavated at one site. Another rare specimen is a figurine of a man on his knees. He has pierced ears and a pigtail on his head: perhaps he belonged to one of the ethnic groups. His hands are tied with rope. He must have been a slave or a prisoner of war. Excavations at Jiansha changed ideas about the history of Chengdu. They became another confirmation that Chinese civilization has many origins. It was previously believed that the history of Chengdu dates back about 2,500 years. New excavations have revealed that the city became a political and cultural center more than 3,000 years ago. Although archaeologists are not sure what the purpose of Jinsha was, they speculate that sacrifices or other worship rituals were performed here. Many of the cultural remains, such as sacrificial vessels belonging to the supreme rulers of the Shu state, are very similar to those excavated at Sanxingdui. According to archaeologists, Jinsha and Sanxingdui were very closely related. Most likely, Jinsha became a political and cultural center after the prince of the Shu kingdom moved from Sanxingdui to Chengdu.

Dai Liu Residence /大邑地主庄园/

The old house covers an area of ​​7000 square meters. m. This is a traditional Chinese architectural complex, including 27 courtyards, three gardens and about 180 halls and rooms. The residence has 8 entrances. Through the main gate you enter a rectangular courtyard. On the western side of the courtyard is the entrance to the mansion. There are two rooms leading from it: one decorated in traditional Chinese style, and the other in Western style. So visitors can find not only traditional Chinese furniture, but also sofas and carpets imported from the USA. This mixture of styles reflects the special taste of the owner of the house. On the other side of the entrance there is a hall where a sedan chair, a rickshaw and the owner’s old black Ford are stored. The car was brought from the USA in 1942. Through the entrance you find yourself in the courtyard of the residence where Liu Wencai (1887-1949) lived with his wife and four concubines. The furniture in the house is made of sandalwood, and the household utensils are made of gold, silver, ivory and jasper. But the most eye-catching thing is Liu Wencai's bed in the living room. Bed 9 sq. m made of sandalwood. And the entrance to it is decorated with images of dragons and phoenixes. The bed is supported by six wooden posts. They say that making the bed cost the owner an amount equal to the income from 7 hectares of land per year. The owner had a separate room for smoking opium. Another smoking room is located in the shade of the garden. Here Liu preferred to smoke in the summer. He became very addicted to opium, so he kept a huge amount of the potion in the basements of his house.

The Rent Collection Yard was located behind the house. There are 114 figures in the halls around the rectangular courtyard. It's like they're alive. The figures represent rent collection. This horror made the peasants suffer, which raised the revolutionary spirit. The injustice was ended in 1949, when the People's Republic of China was created. Looking at the figures of the suffering, you can feel like one of them. Thus, understand more deeply the history of that era.

The tallest building in the residence is a three-story pavilion for girls. It was built for Liu Wencai's three daughters. From the top floor there is a beautiful view of the entire estate.

The new residence is located 300 m from the old one, which is 2 times smaller. It consists of 27 courtyards, 4 gardens, two tennis courts and about 160 halls and rooms. It combines Chinese and modern Western architecture. The windows in the estate are much larger, so there is better natural light. The new residence seems more pleasant and comfortable to live in. Brothers Liu Wencai and Liu Wenhui moved here together. And now there is a year-round exhibition of traditional Sichuan costumes. It's worth seeing.

The residence belonged to two Liu brothers. Now it reminds of those old times when people were exploited and oppressed. And also this is one of the main attractions of Sichuan. The residence is located 50 km northwest of Chengdu. In 1980, the provincial administration declared the possessions of the Liu brothers one of the most important cultural properties. In 1996, it was included in the list of relics protected at the state level. The mansion was built by Liu Wencai, the largest and richest landowner in Sichuan in the 30s and 40s.

TV tower in Chengdu /成都电视塔/

The 339-meter tower was erected in Chengdu on March 23, 2004. It is the highest in the western part of China and the 4th in the country (the other three are the Oriental Pearl in Shanghai - 468 m, the third highest in the world; in Tianjin - 415.2 m; China Central TV Tower - 405 m). Its construction began in 1992, but it was suspended due to interruptions in financing. Work resumed in 1998. From the top of the TV Tower there is a stunning view of the entire city.

OTHER ATTRACTIONS

Jiuzhaigou (Nine Fences Gorge) /九寨沟/

In the northern part of Sichuan, on the border with Gansu Province, is Jiuzhaigou. This breathtaking alpine valley was discovered by loggers in the 70s. Now it annually receives about 1 million tourists from all over the world.

