About 70km out of Yibin stand the tall swaying  bamboo forests that sheltered Ang Lee's crouching tigers and concealed his hidden dragons. That's right, the Bamboo Sea is where Ang Lee's kung-fu magnum opus was filmed, and it's a great place to take in fresh air, get some exercise and take in the sights, sounds and scents of this boundless expanse of green. The Bamboo Sea (Shunan Zhuhai) encompasses 120 square kilometers of national park space, and, as such, makes for lots of great hiking.  The forest contains about 30 species of bamboo, which provide cover for the rivers, waterfalls, and karst caves hidden in its depths. You might also consider climbing to up one of the 28 peaks in the park.  Make your way to the cliff-top Feiyun Dong Buddhist/Taoist temple for a great view of the bamboo below and a close-up of the temple's Ming-dynasty sculptures. The park... more >>

For caving fans, Xinwen County's 121 square kilometers of forested hills are a gold mine, for beneath the forested hills lie a network of 83 caves, including the famed Tianquan Cave, which extends an impressive 4,200 meters into the living rock of southern Sichuan.  Deep tunnels, grandiose domes and even a Hall of Cascading Light are just some of the sights showcasing nature's genius engineering skills (enhanced in a number of cases by the signature Chinese genius for colorful lighting and easy-access stairways).  The Stone Cave Forest (Shihai Dongxiang) is a great place to spend a full day exploring the natural formations and shady woods in the area.  Sichuan guide | Yibin Attractions | Chengdu flights Yibin Hotels | Yibin tours & activities Related Posts on the China Travel Blog more >>

Cuiping Mountain is a great place to get a bird's eye view of Yibin. Good news for casual hikers: In the Chinese tourist tradition, there are low-rise stone steps winding all the way to the mountaintop, so even the most amateur hikers will have an easy time of it (women in high heels--another Chinese tourist tradition--included). Located on the west side of Yibin and covered with lush forests, Cuiping's summit boasts views of the city's Black Pagoda, White Pagoda and Jiuzhou Pagoda, as well as the Zhao Yiman Memorial Hall (Zhao being a Sino-Japanese War heroine). On the mountain itself, you'll find attractions, including a small Qing-style palace dedicated to the god Nezha, popular with Taiwanese pilgrims, as well as a One Thousand Buddhas Bas-Relief, and the Cuiping Night Bell. Attractions aside, the park is quite large and provides ample space for those si... more >>

The Xibu Daxiugu (West Grand Canyon) Hot Spring is about 32km from Yibin and takes about an hour to reach by bus. This spring, sourced 2,380m (7,808ft) down in Sichuan's "Grand Canyon," spurts out sulfrous 85°F (29°C) waters. Just let the soothing warmth of the spring melt tension while enjoying the surrounding natural beauty.  Sichuan guide | Yibin Attractions | Chengdu flights Yibin Hotels | Yibin tours & activities Related Posts on the China Travel Blog     more >>

It was a local geological team that would stumble upon the 100 million year old fossils that put the Shibei dinosaurs (Shibei Konglong) on the map.  Early Jurassic-era fossils are tough to find, which makes this deposit even that much more special. Unfortunately, there aren't that many specimens (certainly no full skeletons), so only dedicated dinosaur fans need visit.  Paleontologists may be titillated by the mystery surrounding the remains of a yet-to-be-named species, but for most, the displays on hand are a little on the spare side. Sichuan guide | Yibin Attractions | Chengdu flights Yibin Hotels | Yibin tours & activities Related Posts on the China Travel Blog   more >>

Lizhuang was once a tiny little settlement hiding from the horrors of the modern world, hugging the banks of the Yangzte in the hills of southern Sichuan. But when a bunch of artists ran here to escape from the battles against the Japanese and "preserve the national culture," then the future of Lizhuang took a decidedly different turn. The fame it gained during those war years as a safe haven led to the history of this little town becoming common knowledge: Ming and Qing Dynasty temples and residences like the Luoxuan and Yuwang temples, the Zhang Family ancestral hall with two dozen surviving Nanmu wood windows and the quaint old lanes of the town became suddenly famous. Over the past few years, Lizhuang has become a popular destination for Chengdu urbanites trying to escape the horrors of modern city life. For now, Lizhuang is able to coddle the middle ... more >>