Sichuan Ya'an

1.Bifengxia Scenic Area

Bifengxia Scenic Area-Nature's Masterpiece in the Heart of Sichuan!

Nestled in the lush mountains of Ya'an,just a short drive from Chengdu,Bifengxia is a breathtaking paradise where emerald forests,cascading waterfalls,and rare wildlife come together in perfect harmony.Known as one of China's most pristine ecological wonders,this scenic area is a must-visit for adventurers,animal lovers,and anyone craving a deep breath of fresh mountain air!

Step into the "Green Canyon",where towering cliffs draped in vines frame turquoise pools and over 50 waterfalls-like the thunderous Qinglong Waterfall-plunge into misty valleys below.Follow wooden walkways through ancient forests home to giant pandas at the world-famous Bifengxia Panda Base,where you can watch these adorable creatures munch bamboo just feet away!

Thrill-seekers will love the glass-bottomed cliff walkway suspended high above the gorge,while culture buffs can explore Tibetan-style temples and tea plantations tied to Ya'an's history as the starting point of the Ancient Tea Horse Road.End your day with a cup of Mengding tea,grown on nearby misty peaks for over 2,000 years!

2.Mengding Mountain

Mengding Mountain-The Birthplace of Tea Civilization!

Rising majestically in Sichuan's Ya'an region,Mengding Mountain is where Chinese tea culture began over 2,000 years ago.Known as the "Holy Land of Tea," this mist-shrouded paradise combines breathtaking scenery with unparalleled tea heritage-prepare to walk in the footsteps of tea emperors!

Follow the "Tea Horse Ancient Road" through terraced tea fields where the world's first cultivated tea trees still grow.At the summit,visit the Imperial Tea Garden,planted in the Han Dynasty,and learn how monks perfected tea rituals seen in the "Tea Ancestor Temple." Don't miss sipping Mengding Ganlu ("Sweet Dew Tea")-once reserved for emperors-while soaking in panoramic views of the Chengdu Plain!

Adventure awaits on the "Cloud Ladder Trail",a stone path winding past waterfalls and through bamboo forests where you might spot wild pandas.Time your visit for April's Tea-Picking Festival to join locals in traditional harvest dances and taste fresh tea right from the field!

3.Giant Panda National Park

Giant Panda National Park-The Ultimate Kingdom of China's Beloved Black-and-White Treasures!

Spanning across three provinces in southwest China,with its heart in Sichuan,Giant Panda National Park is the world's largest sanctuary for wild pandas,covering over 10,000 square miles of bamboo forests,alpine valleys,and misty peaks.This ecological wonderland isn't just home to 1,800 wild pandas-it's a biodiversity hotspot where snow leopards,golden monkeys,and rare red pandas roam free!

Step into the Wolong and Dujiangyan sections to walk through prime panda habitat,where you might spot these adorable giants munching bamboo or napping in tree hollows.Join researchers at the conservation bases to learn how China protects these vulnerable species-from panda "kindergartens" to wilderness training programs preparing cubs for life in the wild!

Beyond pandas,trek the park's ancient forest trails past crystal-clear streams and waterfalls,or visit Tibetan villages on the park's fringes to taste yak butter tea.Every season dazzles:spring brings blooming rhododendrons,summer offers emerald-green canyons,while winter transforms the landscape into a snowy panda playground!

4.Jiajin Mountain National Forest Park

Jiajin Mountain National Forest Park-Where Snow-Capped Peaks Meet Revolutionary History!

Towering at 4,100 meters on the Sichuan-Tibet border,Jiajin Mountain is not just a natural wonder,but a legendary landmark on the Long March Trail where Chairman Mao's Red Army crossed its perilous slopes in 1935.Today,this alpine paradise blends breathtaking scenery with profound historical significance-ready for your adventure?

Hold your breath as you ascend through four climate zones:from lush primeval forests of giant firs to alpine meadows bursting with wildflowers (summer) or glittering with ice crystals (winter).The summit's "Snow Ocean" phenomenon creates year-round snowfields-a surreal sight just 3 hours from Chengdu's warmth!

History comes alive at the Long March Memorial Museum,where you'll touch the actual trail stones marched upon by revolutionaries.Then,channel your inner explorer on the "Red Army Path" hike,passing crystal-clear glacial lakes where Tibetan yaks graze.Don't miss the sunrise over Minya Konka peaks-on clear mornings,the sea of clouds below will leave you speechless!

5.Shangli Ancient Town

Shangli Ancient Town-A Living Canvas of Sichuan's Watertown Charm!

Nestled where the Pi River and Baima Spring meet,this 2,000-year-old gem is often called "the hometown of painters" for its dreamy bridges,Ming-Qing architecture,and emerald rice fields that have inspired artists for centuries.Just a stone's throw from Ya'an,Shangli feels like stepping into a classical Chinese ink wash painting!

Stroll along flagstone streets lined with wooden stilt houses,where elderly artisans still weave bamboo baskets under tiled eaves.Cross the iconic "Second Immortal Bridge"-its twin arches reflecting perfectly in the river at dawn-then sip tea at a waterside teahouse while watching ducks paddle past.Don't miss the ancient stone tablet forest,where calligraphy from Song Dynasty scholars whispers secrets of the past!

Every season adds magic:spring brings golden rapeseed flower seas,summer turns the river into a natural playground,and autumn sets the ginkgo trees ablaze.Join locals for water-worship festivals or taste farm-to-table delicacies like stone-grilled tofu and sweet glutinous rice cakes.

6.Laba River Nature Reserve

Laba River Nature Reserve-Where Wild Wonders Roam Free!