The valley is located 480 km from the provincial capital. Jiuzhaigou covers an area of ​​720 square meters. km. The altitude varies from 2000 to 3000 m above sea level. The Y-shaped gorge stretches for 40 km. In 1992, Jiuzhaigou was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List. Snub-nosed monkeys and giant pandas live here. Jiuzhaigou is a nature reserve with mountainous scenery: snowy peaks, clear lakes and forests, where you can see Tibetan prayer circles, flags and stupas. But what is most surprising is the colorful water in the 108 lakes when Tibetan women wear 108 ribbons during festivals. Local geographical records from the 19th century say: “The water here is as bright as emerald green, reflecting the trees and mountain peaks.” How accurately this describes the beauty here! Having been here, you will certainly agree with these lines.

The mountain slopes are painted in different colors. In autumn the forest turns red-brown and yellow. The waterfalls seem to be in the fog. The clear lakes are slightly tinted with turquoise, blue and emerald hues due to the minerals contained in the water. The lakes vary in size, from 66 hectares (Longhai Lake) to 1/20 hectares. The shores of small lakes are connected by narrow wooden bridges. And some of them are so small that they are overgrown with grass. No exact explanation for the origin of the lakes has been found. Although most geologists agree that they were formed by dams of calcium carbonate, which were caused by mountain streams. Tibetan legends say that these lakes are fragments of the mirror of the goddess Wonuosemo. Tibetans believe that in ancient times the mountains in Jiuzhaigou collapsed, killing all the trees and flowers, and the inhabitants of the gorge fled. The goddess Wonuosemo and the god Dage decided to restore the once beautiful valley. And again the streams began to flow, the trees began to bloom, the birds returned to their nests, and the villages were again filled with inhabitants. Ultimately, the gods fell in love with each other, promising to exchange gifts. Dage gave his beloved a mirror so that her beauty would be reflected in it. But unfortunately, Wonuosemo couldn't hold on to the gift, and the mirror slipped out of her hands. In vain the gods tried to find the fragments in the valley, passing by transparent lakes reflecting clouds, forests and mountains. Suddenly they realized that these were the remains of the gift. Jiuzhaigou (which means Nine Fences Gorge in China) was named after a Tibetan settlement that was located in a mountain valley. Previously, Tibetans were poor and isolated from the outside world. But thanks to the influx of tourists, many of them began to work in hotels, restaurants and sell souvenirs.

In early 2002, Kuwait's Arab Economic Development Fund made a loan of US$5 million for the construction of Huanglong Airport in Jiuzhaigou. The loan is provided for 20 years, with a repayment period of 4 years. By 2010, the airport will be able to accommodate up to 600,000 annually.

Emeishan Mountains /嵋眉山/

The Emeishan Mountains (maximum height 3,099 m) are located 165 km from Chengdu. Since ancient times, they have attracted travelers with their amazing landscapes. The highest peak is Wanfo Peak, starting at 500 m and reaching 3,099 m above sea level. Altitudinal temperature changes are noticeable here. They say that all seasons coexist in these mountains, and the temperature changes every 5 km. In fact, in March, when the flowers have already bloomed at the foot, the top is still covered in ice. And in the summer, when it’s stuffy below, you’ll be pleasantly cool above. Each season brings a special charm to Emeishan Mountains. In spring, the mountains are buried in fiery azaleas. And in summer the slopes are covered with green grass and trees. In autumn the forest begins to shed its leaves, and in winter everything is covered with white, white snow. It lies on the roofs of ancient temples, and on the branches of trees, and on the slopes of mountains. You can go blind from this snowy splendor. Frosts turn snow into ice, and then the trees look like “ice flowers.” Local legends say that Emeishan got its real name for its beauty. "Emei" is a poetic simile for a beautiful woman. According to legend, the artist stayed in one temple outside the western gates of the city. And in gratitude, he gave the monk who sheltered him four paintings. Each of them depicted a beautiful girl. The artist told the monk that after his departure the painting must be hidden in a tree trunk for 49 days. But the monk was too amazed by the beauty to heed the warnings. And he immediately hung them on the wall. When he returned to the temple in the evening, the girls laughed loudly in the hall, and the images from the paintings disappeared. As soon as the monk realized that these were the girls from the portraits, they ran out of the room. Chasing after them, he only managed to grab the skirt of one of the beauties. And it suddenly turned into a mountain. The other girls also followed suit. This explains why the three peaks of the Emeishan Mountains are close to each other, and one is slightly to the side.

