1.Guangwu Mountain
Guangwu Mountain-Nature's Fiery Masterpiece in the Heart of Sichuan!
Rising like a dragon's backbone along the Sichuan-Shaanxi border,Guangwu Mountain transforms into a blazing wonderland every autumn,when its vast forests ignite in reds and golds-earning its title as "China's Most Spectacular Red Leaves Destination"!But this UNESCO Global Geopark is breathtaking year-round,with misty peaks,ancient plank roads,and secrets waiting around every bend.
Hike through the "Colorful Forest Corridor" where maple,oak,and birch trees create a kaleidoscope overhead.Stand atop Xianglu Peak at sunrise to watch an ocean of clouds swallow valleys whole,leaving only mountaintops as islands.Discover hidden gems like the Black Bear Gully's waterfalls and the Mysterious Cave of Seven Stars,where stalactites glitter like constellations.
History whispers here too-follow the Micang Ancient Plank Road,once a vital route on the "Northern Silk Road",and touch 2,000-year-old Han Dynasty stone carvings of mythical beasts.Visit in November for the Red Leaf Festival,when the entire mountain seems set aflame,or come in winter to see frozen waterfalls form crystal palaces!
2.Nuoshui River Scenic Area
Nuoshui River Scenic Area-A Hidden Underground Kingdom in Sichuan!
Deep in the heart of Bazhong City lies Nuoshui River,a mesmerizing wonderland where labyrinthine caves,emerald rivers,and towering karst cliffs collide to create nature's most spectacular art gallery.This UNESCO Global Geopark isn't just beautiful-it's an adventure playground waiting to be explored!
Step into the "Lion Cave",where stalactites form a mythical beast's mane,or brave the "Fairy Cave" with its cathedral-like chambers glittering with crystal formations.The real thrill?Drifting on a wooden boat through the Underground River,where bioluminescent algae sometimes lights up the tunnels like a starry sky!
Above ground,hike along cliffside plank roads overlooking the turquoise Nuoshui River,or cross the 360-degree glass bridge for dizzying views of the canyon.Don't miss the "Golden Basin" waterfalls,where local legends say fairies once bathed.
3.Micang Mountain National Forest Park
Micang Mountain National Forest Park-Where Autumn Sets the Mountains on Fire!
Tucked along the Sichuan-Shaanxi border,Micang Mountain is nature's grandest theater,famous for its "red leaf seas" that ignite every autumn in crimson and gold.But this UNESCO Global Geopark is spectacular year-round-with emerald gorges in summer,snow-dusted peaks in winter,and ancient trails whispering with history!
Hike through the "Golden Canyon",where waterfalls cascade over rust-colored cliffs,or climb the Glass Skywalk at 2,300 meters for heart-stopping views of the "Rainbow Clouds" phenomenon.History buffs,follow the Micang Ancient Plank Road-a 2,000-year-old trade route where merchants once carried silk and tea on swaying rope bridges!
Don't miss the "Tianxing Cave",a hidden underworld of glittering stalactites,or sunrise at Guangwu Peak,when mist transforms the valley into a painting.Visit in October-November when 580+square kilometers of maple,oak,and birch forests erupt in flames of color-China's most breathtaking fall foliage!
4.Enyang Ancient Town
Enyang Ancient Town-A Living Museum of Sichuan's Riverside Heritage!
Nestled along the Jiang River in Bazhong City,Enyang Ancient Town is a beautifully preserved Ming-Qing dynasty gem where time seems to have stood still for 400 years.With its wooden stilt houses,flagstone alleys,and bustling wharves,this was once a vital hub on the Ancient Micang Tea Road,and today offers an authentic glimpse into China's river-town charm!
Stroll down "Millstone Street",where the grooves of centuries of cart traffic still mark the stones,and peek into family-run shops selling hand-pressed sesame oil and smoked river fish.Don't miss the Qing Dynasty Guild Halls,where merchants once traded Sichuan tea for Tibetan horses-their ornate carvings of dragons and lotus flowers will transport you back to the Ming era!
