Home of the Giant Pandas

Pandas, in Chengdu

As China’s National Treasure, the giant panda is one of the rarest animals in the world. The total number is estimated to be 1,500, including those living in the wild, 80% of which are in Sichuan Province.

A breeding center for giant pandas was founded in the north suburbs of Chengdu. It is the only one of its kind in the world that's located in a metropolitan area. In order to better protect wild giant pandas, Chengdu has established nature reserves in Dujiangyan City, Chongzhou City, and Dayi County. Sichuan Wolong Giant Panda Nature Reserve, the biggest of its kind in the world, is only 130 km (81 mi) outside Chengdu.

The western world came to know giant pandas only after a French missionary named David first discovered this species in Sichuan in 1869. Now, the somewhat clumsy giant panda is a symbol representing the World Wildlife Fund. They are also a messenger of friendly communication between Chengdu and international cities. Currently, giant pandas are also reared in U.S.A, Germany, Austria, Japan, Thailand as well as Mexico.

Chengdu has established the world renowned breeding and research base for giant pandas, which attracts almost 100,000 visitors each year. Covering tens of hectares with bamboo groves and a native-like habitat, the base is the only one of its kind located in an urban area. A museum is open to the public throughout the year.

In 2008, after the release of the American animation movie Kung Fu Panda, DreamWorks CEO Jeffrey Katzenberg and other DreamWorks members visited the city of Chengdu. In addition to seeing live pandas, crew members learned about the local culture. Katzenberg has stated that Kung Fu Panda 2 incorporates many elements of Chengdu in the film. The film's landscape and architecture also found inspiration from those found at Mount Qingcheng, a renowned Taoist mountain. In an interview with Movieline, Berger stated that ‘we never really thought of this as a movie set in China for Americans; it's a movie set in an mythical, universalized China for everyone in the world'.

On January 11, 2012 six captive-bred pandas were released to a "semi-wild" environment in Dujiangyan, Chengdu. Scientists believe that success in the reintroduction project would potentially help save the endangered giant panda. Retired NBA basketball star and animal activist Yao Ming attended the ceremony.

World natural and cultural heritage sites Mount Qingcheng

Mount Qingcheng（青城山）is amongst the most important centres of Taoism (Daoism) in China. It is situated in the suburbs of Dujiangyan City and connected to downtown Chengdu 70 km (43 mi) away by the Cheng-Guan Expressway.

With its peak 1,600 m (5,200 ft) above sea level, Mount Qingcheng enjoys a cool climate, but remains a lush green all year round and surrounded by hills and waterways. Mount Qingcheng's Fujian Temple, Tianshi Cave, and Shizu Hall are some of the existing more well-known Taoist holy sites. Shangqing Temple is noted for an evening phosphorescent glow locally referred to as "holy lights".

Dujiangyan Irrigation System

The Dujiangyan Irrigation System (58 km (36 mi) away from Chengdu proper) is the oldest existing irrigation project in the world with a history of over 2000 years diverting water without a dam to distribute water and filter sand with an inflow-quantity control. The irrigation system contains floods and droughts throughout the Plain of Chengdu.

Sichuan Giant Panda sanctuaries

Covering a total of 9,245 km2 (3,570 sq mi) over 12 distinct counties and 4 cities, Sichuan Giant Panda Sanctuaries, lie on the transitional alp-canyon belt between the Sichuan Basin and the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. It is the largest remaining continuous habitat for giant pandas and home to more than 80% of the world’s wild giant pandas. Globally speaking, it is also the most abundant temperate zone of greenery. The reserves of the habitat are 100–200 km (62–120 mi) away from Chengdu.

The Sichuan Giant Panda sanctuaries are the most well-known of their kind in the world, with Wolong Nature Reserve, generally considered as the "homeland of pandas". It is a core habitat with unique natural conditions, complicated landforms, and a temperate climate with diverse wildlife. Siguniang Mountain, sometimes called the "Oriental Alpine" is approximately 230 km (140 mi) away from Chengdu, and is composed of four adjacent peaks of the Traversal Mountain Range. Among the four peaks, the fourth and highest stands 6,250 m (20,510 ft) above sea level, and is perpetually covered by snow.

