Travel around Sichuan

Author: Cao Zhengqi et al. / Country:
Publisher:
Publishing Time: 2002-01-01
Features: Sichuan, historically known as Bashu, has a civilization spanning over 4,500 years since the reigns of Emperor Cancong and Emperor Yufu. Renowned as the "Land of Abundance," Sichuan has been blessed with fertile plains since the construction of the Dujiangyan irrigation system by Li Bing. Over 2,200 years later, the region remains a paradise for tourism, boasting high-quality, abundant, diverse, and widely distributed tourism resources. Sichuan is home to 32 national and provincial historical and cultural cities, 69 national and provincial scenic areas (including Jiuzhaigou, Huanglong Temple, Mount Emei-Leshan Giant Buddha, and Mount Qingcheng-Dujiangyan, all listed as World Natural and Cultural Heritage Sites), 73 national and provincial forest parks, 50 national and provincial nature reserves, 62 national key cultural relics protection sites, 213 provincial key cultural relics protection sites, and 63 museums (memorials, exhibition halls). The characteristics of Sichuan's tourism resources can be summarized in four sentences: magnificent natural landscapes, rich and diverse cultural relics, picturesque rural scenery, and unique ethnic customs. The region is known for its grandeur, novelty, danger, beauty, seclusion, wilderness, antiquity, and uniqueness. Historically, Sichuan was described as "the road to Shu is as difficult as climbing the sky," but after 50 years of post-liberation development, it has now formed a modern, multi-dimensional transportation system integrating railways, highways, waterways, and aviation, making it a transportation hub in Southwest China. Currently, Sichuan has developed three international tourism routes (Jiuzhaigou-Huanglong, Dujiangyan-Leshan-Emei, and South Sichuan Dinosaur Bamboo Forest), four specialized tourism routes (Panda Viewing, Three Kingdoms Cultural Heritage, Haolonggou Glacier, and Xichang Satellite Base & Lugu Lake Scenery), and four major festivals with international influence (Chengdu International Panda Festival, Zigong Dinosaur Lantern Festival, Leshan Giant Buddha Festival, and Liangshan Torch Festival). Four provincial-level resorts are under construction (Leshan-Emei, Dujiangyan-Qingchengshan, Haolonggou Glacier, and Panxi Tourism). With strengthened infrastructure for transportation and tourism, Sichuan has basically formed an industrial system capable of comprehensive tourism services, including travel, accommodation, dining, sightseeing, shopping, and entertainment. Under the Western Development Strategy, the Sichuan Provincial Party Committee and Government have proposed to develop tourism as a pillar industry, transforming Sichuan from a tourism resource-rich province into a tourism powerhouse. A tourism development master plan has been formulated, focusing on natural ecology and historical culture, cultivating internationally renowned brands, and creating world-class and national-level tourism products. Key efforts are being made to develop and promote internationally recognized brands such as the giant panda, Sanxingdui, Jiuzhaigou, Huanglong, Mount Emei-Leshan Giant Buddha, and Mount Qingcheng-Dujiangyan, as well as scenic spots like South Sichuan Bamboo Forest, Mount Siguniang, Bifengxia, Haolonggou, Zigong Dinosaur, Daocheng Yading, and Lugu Lake. To meet the needs of Western Development and the rapid growth of tourism, the Sichuan Provincial Forestry Department has organized the publication of "Explore Sichuan!" This book comprehensively introduces Sichuan's forest tourism, scenic area tourism, cultural relic tourism, and tourism service guides, aiming to provide convenience for domestic and international tourists, enhance their understanding of Sichuan, and promote the sustainable development of Sichuan's tourism industry and economy.
6. The Ertan National Forest Park is located in Yanbian County and Miyi County of Panzhihua City, covering a total area of 732.4 square kilometers, with 64 square kilometers of water and a forest coverage rate of 66.3%. Established in 1993, the park features the world-renowned Ertan Hydropower Station, with a installed capacity of 3.3 million kilowatts and a dam height of 240 meters. The reservoir has a storage capacity of 5.8 billion cubic meters, forming a vast artificial lake with a total surface area of 102 square kilometers, a length of 45 kilometers, and an average width of 700 meters. The park includes nine scenic areas: Tongzilin, Pusayan, Gapinghu, Baipo Mountain, Maluzhai, Laojunmiao, Lake Island Scenery, Tianheng Bridge, and Qinghe Xianren Cave. The lake and mountains complement each other, creating a picturesque landscape and a gem of tourism in Southwest China. The Ertan Forest Park and its surrounding areas are among the earliest human activity regions, with evidence of ancient humans like the Yuanmou Man and Butterfly Man, as well as the Wengguan burials from the Warring States period and the site of Zhuge Liang's "crossing the Lugu River in May" during the Three Kingdoms era. Historical figures such as Sima Xiangru, Marco Polo, Zhuge Liang, and Xu Xiake have all visited here. In Yanbian County's old city, legends like "Five Oxen Trapped in a Pond," "Rhino Gazing at the Moon," and "Green Dragon Cave" come to life. The Ertan Hydropower Station features the tallest overflow arch dam in Asia, the largest underground power station cave complex in Asia, and the world's most impressive left and right bank diversion tunnels. The park is home to over 10 ethnic minorities, including the Yi, Naxi, and Lisu, who maintain their original and primitive lifestyles and cultural traditions. These rich cultural landscapes add to the charm of tourism. The magnificent hydropower station, the vast and misty blue lake, the surrounding lush green mountains, the vast primeval forests, the picturesque scenery of eight small islands in the lake, and the unique customs of the 10+ ethnic minorities living nearby, along with the tranquil environment, pleasant climate, and fresh air, make it an ideal destination for tourism, exploration, inspiration, entertainment, vacationing, and health recovery. The Ertan Hydropower Station is just 38 kilometers from Panzhihua City, connected by a high-grade highway. The reservoir has a ring road and passenger boats, ensuring convenient transportation. The park has over 70 hotels, guesthouses, and resorts with over 200 beds, offering local delicacies like chicken fungus and ya fish. Tourist shops sell jade products and other handicraft souvenirs. The park is managed by Xiao Zejin and He Wenliang, with contact phone numbers (0812) 33556272903643.
