Located in southwest China, Sichuan is one of the nation’s largest and most unapproachable provinces bordered by the Yangtze River, Three Gorges and the Tibetan Plateau. The rough highland of Central Sichuan comprises the fruitful Chengdu Plain or the ‘Rice Bowl of China’.
The provincial capital, Chengdu, is the cultural and industrial hub of Sichuan and has been renowned for its luxurious brocades, satins and lacquer ware for over 900 years. The city also boasts Chengdu Giant Panda Research Base or Panda City, which is one of the world’s most significant centers for the captive conservation of these loveable creatures.
Covering an area of around 700 square kilometers, Huang Long (Yellow Dragon) Valley features some of the planet’s most beautiful scenery and was added to the ‘China World Cultural and Natural Heritage List’ in 1992. Labeled a ‘mountain fairyland’, its unique landscapes include vast emerald lakes, colorful forests, layered waterfalls and snow-capped peaks, with Tibetan folk villages being harmoniously nestled in the mountains.
A major tourist draw in Central Sichuan is Leshan Giant Buddha, a gigantic statue carved into Mt Lingyun. Created between 713 and 803 AD, it is more than 71 meters tall and wide enough for over 100 people to sit down between its feet. This is the biggest carved stone Buddha on the planet and is the setting for an international tourist festival held each year.
Getting There & Away
Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport receives flights from over 70 domestic and more than 20 international destinations, including Tokyo, Bangkok, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Los Angeles, Sydney, Melbourne, Delhi and London; the flight time from Beijing is 2 hours. Numerous train services connect Chengdu with major cities, while buses run to various tourist spots as well.