Mogao Caves
The Mogao Caves, meaning “a cave high up in the desert”, is a shrine of Buddhist
art treasures that is located 25 km (15.5miles) from downtown Dunhuang on the
eastern slope of Mingsha Shan (Mount Echoing Sand). A network of plank reinforced
roads plying north to south 1600 meters (5, 249 feet) long lead to the cave openings,
which are stacked five stories high, some even reaching up to a length of 50 meters
(164 feet).
According to Tang Dynasty records, the Mogao Caves were founded by a monk, Lè
Zūn (樂尊), who had a vision of thousand Buddhas under showers of golden rays.
Inspired by this vision, he started the caves construction work that spanned hundreds
of years and over ten dynasties. Hence, the Mogao Caves are also commonly known
as the Caves of a Thousand Buddhas. Mogao cave sculptors improvised where the
rock surface did not work well under their chisels: they placed clay statues in front of
the cave walls, carved relief murals as backdrops, and painted the sidewalls and
ceilings with art decors. The largest statue inside the cave is 34.5 meters (113 feet)
high and the smallest, a mere 2 centimeters (0.79inches) high. Travelers will notice
traces of Indian Buddhist art in the earlier works and sculptures but more recent
works most often depict life and activities in ancient China; travelers will get to relive
the daily routines and special events of ancient China as captured by artists of the
past while exploring the 750 caves. Though the artistic qualities of the works inside
the caves depend very much on the art patronages at the time, artists in each
dynasty painted with their distinctive palette and style: visitor can easily tell the works
made in the Tang Dynasty from those made in the Song Dynasty.
There are also over 50,000 manuscripts written in many languages apart from
artifacts and sculptures inside the cave. Some people believe the artworks inside the
Mogao caves, if taken out, can fill 25 kilometers (15.5miles) of gallery space. The
Mogao Caves are a significant part of the Chinese culture: it’s a depository of more
地址：北京市西城区阜外大街甲 35 号 邮政编码：100037
Address: No.A35, Fuwaidajie, Xicheng District, Beijing 100037 China
than a thousand years of historical and cultural exchanges between China and other
nations.
Echoing-Sand Mountain (Mingsha Shan)
Have you ever heard of a mountain that echoes to the sound of sand as you slide
down its slopes? Can you image a perennially limpid lake in the middle of desert sand?
Here in Dunhuang, Gansu Province, you will have the chance to enjoy these wonderful
spectacles of the Echoing-Sand Mountain.
The mountain is five kilometers (about three miles) away from the city of
Dunhuang. Seen from afar, the mountain looks like a golden dragon winding its way
over the horizon. As you approach it, you become aware that the sands on this
mountain have five different colors: red, green, yellow, black and white. On days
when strong winds blow, the fast shifting sands roar, but on day when the wind is
little more than a light breeze, the sand produces gentle, dulcet sounds akin to music.
It is the same when you are sliding down the mountainside: at first, the sand under
your feet just whispers but the further you slide, the louder the sound, until it reaches
a crescendo like that of a thunder or a drum beat. And it is because of this distinct
attribute that the mountain is aptly named the Echoing-Sand Mountain.
You may wonder why the sand makes these different sounds. There is a legend
that says how, in ancient times, a general with many soldiers came here to fight in a
war with their enemies. While they were engaged in a fierce battle, a great gust of
wind buried all the warriors in the sand and the sand mountain was formed. And
according to this legend, even to this day, the soldiers continued to fight beneath the
sand and the sounds you hear are said to be the roars of the soldiers below. However,
the real reason why the sand roar, according to scientific research, is caused by
friction and static created by the wind, which help form a natural boom box.
Today, the mountain is listed as a key national scenic spot. It is possible to climb it on
foot or on the back of a camel. It is also possible to take a sand bath treatment.