Tucked away in the dramatic mountains of Sichuan's Tianquan County,Laba River Nature Reserve is a hidden paradise where snow-capped peaks,emerald forests,and crystal-clear rivers create a sanctuary for rare wildlife.This untouched wilderness is your front-row seat to observe wild giant pandas,golden snub-nosed monkeys,and even elusive snow leopards in their natural habitat!

Hike along the "Ecological Corridor",where waterfalls cascade down mossy cliffs and the air hums with birdsong.Keep your eyes peeled-you might spot Takin (the "mountain cows") grazing by the riverbanks or colorful pheasants darting through the underbrush.The reserve's Red Leaf Valley transforms into a fiery masterpiece every autumn,while winter blankets the landscape in serene snow,perfect for spotting animal tracks!

For thrill-seekers,the high-altitude plank walkway offers dizzying views of the valley,while gentle rafting trips along the Laba River reveal hidden grottos.Stay overnight in the forest cabins-as darkness falls,listen for the distant howls of Tibetan wolves under a sky ablaze with stars!

7.Erlang Mountain

Erlang Mountain-The Mighty Guardian of Sichuan's Sky Road!

Standing tall at 3,437 meters between Ya'an and Kangding,Erlang Mountain is far more than just a mountain-it's a legendary gateway to Tibet,a breathtaking natural fortress,and an engineering marvel that has challenged travelers for centuries!

Hold onto your seats as we traverse the "Erlang Mountain Tunnel",a 13.4km engineering wonder that pierces through the heart of the mountain.Before this tunnel was built,the old 318 National Highway zigzagged up the "Death Slope" with 21 perilous hairpin turns-still visible as an open-air museum of road-building history!

Outside your window,watch the landscape transform:lush Sichuan Basin forests give way to the jagged,snow-dusted peaks of the Hengduan Mountains.At the summit viewpoint,you'll understand why ancient Tibetans called this "The Mountain Where Clouds Are Born"-the sea of clouds here swirls like liquid silver below your feet!

Wildlife lovers,keep eyes peeled for wild pandas in the lower slopes and Tibetan snow pheasants near the peak.History buffs will love the Red Army Long March memorials-this was a critical 1935 crossing point where soldiers battled both enemies and blizzards.

8.King Yi Pavilion

King Yi Pavilion-Where History Echoes Over the Roaring Dadu River!

Perched dramatically on a cliff above the thundering Dadu River in Sichuan's Shimian County,the King Yi Pavilion stands as a poignant memorial to one of China's most tragic rebel heroes-Shi Dakai,the "Wing King" of the Taiping Rebellion.This sacred site blends heart-stopping scenery with a 19th-century saga of loyalty and sacrifice!

Step onto the pavilion's sweeping viewing platform,where the same vertigo-inducing gorge views unfolded before Shi Dakai's army in 1863 as Qing Dynasty forces closed in.Touch the ancient stone stele carved with his farewell poem-a rebel's last words etched forever into the cliffside.The roaring rapids below still seem to whisper his story...

Around you,notice the iron chains and broken plank roads clinging to the cliffs-remnants of the original trail where 4,000 Taiping soldiers made their last stand.Local guides might point out the "Blood Rock",said to bear stains from that fateful battle.

The nearby Taiping Rebellion Museum displays artifacts recovered from the river,including rusted swords and coins.Time your visit for autumn,when fiery red leaves set the gorge ablaze-nature's tribute to these fallen warriors.

9.Red Army's Forced Crossing of the Dadu River

Red Army's Forced Crossing of the Dadu River-Where Courage Changed China's Destiny!

Stand on the hallowed banks of the Dadu River in Sichuan's Luding County,where in May 1935,Chairman Mao's Red Army defied all odds in a daring escape that became legendary.This is no ordinary river crossing-it's the very spot where 17 brave warriors seized an iron-chain bridge under enemy fire,ensuring the survival of the Long March!

Gaze up at the Luding Bridge,its 13 thick iron chains still stretched across the raging torrents just as they were 90 years ago.Walk carefully across the reconstructed wooden planks,feeling the same dizzying drop that confronted those young soldiers as bullets whizzed past them.The original bullet marks on the bridge's iron rings remain as silent witnesses to their sacrifice.

Downriver,see the "Anshunchang Crossing Point" where another troop forded the icy waters-some soldiers,bound together with ropes,were swept away but still saved the revolution.The on-site Long March Memorial Hall displays their straw sandals,rusted daggers,and the actual bamboo rafts used in the crossing.

10.Gao Yi Que Tomb Towers

Gao Yi Que Tomb Towers-Stone Sentinels of the Han Dynasty!

Standing proudly for over 1,800 years in Ya'an,Sichuan,these exquisitely carved stone towers are China's best-preserved Han Dynasty tomb que (gate pillars) and a UNESCO-listed treasure.Marvel at how these 6-meter-tall masterpieces have weathered earthquakes,wars,and time itself to whisper stories of the Eastern Han elite!

Circle the paired que towers and let your fingers trace the mythological carvings-spot the immortal Queen Mother of the West riding her phoenix,dragon-tailed tigers symbolizing power,and banquet scenes frozen in stone.Notice how the "Layered Cloud" carving technique makes the images seem to float-a signature of Sichuan's Han artisans!

The adjacent Gao Yi Tomb (though unexcavated) is believed to hold a governor who conquered this frontier region.Local elders say the que's "hidden guardian beasts" still protect the site-look for the barely visible stone panthers near the base!

At sunset,the que's shadows stretch like ancient sundials across the field.Don't miss the Ya'an Museum's Han relics nearby,including bronze chariot fittings that likely belonged to Gao Yi himself.