As one of the country's oldest inhabitants, it is no surprise the Giant Panda has long been synonymous with China. As a national emblem, the Giant Panda has been a symbol of the country's diplomacy, its natural environment and on a wider scale, a symbol of animal conservation worldwide. As an increasingly endangered species, the protection of this languid and lovable bear from extinction is a top priority for China, and the frontrunner in this mission is the Chengdu Panda Research Base, located just 10 kilometres north of Chengdu's city centre.
With over 80 pandas holding residence, the Chengdu Panda Research Base is equipped with the latest technology and research materials to gain a further understanding in how we can protect the panda and maintain, if not increase, its numbers. The park is set up to resemble the mountain and forest regions in north Sichuan, the original home of the Giant Panda, with extensive bamboo trees and large green spaces. Red Pandas, the Giant Panda's lovable cousin, and flamboyant peacocks too roam the park, making for an interesting mix of residents.
It is possible to hold a baby panda during your visit, something that is the highlight for many who travel to the Panda Research Base. Don't miss out on the opportunity to have your photo taken with one of these cheeky critters!
Welcoming over 100,000 visitors every year, a visit to the Chengdu Panda Research Base is a great way to see these cute black and white bears up close and personal. Watch them munching on bamboo, climbing trees and play fighting with their brothers and sisters.
Literally translating as 'Happy Mountain', Leshan is home to the largest stone-carved and tallest pre=modern statue in the world, the Leshan Grand Buddha. Sitting peacefully, smiling out over the confluence of the Min, Dadu and Qingyi Rivers, the Buddha has been UNESCO World Heritage Site-listed since 1996.
The 71m Buddha was originally built in AD713 under the instruction of Haitong, a Buddhist monk. During this period, the waters of the river were turbulent and traitorous, making trade and travel impossible. Haitong believed that the presence of the Buddha would calm the river below and sure enough, he was correct. Whilst plenty of praise was heaped on Buddha for calming the river, sceptics felt that it was in fact the excess rock from the construction that was cast into the river that calmed the waters.
The Grand Buddha incorporates an innovative design feature – a drainage system. A series of pipes draw rain water away from the statue, preventing weathering. The Buddha can be best viewed from a boat from the waters below, though it is also possible to climb to the bottom of the Buddha's feet, from where you can truly appreciate its colossal size.
One of China's most beautiful secrets, the Nine Villages Valley (or Jiuzhaigou) is a natural wonderland, accidentally discovered by a lumberjack in 1972. Covering over 700 square kilometres of magnificent mountain valleys, the area is dotted with traditional Tibetan villages and exhibits a wealth of striking alpine scenery as well as being home to a number of protected species.
The Valley remains one of China's greatest natural assets; unseen by many western tourists due to its remoteness, limited accessibility and the government's determination to conserve this pristine area have all contributed to the stunning preservation of this National Park. Settled in the 1300s when a group of Tibetan pilgrims came into the area seeking refuge, the towering mountain range kept them and the area hidden and untouched for over six centuries.
Beneath the snow-capped mountains, the valley floors are embedded with pristine turquoise, green and pink lakes. These lagoons, legend describes, are the broken slivers of the Tibetan goddess Semo's mirror. The national park is an array of forests, waterfalls and lakes, each with their own character. Five-Colour Pond boasts shades of green and blue, while Five Flower Lake has crystal clear waters through which historic tree trunks can be seen, submerged in the lake bed. The scenery around Long Lake can be compared to that of the Swiss Alps or Canadian Rockies.
The stock image of China's craggy peaks romantically entwined with the smoky white mist, Emeishan contains an abundance of natural stunningness which has attracted visitors to its peaks for thousands of years. One of China's four Sacred Buddhist Mountains, Emeishan is the home of the first Buddhist temple in China and dates back to 1st century. Long an important pilgrimage for followers of the Buddhist faith, the mountain is dotted with monasteries and temples filled with Tibetan Buddhist scripture and text.
With over 200 plant species, including cedars, firs and pine, and a wealth of resident wildlife, including indigenous species such as the Emei Music Frog and the Tibetan Macaque, Emeishan has also long been an important pilgrimage site for botanists and zoologists.
One of the most imposing artefacts on Emeishan is the statue of Samantabhadra, an imposing golden stupa which has this bodhisattva sitting on four elephants, each looking in a different direction. Baoguo Temple too makes for a worthwhile visit during your time in Emeishan. Built in the 16th century, the temple is home to a large porcelain statue of Buddha which dates back to the beginning of the 15th century. The gardens of this temple are home to an array of beautiful flora and nearby you can see the lighting of incense candles by Buddhist spiritualists.
Located south of Chengdu, Emeishan is a great escape from city life and a great way to be one with nature. With cool breezes, stunning views and adventurous walks, Emeishan is a natural wonderland.
Within neighbouring distance of Nine Villages Valley is the equally alluring area of Huanglong. Huanglong which means 'Yellow Dragon' is renowned for its wide variety of colourful pools and natural ponds which are said to shimmer like a 'yellow dragon'. The colour of the pools is caused by calcium deposits in the water which bring out the liquids in strong greens, blues and yellows.
Not only famous for its colourful calcium pools, Huanglong is home to stunning landscape which can rival China's other scenic areas and national parks. With snow-capped peaks, hot springs and waterfalls, Huanglong is home to a high number of natural phenomena. Wildlife flourishes in this area too and within the limits of this scenic spot, you can find Golden Snub-Nosed Monkeys and even the Giant Panda, both endangered species.
Within the park, there is a boardwalk which allows visitors to explore Huanglong at a comfortable pace. The boardwalk follows the path of the Huanglong calcium deposit pools giving you a close up view of these natural wonders. There is also the option of chairlift up to the top of the Huanglong scenic area and whilst travelling, you have a bird's eye view of an array of colours from the pools below.
Dujiangyan is an irrigation system which dates back to 3rd century BC during the Warring State Period. It was constructed under the rule of the Qin State which eventually developed into the Qin Dynasty, the first Dynasty of China's imperial legacy. Dujiangyan is closely located to Chengdu and is the oldest surviving no-dam irrigation system in the world. Dujiangyan is known alongside the Lingqu Canal in Guangxi Province and the Zhengguo Canal in Shaanxi Province as the 'three great hydraulic engineering projects of the Qin Dynasty'. The Dujianyang Irrigation System is still used today and is the main control system of the Minjiang River, helping to fertilise the farmland surrounding Chengdu. Dujiangyan was made a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2000 due to its impressive construction and long-term functionality.
Travel Magazine
20May
The Big Interview with John Craven
First holiday memory? When I was about six, mum and dad and me went to Bridlington on the Yorkshire coast for a week and they took me for a trip round the bay on a little pleasure steamer called the Yorkshire Belle. I was a bit scared at first but after an hour or so I didn't want to get off and I've loved the sea ever since. Best holiday? I've had so many wonderful trips over the years, home and abroad, that it's hard to pick a favourite but my wife and I really Ioved our China trip with Wendy Wu four years ago and last year we went to Vietnam and Cambodia and sailed down the Mekong, which was truly memorable. So was the time we took three of our young ...
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