Emeishan is not just high mountains. Here a person can realize how petty everything is and how insignificant he is among these peaks. Since time immemorial, the Chinese have believed that nature mysteriously influences a person’s character. And mountains are part of nature. It was also traditionally believed that immortals found their refuge in the mountains.

On the slopes of Emeishan, like other sacred mountains (Wutaishan in Shanxi, Jiuhuashan in Anhui and Putuoshan in Zhejiang), there are a huge number of temples. More than 2000 years ago, Buddhism came to these places. About 30 temples were built here, 10 of which have features unique to Emeishan.

The Eme Mountains became Chiang Kai-shek's last refuge as he fought against Japan's takeover of China from 1937 to 1945.

Baogo Temple(height - 550 m) /报国寺/

The temple was built from 1573 to 1620 during the Ming Dynasty. It was restored during the reign of Emperor Kangxi (1662-1722). It is a prime example of Emeishan temples. The Emeishan Buddhist Association is located here. Inside the temple there is a 7-meter bronze tower. It is engraved with 4,700 images of Buddha and the Huayan Sutra. The most valuable is the huge porcelain statue of Buddha. It was made in 1415 in the city of Jingdezhen, Jiangxi Province. This city is known as the capital of porcelain production in China.

Qingyin (Pure Sound) Pavilion(at an altitude of 710 m) /清音阁/

Surrounded by green cliffs, 15 km from Baoguo Temple, is the Pure Sound Pavilion. It was built in the 4th century. On one side, the waters of the Black and White Dragon rivers flow rapidly. There are two bridges across them parallel to each other. The streams of two “dragons” merge into one below the pavilion and hit the stone in the shape of a bull’s heart with a roar. The impact creates millions of splashes that form a rainbow in the sunlight. A narrow board is thrown between two steep cliffs, and at the bottom of the gorge the stream of the Black Dragon bubbles.

Hongchunping /洪椿坪/

After covering another 10 km, you can reach Hongchunping (at an altitude of 1120 m), a mountain valley with dense forests and bamboo thickets. It's usually drizzly in the morning, so it's the perfect place to take a break from the summer heat. Climbing along narrow mountain paths brings back the landscapes of Chinese artists in the memory of tourists.

Divine Peak Temple /仙峰寺/

In this temple (at an altitude of 1752 m) rare plants are grown, whose white flowers with two pistils resemble the wings of doves. For this they were nicknamed “pigeon trees.” Behind the temple is a cave that can accommodate tens of thousands of people.

Elephant Bathing Pond /洗象池/

Another 14 km - and you reached the Elephant Bathing Pond (at an altitude of 2070 m). According to legend, when Puxian or Samntabhabra climbed the Golden Peak on an elephant, he stopped here to bathe his favorite. Moonlight, breaking through the thick foliage, is reflected like lace on the mirror surface of the pond. Puxian was the right hand of Sakuamuni, the founder of Buddhism. In the Emeishan Mountains he achieved enlightenment. He is usually depicted riding an elephant. Monkeys live on the mountain slopes around the pond. Like little beggars, they hold out their palms in the hope that tourists will give them food. If you show empty hands, they will calmly allow you to pass. Only the most shameless of them grab travelers by their clothes. The local administration supplies them with food all year round.

Golden Top /金顶/

It is worth climbing to a height of 3007 m to enjoy the amazing view that opens from the Golden Top. From here, the Minjiang, Qingyijiang and Dadukhe rivers, similar to jasper belts, and snow-capped peaks, which are difficult to distinguish from the heavens, are clearly visible. At dawn, clouds gather in the east and turn purple. Suddenly a bright ray of light breaks through the veil - this is how a new day begins. By noon, the rays, passing through the clouds, form a circle of different colors: purple, blue, green, yellow, orange, indigo... This is the famous “Buddha Halo” of Emeishan, which is created by the refraction of sunlight in the fog. The three wonders of the Emeishan Mountains are the sunrise, the crown of Buddha and the sea of ​​clouds.

Fuhu Temple(at an altitude of 630 m) /伏虎寺/

This is the largest nunnery in the Emeishan Mountains. It is located in the shade of ancient trees. Because there is not a single fallen leaf on its roofs, it is nicknamed “the temple where there is no dirt.” It was originally built during the Tang Dynasty (618-907), but the temple was rebuilt in 1651.

