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China Cheng Du
2010
05 – 16 June
Day 1: (5 June) Shopping at Jinli Street, Chunxi Road, Sichuan
Mask Opera
Day 2: (6 June) Chengdu - Ya’an - Hailuogou. Mt. Erlang, Luding
Bridge. Moxi Town
Day 3: (7 June) Hailuogou – Xinduqiao, Sunrise at Mt. Gongga,
Xinduqiao
Day 4: (8 June) Xinduqiao - Yajiang - Litang – Daocheng, Mt.
Gaoersi, Mt. Jianziwan, Mt. Kazila, Mt. Haizi, Hotspring
Day 5: (9 June) Daocheng - Riwa - Yading, Sunrise at Daocheng,
Gongga Langjiling Temple, Last Shangri-La -Yading Nature Reserve,
Xiannaiyi, Yading village
Day 6: (10 June) Chonggu Temple - Luorong Pastureland - Five
Color Lake, Niunaihai
Day 7: (11 June) Daocheng - Xinduqiao, Changqingchun Keer
Temple
Day 8: (12 June) Xinduqiao - Tagong Temple - Bamei Village -
Danba - Rilong
Day 9: (13 June) Siguniangshan (Mt. Four Sisters) Long-Peace
(Changping) Valley Two-Bridge (Shuangqiao) Valley
Day 10: (14 June) Danba - Luding Bridge - Free & Easy
Day 11: (15 June) Free & Easy
Day 12: (16 June) Free & Easy - Chengdu – KL 11.55
Compiled by Ooi Chooi Seng
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Chengdu is the capital of "Heavenly State" (Tian Fu Zhi Guo),
habitat of giant pandas and city of cotton-rose hibiscus. Located
in the west of Sichuan Basin and in the center of Chengdu Plain,
Chengdu covers a total area of 12.3 thousand square kilometres
(4,749 square miles) with a population of over 11 million.
Benefiting from Dujiangyan Irrigation Project which was constructed
in 256 B.C., Sichuan Province is reputed as "Tian Fu Zhi Guo",
literally a place richly endowed with natural resources. Chengdu,
as the capital, is extremely productive. The Min and Tuo Rivers,
two branches of the Yangtze River, connected to forty other rivers,
supply an irrigation area of more than 700 square kilometres
(270.27 square miles) with 150-180 million kilowatts of water.
Consisting of abundant mineral resources, the
land is extremely fertile. The history of Chengdu can be traced
back 2,400 when the first emperor built his capital here and named
the city. Through thousands of years its original name has been
kept and its position as the capital and as the significant center
of politics, commerce and military of the Sichuan area (once called
Shu) has remained unchanged. Since the Han (206B.C.-220) and Tang
(618-907) Dynasties when its handicraft industry flourished,
Chengdu has been famous for its brocades and embroideries. Shu
embroideries still enjoy a high reputation for their bright colors
and delicate designs, ranking among the four main embroideries in
China. Chengdu was the place
where the bronze culture, an indispensable part of ancient
Chinese culture, originated, the place
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where the Southern Silk Road started, and the place where the
earliest paper currency, Jiaozi (not the dumpling!), was first
printed. It is listed among the first 24 state-approved historical
and cultural cities and owns 23 state and provincial cultural relic
units. In addition to its profound historical and cultural
background featuring historic places of interest such as the
Thatched Cottage of Du Fu , Wuhou Memorial Temple and Wenshu
Monastery , etc, natural beauty abounds in surrounding areas such
as in the Jiuzhaigou Scenic Area and Huang Long Valley (Yellow
Dragon Valley) . The natural habitat of giant pandas, Chengdu Panda
Breeding and Research Center , supports the world's only giant
panda breeding and research base. Sampling the famous Sichuan
cuisine is a must on a trip to Chengdu. Enjoying the food as well
as the culture, shopping and having tea at a teahouse afford a
deeper understanding of Chengdu. Improved land and airlines
extending nationwide provide greater convenience. Chengdu is also
the main inland access city to Tibet.
Chengdu成都— Sub-provincial city — 成都市
Seal
Nickname(s): Rongcheng (蓉城) (The Hibiscus City)
Motto: 和谐包容,智慧诚信,务实创新 (Harmony and Tolerance, Wisdom and
Integrity, Truth-seeking and
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Innovation) Location of Chengdu City jurisdiction (yellow)
within Sichuan
Chengdu Location in Sichuan
Coordinates: 30°39′49″N 104°04′00″E30.66361°N 104.0666667°E
Country People's Republic of ChinaProvince Sichuan
Settled 5th century BC Established 311 BC
City seat Qingyang DistrictDivisions
- County-level 9 districts, 4 county-level cities, 6
counties
Government - Type Sub-provincial city
- CPC Party Chief Li Chuncheng (李春城) - Mayor Ge Honglin
(葛红林)
Area
- Total 12,390 km2 (4,783.8 sq mi) Elevation 500 m (1,640 ft)
Population
- Total 11,000,670 - Density 887.9/km2 (2,299.6/sq mi)
- Major Nationalities Han
Time zone China Standard (UTC+8) Postal code 610000-611944
Area code(s) 28 GDP (nominal) Total
(2009) ¥ 450.26 billion (US$65.956 billion)
GDP (nominal) Per Capita (2009) ¥ 35,215 (US$5,159)
License Plate Prefix 川 A 川 O (Government) Website
http://www.chengdu.gov.cn
Chengdu Chinese 成都
Hanyu Pinyin Chéngdū
Literal meaning City Capital
Chengdu
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(Chinese: 成都; pinyin: Chéngdū; Wade-Giles: Ch'eng-tu, located in
southwest People's Republic of China, is the capital of Sichuan
province and a sub-provincial city. Chengdu is also one of the most
important economic centers, transportation and communication hubs
in Western China. According to the 2007 Public Appraisal for Best
Chinese Cities for Investment, Chengdu was chosen as one of the top
ten cities to invest in out of a total of 280 urban centers in
China.[1] More than four thousand years ago, the prehistorical
Bronze Age culture of Jinsha (Chinese: 金沙; pinyin: Jīnshā)
established itself in this region. The fertile Chengdu Plain, on
which Chengdu is located, is called Tianfuzhi guo (simplified
Chinese: 天府之国; pinyin: Tiānfǔzhi Guó) in Chinese, which literally
means "the country of heaven", or more often seen translated as
"the Land of Abundance". It was recently named China's 4th-most
livable city by China Daily.[2]
Contents
• 1 City nicknames • 2 History • 3 Administrative divisions • 4
Geography and climate • 5 Culture and folklore
o 5.1 Gallery • 6 Economy
o 6.1 Electronic and IT industry o 6.2 Financial industry o 6.3
Defense industry o 6.4 Investment o 6.5 Industrial zones
• 7 Transportation o 7.1 Expressways o 7.2 Highway o 7.3 Public
transport o 7.4 Air transport o 7.5 Railway transport o 7.6 River
transport
• 8 Education o 8.1 Colleges and universities o 8.2
International schools o 8.3 Secondary schools
• 9 Consulates • 10 International relations
o 10.1 Twin towns — Sister cities • 11 See also • 12 References
• 13 Further reading
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The name "Chengdu" has never changed since the city was founded,
and the city has always been in the same location. The nicknames
below are not formal names.
• The Brocade City: Jinchéng, 锦城
In the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC-23 AD), brocade produced in
Chengdu enjoyed great popularity among the royal and elite class in
China. An emperor created the office of Jin Guan (锦官) to oversee
brocade production in Chengdu. Since then, Chengdu has been called
"Jin Guan Cheng" (锦官城) meaning Brocade Official's City, or in its
short form, "Jin Cheng" (锦城) meaning Brocade city.
