Sichuan - rich with World Heritage

China Sichuan - rich with World Heritage 8 to 17 Nov 2003

Sichuan province, southwest of China, stands tall with Beijing to own a long list of UNESCO inscribed world heritage site. To feast your eyes on these wonders, set off from Chengdu with at least 6days on hand.

Jiuzhaigou Valley 九寨沟 (Natural World Heritage, 1992) – take a 45min domestic flight or a 12hour coach ride and you will be brought into a fairy wonderland where water in the lake is rich in blue, turquoise or green colour. Multi-colour Lake 五彩池 and Five-Flower Lake五花海 are particularly impressive - I wish I could just stay there one whole day, read a book, sip tea and simply enjoy the scenery. Among the many beautiful waterfalls, Pearl Beach Fall 珍珠滩瀑布 is absolutely magnificent. However, this paradise could be more perfect if we had arrived 2 weeks earlier where leaves were in beautiful shades of red, orange and yellow. To complete your day, enjoy an evening cultural show with Tibetan藏 and Qiang姜族flavour, say hello “za-ci-de-le” 扎西德勒 and watch a tug-of-war fight for a bride.

Huanglong National Park 黄龙 (Natural World Heritage, 1992) – climb 7km to 3500m high and take in picturesque mountains and multi-colour terraced ponds along the way. If you worry about altitude sickness, fret not as you could rent a pillow of oxygen! And if you are too tired to climb, there are always strong men around, ready to carry you in a dragon chair on bamboo poles滑杆. Around Huanglong, watch out for the permanently snow-covered Xuebaoding (Snow Mountain Peak) as you travel through majestic snowy mountains.

Leshan Giant Buddha乐山大佛,Mount Emei 峨嵋山(Natural World Heritage, 1996) – be dwarfed by the gigantic 71m high buddha carved out of a hillside 1300 years ago to ‘subdue’ the flooding caused by the confluence of 3 rivers (大渡河,青衣江,岷江). Visit Buddhist temple at Mount Emei summit, stay overnight and watch the mesmerizing sunrise. We weren’t lucky – we froze in the thick dark fog and felt the gradual sunlight instead!

Dujiangyan Irrigation System堵江堰 (Cultural World Heritage, 2000) – the 2200 years old project which earned Chengdu the title of ‘Heavenly Kingdom’ 天府之国 blessed with abundant harvest in spite of any drought or flood. Governor Libing cleverly built a gravity irrigation system that is still in use today, to direct Minjiang岷江 waters to greater use for agricultural production. The system comprises mainly 3 parts: Yuzui 鱼嘴 water dividing dyke, Feishayan飞沙堰spillway and Baopingkou宝瓶口water inlet.

Dazu Rock Carvings 大足石雕 (Cultural World Heritage, 1999) – the 4hour drive from Chengdu to Chongqing to see the 800years old rock art is worthy! Be amazed with artistic rock carvings depicting Buddhism, Taoism and Confucianism in harmony.

While in Chengdu, spend 3 more days to visit the other equally impressive places of interest.

Sanxingdui Museum 三星堆 showcases 3000 to 5000 years old relics from 3 sacrificial pits found in 1986. If not for this seemingly superstition of burial offerings when praying to heaven, we will never know the splendid culture in China thousand years ago. Be impressed with intricate jade wares, bronze masks, towering holy tree (a connection between earth and heaven), bird (representing sun –the bird that flies from the eastern holy tree to the west).

At Panda Breeding Area, you get to carry and feed baby red pandas, and understand better this endangered animal - an average short life span of 25years, newborn baby measuring a tiny 15cm. Look out for the well-known Panda “Pride” 娇子 whose face appears in many tourist campaigns and local products like cigarette.

Catch a Sichuan Cultural Show 川剧 and be entertained with the art of Changing Faces, Finger Shadowing and Puppetry. Interestingly, restroom visit is a pull rickshaw ride away. Get to know the people (Liubei, Zhugeliang) who ruled the historical Shu Kingdom蜀 (now Chengdu) at Wuhouci Museum 武侯伺. On Mount Xiling 西岭, you can snow or grass ski and have fun at the numerous thrill rides – but checkout the timing, we were greeted by thick fog and light drizzle with no sight of snow!

Life in and around Chengdu is fairly slow and easy-going. Playing mahjong is definitely a favourite pastime – I spotted numerous open-air sessions happening at front yard. And finally, you can’t leave Sichuan without sampling the spicy steamboat (with lots of coriander花椒 and chilli), wide variety of fresh water fish (the famous邮亭即鱼), local wine 青稞酒, beef (牦牛) and ‘green mountain green water’ tea青山绿水. I still can’t bring myself to stomach the rabbit head though.