China Travel

Yibin is renowned for two things: its location at the junction of the Min and Yangzi rivers (essentially the head of the Yangzi, or Yangtze if you're old school) and the distinction of being known as the "Liquor Capital of China." The latter accolade comes thanks to the over 600 Yibin distilleries, which produce the juice for some 30 major brands, including China's premier bai jiu brand, Wuliangye. Aside from being the home of the headwaters of both one of the China's great rivers and its most popular spirits, Yibin's surroundings include a wealth of geographical features perfect for numerous outdoor activities, and its long history and cultural significance make for plenty of sights, though some require a day trip out of town.  You might want to swing by Yibin's Daguan Tower first to give traditional thanks to the guardian tower for making y... more »

Imagine drifting downstream past dramatic cliffs, mist-shrouded peaks and thundering waterfalls—the kinds of scenes that have inspired Chinese poets and painters for millennia. Now picture much of that very scenery slowly disappearing beneath the waters of a vast artificial lake. You can stop imagining now. It's a reality: Welcome to the Three Gorges circa 2007. The Three Gorges Dam has been holding the Yangzi back since 2003, and with the official completion of the dam set for 2009, time is running out on the gorges of old. That said, the mountains remain and the peaks still soar—if somewhat less majestically—above the Yangzi's surface.  The tour operators remain, too, and despite the dam a journey downriver promises breathtaking scenery and fascinating insight into contemporary China. The third longest river in the world, the mighty Yangzi (Chang Jia... more »

A popular stop on the backpacker circuit thanks to its proximity to the natural splendor of Jiuzhaigou, Songpan is a relaxed little town of ornate gates and bridges that serves as a gateway to the heavily Tibetan regions of Northern Sichuan. The focal activity here is horse-trekking. Popular trips include three to four day treks around Ice Mountain, two or three day rides through the Muni Valley with its lakes and waterfalls, or longer treks of up to ten days out to scenic Huanglong National Park. Considering the abundance of both territory and guides to choose from, check with other travelers locally before making any decisions if you can; there have been a number of complaints about the quality of treks and behavior of guides/managers in the past. Within Songpan proper activities include checking out the Tibetan wares and souvenirs for sale along Shunjiang Road, che... more »

Leshan's claim to fame is Dafo, or the Grand Buddha, carved from the red-rock cliff face overlooking the confluence of the Min, Qingyi and Dadu Rivers. Dafo is the world's largest Buddha, measuring 71 meters (233 feet) in height. A number of temples are scattered along the cliffs surrounding the Buddha, and one can spend several hours exploring the area. Stairs carved into the cliff connect the area at his feet with the land above, allowing visitors to view this astonishing sight from a range of vantage points. River approaches made by boat are also popular, and most take a ferry across from Leshan to reach the Buddha. Above Dafo, on Wuyou Shan (Wuyou Mountain), Wuyou Si (Wuyou Temple), founded in 742 AD is a worthy destination in and of itself. Featuring impressive sculptures illustrating scenes from the classical Chinese novel Journey to the West, the temple provides ... more »

Kangding, or Dardo in Tibetan, is a medium sized town in the Ganzi Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, approximately 360km to the west of provincial capital, Chengdu. The town is seemingly wedged into a narrow valley surrounded by tall mountains and then further cloven in half by the Zheduo River. Kangding's popularity as a tourist destination stems primarily from the fact that it is about as close as you can come to experiencing Tibet, without the difficulty of actually going there. The township is populated mainly by Han Chinese and people of Tibetan ancestry, on a ratio of around 50:50. Scenery in surrounding areas, grasslands, snow-capped mountains, glaciers, hot springs and red-cheeked horsemen will give a pretty authentic experience, sans the altitude sickness Tibet is likely to induce—hopefully. more »