• The City of Hibiscus: Róngchéng, 蓉城
In the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period (907-960),
Mengchang, the king of the Later Shu Kingdom, ordered the planting
of hibiscus on the fortress wall surrounding the city. After this,
Chengdu started being called the City of Hibiscus. Nowadays, the
hibiscus is still the city flower of Chengdu, but the last city
wall was torn down in the 1960s, along with the Royal Palace
situated in the middle of the city, where the statue of Mao Zedong
now stands.
History
Jinli Street
In the early 4th century BC, the 9th Kaiming king of the ancient
Shu moved his capital to the city's current location from today's
nearby Pixian. He was said to have been
inspired to move his capital by the ancient story of King Tai of
Zhou, Grandfather of King Wu of Zhou. History recorded King Tai of
Zhou's move as "it took a year to become a town; it took three
years to become a capital". Following this, the king of Shu named
the new city as "Cheng Du", which means "become a capital" (In
Chinese, the word "cheng" means "become", "du" means "capital").
There are, however, several versions of why the capital was moved
to Chengdu, and more recent theories of the name's origin point to
it as stemming from, or referring to, earlier non-Han inhabitants
and/or their languages.
After the conquest of Shu by the State of Qin in 316 BC, a new
city was founded by the Qin general Zhang Yi (who as a matter of
fact had argued against the invasion). This can be seen as the
beginning of the Chinese Chengdu. It was renamed Yìzhou (益州) during
the Han Dynasty.
During the partition following the fall of the Eastern Han
Dynasty, i.e. the era of the Three Kingdoms, Liu Bei founded the
southwest kingdom of Shu-Han (蜀汉; 221-263) with Chengdu as its
capital.
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During the Tang Dynasty, both the "Poet God" Li Bаí (李白) and the
"Poet Sage" Dù Fǔ (杜甫) spent some part of their lives in Chengdu.
Du Fu constructed the celebrated "Caotáng" (thatched cottage or
grass-hut) in the second year of his four-years stay (759-762). But
today's Caotang, a rather sumptuous house in the traditional style,
was only constructed in 1078 in memory of Du Fu. As early as the
Tang dynasty more than 1,200 years ago, Chengdu became one of the
foremost commercial cities in China, second only to Yangzhou.
Chengdu was also the birthplace of the first widely used paper
money in the world (Northern Song Dynasty, around A.D. 960). The
Qingyang Gong Taoist temple was built in Chengdu in the ninth
century, meaning "Green Goat".
Two rebel leaders, one around the end of Song Dynasty, the other
near the end of Ming Dynasty, set up the capitals of their
short-lived kingdoms here, called Dàshu (大蜀) and Dàxi (大西),
respectively.
In the 13th century, Marco Polo wrote about several bridges in
China and the Anshun Bridge (or an earlier version of it) in
Chengdu was one of them. He referred to Chengdu as "Sindafu"
("Cheng-Tu_Fu") as the capital of the province of the same
name.[3][4][5]
During the Second World War the Kuomintang (KMT, Chinese
Nationalist Party) government under Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek
fled to Sichuan Province to escape the invading Japanese forces.
They brought with them businesspeople, workers and academics, who
founded many of the industries and cultural institutions which
continue to make Chengdu an important center.
In 1944 the American XX Bomber Command launched Operation
Matterhorn, an ambitious plan to base B-29 Superfortresses at
Chengdu and strategically bomb the Japanese Home Islands. Because
the operation required a massive airlift of fuel and supplies over
the Himalayas, it was not a significant military success, but it
did earn Chengdu the distinction of launching the first serious
retaliation against the Japanese homeland.
During the Chinese Civil War, Chengdu was the last city on the
Chinese mainland to be held by the Kuomintang-controlled
government. R.O.C. President Chiang Kai-shek and his son Chiang
Ching-kuo directed the defence of the city at Chengdu Central
Military Academy until 1949, when the city fell into Communist
hands. The People's Liberation Army took the city on December 10
and the remnants of the Nationalist Chinese government fled to
Taiwan.
Today the industrial base is very broad, including light and
heavy manufacturing, aluminum smelting and chemicals. The textile
industry remains important, with cotton and wool milling added to
the traditional manufacturing of silk brocade and satin.
Today Chengdu is the headquarters of the Chengdu Military
Region.
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On May 12, 2008, a magnitude 8.0 earthquake struck causing
damage to the area, killing about 80,000 people and injuring 26,413
as of May 12, 2008. 4,021 of the casualties and most of the
property damage were from Dujiangyan and Pengzhou, two cities
within the administration of Chengdu, the sub-provincial city.
Though only 75 kilometers (48 miles) from the epicenter, Chengdu
did not suffer any discernible damage.[6].
Administrative divisions
Chengdu is a sub-provincial city. It has direct jurisdiction
over 9 districts (区 qu), 4 county-level cities (市 shi) and 6
counties (县xian) :
Map
Subdivision Hanz
i Subdivision
Hanzi
Chengdu City Proper Chengdu Rural
■ Qingyang-qu青羊
区
■ Pengzhou-shi
彭州
市
■ Jinjiang-qu锦江
区■ Qionglai-shi
邛崃
市
■ Jinniu-qu金牛
区
■ Chongzhou-shi
崇州
市
■ Wuhou-qu武侯
区■ Jintang-xian
金堂
县
■ Chenghua-qu
成华
区
■ Shuangliu-xian
双流
县
Chengdu Suburban ■ Pi-xian 郫县
■ Longquanyi-qu
龙泉
驿区■ Dayi-xian
大邑
县
■ Qingbaijiang-qu
青白
江区
■ Pujiang-xian
蒲江
县
■ Xindu-qu新都
区■ Xinjin-xian
新津
县
■ Wenjiang-qu温江
区
■ Dujiangyan-shi
都江
堰市
Geography and climate
Chengdu
Climate chart (explanation)
J F M A M J J A S O N D
7.9
9
3
12
11
5
20
16
8
44
22
13
79
26
17
107
28
21
225 30 22
201 30 22
119 25 19
35
21
15
16
16
10
5.2
11
5
average max. and min. temperatures in °C
precipitation totals in mm [show]Imperial conversion
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The Dujiangyan Irrigation System located near Chengdu is one of
the UNESCO World Heritage Sites together with Mount Qingcheng
Chengdu has a humid subtropical climate (Koppen Cwa) and is
largely mild and humid. Chengdu is situated at the western edge of
the Sichuan Basin and is therefore sheltered from northwest winds
from Siberia in winter by the Qinling Mountains to the north; the
short winter is milder than in the Lower Yangtze because of the
sheltering effect of the Qinling. Snow is rare but there are a few
periods of frost each winter. The summer is hot and humid, but not
to the extent of the "Three Furnaces" (三大火炉) cities of Wuhan,
Nanjing, and Chongqing in the Lower Yangtze. The average daytime
high in July and August is 29.6 °C (85.3 °F), with afternoon highs
sometimes reaching 33 °C (91 °F). The average low in January is 2.8
°C (37.0 °F), with lows sometimes dropping below freezing. Rainfall
is common year-round but peaks in July and August. Chengdu also has
one of the lowest sunshine totals in China (less sunshine annually
than London), and most days are cloudy even if without rain. This
is especially so in the winter months, when it is typically
interminably grey and dreary. Spring (March-April) tends to be
sunnier and warmer than autumn (October-November).