Wannian Temple(at an altitude of 1020 m) /万年寺/

The Temple of Ten Thousand Years was built during the Jin Dynasty (265-420). He is considered the oldest in Emeishani. The patron saint of these mountains is Puxian. This temple was erected in his honor. There is a huge dome above the square hall. The hall was built using only stone and brick. Inside is a bronze statue of Puxian riding an elephant with 6 tusks, with lotuses growing under his feet. At least three fires have occurred in the temple since the statue was installed in the 10th century. But each time the 62-ton statue escaped destruction. Sometimes after lunch you can see the “Buddha Halo” here. During the Qing and Ming dynasties, devoted Buddhists, believing that the halo was an invitation to the other world, threw themselves from steep cliffs. Therefore, the authorities decided to install a fence to prevent suicides. Now that hundreds of thousands of tourists visit Emeishan, it is difficult to call these mountains a secluded place. But in any case, you can enjoy beautiful views during a 2-day walk along narrow paths. The slopes are covered with spruce, pine and cedar trees. High cliffs and deep gorges, butterflies and azaleas create a special charm. The Emeishan Mountains are home to more than 3,200 plant species, 1,600 of which have medicinal value. The richness of the flora creates an ideal habitat for animals. 2,300 species of animals live here, and 29 of them are protected by the state - giant panda, red panda, monkeys, etc. The Emeishan Mountain Management Committee has invested more than 1 million yuan (US$120,000) to build a 10-hectare monkey sanctuary with pavilions and a 400-meter walkway. It is located at an altitude of 750 m, but you can also get there by public transport. To prevent the monkeys from blocking your path, just extend your empty palm to them, so they will be convinced that you have no food.

It is also home to rare species of frogs that can make sounds similar to zithers. According to legend, frogs were once beautiful goddesses who were lured to the temple by a monk's preaching. If you are lucky, you will hear the singing of frogs in the temple pond among the blooming lotuses.

People usually get to Emeishan via Chengdu. The bus ride from the city to the foot takes 1.5 hours. And it will take another hour and a half to reach Jieyin Temple (at an altitude of 2640 m). And porters will take you to the top for a fee.

Conference of Buddhist monks in the Emeishan Mountains

/峨眉山首届传戒大法会/

Over the course of 34 days from March 18 to April 20, 2001, 10 grand ceremonies were held in the Emeishan Mountains to train monks. The first ceremony of this kind was held by the Buddhist Association of China back in the Qing Dynasty. In 2001, 700 monks from all over the country, including Taiwan, as well as more than 1,000 lay Buddhists participated in the ceremonies. As one of the 4 Sacred Mountains, Emeishan has been included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. With its rich Buddhist heritage, Emeishan attracted thousands of visitors in ancient times. But even now interest in her has not faded.

Giant Buddha of Leshan /乐山大佛/

The huge Maitreya Buddha is carved into a rock facing the confluence of three rivers: Minjiang, Qingyijiang and Daduhe. The rock is located on the western slope of Mount Lingyunshan. According to legend, the famous monk Haitong of the Tang Dynasty (618-907) often saw boats capsizing in the whirlpool of rivers. Shipwrecks in this place were a common occurrence. Wanting to protect the boats and soften the unruly streams, the monk vowed to erect the Maitreya Buddha. He worked hard to raise funds for the construction. So the largest Buddha in the world took 90 years to build from 713 to 803 during the Tang era. A local proverb says: "The mountain is the Buddha, the Buddha is the mountain." Its height is 71 m. The height of its head is 14.7 m and its width is 10 m. There are a total of 1021 curls of hair on its head, each of which is 40 cm in diameter. The shoulder width is 28 m, and the auricle can fit two people. The length of his big toe is 1.6 m, and the instep can seat about 100 people. For the convenience of visitors, a path of Nine Turns was built. It consists of 250 stone steps. It's dangerous to go down them, but it's worth it. Next to the trail there is a pavilion where visitors can relax peacefully and also admire the face of the Buddha. In 1996, UNESCO listed the Buddha as a World Heritage Site.

Since its construction, for 500 years, a huge seven-story wooden structure protected the Buddha from the elements. But at the end of the Yuan Dynasty it was destroyed. So, since the 15th century, the Buddha remained open to rain and wind. Over the years, plants began to appear on the stone statue, and debris began to appear on the face, neck, shoulders and legs. The waters of three rivers washed away the lotus-shaped foundation under the feet of the Buddha. 30 holes were found in the base.

