Chengdu is nestled in a plain along which the Min River flows in Sichuan Province. Today it is the provincial capital. The city was founded in the 4th century BC. In the Song era, it served as the capital of China and was the first in the world to use paper money.
Now Chengdu has taken the lead in China's traditional medicine for curing incurable diseases. The subtropical climate with monsoons is characterized by the rainy season in July and August. So the best time to visit is between March and June.
The city and its surroundings are famous for cultural, historical sights and unexpected places:
The mention of this street dates back to the 3rd century BC. Green tiles decorate the street for 0.5 kilometers. Here, tourists will see craftsmen who can write hieroglyphs on a grain of rice or paint the inner walls of a fragile glass ball.
The Qing period is traced in the architecture of the street buildings. On the last tens of meters of the street, you can feel the smells of local delicacies that tourists will not ignore.
The southern part of the city sheltered a temple with an area of 36-38 thousand m 2 . The time of the creation of the memorial refers to the period of the Three Kingdoms in the 3rd century. The temple is surrounded by a red wall, inside which a peach garden is planted. The complex includes the tomb of Liu Bei, the gallery and pavilion of the commander, as well as gates 1 and 2. The buildings are oriented from south to north.
Location: 231 - Wuhouci Street.
The first buildings in Chengdu are attributed to the 7th-10th centuries during the Tang Dynasty. At the end of the 17th century the monastery was rebuilt. The complex boasts a collection of 480 paintings and manuscripts. Autographs of artists, masters of hieroglyphic writing and the skull of a monk who managed to translate 1333 sacred texts from Sanskrit are stored here.
In the early 20s of the XX century, the monastery was replenished with a Burmese statue of the White Buddha. At the same time, 290 iron, stone, wooden, bronze and jade Buddha statues are presented in the storerooms of the complex.
The tea house, located on the territory of the monastery, surpasses similar buildings in the city. There is a vegetarian restaurant nearby.
Location: 66 Wenshuyuan Street.
At the confluence of three rivers, the city of Leshan is located. The distance between Chengdu and Leshan is covered by bus in 1 hour.
The rock sculpture of a seated Buddha brought glory to the city, the production of which began at the beginning of the 8th century and lasted 9 decades. A person descending from the top of the mountain at the level of the head of the Big Buddha reaches the feet, which are washed by the waters of the river, passing a distance of 71 m. The southern and northern walls depict 9 dozen beings with awakened consciousness who have decided to become Buddhas (bodhisattvas).
Location: No.2435 - Lingyun Street.
Tourists visiting Chengdu for the first time confuse the panda breeding research center, located 10 kilometers to the northeast, with the panda reserve, which is located 150 km to the west.
The number of bears eating bamboo has been reduced to 980 animals. The task of scientists is to create adapted conditions for the reproduction of these animals. Then the matured pandas are released into the wild. Pandas love to sleep. Therefore, it is better to see these cute creatures during the morning feeding with bamboo.
Location: 10 km northeast of the city center.
Temple "White Dragon Cave"
The Buddhist building on Mount Eimeshan dates back to the 3rd century BC. qin period. The temple consists of 3 halls, inside which stalactites and stalagmites of iridescent colors amaze with natural resourcefulness. Buddhas and enlightened bronzes guard the sacred mountain.
Location: Emei, Leshan, Sichuan.
The creation of the reserve on the mountain is due to the safety of the Tibetan macaques. The number of these mammals is 1180. Macaques have chosen only these Emeishan forests. The weight of an adult monkey reaches the weight of a 7-8-year-old child. These macaques do not suffer from shyness, they grimace in front of cameras and steal fruits and shiny things. The staff of the reserve forbid feeding the monkeys so as not to violate the restrictive diet.
Location: Emeishan, Leshan, Sichuan.
The building dates back to the 4th century and is located on Mount Eimeshan. Bodhisattva Puxian is the protector of the shrine, which I also call the Temple of 10 Thousand Years. The 8 m bronze sculpture of a bodhisattva on an elephant with 3 heads is more than 10 centuries old.
