Sichuan Province, located in southwest China, is the largest province in China and known for its breathtaking forest, mountain scenery and mouthwatering cuisine. This province covers an area of 485,000 sq km, with 87 million people, has the largest population in China. There are plenty of sights in and around the city, they are:

Chengdu

Chengdu, capital of Sichuan Province, was built in 316BC during the Warring States period (475BC–221BC), is situated in the middle of Sichuan province. Chengdu covers an area of 12390 sq km, and is becoming a modern city with many hi-tech companies making their headquarters here. However it is still known for its laid-back and relaxed atmosphere – something that is still present in the city’s teahouses where locals will spend the day relaxing, drinking tea and playing mah-jong.

Wenshu Monastery

It was built in the Southern Dynasty (420–589) and rebuilt in the Qing Dynasty (1644–1911). Dedicated to the God of Wisdom, this Buddhist monastery is a real hotbed of activity with people worshipping, burning paper money and incense, selling fireworks and fortune telling. The vegetarian restaurant and lively teahouse make this monastery definitely worth a visit.

Bifengxia Giant Panda Base

This reserve was built especially for the release programme of the giant panda. Sixteen giant pandas will be moved from Giant Panda reserve in Wolong to the Bifengxia Giant Panda Base. They will be given wild training in the base to alter their endangered fate. Located in the ravine of Bifengxia (Green Peak Canyon), at 1,100 to 1,200 metres above sea level. Bifengxia is under the jurisdiction of Ya’an City in southwest China’s Sichuan Province and is 148km from Chengdu, the provincial capital.

Jiuzhaigou

Jiuzhaigou, located in the south section of Min Shan Mountain Range, Sichuan province, is a Chinese national park. Famous for the breathtaking natural beauty, Tibetan and Qing culture. The mountains create a huge water source of Jialing River which later converges with the Changliang (Yangtze) River in Chongqing. The scenery is varied in four seasons and the natural landscape is formed by 117 lakes and 17 waterfall groups.

Leshan

Leshan is home to the tallest Buddha in the world known as the Leshan Buddha. The sitting Buddha was carved in 713, during the Tang Dynasty (618–907). The statue is Sakyamuni’s disciple Maitreya.

Giant Pandas

Giant Pandas

Giant Pandas, black and white bears that live in temperate-zone bamboo forests in central China are among the best recognised – but rarest – animals in the world. They have come to symbolize endangered species and conservation efforts. As few as 1,600 giant pandas survive in the mountain forests of Sichuan – the land of pandas. Another 120 are in Chinese breeding sanctuaries and zoos, and about 20 live in zoos outside China.

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