Climate data for Chengdu (1971-2000)
[hide]Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Average
high °C (°F) 9.3 (49)
11.2(52)
15.9 (61)
21.7 (71)
26.0(79)
28.0(82)
29.5(85)
29.7(85)
25.2(77)
20.6(69)
15.8 (60)
10.7 (51)
20.3 (69)
Average low °C (°F)
2.8 (37)
4.7(40)
8.2 (47)
12.9 (55)
17.2(63)
20.5(69)
22.0(72)
21.7(71)
18.6(65)
14.6(58)
9.5 (49)
4.5 (40)
13.1 (56)
Precipitation mm (inches)
7.9 (0.31)
12.1(0.48)
20.0 (0.79)
44.2 (1.74)
78.5(3.09)
106.8(4.2)
224.5(8.84)
201.1(7.92)
118.8(4.68)
35.2(1.39)
15.9 (0.63)
5.2 (0.2)
870.1 (34.26)
Sunshine hours
53.3 51.4 83.1 113.9 121.7 117.2 131.9 155.0 77.6 59.4 57.2 51.6
1,073.2
% Humidity 83 81 79 78 76 81 86 85 85 85 83 84 82
Avg. precipitation
days 7.0 8.5 10.9 13.0 14.7 15.2 17.6 15.8 15.6 13.1 7.7 5.2
144.3
8
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Source: China Meteorological Administration 2009-03-17
Culture and folklore
See also: Sichuan cuisineSichuan opera in Chengdu
The native language in Chengdu is Sichuanese (四川话), otherwise
referred as Sichuan dialect. More
precisely, "Chengdu Dialect" (成都话/成都方言) is widely used in lieu
of "Sichuanese" due to the largely different accents of Sichuanese
speakers residing elsewhere.
People from Chengdu (or Sichuan, in general) tend to eat spicy
food. Local specialties include Grandma Chen's Tofu (Mapo doufu),
Chengdu Hot pot, and Dan Dan Mien (literally meaning, "Noodles
carried on a pole" (Dan Dan Noodles). All three dishes are spicy.
Mapo Doufu and Dan Dan Mien contain Sichuan peppers (huājiāo; 花椒;
literally "flower pepper") to give them additional flavor.
An article by the Los Angeles Times (2006) called Chengdu
"China's party city" for its carefree lifestyle. Chengdu outnumbers
Shanghai in the number of tea houses and bars despite having less
than half the population. The inhabitants have a reputation in
China for having a laid-back attitude and for knowing how to enjoy
life.
Economy
Tianfu New Area
The main industries in Chengdu - which include food, medicine,
machinery and information technology - are supported by numerous
large-scale enterprises, such as Chengdu Sugar and Wine Co. Ltd.,
Chengdu Food Group, Sichuan Medicine Co. Ltd., Chengdu Automobile
Co. Ltd. etc. Many high-tech enterprises from outside Chengdu are
also beginning to settle down there.
Chengdu is becoming one of the favorite cities for investment in
western China.[7] Among the World's
500 largest companies, 133 multinational enterprises have had
subsidiaries or branch offices in Chengdu by October 2009.[7] These
MNEs include Intel, Sony, and Toyota that have assembly and
manufacturing bases, as well as Motorola, Ericsson, and Microsoft
that have R&D centers in Chengdu.[7]
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The National Development and Reform Commission has formally
approved Chengdu's proposed establishment of a national
bio-industry base there. The government of Chengdu has recently
unveiled a plan to create a ¥90 billion bio pharmaceutical sector
by 2012.[8] China's aviation industries have begun construction of
a high-tech industrial park in the city that will feature space and
aviation technology. The local government plans to attract overseas
and domestic companies for service outsourcing and become a
well-known service outsourcing base in China and worldwide.
Electronic and IT industry
Chengdu has long been established as a national base for
electronic and IT industry. The first telecom R&D centre was
set up by an Indian Company called Primetel in 1996 and since then
the city has developed as the global centre for the telecom R&D
industry. Chengdu's growth accelerated alongside the growth of the
telecom services sector in India and China. These two countries now
account for over 70% of the world telecom market. Several key
national electronic R&D institutes are located in Chengdu.
Chengdu Hi-tech Industrial Development Zone has attracted a variety
of multinationals, at least 30 Fortune 500 companies and 12,000
domestic companies, including Intel, IBM, NOKIA, Motorola, SAP,
Siemens, Canon, HP, Xerox, Microsoft, Tieto, NIIT and Wipro, as
well as domestic powerhouses such as Lenovo.[9]
Intel's Chengdu factory is its second in China, after its
Shanghai factory, and the first such large-scale foreign investment
in electronic industry in interior mainland China. Intel, the
world's largest chipmaker, has invested US$525 million in two
assembly and testing facilities in Chengdu. Following the footsteps
of Intel, Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation
(SMIC), the world's third largest foundry, set up an assembly and
testing plant in Chengdu. Intel's rival AMD is likewise set to open
an R&D center in this city.
In November 2006, IBM signed an agreement with the Chengdu
High-Tech Zone to establish a Global Delivery Center, its fourth in
China after Dalian, Shanghai and Shenzhen, within the Chengdu
Tianfu Software Park. Scheduled to be operational by February 2007,
this new center will provide multi-lingual application development
and maintenance services to clients globally in English, Japanese
and Chinese, and to the IBM Global Procurement Center, recently
located to the southern Chinese city of Shenzhen.[10] On March 23,
2008, IBM announced at the "West China Excellent Enterprises CEO
Forum" that the southwest working team of IBM's Global Business
Services is now formally stationed in Chengdu. On May 28, 2008,
Zhou Weikun, president of IBM China disclosed that IBM Chengdu
would increase its staff number from the present 600 to nearly
1,000 by the end of the year.[11][12]
Over the past few years, Chengdu's economy has flourished
rapidly. Chengdu has been quick to become a major base for
communication infrastructure, with one of China's nine top level
postal centers and one of six national telecom exchanges.
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In 2009, Chengdu hosted the World Cyber Games Grand Finals
(11–15 November). It was the first time China hosted the world's
largest computer and video game tournament.[13]
Financial industry
The financial centre of Chengdu
Chengdu is now building itself to be the financial hub for
Western China and has successfully attracted major international
financial institutions, including Citigroup, HSBC, Standard
Chartered Bank, ABN AMRO, BNP Paribas, JPMorgan Chase, The Bank of
Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, etc.
Historically, Chengdu has marked its name in the history of
financial innovation. The world’s first ever paper currency 'Jiao
Zi' was seen in Chengdu in the year 1023, during the Song Dynasty
of ancient China.
Now, Chengdu is not only the gateway of Western People's
Republic of China for foreign financial institutions, but also a
booming town for Chinese domestic financial firms. The Chinese
monetary authority, People's Bank of China (China’s central bank),
set its southwest China headquarters in Chengdu City. In addition,
almost all domestic banks and securities brokerage firms located
their regional headquarters or branches in Chengdu. At the same
time, the local financial firms of Chengdu are strengthening their
presences nationally, notably, West China Securities, GuoJin
Securities and Chengdu Commercial Bank. Moreover, on top of banks
and brokerage firms, the flourish of local economy lured more and
more financial service firms to the city to capitalize on the
economic growth. KPMG opened this first west China office in
Chengdu City this October, and before the inauguration of KPMG
Chengdu office, its rival, Ernst & Young, had already
integrated Chengdu into its global operation for several years.
Defense industryLocated within the city limits is the Chengdu
Aircraft Company which produces the recently declassified J-10
Vigorous Dragon combat aircraft as well as the JF-17 Thunder, in a
joint collaborative effort with Pakistan Air Force. The company is
one of the major manufacturers of Chinese Military aviation
technology. Temple in Chengdu
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InvestmentThe Chengdu Statistics Bureau reports that the total
investment in fixed assets in 2008 was 301.29 billion yuan
(US$43.38 billion). Domestic investment was 180.52 billion yuan
(US$26 billion), an increase of 23.5 percent from 2007. The total
amount of foreign direct investment reached US$2.25 billion, an
increase of 97.3 percent from 2007.