At the waterfront teahouses,join locals sipping Maojian green tea while watching wooden boats drift by.Time your visit for the "Dragon Boat Rice Dumpling Festival" (June) when the river erupts with racing boats,or autumn when persimmons dry on every rooftop.As dusk falls,lanterns glow against the black-tiled roofs,creating a scene straight from a classic Chinese painting!
5.Nanchan Cliff Carvings
Nanchan Cliff Carvings-A Sacred Gallery of Stone!Hidden in the lush hills of Bazhong City,the Nanchan Cliff Carvings are a breathtaking open-air museum of Buddhist artistry dating back to the Sui and Tang Dynasties (1,400+years ago!).This UNESCO-listed treasure features over 5,000 statues carved directly into the red sandstone cliffs-each telling a story of faith,craftsmanship,and imperial devotion!
Marvel at the 17-meter-tall Maitreya Buddha,whose serene smile has watched over the valley since the 7th century.Nearby,spot the "Flying Apsaras"-celestial musicians frozen mid-dance in their flowing stone robes.Don't miss Cave No.12,where a rare "Buddha's Nirvana Scene" stretches 10 meters,showing disciples weeping with such detail you'll see their tear-stained cheeks!
The site's magic doubles at golden hour,when sunlight sets the cliff's iron-rich stone aglow like burning copper.Local monks still burn incense at the Tang Dynasty stone pagoda,where pilgrims have left offerings for centuries.
6.Chuan-Shan Revolutionary Base Museum
Chuan-Shan Revolutionary Base Museum-Where the Red Army's Legacy Comes Alive!
Standing proudly in Bazhong City,this museum is the guardian of memories from one of China's most critical revolutionary bases-the Chuan-Shan (Sichuan-Shaanxi) Soviet (1932-1935).Here,you'll walk through the very headquarters where General Xu Xiangqian and 48,000 Red Army soldiers fought to establish a revolutionary stronghold against impossible odds!
Step into the life-size dioramas of underground printing presses where propaganda newspapers were secretly produced,and touch the actual rifles and straw sandals used by teenage soldiers.The 360-degree panoramic painting of the "Battle of Empty Mountain" will plunge you into the 1934 guerrilla warfare-listen closely,and you might hear echoes of battle cries!
Don't miss the "Martyr's Wall",inscribed with 25,000+names of those who sacrificed their lives,or the reconstructed Red Army hospital cave where doctors used bamboo scalpels.Outside,stroll through the Soviet-era street with its sentry posts and ration stations frozen in time.
Feel the revolutionary fire?Every July,veterans' families gather here to sing "The March of the Red Army"-their voices ringing through these halls just as they did 90 years ago.
7.Fotou Mountain Forest Park
Fotou Mountain Forest Park-Where Buddha's Profile Meets Crimson Sunrise!
Rising like a celestial guardian over Pingchang County,this mystical park is famed for its natural rock formation resembling a colossal Buddha's face in serene meditation.But there's more-this sacred mountain is also a revolutionary memorial,where Red Army history blends with breathtaking scenery!
Start at Sunrise Platform,where dawn paints the "Buddha's Head" cliff in gold-locals believe the light forms a halo effect at certain angles.Hike the "Stairway to Heaven" through bamboo forests to discover hidden temples and the Red Army Stone Inscriptions carved by soldiers during the Long March.The summit rewards you with a 360-degree view of the Qu River winding like a jade ribbon through emerald hills.
Don't miss the "Buddha's Palm" rock terrace or the autumn spectacle when 20,000+maple trees set the slopes ablaze.At the Red Culture Square,stand where General Zhang Guotao addressed troops in 1933-the echoes of history feel almost tangible here!
8.Yinlingshan Stele Forest
Yinlingshan Stele Forest!Perched on Yinling Mountain,this gem stands proud as one of China's top four calligraphy stele forests,sharing fame with Xi'an and Qufu's renowned collections.
