Chengdu
On a clear day the views from the outdoor 218m observation platform of the 339m Sichuan Tower are said to stretch all the way to Dujiangyan. On a hazy or…
Must-see attractions in Sichuan
Sichuan
There’s some good exploring to be done across the river, southeast of the old town. At the foot of one hill, and among other Buddhist statuary and caves,…
Sichuan
This central temple's two small halls built around a colourful central courtyard have roots dating back to 1652, but it's been much rebuilt in the…
Sichuan
This string of seven small iridescent lakes strung along a mountain valley makes an adventuerous full-day trip from Xiangcheng. It's around 25km on the…
Sichuan
Guoda Shan looms large at the northern end of town and takes a full day to climb up and down. The summit is around 1500m higher than an already quite high…
Jiuzhaigou National Park
The first official site inside the park proper is the Tibetan Zharu Temple in the Zharu Valley. The park bus only stops here on the return trip, and…
Emei Shan
Fabled to be the spot where legendary nymph Bai Suzhen morphed from a white snake into a beautiful woman. Surprisingly then, the temple that currently…
Sichuan
This museum includes a model of the town, illustrating its feng-shui-inspired design. While English explanations are limited, a helpful English-speaking…
Chengdu
A sprawling green park of ginkgo-lined paths, lotus-filled ponds (listen out for the massive frogs croaking happily away) and teahouses. There's also…
Emei Shan
Located about 1km from Baoguo Temple, Fuhu Temple (630m) is hidden deep within the forest. It houses a 7m-high copper pagoda inscribed with Buddhist…
Danba Cultural Heritage Museum
Sichuan
This museum is small and without English descriptions, though its reconstructed look into a traditional Qiang home helps set the scene for exploring the…
Chengdu
The earliest public nunnery in Sichuan, this Ming dynasty (1368–1644) nunnery was completely rebuilt in 2001. The small courtyard and two central halls…
Sichuan
This small Buddhist temple above the southwest corner of the old town is near the start of a hillside trail that offers good views over Songpan and…
Chengdu
This Tang dynasty Chan Buddhist temple is worth a quick stop, particularly if you're passing through the nearby Zhaojuesì bus station on the way back from…
Sichuan
Dioramas inside this recreation of a Shu-era government office depict scenes of legal hearings, officials' lives and feudal-era prisons alongside captions…
Sichuan
This sprawling guild hall features regular weekend and holiday dance performances on its stage. Further towards the back are a number of rooms furnished…
Chengdu
This six-floor museum is understaffed and understuffed, and the regular rotating exhibitions are hit or miss, but the good is good enough to make it worth…
Sichuan
Relocated to its current site in 1850, the present temple is a 2013 rebuild of the historic structure, combining typical features of both Confucian…
Sichuan
This pagoda-style temple overlooking the river is Anju's main worship site. A recently renovated building, it's still worth a visit for a gander at its…
Sichuan
Part of the Republic of China's army academy was relocated to Anju in 1938. Many of the commanders who fought the Japanese in WWII were trained here…
Emei Shan
Originally dating to the Ming dynasty, the former Moksha temple was renamed Leiyin in 1884. A 4.8m Guanyin statue is housed in a much newer Guanyin Hall,…
Sichuan
China’s only female emperor, Wu Zetian, was born in Guangyuan during the Tang dynasty. The temples, pavilions and 1000-odd carvings here are dedicated in…
Sichuan
Anju has nine city gates dating back to the Ming dynasty. One of the most spectacular and easily located is the South Gate, directly uphill behind the…
Sichuan
This small monastery is halfway up Pǎomǎ Shān. An admission ticket to the Pǎomǎ Shān scenic area is required to visit.
Sichuan
Contains a modest collection of tombs and burial artefacts dating from the Eastern Han dynasty (AD 25–220), included in the Grand Buddha entrance ticket.
Sichuan
From just west of the North Gate, it's possible to ascend onto a small restored section of the city wall. There are good views from the top.
Emei Shan
This small one-room temple makes a nice shady spot to rest en route to Huayan Peak.
Ganzi Prefecture Tibetan Cultural Heritage Museum
Sichuan
Closed at the time of research for renovations, this museum next to the Paoma Shan cable-car entrance is housed inside an impressive bēng-kē-style (崩柯)…