地址：北京市西城区阜外大街甲 35 号 邮政编码：100037
Address: No.A35, Fuwaidajie, Xicheng District, Beijing 100037 China
Crescent Lake
Just as oil and water don't mix, neither do springs and deserts. But Crescent
Spring is an exception. About 6 kilometers (3.73 miles) south of Dunhuang city, and
surrounded by the Echoing-Sand Mountain, Crescent Spring can be called a natural
wonder in the Gobi Desert. Encircled by the mountain, the Crescent Lake is so called
because of its shape. While it mostly resembles a crescent fallen down into a desert,
many had compared the lake to the eyes of a beautiful woman: lucid, beautiful and
amorous; or a lip of a pretty lady: mysterious, gentle and seductive. The Crescent
Spring still gurgles clear even after thousands of years of lying among the sand dunes
and many surprise attacks by sandstorms; it is, thus, worthy of the reputation as the
first spring in the desert. The water in the lake is so pure and sweet that it looks like
an emerald set in the sand. Many of the visitors who have made their way down the
mountain like to drink from the lake. According to historical record, the lake has been
in existence for hundreds of years without ever being buried by the sand, a really
geological wonder. Although according to measurement made in 1960, the average
depth of the lake was 4 to 5 meters, with maximum depth 7.5 meters. In the
following 40 years, the depth of lake continually declined. In the early 1990s, the area
of the lake had shrunken to only 1.37-acre with average depth of 0.9 meter.
There is also a story about the lake: in the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC- 24), a
general called Li Guang, together with a group of soldiers, captured a powerful and
swift horse from Dawan, a western state of China at that time. When passing the
Echoing-Sand Mountain upon their return, the soldiers became too thirsty to continue
their march. General Li drew his sword and thrust it into the side of the mountain
causing water to spring forth and so formed the lake. You may be wondering how
come the surrounding deserts never consumed the lake. Researchers have discovered
地址：北京市西城区阜外大街甲 35 号 邮政编码：100037
Address: No.A35, Fuwaidajie, Xicheng District, Beijing 100037 China
that
in
this
special
crescent
landform,
the
wind
created
the
depression:
cross-ventilated theory, and the falling sands from the surrounding mountains would
be sent back to the other side of nearby Echoing-Sand Mountains. And because of this
particular earth movement, the sands do not smother the spring; the sand dunes and
the spring will exist eternally in a harmonious but paradoxical existence.
Here you can enjoy not only the rare view where an oasis meets the desert, but
also some fun sand adventures such as: camel riding, dune surfing, and sand sliding.
Jiayuguan Pass of the Great Wall
Located about six kilometers (four miles) southwest of Jiangyuguan City, the
Jiayuguan Pass represents the western starting point of a section of the Great Wall
constructed during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). The pass, which takes its name
from the Jiayu Hill, covers an area of 33,500 square meters (eight acres) and lies at
the base of a narrow valley. Commonly referred to as the finest example of its kind on
earth, the pass is the best preserved of the Great Wall's ancient military fortresses.
The Jiayuguan Pass was constructed as far back as 1372. According to legend, when
Jiayuguan was being planned, the official in charge asked the designer to estimate the
exact number of bricks required and the designer gave him a number. The official
questioned his judgment, asking him if that would be enough, so the designer added
one brick. When Jiayuguan was finished, there was one brick left over, which was
placed loose on one of the gates where it remains today.
The Jiayuguan Pass is constructed in three concentric layers: the central area is
made up of an inner city, containing the largest of the pass' buildings; an outer city
section, surrounded by a large wall dotted with watchtowers, turrets, and high-terrace
pavilions; and finally, for purposes of defense, a moat. All of these features combined
to make it a daunting prospect for any would-be attackers. The inner city is a
trapezoid-shaped area encompassing about 25,000 square meters (six acres) of land.
It is enclosed by the city wall, which spans 640 meters (2,100 feet) and reaches a
height of up to 11 meters (36 feet). The inner city has both east and west gates,
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Address: No.A35, Fuwaidajie, Xicheng District, Beijing 100037 China
known as the Guanghua and Rouyuan respectively. Each of the city gates is also
protected by its own smaller guard tower. The tower defending the west gate is
known as Luo City, and from it hangs a plaque with characters that read: “天下第一雄
关” (The Greatest Pass under Heaven).
Some tourist spots within the inner city include: Youji Jiangjun (an official title)'s
Mansion, Wenchang Hall and Jing Pavilion. Found outside the fort's east gate are the
Guandi Temple, a series of grand archways and a theater tower. On the west side
stands a grand stele housed in a pavilion; the four Chinese characters found etched
on its surface - 'Tian', 'Xia', 'Xiong' and 'Guan' - were written by Li Tingchen, a Qing
Dynasty (1644-1911) commander. There are also a number of other historical sites to
be found in the Jiayuguan Pass region: the two most notable ones are the
Overhanging Great Wall in the north and the First Frusta in the south.