Work to restore the Leshan Buddha was completed on April 30, 2001. Historical records record several restorations of the statue. In 2001, the 6th since 1914 was held. It was renovated twice in the 90s. Due to erosion and environmental pollution, the Buddha's face became dirty and some parts of his body were overgrown with weeds. The local tourism department hired 40 reconstruction workers to restore the Buddha to its former glory. During the work, they used only traditional materials that were also used in its construction. US$700,000 was invested in the project. They were taken on a long-term interest-free loan from the World Bank. The annual plan included clearing debris and weeds from the head, restoring the “scalp,” and filling crevices with cement. After cleaning the Buddha's face, neck and chest, workers restored the destroyed parts and putty the surface to match the color of the skin. The shoulders were covered with a red solution. But restoration was only part of the work to preserve the Buddha. It was also subject to destruction from the industrial development of the territory. Human activity also contributed to the destruction of the surface of the statue. Since 1995, polluting production facilities have been relocated, and the activities of restaurant stores have been controlled. The movement of water transport along the river was also limited. The local administration decided to build a highway near Buddha. The work also included cleaning river water. In total, 500 million yuan (60 million US dollars) were invested in the project.

A high-tech monitoring system was installed to protect the world's tallest Buddha. The system will not only prevent fire or flood, but also human actions. The installation was completed in 2002. 2 million yuan (240,000 US dollars) were spent on it. In 2001, the Leshan administration invested 6 million yuan (US$730,000) to improve the statue's security system. The water supply system delivers water from the river to the mountain to not only irrigate the green areas around the statue, but also to be used in case of fire. Every year, more than 2 million visitors from around the world come to see the Buddha, adding about 700 million yuan (US$84 million) to Leshan's tourism department budget.

On September 2, 2002, the reconstruction of the platform on which the world famous Buddha stands was completed. Passages for visitors were also provided. This project cost 30 million US dollars, 2 million of which was a World Bank loan. Erosion and the annual pilgrimage of tourists led to the formation of 10 cracks in the platform, the largest of which reached 4.7 m in depth. During the work, the platform expanded by 120 square meters. meters, so that its area reached almost 300 square meters. m.

Sanxingdui excavations in Guanghan /广汉三星堆遗址/

The ancient ruins are located in the upper reaches of the Yangtze. Chinese civilization was born here. The ruins of Sanxingdui in Guanghan, 40 km from Chengdu, belong to the ancient state of Shu. Their age is 3000-5000 years. Peasants digging a ditch unexpectedly discovered the remains of an ancient culture in 1929. Since then, more than 10,000 items have been recovered. This was one of the most amazing archaeological discoveries of the 20th century. According to experts, there were several ancient settlements in Sanxingdui with distinctive cultural characteristics. The unique jasper artifacts discovered here suggest that those who lived here 3,700-5,000 years ago were in contact with groups that inhabited the lower reaches of the Yangtze.

Sanxingdui 3000 years ago was quite influential in the kingdom of Shu. Magnificent bronze items were made here. They had numerous connections with the population of the central and eastern parts of the country. The discovery of Sanxingdui made it possible to assert that the origin of Chinese civilization is not homogeneous. Chen Xiandan, director of the Sichuan Provincial Museum, said Sanxingdui revolutionized Chinese history. Before its discovery, it was believed that the history of Sichuan was no more than 3,000 years old. But now it has become obvious that civilization appeared here more than 5,000 years ago. Chen has been researching Sanxingdui since 1980. In 1986, he and a colleague were taking part in excavations when two huge sacrificial pits were discovered. Their discovery was the most important discovery in Sanxingdui since its discovery. There were objects made of bronze, gold, jasper and marble, ceramics, bone tools, as well as a huge number of shells and 800 bronze remains. Excavations at Sanxingdui require the participation of geologists, ecologists, hydrologists and other scientists. In the future, archaeologists hope to unravel the mysteries of where the raw materials for making bronze products were brought from and why civilization disappeared.