Culture of poetry and the Three Kingdoms Wuhou Shrine

Wuhou Shrine (Temple of Marquis Wu)is the most influential museum of Three-kingdom relics in China. It was built in the Western Jin period (265-316) in the honor of Zhuge Liang, the famous military and political strategist who was Prime Minister of the Shu Han State during the Three Kingdoms period (220-280). The Shrine highlights the Zhuge Liang Memorial Temple and the Hall of Liu Bei (founder of the Shu Han state), along with statues of other historical figures of Shu Han, as well as cultural relics like stone inscriptions and tablets. The Hui Mausoleum of Liu Bei represents a unique pattern of enshrining both the king and his subjects in the same temple, a rarity in China.

Du Fu thatched cottage Main article: Du Fu Thatched Cottage

Du Fu was one of the most noted Tang Dynasty poets and is considered the "Sage of Chinese Poets". During the Lushan-Shi Siming Rebellion, he left Xi'an (then Chang'an) to take refuge in Chengdu. With the help from his friends, the thatched cottage was built along the Huanhua Stream in the west suburbs of Chengdu, where Du Fu spent four years of his life and produced more than 240 poems oft-quoted and widely loved. During the Song Dynasty, people started to construct gardens and halls on the site of his thatched cottage to honor his life and memory. Currently, a series of simple and solemn memorial buildings representing Du Fu's humble life stand on the river bank, along with a large collection of relics and various editions of his poems.

Ancient Shu civilization Jinsha Ruins

The Jinsha Ruins are the first significant archeological discovery in China this millennium and were selected in 2006 as the key conservation unit of the nation. The Jinsha Relics Museum is located in the northwest of Chengdu, about 5 km (3.1 mi) from downtown. As a theme-park-style museum, it is for the protection, research, and display of Jinsha archaeological relics and findings. The museum covers 300,000 m2 (3,200,000 sq ft), primarily housing the relics, exhibitions, and a conservation center.

Golden Sun Bird The Golden Sun Bird

The Golden Sun Bird was excavated by archaeologists from Jinsha ruins on Feb. 25, 2001. In 2005, it was designated as the official logo of Chinese cultural heritage by the China National Relic Bureau.

The round, foil plaque dates back to the ancient Shu people and is 94.2% pure gold and extremely thin. It contains four birds around the perimeter, representing the four seasons and directions. The center cutout contains 12 beams of sunlight, representing the 12 months. The exquisite design is remarkable for a 3,000-year-old piece.

Sanxingdui Museum

Situated in the northeast of the state-protected Sanxingdui Site, Sanxingdui Museum is 40 kilometers north of Chengdu, covering a total area of 7,000 square meters.

The main collection highlights the Ancient City of Chengdu, Ancient Shu State and Ancient Shu Culture, while displaying thousands of valuable relics including earthenware, jade wares, bone objects, gold wares, and bronzes that have been unearthed from the No.1 and No.2 Shang-dynasty sacrificial sites.

Buddhist and Taoist cultures Chengdu Daci Monastery

Known as the Nonpareil Monastery in China, the Daci Monastery in downtown Chengdu was first built during the Wei and Jin dynasties, with its cultural height duringthe Tang and Song dynasties. Xuan Zang, an eminent Tang dynasty monk, was initiated into monkhood and expounded Buddhism sutras for 4-5years in this temple. During this time, he gave frequent sermons in Daci Monastery.

Baoguang Monastery

Located in Xindu District, Baoguang (meaning divine light) Monastery enjoys a long history and a rich collection of relics. It is believed that it was constructed during the East Han period and has appeared in written records since the Tang Dynasty. It was destroyed during the Ming Dynasty in the early 16th century. In 1607, the ninth year of the reign of the Kangxi Emperor of the Qing Dynasty, it was rebuilt.