Overhanging Great Wall
Located seven miles from Jiayuguan City in Gansu Province and four miles
northwest of the pass city of Jiayuguan Pass, the Overhanging Great Wall is an
important part of the defensive work of Jiayuguan Pass. It was built in 1539 during
the Ming Dynasty (1368 - 1644) in order to strengthen the defensive capability of the
Jiayuguan area. Built on the eastern slope of Mt. Heishan (Black Mountain), the Great
Wall is not visible to anyone looking from west to east. In the ancient times, enemies
often thought they could enter Inner-China from the Heishan Canyon as long as they
rounded the Jiayuguan Pass. They were mistaken: after they went over the mountain
with great difficulty, they found a very firm Great Wall in their path that was
impossible to cross.
Viewed from a distance, the Great Wall appears very like a dragon overhanging
from the slopes of the mountain. The wall was built by using local gravel and layers
upon layers of the local yellow soil. It consists of a main path, battlements and three
observation posts. Originally, it measured 0.9 miles long, however, due to natural
地址：北京市西城区阜外大街甲 35 号 邮政编码：100037
Address: No.A35, Fuwaidajie, Xicheng District, Beijing 100037 China
disasters and human destruction, only 820 yards of the wall remains. Its imposing
appearance and manner are very much like those of Badaling Great Wall in Beijing, and
so, it is reputed as 'the Western Badaling Great Wall'.
The Overhang Great Wall starts from the foot of Mt. Heishan and takes you all the
way up to the peak of the mountain. Some the steps are so steep that it's not easy for
some people to reach the summit. Standing at the peak of the Mountain, you will get
to see the boundless desert extending to faraway places and rare oasis drop-ins.
Labrang Monastery
The Labrang Monastery, one of the six great monasteries of the Geluk (Yellow Hat)
school of Tibetan Buddhism, is located at the foot of the Phoenix Mountain, northwest
of Xiahe County in Gannan Tibetan Nationality Autonomous Prefecture, Gansu
Province. A propitious place in the hearts of the Tibetan: it stands by the Daxia River
and faces the Dragon Mountain. There is a beautiful legend regarding the Dragon and
Phoenix Mountains surrounding the Labrang Monastery. A long time ago, it was said
that this place was a boundless sea. After countless changes, mountains and lands
appeared. One day, a golden-wing phoenix flew here and rested on one of the
mountains in the south. It was so thirsty that it drank all the water; thus the sea dried
up. A dragon in the sea was greatly shocked, so it cavorted out of the water, which
led to the emergence of a spring at the site where the phoenix drank. As the spring
water effused more and more, the Daxia River was formed. So the dragon became the
Dragon Mountain and the phoenix became the Phoenix Mountain.
The Labrang Monastery was built on the Zhaxiqi (means auspiciousness) shoal,
which is located north of the basin. The architectural layout of the Labrang Monastery
resembles those of the Tibetan style and the construction patterns combined both Han
and Tibetan styles. The epitomes of the whole Monastery are the two White Towers
located in the northeast and in the northwest of the monastery. The grand sutra and
Buddha halls are located in the northwestern tower centered in the Grand Sutra Hall.
Other halls spread in a shape similar to a crescent moon. The Grand Sutra Hall is the
地址：北京市西城区阜外大街甲 35 号 邮政编码：100037
Address: No.A35, Fuwaidajie, Xicheng District, Beijing 100037 China
primary place for the religious activities of the Labrang Monks and. On the inside walls
there are portraits of Buddha and built-in shrines of Buddha and bookcases.
Located in the northwest of the Grand Sutra Hall, the Grand Golden Tile Hall is the
highest building in the Labrang Monastery and is strongly tinged with a Nepalese
flavor. It is six-storied high and the roof is covered with bronze bricks that are
covered in gold. In front of the hall gate a stele hangs, and on it are Han, Tibetan,
Manchu and Mongolian characters written by the Emperor Jiaqing (1760-1820) of the
Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). Inside the hall there is a bronze figure of Buddha created
by Nepalese artisans. The Labrang Monastery boasts tens of thousands of statues of
Buddha made of gold, silver, copper, and aluminum. There are also statues sculpted
with ivory, sandalwood, jade, crystal and clay. These Buddha statues are all lifelike
with kind-looking faces, which give visitors a real enjoyment of beauty. In addition,
the monastery possesses many Buddha hats and many Buddhist treasures adorned
with pearls, jadeite, agate and diamonds.