According to legend, the touch of tourists to this monument grants a wish. Those places that tourists reach for have long been shining. cable car helps to get to the temple in minutes, and walking takes 3 days.
The sacred mountain Emeishan sheltered a shrine, the Chinese name of which is Jindingsy. The temple was built in the 2nd century of the Han Dynasty. Bodhisattva Puxian is considered a symbol of worship.
The carved roof, carved columns, and ornate lattice patterns represent the Chinese architectural style.
On observation deck at an altitude of 3080 m, artists, photographers and nature lovers will catch the angles of the surrounding unique environment.
400 km separate Chengdu and the Nine Villages Reserve with the Chinese name Jiuzhaigou. By bus, the time will be 9 hours. This national park located in the Minshan mountains at an altitude of 2000-4800 m, covering an area of 600 km 2.
Scientists have discovered multi-cascade waterfalls and 108 lakes on the territory of the reserve, formed from the melting of glaciers, with blue, green and yellow colors, explaining the resulting color by the vital activity of algae. It is worth paying attention to the Panda waterfall, the five-cascade Pearl waterfall, the Ancient forest and the Swan and Grass lakes.
Chengdu and the reserve with the Russian name Yellow Dragon are separated by 200 km and 4 hours by bus in a northerly direction. The height of the terrain reaches 3500 m with an area 20 thousand km 2. 3100 lakes sometimes represent cascades. Here tourists will find the most big waterfall Zhaga in China, reaching a fall height of 93 m. The mountain with a peak in the snow rises to 5588 m.
The reserve is home to rare species of pandas and monkeys.
The complex is divided into imperial palace and park. The palace was intended for members of the imperial family and the performance of state functions. The advantage of the park is that the designers placed 260 secluded places copied from Chinese landscapes. Here are present: a lake with bridges, small mountains, valleys.
Location: Shuang Qiao Qu.
The beginning of construction dates back to the 3rd century BC. The abundant flooding of the Minjiang River led to crop losses every year. To combat this natural phenomenon, a dam was built in the middle of the river, dividing the river into two branches.
The irrigation building is still functioning today, irrigating arable land with an area of 5280 km 2, and between the cities of Chengdu and Dujiangyan - 1 hour by bus.
Local masters will offer tourists to make a picture with a relief image on a stone with their own hands, learn how to shoot a bow and even cook local dishes.
In the vicinity of the city of Zigong, 9 km, paleontologists have discovered the remains of dinosaurs with an age of 175 million years. This gave impetus to the construction and opening in the late 80s of the 20th century of a three-story museum with an area 65 thousand m 2.
The exposition is divided into three areas: the evolution of dinosaurs, the skeletons found in this area and successfully restored, and the excavation site where paleontological work continues.
Near the city of Dujiangyan, an hour's bus ride from Chengdu, is located mountain range with 36 peaks and 70 cave temples. The slopes of the massif are densely overgrown with forest and bamboo. On the front mountain of the Qingchenshan massif, Taoist and Buddhist objects of worship have been found. Legend has it that the Yellow Emperor laid down the canons of Taoism for the Chinese here. The back mountain attracts tourists with views of waterfalls and roaring streams of water among the mountains.
In addition to the listed attractions and interesting places in Chengdu, tourists will find other objects of interest: the Qing-yin Pavilion, the Bao Guo Monastery, the Wolong Nature Reserve, the Chengdu Museums, the Mound of Three Stars and the house of the poet Du Fu, the panda base in Dujiangyang, the Black Goat Temple, the Shu Brocade Academy , "Flute Player" sculpture in Chengdu, Eight Outer Temples, Sichuan Opera in Chengdu, Tibetan Sauna in Chengdu, Global Center " New Age», ancient settlement Sanxingdui, the ancient village of Huanglongxi.
Chengdu from A to Z: map, hotels, attractions, restaurants, entertainment. Shopping, shops. Photos, videos and reviews about Chengdu.
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Chengdu is the administrative center of Sichuan Province, a monument city with 3,000 years of history. For the rich Natural resources, mild climate and an abundance of cultural and historical attractions, Chengdu is called the "paradise". In addition, it is a major tourist and transport node, from where you can get to the three gorges on the Yangtze River, Tibet, Jiuzhaigou and Huanglong protected areas, the Museum of Terracotta Statues of Horses and Warriors in Xi'an.