7. The Haolonggou National Forest Park is located on the eastern slope of Gongga Mountain, 282 kilometers from Chengdu (see Figure 6). Named after a giant seashell-shaped rock in the valley, the park covers an area of 358 square kilometers and stretches 30.7 kilometers with an elevation range of 1,336 to 7,556 meters. The park features a rare combination of primeval forests and glaciers, creating a low-altitude "green sea glacier." Key attractions include:
- No. 1 Campsite: A sanctuary for plants and animals. Located 15 kilometers from Moxi Town, it marks the entrance to the core area of Haolonggou. Due to its unique geology, topography, and climate, the 6,300-meter elevation difference between Gongga Mountain's summit and the valley mouth results in complex plant geography, diverse flora, and strong biodiversity, forming one of China's and the world's most representative natural vertical landscape profiles. This creates seven distinct climate zones and vegetation belts, making it one of the regions with the best-preserved ancient and primitive biological species in China.
- No. 2 Campsite: A romantic snow-capped mountain hot spring. Located 7 kilometers from No. 1 Campsite, it is a hot spring therapy center by the Hot Spring Valley. The Hot Spring Valley Boiling Spring, the most famous hot spring in Haolonggou, has a year-round flow exceeding 8,900 tons daily, with temperatures reaching up to 90°C. Tested as a high-quality medical hot spring, its clear, odorless water is effective for neuralgia, gastrointestinal diseases, diabetes, and arthritis. The site now has 10 outdoor hot spring pools and a 200-square-meter outdoor hot spring swimming pool, surrounded by dense primeval forests. Relaxing in the hot spring while enjoying snow-capped mountain views is a unique experience—on a lucky day, you can watch snowflakes fall over the hot spring.
- No. 3 Campsite: The "Sunlit Snow Mountain" Wonder. After passing the only ancient moraine lake in Haolonggou—Caohaizi—reaching an altitude of 2,940 meters, you arrive at No. 3 Campsite. The original fairy-tale-like small red wooden cabin has been replaced by the modern three-star Jinshan Hotel. The hotel's rooftop offers the perfect view for witnessing the "Sunlit Snow Mountain," one of Haolonggou's five wonders. On clear days, the sunrise casts a golden hue over the snow-capped peaks of the Sanlian Peak, Jin Yin Peak, and others above 6,300 meters, creating a dazzling spectacle. To see the "Sunlit Snow Mountain," avoid oversleeping—6:40 AM in spring and summer, or 7:20 AM in autumn and winter, are the best times.
- Glacier Valley: The essence of Haolonggou lies in its glaciers (also known as ice rivers), which are ice masses formed from snow and capable of movement. Gongga Mountain's Haolonggou Glacier is one of the few low-latitude, low-altitude glaciers in the world that can be visited year-round, making it a shining gem in China's tourism landscape. The area has 159 glaciers, with No. 1 Glacier in Haolonggou being the largest, longest, and most magnificent of the 74 modern glaciers around Gongga Mountain. Covering an area of 23.2 square kilometers and spanning 6,750 to 2,940 meters, it consists of a snowfield basin, a massive ice waterfall, and a glacier tongue, stretching 13 kilometers. The 5-kilometer-long glacier tongue extends deep into the primeval fir forest, creating a rare natural wonder of glaciers coexisting with forests. Walking on the 40–150-meter-thick glacier tongue, you can admire diverse ice formations: arcuate crevasses, ice lakes, ice towers, ice mushrooms, crevasses, ice caves, ice bridges, ice rivers, and ice city gates. The massive ice waterfall, a key part of No. 1 Glacier, is a spectacular sight with a height of 1,080 meters and a width of 110 meters. It is the largest ice waterfall in Asia and the world, featuring super-extended flow and frequent ice collapses and snow collapses, especially from spring to autumn, with thousands of small collapses daily. Large collapses create dazzling blue light, swirling snow, and thunderous sounds, a breathtaking natural spectacle visible from kilometers away. Standing outside the ice collapse warning area (3 kilometers from the ice waterfall) offers a chance to witness this awe-inspiring phenomenon. After viewing the ice waterfall, you can collect beautiful ice stones embedded in the glacier as souvenirs to gift friends and family.