The Labrang Monastery holds seven large-scale summon ceremonies a year; the
grandest ones are the Summons Ceremony on the first lunar month and the Buddhist
Doctrine Explaining Ritual on the seventh lunar month
Jiuzhaigou
Located in the north of Sichuan Province, Jiuzhaigou County (previously known as
Nanping County until it was renamed in 1998) is part of the Aba Tibetan and Qiang
Autonomous Prefecture. Since the opening of the Jiuzhaigou Valley Scenic and Historic Interest
Area in 1984, more and more visitors are flocking to the region annually, and the
prosperous tourist industry now accounts for a large proportion of local revenue.
Lying on the highest tableland in the world between the Sichuan Basin and the
Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, the Jiuzhaigou Valley covers altitudes ranging from 2,000
meters (656,168 feet) to about 4,300 meters (14,107,612 feet). Jiuzhaigou, with its
large numbers of lakes and waterfalls, rich variety of endangered plants and animals,
was awarded the status of UNESCO Man and Biosphere Reserve in 1997; it was also
地址：北京市西城区阜外大街甲 35 号 邮政编码：100037
Address: No.A35, Fuwaidajie, Xicheng District, Beijing 100037 China
recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1992. The reserve has received a
string of other titles including that of a National Geological Park, an AAAA Class Scenic
Spot in China and a Green Globe 21.
With some of the most beautiful and inspiring scenery on earth, some of the
reserves scenic spots are consider holy by the local Tibetan and Qiang people, it is no
wonder that a number of mysterious legends surround the wonderful landscape of
Jiuzhaigou. Consequently, many people are drawn to the area as much by its
reputation as by its beauty. And with its park open all year round, the authorities have
ensured that the fragile environment is sufficiently protected with a range of
comprehensive tourist facilities.
In previous years, it had been difficult for visitors to get to Jiuzhaigou due to its
isolated location, but this is no longer a concern due to the construction of the
Jiuzhaigou Ring Way, which links the reserve with Chengdu and Jiuhuang Airport. The
construction of the Ring Way has made gaining access to the park a great deal easier.
Today most visitors transfer at Chengdu onto long-distance buses or flights going to
Jiuzhaigou. The route on the ring way passes through a number of attractions and is
surrounded by beautiful natural sceneries, providing many distractions for anyone
making the journey. The route offers opportunities to enjoy the great Dujiangyan
Irrigation Project, the beautiful Mt.Siguniangshan (Four Maiden's Mountain) Scenic
Area and the world famous Huanglong Scenic and Historic Interest Area.
Historically, Jiuzhaigou has been home to small population of Tibetan and Qing people;
the trip, therefore, provides a good opportunity to get to know more about the locals'
unique life and culture. There will also be special performance by the local Tibetan and
Qiang people to tourists and visitors. These performances are akin to a form of
nightlife in the Jiuzhaigou region. Moreover, trying some of the locally produced foods
of the Tibetan and Qiang people are something of a must on your trip.
Huanglong
地址：北京市西城区阜外大街甲 35 号 邮政编码：100037
Address: No.A35, Fuwaidajie, Xicheng District, Beijing 100037 China
Huanglong Scenic and Historic Interest Area is often known as the 'World Wonder'
and/or 'Fairy Land on Earth'. It is well known for its colorful lakes, snow clad
mountains, beautiful valleys and virgin forest; it was included in the UNESCO world
heritage list in 1992. The Huanglong Scenic and Historic Interest Area is located in
Songpan County, in the northwest part of Sichuan Province and encompasses the
Huanglong and Muni Valley. Huanglong's major scenery is concentrated in the
3.6-kilometer (2.2 miles) long Huanglong Valley that includes snow-clad peaks and
the easternmost glaciers in China. Due to its layered calcium carbonated deposit
patterns, the valley resembles a golden dragon winding its way through the virgin
forest, the stone mountains and the glaciers. Scattered along the valley are numerous
colorful ponds of different sizes and shapes, which are strewn with gold colored
limestone deposit giving a shimmering golden hue to the ponds. In the sunlight, it
seems as if a golden dragon is about to surge forth from the forest, and hence the
valley’s name, 'Huanglong Valley' (Yellow Dragon Valley). Huanglong Scenic and
Historic Interest Area is also famed for its outstanding travertine (calcium carbonate)
formations. With the virgin forest as its backdrop, the travertine scenery holds colorful
ponds, beaches, lakes, springs, waterfalls, caves, etc. The travertine formations
scenery there is No.1 in China.