Industrial zones
• Chengdu Economic & Technological Development Zone •
Chengdu Export Processing Zone • Chengdu Hi-Tech Industrial
Development Zone • Chengdu National Cross-Strait Technology
Industry Development Park
Transportation
Chengdu's transportation network is well developed, and Chengdu
serves as the starting point for many national highways, with major
routes going from Sichuan-Shanxi, Sichuan-Tibet, and
Sichuan-Yunnan.
For the year 2007, Chengdu announced the official launch of 37
significant projects, including the Chengdu-Jianyang Expressway in
an attempt to accelerate the construction of the experimental
district. This project is expected to solve the current
transportation problem, which is proved to be the bottleneck in
Jianyang's development. Development of major tunnels and the
Longquan Lake scenic spot has also been planned to integrate
Jianyang better into the Chengdu economic circle.
Several major road projects were also mentioned in the paper: a
15 km tunnel from Shuangliu Taiping to Jianyang Sancha Lake;
alteration of the National Expressway 321, from Jiangyang to
Longquanyi, totaling 26 kilometers. There will also be a road that
connects Longquan Town to Longquan Lake - it will be connected to
the Chengdu-Jianyang Expressway and hence shorten the journey by 10
kilometers. The authority has yet to decide whether drivers will
have to pay tolls to access the road. Expressways
By the end of 2008, there are ten expressways, connecting the
center of Chengdu to its suburbs. The expressways that will be open
to the public by the end of December are the Chenglin Expressway,
extensions of Guanghua Avenue, Shawan Line, and an expressway from
Chengdu to Heilongtan.
• The toll-free Chengjin Expressway in the east of Chengdu is
38.7 km long, with six lines and designed for travel at 80 km/h.
After it opens to the public, it will take only about half an hour
to drive from the downtown Chengdu to Jintang, half the time of the
current journey.
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• The expressway between Chengdu to Heilongtan (Chengdu
section), going to the south of the city, is 42 km long. It is also
toll-free and a journey from downtown Chengdu to Heilongtan will
only take half an hour.
• The extension of Guanghua Avenue, going towards the west of
the city, is 11.6 km long with an estimated investment of 300
million yuan. It will cut the journey time from Chongzhou city to
Sanhuan Road to less than half an hour.
• The extension of Shawan Road going north will be 8.8 km long,
and is designed for travel at 60 km/h. After it is connected to the
expressways Pixian–Dujiangyan and Pixian–Pengzhou, it will take
only 30 minutes to go from Chengdu to Pengzhou.
• Via the Sichuan-Tibet Highway, from Chengdu to Nagchu (near
Lhasa) is a distance of 2028 km.
Highway Chengdu Metro
• China National Highway 055 • China National Highway 213 •
China National Highway 317 • China National Highway 318 • China
National Highway 319 • China National Highway 321
Public transport
The Chengdu Metro seven line subway system has been planned, and
Line 1 is under construction. Chengdu was the site of the June 5th
bus fire incident.
Air transport
Chengdu is served by the Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport
located 16 km southwest of downtown. It has been the busiest
airport in Central and Western China and the 6th busiest airport
nationwide, with a total of 17.25 million in terms of passenger
traffic in 2008.[14]
The Chengdu Airport has constructed a second runway, capable of
landing Airbus 380, the largest commercial airplane to date. The
second runway had a trial flight in October 2009 and is expected to
be in use soon. Chengdu is the fourth city in China with double
commercial runways, after Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou. On May
26, 2009, Air China, the Chengdu Government and Sichuan Airport
Group signed an agreement to improve the infrastructure of the
airport and increase the number of international direct flights to
and from Chengdu. The objective is to have a passenger traffic of
40 million by 2015, making Chengdu Airport the fourth international
hub in China, after Beijing,
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Shanghai, and GuangZhou.[14][15]. There is also a long-term plan
to build a second airport in Jintang County with five runways. Upon
completion, it will take less than 30 minutes to travel from
Jintang to downtown Chengdu.[16]
Railway transport
Chengdu is a major railway junction city and rail administrative
center in southwestern China. It is the terminus for the
Baoji-Chengdu, Chengdu-Chongqing, ChengKun (Chengdu-Kunming) and
DaCheng (Chengdu-Dazhou), as well as the Chengdu-Dujiangyan
High-Speed Railway. The Chengdu Railway Bureau manages the railway
system of Sichuan, Chongqing, Guizhou and Yunnan.
New lines under construction include conventional line to
Lanzhou and high-speed lines to Mianyang, Leshan and Chongqing.
Chengdu now has four main train stations. Among them the North
Marshalling Station is the largest marshalling station in
China[17]. Meanwhile, a new station for passenger transportation is
to be built in a few years.
River transport
Located to the northwest of Chongqing, Chengdu has no direct
access to the Yangtze River, or any other larger river. However, to
ensure that Chengdu's goods have access to the river efficiently,
the port cities of Yibin and Luzhou -- both of which are reachable
from Chengdu within hours by expressways—on the Yangtze have
commenced large-scale port infrastructure development. As materials
and equipment for the rebuilding of northern Sichuan are sent in
from the East Coast to Sichuan, these ports will see significant
increases in throughput.
Education
Chengdu is the center of higher education and scientific
research in Southwest China.
Colleges and universities
Chengdu is the center of higher education and scientific
research in Southwest China.
National universities include: • Sichuan University (SCU) (四川大学)
(Founded in 1896) • Southwest Jiaotong University (西南交通大学) (Founded
in
1896)
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• University of Electronic Science and Technology of China
(电子科技大学) (Founded in 1956) • Southwestern University of Finance and
Economics (西南财经大学) (Founded in 1952)
Important provincial universities include: • Sichuan Normal
University (四川师范大学) (Founded in 1946) • Southwest University for
Nationalities (西南民族大学) (Founded in 1951) • Chengdu Institute
Sichuan International Studies University (四川外语学院成都学院) (Founded
in 2000) • Chengdu University of Technology (成都理工大学) (Founded in
1956) • Southwest Petroleum University (西南石油大学) (Founded in 1958) •
Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine (CDUTCM)
(成都中医药大学) (Founded
in 1956)[18] • Sichuan Conservatory of Music(四川音乐学院) (Founded in
1939) • Chengdu University of Information Technology (CUIT)
(成都信息工程学院) (Founded in 1951) • Chengdu Kinesiology University
(成都体育学院) (Founded in 1942) • Xihua University (西华大学) (Founded in
1960) • Chengdu University (成都大学) (Founded in 1978) • Chengdu
Medical College (成都医学院) (Founded in 2004)[19] • Chengdu College of
UESTC (电子科技大学成都学院)
Note: Institutions without full-time bachelor programs are not
listed. International schools
• Chengdu Meishi International School • Chengdu International
School • The Leman International School - Chengdu • Quality Schools
International • Eton House
Secondary schools• Chengdu No.7 High School (成都七中) • Chengdu
Shude High School (成都树德中学) • Shishi Middle School (成都石室中学) •
Chengdu Foreign Language School (成都外语学校) • Chengdu Shude
Experimental School (成都树德实验中学) • Chengdu Shude Union School
(成都树德联校) • Chengdu Shishi Union School (成都石室联中) • Chengdu Yulin
Middle School (成都玉林中学)
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Gallery
Chengdu is famous for its teahouses
Jingidang River, Anshun bridge, and the city skyline
Jin River and Anshun (peaceful and fluent) Bridge
Jinli Street Dating back to the Qin Dynasty (221BC-206BC), Jinli
Street in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, was in ancient times one of
the busiest of commercial boulevards of the Kingdom of Shu, during
the Three Kingdoms Period (220-280). It is thus known as the "First
Street of the Shu Kingdom."