Baoen Temple /报恩寺/

Bao'en Temple is one of the largest temples in Ping'u County of Sichuan and the best preserved temple in China. It was built from 1440 to 1460 during the reign of the Ming Emperor Yingzong (1427-1464). It stretches 278 m from east to west and 100 m from south to north. Most of the buildings have been preserved in their original form. The monastery complex has a number of architectural features: for example, glazed tiles on the roof, which is more typical of imperial buildings in Northern China. In gratitude for the fact that the emperor allowed the construction of the temple, it was called “Baoen”, which means “to respond with gratitude.” In 1956, the provincial government declared the temple one of the most important cultural relics in Sichuan. And in 1996, the Temple began to be protected at the state level. It is located 32 km northeast of Chengdu. In front of the temple there is a huge area on which two 7-meter Dharani pillars are installed. Dharani is a Buddhist monument that appeared during the Tang Dynasty. It is a hexagonal pillar engraved with Buddhist sutras and exquisite designs. Stone steps lead to the terrace where the entrance to the temple is located. It looks more impressive than even the huge temples of Northern China. Cypress trees cast shadows on the gable roof. The two deities guarding the entrance are made of painted clay. The layout is typical of most Chinese Buddhist temples. The main halls are built along the vertical axis, while the secondary and other buildings are built along the horizontal axis. The buildings are connected by galleries, and rectangular courtyards are formed between them. The entrance is located on a vertical axis that runs from east to west. After it are the Hall of the Heavenly Emperor, the Main Hall and the Hall of 10,000 Buddhas. Three stone bridges span the pond between the entrance and the Hall of the Heavenly Emperor. With their exquisite carvings on the railings, they resemble the bridges before Tiananmen in Beijing, only smaller in size. In the southern part of the courtyard there is a 13-meter bell tower. The double eaves roof is supported by 16 wooden posts. The tower has two iron bells, which is quite rare; usually they are equipped with only one. The larger bell (5 tons) was cast in 1446, and the smaller one (2.5 tons) was made in 1472. Historical records record that in 1470 the area was hit by a strong earthquake. After this, the tower began to tilt backwards. To balance the tower, a small bell was hung on the front beam. The Hall of the Heavenly Emperor houses clay statues of the 4 Heavenly Emperors, the warriors accompanying the Buddha. There are colorful flowers on the ceiling. The gable roof is covered with black and green tiles. Sparkling under the blue sky, the roof makes a lasting impression. Also visible are the dougong, the brackets that support the roof. Dougong are located on top of the pillars that support the roof crossbars. Their function is to transfer the weight of the horizontal parts of the structure to the vertical ones. Thanks to this design, traditional wooden buildings in China have been preserved for centuries. In total, 48 types and 2,200 sets of dougong were used in the construction of the temple, earning it the reputation of a “dougong museum.” On the vertical axis between the Heavenly Emperor Hall and the Main Hall, Dabei and Huayan Halls are located opposite each other. In the center of the Dabei hall, on a lotus-shaped throne, there is a 9-meter golden statue of the goddess Guanyin, who has 1004 hands and eyes. The body of the goddess is carved from nanmu (lunar nanmu is a special type that is famous for its unusual smell: it drives away mosquitoes in summer). The many-armed goddess looks like an open flower.

There is a zhuanluncang in the Huayan Hall. It is an octagonal wooden structure that rotates around the center of the hall. She's still mobile. There are 4 wooden pillars around it, which entwine four 7-meter golden dragons. There are countless dragons in the temple, because they are a symbol of the emperor’s power.

The main hall is the main building in the temple. Its roof is covered with green tiles, and the ceiling is decorated with multi-colored ornaments. In the central part there are 3 Buddha statues made of gilded ceramics. In front of the lotus throne of the central Buddha, on a 2-meter wooden board is written: “Long life to the emperor!” The interior walls of the hall are decorated with frescoes. They depict 12 different Buddhas. Behind the three statues are three Buddhas riding a white elephant, a green lion and a golden unicorn. In the courtyard between the Main Hall and the Hall of 10,000 Buddhas, two octagonal pavilions were built. A bell is suspended from each of the pavilion's 16 cornices. They ring melodiously in a light breeze. The Hall of 10,000 Buddhas is the last building in the vertical axis. Its height is 24 m. The walls of the two-story pavilion are covered with 300 sq. m. m of amazing frescoes. They depict dozens of 3-meter Buddhas. They are considered among the finest murals of the Ming Dynasty due to their interesting composition, flowing lines and rich colors.

Mountain of Four Girls (Sigongyangshan) /四姑娘山/

The Sigongyang Mountains are no less beautiful than their amazing name. They are located in Xiaojin County, Tibet Qiang Autonomous Prefecture, in western Sichuan. The mountains stand far from each other, resembling four Tibetan beauties in white scarves. According to legend, many years ago the mountain god Balan lived in these places. And he had four daughters. The evil spirit was amazed by the beauty of Balan's daughters and wanted to marry them. So he decided to challenge their father to a duel. If he wins, he will take the girls with him. The god of the mountains was killed in a duel. And his daughters ran away and died unexpectedly. So their bodies turned into the Sigongyang Mountains, and the father became the city of Balangshan. Another story tells that the girls were saved by a hunter and turned into mountain spirits.

