Sichuan Trip

Author: Wu Xufeng
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-01-01
Features: China's population, the world's ; Sichuan's population, China's ; Sichuan girls are beautiful; Bashu scenery is beautiful; Mount Emei is the world's scenic; Mount Qingcheng is the world's serene; Jiange is the world's dangerous; Jiuzhai is the world's marvelous. If you don't visit Sichuan, it's as if you haven't visited China! When traveling in China, if you don't visit Sichuan, it will be a regret, like watching a beauty pageant—only seeing the glamorous outer attire, but not the swimsuit. Sichuan is located in southwestern China, adjacent to the heart of the country's vast territory. It is a basin with a diameter of thousands of miles, surrounded by mountains and centered with plains, resembling a basin at the feet of the elderly on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Before the Shang Dynasty, Sichuan was called "Shu," evidenced by the earliest Chinese characters inscribed on oracle bones. The character "Shu" is pictographic, depicting a silkworm, and later the character "Ba" emerged. Bashu refers to Sichuan. During the Warring States period, it gained the reputation of "thousands of miles of fertile land," "abundant in both water and grain, free from hunger and thirst," and "the land of abundance." This means Sichuan is a place rich in resources, with four seasons like spring, no severe cold in winter, and no extreme heat in summer. According to common folk saying, tossing a handful of roasted peanuts will sprout, showing its wealth and beauty. "The beauty of Jinjiang's spring comes from heaven and earth," as Du Fu praised Chengdu's natural splendor. Chengdu is the capital of Sichuan, abbreviated as Rong, also known as Jincheng and Furongcheng. It is a national historical and cultural city and the starting point of the Southern Silk Road. With a total population of over 11 million, including over 2 million in the urban area, Chengdu is connected to the rest of the country by the Chengdu-Chongqing, Baogang, and Chengkun railways, and to the world by the Shuangliu International Airport. Its famous specialty products include Shu embroidery, gold and silver jewelry, porcelain bamboo weaving, lacquerware, famous snacks, and teahouses, all with a long history. Chengdu has transformed from a consumer city before the founding of the People's Republic of China into a large production city with developed industries, agriculture, and commerce. Today, it is advancing steadily toward becoming a "garden-like" and "high-tech" metropolis. Chengdu's urban area is rich in scenic spots and historical sites, including the Wu Hou Temple, Du Fu's Thatched Cottage, the Wangjianglou Park, Dujiangyan, Mount Qingcheng, Wenshu Monastery, Zhaojue Temple, the Tomb of Wang Jian, Baoguang Temple, Mount Xiling Snow, Jiufeng Mountain, and Zhuya Lake.