Wenshu Monastery

Also named Xinxiang Monastery, Wenshu Monastery is the best preserved Buddhist temple in Chengdu. Initially built during Tang Dynasty, it has a history dates back 1,300 years. Parts of Xuanzang’s skull bone are held in consecration here.

Qingyang Taoist Temple

Located in the western part of Chengdu, Qingyang Temple ('Green Goat Temple') is not only the largest and oldest Taoist temple in the city, but also the largest Taoist temple in Southeast China. The only existing copy of "Daozang Jiyao", a collection of classic Taoist scriptures, is preserved in the temple.

According to history, Qingyang Temple was the place where Laozi preached his famous Dao De Jing to his disciple, Ying Xi.

Featured streets and historic towns The Wide and Narrow Lanes

The Wide and Narrow Lanes (KuanXiangzi and ZhaiXiangzi) were first built during the Qing dynasty for Manchu soldiers. The lanes remained residential until 2003 when the local government turned the area into a mixed-use strip of restaurants, teahouses, bars, avant-garde galleries and residential houses.

Historic architecture has been wellpreserved in the Wide and Narrow lanes.

JinLi

Nearby Wuhou Shrine, JinLi is a popular commercial and dining area resembling the ancient-style architecture of West Sichuan . "Jinli" is the name of an old street in Chengdu dating from the Han Dynasty and means "making perfection more perfect".

The ancient Jinli Street was one of the oldest and the most commercialized streets in the history of the Shu and was well known throughout the country during the Qin, Han and Three Kingdoms Periods.

Many aspects of the urban life of Chengdu are present in the current-day Jinli area: teahouses, restaurants, bars, theatrical stages, handicraft stores, local snack vendors and specialty shops.

Chunxi Road

Located in the center of downtown Chengdu, Chunxi Road (春熙路) is a trendy and bustling commercial strip with a long history. It was built in 1924 and was named from stories of Dao De Jing by Laozi.

Today, it is one of the most well-known and popular fashion and shopping center of Chengdu, lined with shopping malls, luxury brand stores, and boutique shops.

Huanglongxi Historic Town

Facing the JinJiang River to the east and leaning against Muma Mountain to the north, the ancient town of Huanglongxi is approximately 40 kilometers southeast of Chengdu. It was a large military stronghold for the ancient Shu Kingdom.The majesty of the Shu Han State in Three Kingdom period was seated in Huanglongxi, and for some time, the general government offices for RenShou, PengShan, and HuaYang County were also located here.

The ancient town has preserved the Qing Dynasty architectural style, as seen in the design of its streets, shops, and buildings.

Anren Historic Town

Anren Historic Town is located 39 kilometers west of Chengdu. It was the hometown of Liu WenCai, a Qing Dynasty warlord, landowner and millionaire. His 27 historic mansions have been well preserved and turned into museums. Three old streets built during the Republic of China are still being used today by residents. Museums in AnRen have a rich collection of more of than 8 million pieces of relics and artifacts.A museum dedicated to the memorial of the 2008 Sichuan earthquake was built in 2010.

Luodai Historic Town

Luodai was built during the period of Three Kingdoms. According to legend, the Shu Han emperor Liu Shan dropped his jade belt into a well when he passed through this small town. Thus, the town was named ‘lost belt’ (落带). It later evolved into its current name 洛带 with the same pronunciation, but a different character.

Luodai Historic Town is one of the five major Hakka settlements in China. Three or four hundred years ago, a group of Hakka people moved to Luodai from coastal cities. It has since grown into the largest community for Hakka people.

Main sights

Sichuan Giant Panda sanctuaries

Anshun Bridge

Huanglongxi Historic Town

Chunxi Road

Mao statue and Science and Technology Museum

Tianfusquare

The entrance of Jinhuaguan

The night of JinLi

Qingyang Taoist Temple

Wenshu Monastery

Liu's Manor House in Dayi