Sights
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Warren Rodwell www.wocca.zoomshare.com
An often quoted Chinese saying is, “Once you come to Chengdu , you will not want to leave”. This can be attributed a lot to the enviable, relaxed lifestyle enjoyed by locals and foreigners in a recreational and unhurried tourist city, surrounded by many rivers such as the Funan and the Sha. Famous scenic spots such as Wuhou Temple and Du Fu Thatched Cottage enrich the cultural background of Chengdu . Not far away, Qingcheng Mountain and Snowy Mount Xiling act as summer resorts for the urbanites. World mixed cultural and natural sites, such as Jiuzhaigou Gullies, Leshan and Mount Emei, have been acknowledged by UNESCO as being of great heritage value and significance in relating miracles of the native people’s past and present.
Since moist subtropical Chengdu is located in a basin, high mountains can be seen just outside of the Chengdu Plain. There are lots of high mountains such as Qingcheng and Snowy Mountain Xiling, with many undeveloped primitive jungles. An interesting phenomenon presents itself here in that high mountains are less than 100 kilometres away from large cities. It has changed the common perception that high mountains and primitive jungle would be restricted to wild and uninhabited areas.
As the capital city, Chengdu occupies an important position in Sichuan containing most of the people. In 2004, the population in Chengdu totalled 10,596,900, next only to ChongQing , Shanghai and Beijing . The population comprised of 5,381,700 males and 5,215,200 females. According to the result of the fifth national census, the Han Nationality made up 99.46 ％ of the total population and the minority groups (including Tibetan, Yi and Qiang Nationality) accounted for 0.54 ％ . The pace of life is slower than that in other cities. Chengdu women reputedly walk slowly to go shopping, while the men are known to live leisurely. They like to drink tea, play mahjong, or spend time chatting rather than worrying about any troubles. Review by Warren RodwellContributors
December 23, 2006
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by wocca (2 points)
Wenshu Monastery (Wenshu Yuan)
Edit ThisDating back to the Tang Dynasty but largely reconstructed in the Qing Dynasty, this monastery was originally known as the Xinxiang temple. It was renamed after a Buddhist monk who resided here in the 17th century. The largest Buddhist temple in Chengdu, Wenshu Yuan is the gathering point for crowds of worshippers who after their prayers while away a lazy afternoon eating, drinking and chatting. A beautiful pagoda-cum-teahouse makes an excellent place to read and relax, while a small self-service restaurant within the temple compound serves good vegetarian dishes which you buy more..
| type: | Landmarks & Monuments |
| World66 rating: | 
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| address: | Wenshu Yuan Jie, off Renmin Zhong Lu. |
| openinghours: | 8 am - 5 pm, daily. |
Qingyanggong (Green Goat) Temple
Edit ThisQingyanggong Temple
photo by: Warren Rodwell www.wocca.zoomshare.com
This delightful temple in a relatively peaceful district to the northwest of the city is the oldest and largest in the Chengdu area. Qingyanggong is dedicated to Taoism's greatest figure, Laozi, author of Daodejing - The Way and its Power. A clean little restaurant serving excellent Mala Dofu (Hot and spicy Tofu) stands opposite the temple entrance, across the main road.
Entrance fee : 5 RMB ($US0.62 cents)
| type: | Monasteries |
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Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding
Edit ThisAnother breed is the red panda
photo by: Warren Rodwell www.wocca.zoomshare.com
You can catch a taxi or local bus to the home to the endangered giant panda in the northern suburb of Chengdu. Admission fee is 30 RMB ($US3.75) to the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, or otherwise known as "Panda Adventure". It is best to arrive at about 8am in the morning as the pandas like to sleep after lunch. Allow two hours to walk around at a leisurely pace.
This world-renowned ecological conservation base occupies 105 hectares, and is already embroidered with rolling green hills, colourful birds, and a sparkling lake. It is dedicated to the more..
| type: | Parks, Gardens and Zoos |
| World66 rating: |
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| address: | Panda Road, Northern Suburb, Chengdu |
| tel: | 86+28+83516748 |
| url: | www.panda.org.cn |
| email: | www.pandaphoto.com.cn |
Wuhou Shrine
Edit ThisWuhou might be translated as "Minister of War", and was the title given to Zhuge Liang, a famous military strategist of the Three Kingdom Period (220-280AD) immortalized in one of the classics of Chinese literature, the Tale of the Three Kingdom. Entry fee is 15 yuan.
| type: | Landmarks & Monuments |
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River Viewing Pavilion Park
Edit ThisThe pavilion is a four-story Qing wooden structure overlooking the Jinjiang River. The park is famous for its lush forests of bamboo, and boasts over 150 varieties of bamboo from China, Japan and Southeast Asia. The pavilion was built to the memory of Xue Tao, a female Tang Dynasty poet with a great love for bamboo. Entry fee is 5 yuan.
| type: | Parks & Gardens |
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| openinghours: | 6 am - 9 pm, daily |
Zhaojue Temple
Edit ThisZhaojue temple is a Tang Dynasty building dating back to the 7th century. It underwent extensive reconstruction under the supervision of Po Shan, a famous Buddhist monk, during the early Qing Dynasty, with waterways and groves of trees being established around the temple. The temple itself has served as a model for many Japanese and South-East Asian Buddhist temples.
| type: | Temples |
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Chengdu Cultural Park
Edit ThisChengdu Cultural Park is next door to the Green Goat Temple. Admission: 5 yuan.
| type: | Parks & Gardens |
| World66 rating: | [rate it] |
| address: | Yihuan Lu (Chengdu's ring road) |
| openinghours: | 6 am - 8 pm, daily. |