At the time of the Three Kingdoms period, the production of the
famous Shu brocade (a rich silk fabric with raised patterns in gold
and silver) was centralized at the southern bank of the Jinjiang
River in Chengdu, adjacent to the historical Temple of Marquis Wu.
The area was originally known as Jinguan or Jinli, and during the
later Tang and Song Dynasties, Jinli became another name for the
city of Chengdu.
Chengdu was the capital city of the Kingdom of Shu (221-263). Due
largely to the leadership of Zhuge Liang (an outstanding politician
and strategist) and other personages of the Kingdom of Shu, the
"Sanguo" (Three Kingdoms) culture took strong root here. And here
still exists some of the richest of the remains of the Three
Kingdoms Period.
The geography of the area is relatively simple. Adjacent to
Jinli Street is the ancient Temple of Marquis Wu, while the
Jinjiang River lies to the north and the Rainbow Bridge to the
east. By combining the spirits and styles of the Qin, Han, Ming and
Qing Dynasties and the Three Kingdoms period, along with the folk
customs of western Sichuan, Jinli has enriched the "Sanguo"
culture.
Renovation of the street was completed at the end of
2004.Visitors from all over China and abroad gathered here in this
ancient street to relax, take in the surroundings, and perhaps
taste some of the local specialties. It is said that citizens of
Chengdu are particularly fond of dining and socializing, and
perhaps this is what helps to create the city¡®s leisurely
ambience.Chengdu has been newly designated as one of the ten most
livable cities in China.
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A Panda at the Chengdu zoo Caotang the thatched cottage of Du Fu
Chunxi Road
Chengdu is a city brimming with a strong leisurely ambience.
Jinli Street, located to the east of the Wuhou Memorial Temple of
Chengdu (the most famous Three Kingdoms period (220 - 280) relic
museum in China) is particularly representative of this city. It is
recorded that as early as the Qin Dynasty (221 BC - 206 BC), Jinli
Street was the most famous place for baldachin - a rich, ornate
cloth. And it was one of the busiest commercial streets during the
Shu Kingdom (221-263). Hence, it is known as 'First Street of the
Shu Kingdom'. In order to reclaim the street's prosperity of former
days, it was restored with contributions from the Wuhou Memorial
Temple and was opened to public in October of 2004. Since then,
visitors from all over China and abroad gather in this ancient
street to relax, admire the traditional-style buildings, and taste
some local snacks. At one end of the street is an imposing archway
with 'Jinli Street' carved on it. From there the street, paved with
green flagstones, winds through Chengdu for a length of 350 meters
(382.8 yards). By combining the culture of the Three Kingdoms
Period with the folk customs of Sichuan, the buildings on both
sides including tea-houses, stores and hotels, are modeled on the
architectural style of a traditional old town in western Sichuan
Province from the Qing (1644-1911) Dynasty. The wooden steles and
the brick-walls exhibit an ancient charm. Strolling down the narrow
street, you will find yourself surrounded by old-world stores
selling Shu Embroidery, lacquer products, folk handicrafts, curios,
or calligraphies and paintings of celebrities. All of these stores
have their unique style but also have one thing in common: no
matter how busy the street is, the stores are peaceful and
relaxing. You can browse leisurely or purchase some souvenirs for
your friends. Most of the special local products can be found here.
Outside the stores, the stalls are busier but equally attractive.
You can find folk artisans putting on funny shows such as a shadow
puppetry show or a hand puppet show. Some traditional arts such as
paper-cut and clay figurines made by the skilled craftsmen are sold
here. They are so delicate and life-like that you won't be able to
resist buying some. From these artworks you will get a taste of the
true life of the local people and find some reminders of China's
past in the modern city.
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In the middle of the street, there is a wooden stage which looks
like an ancient pavilion. It is used from time to time for
performing classic Sichuan Operas. You can enjoy folk music along
with the actor's beautiful, quick costume and make-up changes. The
actors' perfect performances will wow you. Despite the traditional
atmosphere in Jinli Street, you can also sense something
fashionable. There are many cafes and barrooms here - including
Starbucks. They blend modern elements into the old town
harmoniously. It's enjoyable to sit on a wooden bench with a cup of
delicious coffee.When you reach the end of the street, you'll be
tempted by the aroma of delicious local snacks. The citizens of
Chengdu are born epicures and they are particularly fond of dining.
Here there are many restaurants as well as sidewalk booths offering
local snacks that will make your mouth water. San Da Pao is a
distinctive snack of Sichuan Province and is made from sticky rice,
brown sugar, sesame, and beans. And the sweet dried persimmon here
is also considered a unique reflection of Chengdu. Some other local
snacks include rice glueballs, wontons, and boiled dumplings. Of
course, the famous 'Dishes of Three Kingdoms' is also delicious and
waiting for you to enjoy.
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Chunxi Road,Chengdu Shopping, What to buy Though not as famous
as Hong Kong, Chengdu, too, is a shopping paradise characterized by
the ancient culture of Shu which presents visitors a truly local
flavor. Shu Brocade and Embroidery The Chinese character Shu means
silkworm breeding and mulberry growing. As early as the Tang
Dynasty (618-907), Shu brocade was exported overseas to Japan and
as far as Persia and in the period of the Three Kingdoms (220-280).
It was a financial resource for the military. Shu Brocade features
various colors and a unique technique for extracting colors from
plants. Several hundred designs are used by the minority
nationalities in southwest China. Silk-woven, but durable, the
brocade has a soft feel. As the other local craft from silkworm
breeding and mulberry growing, Shu Embroidery has enjoyed a
reputation for superb craftsmanship. With a unique technique and
elegant colors, the products look like Chinese ink and wash
paintings embroidered on satins. One masterpiece in the Great Hall
of the People is called the Cottonrose Hibiscus and the Carp.
Functional as well as artistic, Shu embroidery appears on quilts
covers, pillow cases, clothes, shoes etc. Lacquer wares With a
history dating back to the Spring and Autumn Period (475B.C.-221
B.C.) and the Warring States Period (221B.C.-207 B.C.), Chengdu
lacquer ware is renowned for its ability to resist corrosion and
aging, and for its unique gloss. When the Mawangdui Han Dynasty
Tombs were uncovered in 1972, a large number of exquisite Chengdu-
lacquer ware pieces were discovered. Visitors are astonished that
their brilliant appearance has remained for over 2,000 years.
However, its durability doesn't come accidentally. Originally using
wood as its roughcast base with the addition of plastic, bamboo and
paper later, the complicated technique of lacquer-ware making has
remained nearly unchanged to this day. No lacquer-ware piece is
finished until 72 procedures are taken, not to mention the fact
that the roughcast must have been in storage for 30-40 years before
lacquering. Silver Inlaid Products and Bamboo Products Chengdu
silver inlaid products is made with silver threads no thicker than
3mm (0.1 inch) inlaid on silver background. As a traditional area
for silver inlaid technology, Chengdu shares its reputation with
Beijing, which is famous for the applied weaving technique.
Delicately shaped, the silver inlaid products appear on screens,
tea wares and vases. Bamboo can actually be woven around porcelain
roughcast. This amazing technique can be seen in Chengdu; in
various bamboo products, such as bamboo sticks, baskets and fans.