The Sigongyang Mountains include 4 peaks, Shuangqiao, Changping and Haizi gorges. They are called the "eastern Alps". Their height reaches 6,250 m. The peaks are covered with snow all year round. Under the blue sky and white clouds, black rocks and clear rivers are surrounded by greenery and flowers.

Lanzhong /阆中/

Lanzhong, a small town in northern Sichuan famous for its ancient architecture, is slated to be designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The provincial administration decided to invest 300 million yuan (37.5 million US dollars) in preserving the original appearance of the centuries-old city. Of the 860,000 inhabitants, about 30,000 people live on the ancient streets. Therefore, about 10,000 of them were relocated to preserve the relic. All buildings that did not match the buildings of the ancient city were demolished.

On one side of the city there are mountains, and on the other the river flows. Jialingjiang (tributary of the Yangtze). Lanzhong's history goes back over 2,300 years. Mountains, river and black tile roofs create a truly Chinese atmosphere. Walking along the narrow pavements, visitors can get acquainted with the architecture of past dynasties. The city's 92 ancient streets were mainly built during the Tang and Song eras. And more than 1000 ancient houses were built during the Ming and Qing dynasties. The old town covers an area of ​​1.5 square meters. km. Lanzhong's street layout is like a chessboard. Most old houses face north: there are often shops on the front, and living quarters on the back. With the help of wooden poles, the eaves of the shops protrude two meters forward: here pedestrians can hide from the rain or scorching sun. The city still has quadrangular courtyards. The windows are decorated with ornaments of flowers, birds and animals. In addition to aesthetics, they are functional - the rooms become brighter. Since the Warring States period (475-221 BC), rulers of various dynasties have considered Lanzhong the most important strategic outpost in southwest China. Princes, members of the imperial family and officials who stayed in Lanzhong admired the architecture of the city, built according to the principles of Feng Shui. In modern times, Lanzhong is one of the 4 largest and best-preserved ancient cities in China (the other three are Shexian in Anhui, Lijiang in Yunnan and Pingyao in Shanxi).

Zhang Huanghou Memorial Temple /张桓侯祠/

The temple is located in the old city. It was built in honor of Zhang Fei ("-221), the famous general of the Three Kingdoms period (220-280). After 195 years of the Eastern Han dynasty, China fell into three kingdoms - Wei, Shu and Wu. In the struggle for power over the entire country, three The kingdoms were bogged down in continuous wars, about which countless heroic stories were written throughout China. The name of Zhang Fei became synonymous with the brave man. The named brother of Liu Bei (161-223, reigned 221-223), Zhang Fei helped him found the kingdom of Zhang Fei. ruled Lanzhong for seven years (214-221). In 220, Guan Yu, the sworn brother of Liu Bei and Zhang Fei, was killed. Then, in revenge, Zhang Fei undertook a punitive expedition to the kingdom of Wu. He had to unite his army with 10,000 brave men. Liu Bei's soldier in the territory of modern Chongqing. But before the union, he ordered two of his close generals to end mourning for Guan Yu after three days. Those, in fear of cruel punishment for failure to comply with the order, killed the sleeping Zhang Fei. He was buried in Lanzhong and was posthumously awarded the title. "Huanhou." And local residents built a temple in memory of the brave general. Over the 1700 years of its existence, it was rebuilt many times. Now the temple has retained its appearance after restoration in the Ming and Qing eras. It covers an area of ​​10,000 square meters. m. The temple consists of a gate, a memorial entrance, halls, wings, a mausoleum and a garden. More than 4,000 cultural treasures are stored here.

As in other parts of Sichuan, food in Lanzhong is mainly spicy. The city is famous for its special recipe for preparing beef; this dish is often called “Zhangfei beef”. It is black on top and red on the inside. According to legend, Zhang Fei's skin was dark, but hidden inside was a warm heart.

Liquor capital - Yibin /酒城 - 宜宾/

Yibin is a special city in Sichuan Province. For the Chinese, the word "yibin" is synonymous with one of the most famous liqueurs in the country, Wulingye. The liqueur has been known for over 600 years. Yibin is the largest liquor producer in China. It is often called the "liquor capital". It is the first city on the upper reaches of the Yangtze. It is located near the confluence of the two rivers Minjiang and Jinshajiang.