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Transport Chengdu
Chengdu is connected by flights with 60 cities in China (Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, etc.), as well as with Thailand and Singapore. international Airport Shuangliu is located 20 km from the center. Buses leave from the Mingshan Hotel, once every half an hour, the fare is 8 CNY. In addition, the airport can be reached by bus number 303 or by taxi (30-50 CNY).
Several important railway lines of the country intersect in Chengdu: Baoji - Chengdu, Chengdu - Chongqing and Chengdu - Kunming. Excursion trains run to the cities of Kunming, Emei, Yibin, Jiangyu. All trains receive two stations in Chengdu: North and South.
The most convenient urban transport is buses (1 CNY, air-conditioned 2 CNY). A cycle rickshaw costs about the same as a taxi, but with its help it is much more convenient to explore the city. Within the city, the starting price of a taxi is 8 CNY for the first kilometer, then for each kilometer - 1.9 CNY.
Shopping: shops
Large shopping centers and stores are concentrated on Zongfu, Yanshikou, Qingtai and Tianfu Square. You can visit the Songxiangqiao Art Passage, and in the evening wander along Qintai Street, where beautiful art crafts are offered for an inexpensive fee.
Weather in Chengdu
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Popular hotels in Chengdu
Entertainment and attractions in Chengdu
The main attractions of the city are the Wuhou Temple complex, the Qingyangong Palace (“Black Goat Palace”), the Baoguang Monastery, the house-museum of the poet Du Fu, the Sichuan Provincial Museum.
Mount Qingcheng is located 63 km from the city, covered with evergreen trees and shrubs. Entrance 90 CNY, direct bus from Chadianzi stop.
The Dujiang Dam, which is 49 km from Chengdu, is a world-famous ancient hydraulic structure. Built during the Qin Dynasty (221-206 BC), this structure, which has survived to this day, is called one of the wonders of the world. In 2000, Dujiang was listed by UNESCO as a World cultural heritage. Entrance 90 CNY, direct bus from Chadianzi stop.
Maps of Chengdu
The Jinsha site is located near the Qingyang Highway in the Western Suburb of Chengdu. Here you can learn about the brilliant culture of the ancient kingdom of Chu, which existed 3,000 years ago. Archaeologists have unearthed more than 3,000 objects of those times: gold and jade jewelry, burial ceramic vessels, ivory items, tortoise shells and deer antlers. You can get there by buses number 78 and 81.Sanxingdui graves are located 20 km from Chengdu, in the vicinity of the city of Guanghan. From the graves, many items were recovered, the age of which exceeds five thousand years. Entrance 80 CNY. Bus from Chengdu railway station or from Chengbei Bus Station to Guanghan City. The attraction is open from 8:30 am to 6:30 pm.
Qingyanggong is famous for its Taoist monastery, which dates back to the Tang Dynasty. The monastery complex consists of the Lingzu and Hunyuan pavilions, the Bagua pavilion, the Wuji (Sanqingdian) pavilion, the Doumu and Tangwang pavilions, and the Qixing altar. Entrance 5 CNY.
Chengdu is a city in southwestern China, the capital of Sichuan Province. The population of the urban agglomeration is 11,000,670 people (2002).
For rich natural resources, mild climate and an abundance of cultural and historical attractions, Chengdu is called the "heavenly abode". The city itself has an extensive green zone, many new buildings in western style in the city center and rich nightlife.
Several important railway lines of the country intersect in Chengdu: Baoji - Chengdu, Chengdu - Chongqing and Chengdu - Kunming. Excursion trains run to the cities of Kunming, Emei, Yibin, Jiangyu. All trains receive two stations in Chengdu: North and South.
The most convenient urban transport is buses (1 RMB, air-conditioned 2 RMB). A rickshaw costs about the same as a taxi. Within the city limits, the starting price of a taxi is 5 RMB for the first kilometer, then for each kilometer - 1.4 RMB.