With the warm climate and fertile lands stimulating the growth of
bamboo, Chengdu bamboo products are not only household necessities
but also decorations. Local Products Chinese alcohol, tea and local
food also deserve a try. Wuliangye, Luzhou Lao Jiao, Quanxing Da Qu
and Jiannanchun are all top-ranking alcohol brands. Jasmine tea,
Maofeng tea, hot pickled mustard tuber, mix-flavoured horsebean,
Lao Cheng Du (Old Chengdu), Dengying (shadow) dried beef (so thin
that light can shine through it), Liu Yang Gou dried beef, etc, can
be gifts for friends back at home. In particular, there is
something special about Dengying dried beef. More than 80 years
ago, a Mr. Liu made a living by selling picked beef. When his
business dragged, he was forced to create new products. Thus a thin
sliced dried beef came into being. Mr. Liu set up a stall, placing
a
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lamp behind his sliced dried beef. This attracted people and the
crispy hot beef became popular. (*Check your country's Customs
restrictions before buying foods to take home.) If you are a fan of
Chinese dishes, do not forget the soul of Sichuan Cuisine- thick
broad-bean sauce from Pixian County.
Where to buy Chengdu's shopping centers converge at Chunxi Road,
Zongfu Road and Luomashi Area. Here you can shop for a huge range
of wares, with everything from souvenirs and street stall items to
supermarket and department stores goods on offer. Shopping malls,
department stores, supermarkets and especially small stands are
widely scattered in the areas around Chunxi Road offering products
ranging from souvenirs to living and travelling necessities. The
following list may help you to have a pleasant shopping experience
in Chengdu. Going to Chengdu without visiting Chunxi Road is like
going to Paris without visiting Champs Elysees, New York without
5th Avenue, or more locally, Beijng without Wangfujing, or Shanghai
without visiting Nanjing Road. With a history of 70 years, Chunxi
Road boasts the most typical and prosperous commercial pedestrian
street in Chengdu. Department stores, boutiques, modern cafes, a
spacious square and pretty Chengdu girls will leave you pleasant
memory about Chunxi Road. Next to Chunxi Road is Yanshikou
commercial circle. People's Department Store, Chengdu Department
Emporium, and Renhe Spring Department Store and more are all
concentrated here. Local food specialties can be found at Hongqi
Department Store, Shudu Avenue, Chengdu. You can buy Shu brocade,
bamboo-woven crafts, preserved ham and alcoholic beverages such as
Jiannanchun and Quanxing Da Qu. Special recommendations:
Handicrafts Chengdu Shu Brocade Factory Address: No. 1, Caotang
East Road Sichuan Antiques Shop Address: No. 6, Shaocheng Road,
Shudu Avenue Chengdu Bamboo-weaving Arts and Crafts Factory
Address: No. 12, the 1st Section of Jiefang Road Sichuan Arts and
Crafts Store Address: Sichuan Exhibition Hall, No. 16, Renmin
Middle Road. Chengdu Lacquer wares Factory Address: No. 81, Jinhe
Street Hehuachi (Lotus Pool) Distribution Center Location: third
section of Erhuan (the 2nd Ring) Road Chengdu Classics Bookstore
Address: the south end of the North section of Chunxi Road
Magical Face Changes in Sichuan Opera
Sichuan Opera (Chuan Ju) originated at the end of the Ming
(1368-1644) and the beginning of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). With
immigrants
flooding into Sichuan, different dramas were brought in to blend
with the local dialect, customs, folk music and dances. Gradually,
brisk
humorous Sichuan Opera, reflecting Sichuan culture, came into
being. Face changing is the highlight of Sichuan Opera. It is said
that ancient
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people painted their faces to drive away wild animals. Sichuan
Opera absorbs this ancient skill and perfects it into an art. Three
Types of Face Changes In the Wiping Mask routine the actor applies
cosmetic paint in a certain position on his face. If the whole face
is to be changed, the cosmetic paint is applied to the forehead or
eyebrows; for changes on the lower half of the face, paint is
applied to his cheeks or nose; or to other specific parts. The
Blowing Mask routine works with powder cosmetics, such as gold,
silver, and ink powders. Sometimes a tiny box is placed on the
stage; the actor draws near and blows at the box. The powder will
puff up and stick to the face. Sometimes the powder is put in a
cup. The secret to success in this act is to close the eyes and
mouth and to hold the breath. The Pulling Mask routine is the most
complicated. Masks are painted on pieces of damask, well cut, hung
with a silk thread, and the lightly pasted to the face one by one.
The silk thread is fastened in an inconspicuous part of the
costume. With a flick of his cloak the performer magically whisks
away the masks one by one as the drama develops. One Sichuan Opera
master also used qi gong movements as he changed face color from
red to white, then from white to black. Face changing is a magical
art. Actors change more than 10 masks in less than 20 seconds! By
raising the hand, swinging a sleeve or tossing the head, an actor
uses different masks to show different emotions, expressing
invisible and intangible feelings through visible and tangible
masks. From green to blue, red, yellow, brown, black, dark and
gold, these masks show fear, tension, relaxation, slyness,
desperation, outrage, and so on. Sichuan Opera master Peng Denghuai
changed 14 masks in 25 seconds, and reverted to four masks after
revealing his true face. This was his latest Guinness World record,
breaking his previous one. Hong Kong super star Andy Lau was said
to respect Mr. Peng as teacher and mentor in this stunt. Today
hi-tech is used to enhance this traditional art. Lasers and
twinkling lights add a touch of mystery. And modern faces like
Zorro are invited to the stage. Sichuan Opera, like hot-pot and
other Sichuan cuisine winners, is exciting, rich and
good-natured.
Ya'an
Bifengxia Mountain Park and Bifengxia Wildlife Park
In Bifengxia Mountain Park, the bese scenery is the gorge or
canyou, which connected the Panda Base, is very very beautiful with
various shape waterfalls. If time permits, usually hiking about 3-5
hours, about 5-8 KM. In Bifengxia Wildlife Park, many animals for
you to enjoy either in coach or trekking.
Bifengxia Panda Base
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Bifengxia is situated in 8 kilometers from Ya’an City, 150
kilometers from Chengdu. Tourists can reach here in two hours by
bus. It is the first scenic spot integrating natural scenic spot
and eco-zoo in China, including leisure, vacation, sightseeing, and
entertainment. Ecological wild animal zoo was built in 1999 in
Bifeng Gorges. Former Chinese PM Zhu Rongji gave words to
ecological protection in Bifeng Gorge “Ecology is our resource, our
fortune and our lifeline”, when he inspected Bifeng Gorge in 2001.
For the safety and development of the captive giant panda, the
State Forestry Administrative Bureau decided and invested 27.6
million RMB to build a new panda base, i.e. Ya’an Bifengxia Base of
China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda. Ya’an
Bifengxia Panda Base is located in Bifengxia Town, Ya’an City of
south-west Sichuan Province. It’s a giant panda’s paradise with
well captive raising, reproduction, rare wild animal rescuing and
education facilities. Bifengxia base was opened in 2003 as the part
of the world's largest Giant Panda Migration. It was the biggest
artificial migration of captive-bred giant panda ever seen. The new
accomplished reserve base is located in altitude of 1100m to 1800m.
In the base, there are over 20 spots, such as breeding, research
centre and special kindergarten, hotel for panda. In there 6 kind
of bamboo as panda’s favorite food are supplied. Then pandas can
have many choices. Before 2008 28 pandas were moved to the
Bifengxia base, after erathquake on 12 May 2008, 53 pandas were
sent from Wolong to Bifengxia, and between 12-05-2008-18-03-2009,
13 panda babies were born in Bifengxia. after earthquake 2008 , 8
pandas in Bifengxia were sent to Beijing, 5 pandas in Bifengxia
were sent to Guangdong Panyu, 3 pandas in Bifengxia were sent to
Yunnan, 2 pandas in Bifengxia were sent to Wuhan, 4 pandas in
Bifengxia were sent to Chengdu, 4 pandas in Bifengxia were sent to
Fuzhou ! and now in Bifengxia Panda Base 67 pandas sharing their
life in luxurious villas with accompaniments of air-conditioners,
toilets, independent water supply system and sport areas .