It remains a mystery to archaeologists who placed the graves of the Bo people in the rocks at an altitude of 26-200 m and why. Yibing was home to the Bo people, predecessors of the Qin Dynasty (221-206 BC). There are seven areas of fantastic stone forest and 260 mystical karst caves. For researchers of ethnic culture and costume, Yibin is interesting as the site of the largest settlement of the Miao national minority in Sichuan. The population of more than 30,000 people has preserved ethnic costumes and folk traditions. This city in the southern part of the province is also famous for its 120 sq. km of bamboo thickets. They are often called the "bamboo sea". 19 km from the city center is the settlement of Lizhuang, where ancient buildings have been preserved. Its history goes back more than 1000 years. The original buildings from the Qing and Ming eras are still preserved here. Even the street names have not changed. The 2-6 meter wide streets are paved with green stone. All ancient buildings are built of wood. And local residents still use two wells dug more than 100 years ago.

Sichuan is a province in south-central China with its capital in Chengdu. Sichuan is the 5th largest province in China and has gathered on its territory many interesting objects worthy of attention.

The first attraction is actually what we came to Chendu for - the giant panda observation center, which I have already talked about, but I can repeat it a little more.

The panda center is located about 11 km north of Chengdu and covers an area of ​​about 100 hectares. Here, giant pandas can live and reproduce in conditions as close to natural as possible.

More information about the center can be found on their website. This is one of the nicest Asian sites - intuitive, with a good interface and, most importantly, informative.

It's easy to get here: first you need to take bus number 9 from the northern train station ( Chengdu North Railway Station) to the Chengdu Zoo stop ( Zoo Bus Stop), and then change to No. 87 or No. 198 directly to the Panda Center ( Panda Base Bus Stop). The bus fare costs 2 CNY, and the total travel time is approximately 1 hour.

Ticket prices are quite reasonable, compared to many other attractions, for example, 58 CNY.

The second attraction has a religious connotation - this is the largest Buddha statue currently preserved, carved into the rock. The height of the statue is 71 meters - the height of a 20-story building, its index finger is 8 meters long. Work on the construction of this giant lasted 90 years, from 713 to 803. The Buddha's head is at the level of the mountain top, and his feet are almost at the water's edge; on either side of him, many images of bodhisattvas are carved into the rock. Since 1996, the Leshan Buddha has been included in the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage List.

It's easy to get here from Chengdu, with south station the high-speed train will take you to Leshan, and in Leshan bus number 3 will take you directly from the station to the famous Buddha. The stop at which you need to get off is located Here. Travel time is approximately 2 hours, of which an hour is spent on the train and an hour on the bus. Travel by bus costs 2 CNY, by train 51 CNY.

Entrance fees are not cheap and there are different options. But to see the giant Buddha you will have to pay at least 90 CNY.

A trip to Leshan can be a wonderful one-day activity, or it can take longer, as this quiet provincial town is a very nice break from the noisy and dusty Chengdu.

In order to take a closer look at the Buddha, you will have to stand in quite a queue (a couple of hours) and go through many steps, first down and then up. Therefore, it’s a good idea to think about comfortable shoes and water in advance.

The third attraction that we absolutely could not miss was dinosaur museum. There are several reasons not to miss this museum: firstly, who didn’t like dinosaurs as a child, and some not only loved dinosaurs, but also dreamed of becoming paleontologists; secondly, it is the largest museum of this profile in the world, in addition, Zigong is one of the largest places where dinosaur remains have been found in the world.

The total area of ​​its exhibition is 65 thousand square meters. Here are the restored skeletons of dinosaurs found in the area. In the museum you can see what dinosaurs looked like, how excavations are carried out, and you can even touch some fossils, and, of course, see models (statues?) of dinosaurs, organically blended into the surrounding landscapes.

The museum’s website is very stupid, but maybe someone will find something useful and interesting there. Opening hours are from 8:30 to 17:00. The ticket costs 42 CNY. You can get to Zigong by bus from Chengdu or Leshan for 50 CNY, travel time is about 2 hours. Bus 35 runs from the center of Zigong to the museum; you can’t walk there, it’s really very far away.

The city itself, in addition to dinosaurs, has long specialized in salt, so if you want, you can see the salt museum. The town made a somewhat depressing impression on me, the first place in China that seemed to me to lack funding.

Naturally, there are still a lot of interesting things in Sichuan, I settled on these 3, because they are close to us in spirit, really interesting and are unlikely to leave anyone indifferent.