Chengdu is one of the ten largest cities in China and one of the oldest cities on the planet. The rich history, picturesque nature, mild climate, abundance of ancient relics, unusual cuisine make Chengdu attractive for tourists. The main thing is that this is the homeland of the world-beloved giant panda. This explains the many guests in this not a resort town.
But Chengdu is not only remembered for these cute animals. And with its warm atmosphere, beauty and impeccably preserved sights. So what is worth seeing in Chengdu?
TOP 10 attractions in Chengdu
Giant Panda Breeding and Research Center
Giant Panda Breeding and Research Center
The main tourist brand of the city. The stream of people wishing to get acquainted with these charming lugs, not at all like ordinary bears, does not dry out all year round.
The center is a picturesque park with lush greenery and flowers along the paths. In it, pandas live in natural conditions - in spacious open-air cages without cages and glasses.
The center is located in the suburbs, it is easy to get from the center. This is important, given the regime of the day of the famous lazy people. As a rule, pandas are active in the morning: they have breakfast with bamboo and play. After that, the majority begins their "quiet hour".
During the day, this beautiful corner of nature also has something to do. Red pandas are awake, adorable, playful, similar to raccoons. Peacocks walk along the paths, and swans swim on the lake.
Very interesting is the world's only Giant Panda Museum, located on the territory of the Center. In it you can learn about the habitats of the panda in the past and the present, about the evolution and measures to protect the animals loved all over the world.
Jingli street
This Chinatown in the middle of a Chinese city deserves special interest. There are few places in the whole country that have preserved the historical appearance and traditional way of life on the scale of an entire street. The oldest street, Jingli, is mentioned in the chronicles of the 3rd century BC as a trading street. Of course, in a mountainous country with frequent earthquakes, it was impossible to preserve the buildings of those times. They are meticulously recreated in 2004. The buildings look like authentic Qing Dynasty Sichuan buildings, with wooden columns, brick décor and many small architectural details that convey the atmosphere of ancient China. The entrance to the street is decorated with an arch, and the sidewalk is paved with green tiles. Just like a millennium ago, the 500-meter street is crowded. The houses have restaurants, tea houses and even small hotels.
The trade profile has been preserved: in numerous shops, you can, as in the old days, buy decorative fabrics, famous local embroideries, paintings, souvenirs, and calligraphy. And listen to Sichuan opera or Chinese traditional songs on the wooden stage in the middle of the street.
Global Center "New Age"
This business, shopping and entertainment center is interesting precisely for its scale. It is currently the largest on the planet. The 20-storey building (two of them underground) covers an area of 1.76 million square meters - 20 times the size of the famous Sydney Opera House.
The huge complex houses two five-star hotels with a capacity of one thousand guests each, two commercial centers, conference rooms and offices. About 400 square meters are occupied by boutiques and shops. The rest of the place is devoted to entertainment. There is a water park, an ice rink, concert halls, a theater, a cinema, several exhibitions of contemporary art, restaurants and cafes. The main highlight is an artificial beach with an artificial reservoir imitating the sea. It will not be possible to bypass the entire center, but it is fascinating to appreciate the gigantism.
Chengdu museums
They are unusual, varied and entertaining. None of them will be boring, for a reference point - the main ones:
- The Sichuan Provincial Museum consists of 15 huge halls, the exhibits of which represent all periods of the region's life. Interesting finds of archaeologists, collections of weapons, bronze, ceramics from different eras, gold and jade jewelry.
- House Museum of Du Fu, the great poet of the Tang era. The interest is that the thatched-roof house has miraculously survived to this day. Now a beautiful garden is laid out around it.
- The Dinosaur Museum is not located in the city itself, but it is worth going there. Firstly, it is considered the largest in Southeast Asia, and secondly, it is located on the site of the dinosaur discovery, and thirdly, it is simply very large-scale, exciting and informative.
- Bishushanzhuang Museum is a summer imperial palace surrounded by a picturesque park. A place where you can endlessly admire the surrounding landscape and the recreated imperial residence.
Sichuan Opera
Sichuan Opera
The most interesting show deserves a must-see. A mixture of all sorts of styles, the famous Sichuan opera, appeared in the Ming era, almost four centuries ago. The performance includes solo singing, puppet theater, funny comedy, performance of warriors, etc. The performers are draped in elaborate costumes, colorful masks change more than once during the performance. All this is accompanied by mesmerizing movements accompanied by a mystical musical accompaniment and is called the Sichuan Opera. She is famous throughout China, the artists have successfully toured the country and abroad.
Since few people understand the local dialect, supper does not interfere with admiring the performance. It is offered right there, in the Opera House, as well as massage. After the show, you can take a walk in the nearby park, where you can watch the locals learn dancing or martial arts.