Bifengxia Panda Base is arguably the best place to see pandas in
the natural scenery they inhabit. Extending to about 60 square
kilometres, Bifengxia has been long famous for its forest coverage,
waterfalls, river and breathtaking landscapes. Now that it has been
selected as China's latest giant panda protection base, Bifengxia
has a new role to play in altering the destiny of the endangered
species. Pandas will be returned to nature after they have been
given relevant training in simulated wild environments. At up to
1,200 metres above sea level, Bifengxia is under the jurisdiction
of Ya'an City. In the dense broadleaf forest with singing birds and
murmuring streams stands a big gate with the image of a lovely
giant panda carved on it, marking the entrance to Bifengxia Giant
Panda Base. Walking through the gate and along the meandering
mountain slope for a while, visitors can see several European-style
cabins made of bricks and tiles. These are the pandas' homes.
Camphor trees and oaks add mystery to the unusual environment. More
than 20 spots have been set aside for panda-related activities and
scientific experiments. There are dedicated grazing grounds,
"kindergartens" for young pandas
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and even a panda hospital and research institute. Several
different varieties of bamboo have been planted in the base either
by the water or on the slopes. The new home for giant pandas
appears like a park with a natural environment. The 68 giant pandas
in the base will be raised through an outdoor method so as to
encourage them to develop abilities better fitted to the natural
environment. The base will lead the world in raising pandas in this
way. Upon completion of the whole project, the base will have four
functional areas for grazing, offices and living quarters. This new
base is a branch of the China Giant Panda Research and Conservation
Centre in Wolong. With vegetation coverage of 80 per cent, it is
the world's largest giant panda eco-park. It is planned that in
five to seven years, the base will have 40 giant pandas in total.
World's Largest Giant Panda Park Opens The world's largest park for
giant pandas has opened in southwest China's Sichuan Province with
an initial group of 20 animals. Located at Bifengxia Base of the
China Giant Panda Research Center (CGPRC), Ya'an City, the park
will cover an area of 400 hectares, of which 71.4 hectares has been
completed. "The per capita living area of the 20 giant pandas is
over 3.33hectares, enough for them to enjoy an active and
comfortable life," said Tang Chunxiang, an official with the CGPRC.
With an investment of 120 million RMB (14.46 million US dollars),
the construction of the park began in April 2002. So far,16
standard shelters and auxiliary facilities, such as the research
center and the veterinary center, have been completed. "In an
environment of high density, the possibility of disease spread
among the pandas and in-breeding is greatly raised," said Zhang
Guiquan, the deputy director of the CGPRC. "With the commodious
space, the new base will help the giant pandas maintain their
natural instincts and lifestyles and improve their survival and
reproductive capacities. As a result, they will be better for
research," said Zhang. Giant pandas are one of the most endangered
species in the world. About 1,000 giant pandas still live in the
wild, mainly in the mountains around the Sichuan Basin. The number
of captive giant pandas is about 140. Ya'an has exported 138 giant
pandas to zoos or research institutions at home and abroad since
1949, accounting for 70 percent of the total from China.
Accommodation and meals Your new home will be in Xiaoxitian
hostel, which is located in Befengxia Panda base, enclosed in the
mountains. There are 2 or 3 beds in the room with attached bath,
24-hour hot water and washing laundry is available. You will have 3
good meals in the restaurant, which is named “Family in Mountain”
and is located in Xiaoxitian. The food is typical Chinese and will
contain a variety of delicious dishes.(english menu will help you:
English Menu of Bifengxia Panda base Xiaoxitian Hostel Ya'an, is
the starting point of the Sichuan-Tibet stretch of the Tea-horse
Road. The brick
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tea produced in Ya'an, which was called frontiers tea was
carried by caravans traversing the Erlang Mountain to Tibet and
further afar to India and Nepal to exchange for horses, drugs.
Those trading activities went on for centuries, which boosted
economy along the road and brought peace and stable atmosphere to
the frontier regions.
Ya'an is one of the birthplaces of tea culture, whose tea
growing history can be traced back to the Western Han Dynasty over
2,000 years ago. Tea trees planted at the Mengding shang Hill by a
man who was engaging in herds were believed to be the ancestors of
China’s tea. Even today, tea grown at the Mengding shan is still
considered superior.
As the world- famous hometown of giant pandas, Ya'an is place
where the 1s panda was discovered. The number and density of the
giant pandas in Yaan rank the 1st over the world. Ya'an has a
mountain subtropical monsoon climate. Spring with a lot of rain is
not a recommended travel season, The annual temperature averages
between 14.1 degree centigrade and 17.9 degree centigrade.
Ya'an Attractions Best sights in and around Ya'an include the
Mt. Erlang, Mt. Mengding. Mt. Erlang Mt. Erlang is characterized by
primitive forests, varied wildlife, rugged mountains, unspoiled
streams. The view from the mountain summit is superb, with towering
peaks often cloaked in mist, like a white dragon rolling in from
the sea. At night, streams of cars running along the precipitous
winding roads with their lights reflecting with each other are like
dragons dancing splendidly. Mt. Mengding Mt, Mengdingshan Scenic
Area consists of a royal garden where Wu Lizhen, the founder of
Mengshan Tea in Han Dynasty planted seven seeds of "miraculous tea"
,some ancient stone trails from Palace of King Shu to Tiangai
Temple and a tea museum. Accomodation in Ya'an Do not expect too
much in comfort in accommodation while traveling Ya’an. Most of the
hotels in the city only cater to Chinese visitors and English is
very less spoken. The Ya'an Hotel and Ya'an Yudou Hotel are
considered the best two hotels in the town. Transportation to Ya'an
Ya'an is the gateway from Sichuan and Yunnan to Tibet. There are no
trains or flights to Ya'an and the only practicable way is by
highway. Ya'an city is served by three bus stations with the Ya’an
Tourist Station most important to travelers. Tourist bus station
lies at the junction of Beier Road and Yabi Road and there are
arrivals from Chengdu, Leshan, Kangding.
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Luding Bridge Luding Bridge is located in the west of Luding
County in Sichuan Province.
Luding Bridge was built in the 44th year (1705) of the Kangxi
reign of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). It is an iron suspension
bridge over Dadu River. Its net length is 100 meters. It is 28
meters wide and 14 meters high from the water surface. The whole
bridge has 13 iron chains, each of them weighing 2.5 tons. Among
them, nine parallel chains are tied to the two banks. The wooden
boards are spread on the chains for passengers to walk on. The
other four chains are suspended on the sides on the left and right,
with two chains on either side to be the handrails. The stele with
the bridge's name written by Emperor Kangxi is still hung at the
one end of the bridge. On the east of the bridge, there stands the
stele Royal Stele for Luding Bridge written by Emperor Kangxi.
On May 29 1935, the First Corps of the Chinese Red Army arrived
here in the Long March. At that time, there was the blockage by two
enemy battalions on the opposite bank of the river. Meanwhile, the
main troop of the enemy were chasing after. The headquarters
decided to organize a commando with 22 warriors to cross the river
by force. The commando members bellied forward by scrambling the
iron chains in the enemy's hail of bullets. They at last seized
Luding Bridge, and annihilated the defending enemies. The whole
corps then crossed the river safely and got rid of the chasing
enemies. This is a heroic chapter in the history of the Chinese
Revolution.