Attractions
Chengdu Zoo- here you can see all the typical animals you would expect in a zoo: elephants, tigers, giraffes, monkeys and pandas. A good place to visit with family.
Ancient Jinli Street(Jinli) - a street in the old part of the city, where there are hotels and small shops in the old fashioned style. Antiques are sold in many different shops. It is very popular with both tourists and locals, especially at night, with many bars, restaurants and nightclubs.
Wenshu Temple(Wenshu) - This Tang Dynasty Buddhist temple is the most impressive and one of the most visited in Chengdu. It is dedicated to the Buddhist presentation of wisdom, and contains more than 450 Buddha statues and other precious relics. In addition to the halls and gardens, the temple has a charming tea house, frequented by locals who play chess, read, knit or just socialize.
Happy Valley(Huanlegu) - a large amusement park, popular with vacationers with children.
Panda Research Base(Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding) is the world's largest and most important research and breeding center for pandas. 86 pandas out of 239 available in captivity now live here, which is an absolutely incredible number, you can see 4-6 pandas in an enclosure at once. You have to go here in the morning, to feed. After eating, pandas sleep, so if you want to see something other than a sleeping carcass, then you need to go by 9 in the morning. The base is outside the city, you can get here either by taxi or minibus. This unique place recommended for both adults and children.
Other sights of the city: Wuhouci Temple Complex, Qingyangong Palace (“Black Goat Palace”), Baoguangsi Monastery, House Museum of the Poet Du Fu, Sichuan Provincial Museum.
63 km from the city is mountain qingchenshan covered with evergreen trees and shrubs. Entrance 60 RMB, direct bus from Chadianzi stop.
Dujiangyan Dam, which is 49 km from Chengdu, the world-famous ancient hydraulic structure. Built during the Qin Dynasty (221-206 BC), this structure, which has survived to this day, is called one of the wonders of the world. In 2000, Dujiangyan was listed by UNESCO as a World Cultural Heritage Site.
Jinsha hill fort is located near the Qingyang Highway in the Western Suburb of Chengdu. Here you can learn about the brilliant culture of the ancient kingdom of Chu, which existed 3,000 years ago. Archaeologists have unearthed more than 3,000 objects of those times: gold and jade jewelry, burial ceramic vessels, ivory items, tortoise shells and deer antlers.
Chengdu (City of Brocade) is the administrative center of the southwestern province of Sichuan, China's main giant panda breeding region.
Chengdu - ancient city founded in the 4th c. BC, when it was the capital of the kingdom of Shu, and later of six more kingdoms. Already in ancient times, Chengdu was an important political and shopping center. At the beginning of our era, the city was known throughout the Celestial Empire due to its rich brocade, which was considered the best in the East. During the reign of the Song Dynasty, paper money was circulated here for the first time in the world.
Modern Chengdu is one of the largest industrial centers of Western China. The appearance of the city has changed dramatically, one of the oldest historical Buddhist and Taoist monuments have survived to this day.
One of the main attractions of Chengdu and the province as a whole is the giant panda nurseries - China's "national treasure".
Top attractions to see in Chengdu
The most famous cult monument in China dedicated to the period of the Three Kingdoms; was founded in 223, however, most of the buildings belong to the Qing period.
One of the most popular places Chengdu is located 12 km north of the city. This is a huge center and nursery, where in natural conditions giant pandas live. There is also a museum exhibition dedicated to the evolution, habitats, reproduction and protection of pandas. Also here, under the guidance of the center, 2-day volunteer work is possible. Cataloged world heritage UNESCO.
Jiuzhaigou National Park in Chengdu attracts tourists with its unique beauty, unusual mysterious oriental landscapes, and names unusual for European ears: Grass Lake, Sleeping Dragon Lake or Lake of Five Flowers.
4. Leshan. A small town at the southern foothills of Lingyunshan Mountain, 120 km southwest of Chengdu. In ancient times, it had the reputation of having the most beautiful scenery in Sichuan. Today, Leshan is one of the most popular destinations in the province, thanks to the giant stone Big Buddha and the Emei Mountains.
