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

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

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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,

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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