Upon entering the scenic area, a group of exquisite, crystal clear Yingbin
(welcoming guests) ponds will immediately catch visitors’ eyes with their unparalleled
and esthetic charm. In the springtime, the luxuriant trees, blooming flowers,
butterflies and songbirds enhance these ponds’ glamour even more. In addition to
these ponds, along the valley, visitors will see many other attractions such as
Feipuliuhui (glowing waterfall), Xishen (washing body) Cave, Penjing (miniascape)
Ponds, Huanglong (Yellow Dragon) Temple, Huanglong (Yellow Dragon) Cave,
Shitazhenhai and Zhuanhua (whirling flower) Pond, etc.
In the Huanglong (Yellow Dragon) Cave, there are three sitting Buddha figures
whose bodies are encrusted with calc-sinter crystals. In the winter ice forest, bamboo
shoots and waterfalls form a magical icy scene. Shitazhenhai is the most beautiful
attraction in Huanglong. The calcium carbonate deposits give a myriad of different
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Address: No.A35, Fuwaidajie, Xicheng District, Beijing 100037 China
hues to the water, which is truly breath-taking. Zhuanhua Pond is crystal clear and
the spring water never stops welling up; if you throw flowers or leaves into the pond,
they will swirl rhythmically with flow of the water.
The Muni Valley region, the primary area of virgin forest in Huanglong Scenic and
Historic Interest Area, comprises of Erdao Lake and Zhaga Waterfall (the biggest
calcified waterfall in all China). Located in the northern part of Muni Valley, Erdao Lake
is the largest lake in the area and is surrounded by numerous underground limestone
caves that connect it with other lakes in the area. The color of Erdao Lake varies with
the seasons, harmoniously complementing the lake with its surrounding of colored
limestone. Although the lake seems calm and tranquil on the surface, this belies a
strong undercurrent that is very active. Erdao Lake holds attractions such as the Swan
Lake and the Baihua Lake. Beside the Baihua Lake, there is also a mysterious cave
that has magnificent naturally formed stalactites. Zhaga Waterfall scenic spot
stretches for about 5 kilometers (3 miles) and it boasts many attractions such as the
Jianyu Tai (spattering jade platform); Guhuashi (ancient fossils), a place where a
number of prehistoric, fossilized, animals, plants and fishes; Feicui (Emerald) Spring,
one of the ten most famous springs in China due to its water's medicinal: many have
recovered from stomach sickness and arthritis after drinking or bathing in its water.
The local population considers Feicui spring to be divine.
The Huanglong Scenic and Historic Interest Area gained its fame for its magical
landscape of limestone formations, its the forest ecosystems, and as well as
endangered animals such as the giant panda and Sichuan golden snub-nosed monkey.
Leshan Giant Buddha
The Leshan Giant Buddha is a statue of Maitreya (a Bodhisattva usually
represented as a very stout monk with a broad smile on his face and his breast and
paunch exposed) in sitting posture. The Buddha is located to the east of Leshan City,
Sichuan Province, at the confluence of three rivers: the Min River, the Qingyi River
and the Dadu River. The statue is the most renowned scenic spot in Leshan City; in
地址：北京市西城区阜外大街甲 35 号 邮政编码：100037
Address: No.A35, Fuwaidajie, Xicheng District, Beijing 100037 China
December 1996, UNESCO added the location of the Buddha onto the list of the World
Heritage sites. Facing the river, the Buddha has symmetrical posture and a look of
solemn stillness. It is 71 meters (about 233 feet) high, and has three-meter-long
(about 11 feet) fingers. The eight-meter-long (about 27 feet) instep is big enough for
one hundred people to sit on and the 28-meter-wide (about 92 feet) shoulder is large
enough to be a basketball playground. The sculpting of the Buddha began 713 A.D.
during the Tang Dynasty and was finished in 803 AD. The statue took thousands of
workers and artists more than 90 years to carve. As the biggest carved stone Buddha
in the world, the Leshan Giant Buddha is featured in many poetries, songs and stories.
