Hometown of the Giant Panda
The giant panda is China's national treasure. It is a legacy offered
to mankind by nature. Its lovely image has been regarded as the
symbol of peace and friendship. When the World Wildlife Fund was
set up in 1961, the giant panda was adopted as the fund's logo.
-
 |
|
Twin
giant pandas
|
-
Places
where the giant panda can be seen
The giant panda has lived on earth for a very, very long time. Now,
it is mainly distributed in China's Sichuan, Gansu and Sha'anxi
Province, living a quiet life.
There are only about 1,000 giant pandas in the world. More than
80 per cent of them live in mountains in the western part of Sichuan
Province. The giant panda has been found in Dujiangyan, Chongzhou,
Qionglai and Dayi--all of them under the jurisdiction of Chengdu.
To do a better job in the protection of the giant panda, the Chengdu
Municipal government started the construction of the Anzihe Nature
Reserve in Chongzhou in 1993 and the Longxi-Hongkou Nature Reserve
in 1997.
Starting from Chengdu, a traveler can take two routes to see the
giant panda and admire the beautiful scenery in the habitat of the
giant panda. Baoxing County, 230 kilometers from Chengdu, is an
ideal habitat for the giant panda. Another ideal habitat of the
giant panda is the world-famous "Wolong Giant Panda Nature Reserve",
which is 50 kilometers from Chengdu.
To protect the giant panda from extinction, the Chengdu Zoo and
the Chengdu Giant Panda Breeding and Research Center have a great
deal of work and made outstanding achievements. Both the Chengdu
Zoo and the Chengdu Giant Panda Breeding and Research Center always
arouse the concern of both Chinese and foreign people are fond of
visiting them when they reach Chengdu.
By the end of 199, 45 pandas had been born in the Chengdu Zoo and
the Chengdu Giant Panda Breeding and Research Center through artificial
insemination and 27 had survived.
 |
|
A
bird's-eye view of the Xiling Snow-Capped Mountain
|
-
Beautiful
nature scenery
Chengdu's charming natural scenery consists of the scenery of mountains,
rivers, lakes, climate and living things.
The scenery of mountains
In the west of Chengdu are the magnificent Longmen Mountain and
the Qionglai Mountain Range. The best scenery of mountains in Chengdu
is represented by that of the Xiling Snow-capped Mountain and Mount
Qingcheng.
The Xiling Snow-capped Mountain in Dayi County, is China's important
scenic spot at the State level.
Mount Qingcheng is located in the southwest of Dujiangyan. It is
also a scenic spot at the State level.
The scenery of rivers and lakes
The scenery includes that of the most famous Dujiangyan Irrigation
Project in Dujiangyan; that of the overwater amusement quarter in
the Wuyang Town section of the Nanhe River in Xinjin; that of the
Huanglong stream in Shuangliu; and that of the Baigong Weir and
the Longquan Lake in Longquanyi in the suburbs of Chengdu. The famous
lake scenery can be best represented by the Chaoyang Lake Scenic
Spot in Pujiang, 90 kilometers away from Chengdu.
The scenery of climate
The most famous scenery of climate includes "sunset in the ancient
tower", which was known as one of Sichuan Province's eight scenes
in ancient times; the ever-changing scene resulting from misty rain
in the Wuzhong Mountain in Dayi; and the "sunset, sea of clouds
and light of Buddha".
The scenery of living things
Chengdu boasts may rare plants. They include the gingko trees in
Mount Qingcheng, which were planted in the Eastern Han Dynasty (25-220AD);
the 1,000-year-old palms in Mount Qingcheng; and the China fir in
the Gaotang Temple, which was planted in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644).
Chengdu has 24 rare wild animals, such as the giant panda, the snub-nosed
monkey, the hairy deer and the lesser swan.
 |
|
A
unique skill of the Sichuan Opera--changes of facial makeup
|
-
Unique
folk custom
It is also important for tourists to appreciate the unique folk
customs in the city. Each year, on the first and second months of
the lunar calendar, there is a lantern festival and fair festival
in the Qingyang Temple in Chengdu.
In the third month of the lunar calendar, there is a peach flower
fair in Longquanyi in the suburbs of Chengdu.
The fourth month of the lunar calendar, there is a water-unleashing
festival in Dujiangyan.
In the dragon boat festival, dragon-boat races will be held in Xinjin.
In September, a sweet-scented osmanthus festival is held in Xindu.
The annual Flower Festival starts on the 25th day in the second
month of the lunar calendar and lasts for more than one month.
Chengdu is also known for its drama. The Sichuan Opera, which has
such famous tricks as face-changing and flame-throwing is extremely
popular in China.
Since ancient times, there has been a very popular saying in China,
which goes: "Eating in Sichuan Province." Sichuan dishes are one
of the four best-known dishes in China. Sichuan dishes are numbered
3,000 and the famous Sichuan dishes are numbered several hundred.
|
