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 >>

You might ride right through Ya'an on your way deeper into the Himalayas toward Kangding, or perhaps farther away from the Tibetan Plateau toward Bifengxia, Mingshan or Chengdu and in the grand scheme of things (in this case traveling in Sichuan), that wouldn't be so tragic. But if you do find yourself here for a day or two, maybe waiting for a morning bus to the above mentioned locations? then our job is to let you know what you can do. First thing you should do is find a local fish hot pot restaurant and plan to eat dinner there. Ya'an is known for its delicious fish and their fish hot pot is always huge, always tasty and always memorable. The best place to find these restaurant is along the banks of one of the four rivers that fklow through abnd around this city -- including the might Yangtze River. The riverside is also home to dozens of teahouses serving up th elo... more >>

Xichang is the capital of Liangshan Prefecture in southern Sichuan. Liangshan is home to the largest Yi minority community in the nation and the most extensive series of Torch Festivals as well. The region is underdeveloped, mountainous and beautiful. There are hot springs, mountain lakes, obscure Yi villages and dense forests that are basically untouched by  tourism.  But not for a lack of trying: the Xichang Municpal government has been trying very hard to bring more visitors to the city and region, most notably through an expansion of the annual Torch Festival held each August. In the past, the Torch festival was celebrated mostly in the mountains by the Yi minority that claim to have originated the festival. Xichang, as the administrative cpaital, was and still is a Han dominated city surrounded by Tibetan and Yi towns and as such did not celebrate the ... 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 >>