Back in the 1980s,locals rallied to create this masterpiece.They gathered over 2,200 works from global calligraphers,then carved 1,983 onto stones across 9,600 square meters.It's a labor of love that shines bright.
Walk through,and you'll spot works by big names-leaders,generals,cultural stars like Nie Rongzhen and Zhang Aiping.Scripts vary too:regular,cursive,even Manchu and Tibetan.Each stone tells a story,mixing history and art beautifully.
Keep an eye out for standouts:She Xueman's "Roaming the Secluded," Zhu Shusong's I Ching pieces.Surrounded by steep peaks,it's where nature and culture hug.Take it all in-this stele forest is pure magic.Enjoy every moment!
As you explore,don't forget to look up and around.The forested slopes and clear skies frame the steles,enhancing the serene atmosphere.Whether you're an art enthusiast or simply seeking a unique adventure,Yinlingshan Stele Forest promises an unforgettable journey through time and creativity.Bring your camera-every angle offers a picture-perfect shot of these timeless carvings against the backdrop of Sichuan's natural beauty.And if you're lucky enough to visit during the misty mornings or golden sunsets,the play of light and shadow on the steles transforms the entire scene into a living,breathing gallery.Imagine capturing the interplay of soft rays filtering through the trees,casting dappled patterns over the inscriptions,or the way the warm glow of sunset gilds the edges of each stele,making the ancient characters seem to glow with a life of their own.
9.Baiyi Ancient Town
Baiyi Ancient Town-A Riverside Jewel Frozen in Time!
Perched gracefully along the Qu River in Sichuan's Pingchang County,Baiyi Ancient Town is a breathtaking ensemble of Qing Dynasty architecture that has miraculously preserved its old-world charm for over 300 years.Known as the "Phoenix Town of Northern Sichuan",this water-bound treasure will transport you to an era of scholar gardens,bustling wharves,and poetic landscapes!
Wander through "Nine Streets and Eight Alleys",where black-tiled roofs with swooping eaves frame flagstone lanes polished smooth by centuries of footsteps.Marvel at the Liu Family Compound,its wooden screens carved with intricate scenes from Romance of the Three Kingdoms,then cross the Ancient Wharf Bridge where merchants once traded Sichuan silks for Tibetan herbs.
The town comes alive at the waterfront teahouses-sip Mengding tea while watching fishermen cast nets just as their ancestors did.Don't miss the "Baiyi Eight Scenic Spots",especially Moonlit Phoenix Terrace where poets gathered to compose verses under ginkgo trees.Time your visit for the Dragon Boat Festival (June) when the river erupts with racing boats and zongzi fragrance fills the air!
10.Tongjiang Red Fourth Front Army Headquarters Complex
Tongjiang Red Fourth Front Army Headquarters Complex-Where Revolution Still Echoes in the Mountains!
Nestled in the rugged hills of Bazhong City,this sprawling network of 200+preserved revolutionary sites was the beating heart of the Sichuan-Shaanxi Soviet Base (1932-1935).Walk the very paths where General Xu Xiangqian and 50,000 Red Army soldiers turned peasant huts into a revolutionary fortress that changed China's destiny!
Stand in the wooden command post where battle plans were drawn by oil lamp,its walls still pockmarked with bullet holes from KMT attacks.Descend into the "Underground Printing Cave",where propaganda newspapers were secretly produced-the rusted presses and stencil kits remain exactly as left in 1934.Don't miss the Red Army Powder Magazine,hidden cleverly behind a waterfall,or the Martyr's Cemetery where 7,800 soldiers rest beneath crimson-starred tombstones.
The "Living History" performance (weekends) lets you witness a 1933 land reform trial reenacted by locals in original uniforms.As dusk falls,lanterns illuminate the "Red Army Street",where actors in period costume sell "revolutionary millet buns" from authentic ration stations.
Feel the revolutionary energy?Touch the "Oath Wall" where recruits etched their names in blood-some as young as 13.Their sacrifice built the road to New China.