Moxi Old Town is situated at the entrance of Hailuogou. it is
encompassed by lofty mountains with a tongu-shaped table carved by
the ancient glacier. The total area of this town adds up to be
308.64 Km with a population of 5600, formed by a complex of 8
different tribes. They are Han, Yi, Tibetan, Tujia and so on. The
local tradition & custom are of original & unique. The Moxi
Table-land, 0.2-1.2 Km in width, is very special in topography,
running lower from north to south at a distance about 10Km like a
giant lying dragon zigzagging quietly among the sacred Minya
Konka.
In 1935, the famous Battle, Luding suspension bridge, burst out
fire during procces of the long March of Red Army. The major force
under leadership of Mao Tzetung & Zhe De had been settled in
Moxi town. Nowadays, Moxi town is famous for its tranquil &
charming natural beauty, unique ethnic tradition & lanes of old
taste. Today, tourists from all over the country come to visit here
in honor.Tourists usually live at the township for one night. There
are many hotels in the town.
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Moxi is a town and township in Luding County in the Garzê
Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Sichuan, China. As of 2000 it had
6,794 inhabitants. Moxi Town stands at the gateway to the Hailuogou
Glacier Forest Park, south of Kangding and east of Mount Gongga.
The town also featured in the Battle of Luding Bridge in 1935 when
some of those who fought in the battle including Mao Zedong met in
Moxi and stayed the night when the army marched through before
heading north.
Moxi lies at roughly 1,600 meters above sea level, and the
population are mainly ethnic Han Chinese, Yi and Tibetan with other
minorities.
The main crossroads at the park entrance has hotels, restaurants
and souvenir stalls. About 150 metres below is the original street
of the village. It has a small Catholic church built in the 1920s
with a colourful bell tower and a number of wooden shops.[1]
The surrounding township is mainly pastoral land, and
agriculture employs much of the population.
Situated at the entrance of Hailuogou, Moxi Old Town, with a
covering of 308.64 Km, is encompassed by lofty mountains with a
tongu-shaped table carved by the ancient glacier. It has a
population of 5600 and formed by a complex of 8 different tribes.
They are Han, Yi, Tibetan, Tujia and so on. The local tradition and
custom are of original and unique. The Moxi Table-land, in a width
of 0.2-1.2 Km, is very special in topography, running lower from
north to south at a distance about 10Km like a giant lying dragon
zigzagging quietly among the sacred Minya Konka. In 1935, the
famous Battle, Luding suspension bridge, burst out fire during
procces of the long March of Red Army. The major force under
leadership of Mao Tzetung had been settled in Moxi town. Nowadays,
Moxi town is famous for not only its tranquil and charming natural
beauty but also unique ethnic tradition and lanes of old taste.
Today, tourists come to visit here in honor. Hailuogou (Conch
Gully) To view from the summit of Mt.Erlang which is characterized
by primitive forests, varied wildlife, rugged mountains, unspoiled
streams, is superb with towering peaks often cloaked in mist, like
a white dragon rolling in from the sea. Located on the eastern side
of Gonggar Mountain in Luding County of Tibetan Autonomous
Prefecture of Garze, Sichuan Province, Hailuogou (Conch Gully)
National Glacier Forest Park is 319 km from Chengdu, the capital
city of Sichuan Province while 105 km from Kangding, where
administrative organs of the Garze Autonomous Prefecture are
located. Glaciers in Hailuogou are typical modern marine glaciers,
which are rarely found either in low-latitude places or at low
altitude. Its lowest point is only 2,850 meters above sea level. It
boasts lots of geographic attractions,
26
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luding_Countyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garz%C3%AA_Tibetan_Autonomous_Prefecturehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garz%C3%AA_Tibetan_Autonomous_Prefecturehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sichuanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinahttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Hailuogou&action=edit&redlink=1http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kangdinghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Gonggahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Gonggahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luding_Bridgehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mao_Zedonghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Han_Chinesehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tibetan_peoplehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moxi_Town#cite_note-0#cite_note-0
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including ancient glaciers, grand glacier cascade, virgin
forests, wild animals and hot springs, and the like. Hailuogou –
Moxi National parks, Chinese style. Day 1
My driver stopped in front of some place in Moxi he claimed was
a guesthouse but I certainly would never have known it as one. He
said he was staying there and I should too, but it didn't look like
anything I wanted and I saw no reason why I should reward him with
a free stay by paying up to stay there. So despite his and a few
others' efforts to get me to stay, I grabbed my bags and with a
steady chant of "xie xie, bye bye, xie xie" I walked away.
Lonely Planet has no idea what Moxi looks like. They describe it
is a one-street village. So I assumed I was on that one street and
began looking for some sort of lodging resembling their
descriptions. One place sounded rather promising, Luyou Fandian,
and located next to a Catholic Church - Moxi really does have one!
- it should be easy to find. So I began walking up the hill looking
for a Catholic Church or the Luyou Fandian. But all I saw were
shophouses and large hotels that were no doubt looking for large
Chinese tour groups to come their way. I'm not large, Chinese, or a
tour group so I kept walking until I reached the top of the hill
and a road junction where the road turns left to Hailuogou Glacier
Park and right, well, to somewhere.
To the left are a couple of large hotels and to the right are
some restaurants, shops, a guesthouse of some sort, and another
street. That makes three streets. And continuing straight I
encounter another crossroads. This makes four streets. Lonely
Planet describes Moxi as a "one-street village". I'm counting four
streets, three in one direction and one bisecting the trio. Like I
said, Loney Planet has no idea what Moxi looks like.
The middle street seemed most likely to be the one street LP
thinks Moxi has so I start wandering up and then down searching for
the Luyou Fandian. It's also past 2:00 p.m. and I haven't eaten
yet. After a few missteps I finally locate the Catholic Church. But
I don't see anything that looks like a guesthouse so I wander in on
one side and ask if anybody knows anything about a Luyou Fandian.
Nobody knows what I'm talking about. So I walk to the other side of
the church and again inquire as to whether there's a Luyou Fandian
about. Nobody knows what I'm talking about. I decide that LP
doesn't know what it's talking about either so I stuff the book
deep into my bag, start back up the hill and enter the first decent
looking place.
The name was a Hi-Lo something or other. It seems almost every
hotel in Moxi is some variance of the syllables Hai, Luo, and Gou.
Actually, it's the place Lonely Planet refers to as the Ho Fandian,
I know this because the phone number (326-6296) in the guidebook
matched the phone number on the hotel's sign. But the sign
definitely did not say Ho Fandian. This hotel was not as LP
described except for the rooftop terrace, however, in LPs defense,
it was also apparent the hotel had just been renovated and
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expanded (actually some work wasn't even finished yet). But as
it's obvious the town has built several roads, a dozen hotels, and
possibly the glacier in the park has moved a few hundred meters
since LP last bothered checking this place out, it should be no
surprise then, that this information is as inaccurate as everything
else.
In any event, my best bargaining skills could only get a Y100
room down to Y90, but it was a nice room with a very comfortable
bed, en suite facilities and 24-hour hot water. No complaints
here.
At this point it's getting close to 3:00 p.m. and I still
haven't eaten, so I stumble into some dumpling shop across the
street run by a very nice plump middle-aged woman and wolf down a
double order of dumplings and a big plate of fried bread, paying Y7
for it all.
Hailuogou Glacier and 7500-meter Gongga Shan
View riding up the cable car Gongga, Hailuogou Glacier, and
tourists on the
viewing platform
Belly full, I wander over to the park entrance just for a look,
not really planning on going in the park yet. I stand around
looking a little confused for no apparent reason. It's not like I
could walk in, Hailuogou Glacier was about 30 kilometers inside the
park. As experience has taught me, standing around looking bemused
and/or confused is often an effective way to receive assistance in
China, though the help and the subsequent result can sometimes turn
out to be anything but what you expected. Sure enough, a half dozen
Chinese tourists traveling together beckon me their way tossing me
into a van wit