The largest Buddha statue in the world, carved from a single rock in Lingyunshan Mountain, is 71 m high. It inspires awe with its size, grandeur and impartial face. Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
One of them sacred mountains China, dedicated to the Bodhisattva Puxian; is located 160 km southwest of Chedu. The highest peak of Emeishan is called the Peak of Ten Thousand Buddhas and reaches a height of 3099 m. Even during the Tang Dynasty, the mountain turned into an object of pilgrimage among Buddhists due to more than 200 shrines built here during this time. 20 temples and monasteries have survived to this day. Among them are Jindingsy Temple, Ten Thousand Years Temple, Golden Peak, Jining Pavilion. Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Weather in Chengdu
The climate of Chengdu is characterized as humid subtropical. Comfortable for both human habitation and agriculture. The Qinling Mountains protect the city from the penetration of northern air masses from Siberia, so the winter in Chengdu is milder than in the lower part of the Yangtze. average temperature January - 5.6 ° С; snow falls extremely rarely, although short-term frosts are sometimes possible. Summers are humid and rather hot, but not as hot as in the cities down the Yangtze. Average temperatures in July and August are around 25°C, although during the day they can reach 33°C and higher. Sustained heat waves are also quite rare. The largest number precipitation falls from June to September.
How to get there
The Chengdu Metro was officially opened in Chengdu on October 1, 2010. It consists of four lines, construction and planning of other lines, including the ring line, is underway. There are about 400 bus routes in the city and the agglomeration.
Shuangliu International Airport is located about 16 km from the city center. It is the 5th busiest airport in mainland China; in 2012, traffic amounted to 31.6 million passengers. Operates flights to most major cities countries and also international flights to such cities as: Hong Kong, Osaka, Seoul, Singapore, Taipei, Tokyo, Kuala Lumpur, Phuket, Bangkok, etc. In 2009, an agreement was signed to improve the infrastructure of the airport, which would allow Shuanglu to increase its traffic to 40 million passengers by 2015. Chengdu Airlines is based at the airport. There is also a long-term plan to build another airport with five runways. With the implementation of the plan, the trip from the new airport to the center of Chengdu would take no more than 30 minutes.
Brief video overview of Chengdu
Chengdu is unnecessarily little known abroad. But it was here that some features of Chinese exoticism were preserved, which in other places disappeared without a trace: open sky with specialists in various services: masseurs, shoe shiners and - not a joke at all! - professional ear cleaners.
Although the city is large, it is easy to navigate. From central square Tianfu - with an exhibition hall and a statue of Mao, the main streets diverge radially in all directions of the world. The city center is surrounded by a system of concentric ring roads. The rivers that cross the city center also help you navigate.
The main river is the Fuhe, but the one that flows near the city center of Nanhe is better known, especially under its poetic name Brocade River (Jinjiang). To a certain extent, it gives the city a picturesque look thanks to the embankments and open-air tea houses, although the river itself is not very impressive. It is much more interesting to walk along the secondary streets, because away from the main transport axes and modern supermarkets, you can see a lot of traditional life: vegetable markets, street restaurants and many small shops.
Chengdu and its surroundings boast a rich history. As a traditional center of the Red Basin back in the 4th century. BC e. it became the capital of the Shu empire. In the era of the division of the empire, Chengdu again became the capital of separate kingdoms. Thanks to the diligence of its inhabitants, who knew how to weave exquisite silk fabrics, Chengdu earned the name Brocade City (Jincheng), which it still bears. The trade in salt and tea and the production of paper and printing also contributed to its prosperity. From the 10th century the city has another beautiful name: Hibiscus City (Chinese rose). To justify this old name, City Administration is making efforts to grow this plant.
Arrival and departure, urban transport
The main station, from where trains run to Xi'an and Beijing, is located in the north of the city. Express buses also leave for Nunzia. Trips to other cities are best booked in hotels. But it's cheaper to do it at bus stations, such as Xinnanmen Keyunzhan (east of the Traffic Hotel) and Ximen Qichezhan (northwest of the center); Both have daily buses to Dujiangyan and Qingchenshan Mountain. A useful bus route is No. 16, which runs from the main station along the major north-south axis to the south station. In 2010, the first metro line was opened, 31.6 km long.