Big Buddha
Big Buddha
It is an hour's drive away, but the sight is worth it. The monumental creation is huge - 71 meters high. For a whole millennium, the statue was considered the largest in the world. Now it is also one of the largest Buddha sculptures in the world. If we take into account that he is depicted seated, having theoretically calculated the height, the Buddha can still be called the largest. Since 1996, the statue has been on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
The initiator of the construction of the Big Buddha, the monk Hai Tun, hoped that the statue of the Teacher would serve to pacify the turbulent dangerous streams at the confluence of three rivers. The sculpture has been carved into the rock of Lingyunshan Mountain since 713 for 90 years. Stone waste was dumped into the river, thereby leveling the bottom. Thus, Buddha really "tamed" the river.
The head of the statue is flush with the top of the mountain, and the feet rest against the river. One foot can accommodate up to a hundred people. A staircase has been made in the rock next to the statue. Going down it, you can see this greatest creation of human hands in all details.
Temples and monasteries of Chengdu
While traveling in Southeast Asia, traditional religious buildings are no longer as impressive, but Chengdu has some interesting and memorable ones.
- Baoguang Temple is notable for the Buddha made of rare white jade, as well as the preserved pagoda of the 1st century.
- Wuhou Temple is the main historical symbol of Chengdu, created during the Three Kingdoms, in the III century. Surrounded by a beautiful peach garden.
- Wan Nian Monastery is interesting with a bronze statue of the Bodhisattva Pusian, which is more than a thousand years old.
- Wenshu Monastery is one of the oldest and largest in Chengdu. Interesting is the collection of manuscripts by masters of hieroglyphs and paintings, an exposition of 300 statues of Buddha made of wood, iron, stone, bronze and jade.
- Eight external temples are a complex of the 18th century, symbolizing the combination of traditions of different peoples of a multinational state. Architecturally, temples were built in different styles - Manchu, Mongolian, Tibetan, etc. The roofs of the temples are covered with yellow and green tiles, the roofs of the most important rooms are gilded.
Temple of the Green Goat (Palace of the Black Goat)
Temple of the Green Goat
Deserves a separate story. This Taoist temple is very popular with tourists. Originally built in the 1st century, during the Tang Dynasty, when Taoism was gaining influence. Most of the current temple complex was reconstructed in the period from the 17th to the beginning of the 20th century. But in the style of Taoist architecture. In general, the temple complex is considered one of the oldest, and it contains sacred Taoist relics.
The main palace of the complex, the so-called Hall of the Three Principles, is decorated with golden dragons; two bronze statues of goats are greeted at the entrance. The goats are polished to a shine because visitors are confident that touching them brings good luck. Bronze goats, if you look closely, are endowed with the features of all animals of the eastern 12-year cycle, for example, tiger claws, etc.
The temple attracts even tourists who are far from religion - with beautiful pagodas, a well-groomed park and a special atmosphere.
Chengdu parks
Temple of the Green Goat
Lovers of fresh air, the Chinese, especially the older generation, in parks and gardens do what we used to do at home: read poetry, practice calligraphy, sing songs, play musical instruments. Absolutely all age categories are engaged in gymnastics, especially respiratory - and all this in parks.
Chengdu parks are beautiful, each with its own history and attractions:
- Wangjiang Park is a bamboo forest in which this plant is represented in all its diversity (more than 150 species). The park's trademark is the tall, elegantly decorated Chunli Pavilion, built during the Qing Dynasty.
- The People's Park is an oasis of tranquility in the middle of the metropolis, located near the main city square.
- Baihuatan Park also has a complete set for relaxation, board games and tea parties. An example of how Chengdu residents know how to relax.
Ancient Irrigation System in Dujianyan City
It is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List as the oldest surviving irrigation system. The uniqueness is that the building has not only survived, but continues to work to this day.
It is a huge dam in the middle of the river. Built more than two millennia ago, it was considered the largest hydro-reclamation structure at that time. An irrigation system divides the Minjiang River into two channels, solving the problem of irrigating agricultural land in western Sichuan. Thanks to its construction, the annual destructive flooding of the river has been ended. Historical chronicles have preserved the name of the author of the invention, who lived in the 3rd century BC. - Lee Bing. Together with his son, he developed a project for taming the river. Grateful residents erected in their honor the "Temple of Father and Son", which is as well preserved as the system itself.
The city is an hour's drive from Chengdu. In it, you can still visit the most interesting temple of Confucius: there in a day you can study ancient sciences, shoot a bow, make a picture on a stone. And also see another small panda habitat.