According to legend, it was a monk called Hai Tong who initiated the project. Due
to the tempestuous waters around which the three rivers meet, there were numerous
incidents of boat accidents and people drowning. People in Hai Tong time contributed
these accidents to the unfriendly spirits that dwell underneath the water. And so Hai
Tong decided to carve a statue of Buddha beside the river thinking that the Buddha
would bring the water spirits under control. He finally accumulated enough money for
the plan after 20 years of spartan lifestyle and when some local government officials
were tempted to take his money away, Hai Tong said that they could get his eyeballs
but not the money. After Hai Tong dug out his eyeballs, the officials ran away scared.
The project was half done when Hai Tong passed away, and two of his disciples
continued the work. After a total of 90 years of hard work, the project was finally
completed.
The charm of the Buddha lies not only in its size but also in its architectural
artistry. There are 1,021 buns in the Buddha's coiled hair that are skillfully embedded
into the head. The skill is so wonderful that the 1,021 buns seem integral to the whole.
Another architectural highlight is the drainage system: the system is made up of some
hidden gutters and channels scattered on the head, the arms, the ears and the
clothes of the statue. The drainage systems, which helps displace rainwater and keep
the inner part dry, plays an important part in the protection of the Buddha. The large
pair of ears, each seven meters (about 23 feet) long, is made of wood and is encased
by mud on the surface.
地址：北京市西城区阜外大街甲 35 号 邮政编码：100037
Address: No.A35, Fuwaidajie, Xicheng District, Beijing 100037 China
Having such a long history and such worldwide fame, the renovation of the Buddha
has received extensive attention both at home and abroad. The Buddha was nearly
destroyed by the erosion of wind and rain before 1963, when the Chinese government
began the repairing work. At present, the maintenance work is in progress under the
instructions of experts from UNESCO.
Sanxingdui (Three-star Piles) Museum
Sanxingdui Museum is located in Northeast of Sanxingdu archeological site, west of
the famous cultural city of Guanghan, on the bank of Jian River (commonly called Yazi
River), 40 kilometers (about 24.9 miles) north of Chengdu City. The archeological
museum, covering an exhibition area of 4,000 square meters (about 1544.4 square
miles), which opened in October 1997, provides excellent modern facilities. The
cultural relics in the museum were mostly unearthed from the Sanxingdui site, a
cultural relic of the ancient Shu (Sichuan). The Sanxingdui site is an important
archeological discovery that changed people's understanding of ancient China and its
culture. Sanxingdui refers to three earth mounds found at the site. The Relic area
stretches for about 12 square kilometers (about 4.6 square miles), which is the
largest, oldest, and most quintessential Shu cultural relic found in Sichuan. It is said
that the Heavenly Emperor cast down three handfuls of earth which fell near the Jian
River and became three earth mounds on the Chengdu Plain. The three earth piles,
described as three golden stars in a line, became known as Sanxingdui (three-star
piles). But according to modern archaeology, the three earth mounds of the
Sanxingdui Relic are in reality the southern walls built of earth of an ancient city.
There were two breaches in the city wall during the ancient times, and after the
subsequent collapse and erosion, it became the three mounds that we see today.
The discovery of the Sanxingdui Relic was purely by luck. In the spring of 1929, a
peasant found a piece of bright-colored jade while he was digging a well. That was the
catalyst to the discovery of a mysterious ancient kingdom; later, more than 400 jade
items were excavated. And from 1933 onwards, systematic excavations and
archeological work of Sanxingdui Relic continued for nearly half a century. The
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Address: No.A35, Fuwaidajie, Xicheng District, Beijing 100037 China
artifacts from the excavation show the development from late Neolithic Age (7000
BC-5000 BC) to the late Shang (16th - 11th century BC) and early Zhou Period (11th
century BC - 711 BC). Sanxingdui Relic, with more than 3,000-year history might
even be the capital of ancient Shu. And this discovery uncovered the veiling of Shu
and padded the blankness of bronze culture in Chinese archaeological history. In the
following decades, several generations of archaeologists worked in succession on the
Sanxingdui site and found many different ancient Chinese relics, especially the two
sacrificial pits found in 1986. In addition, over a 1000 cultural artifacts had been
found on the site, including a 142-centimeter long and 500-gram golden staff, a
golden veiled head portrait, a 260-centimeter tall and 180-kilogram bronze figure, a
big bronze mask with more than 10 centimeters bulging pupils, and a big Yuzhang (a
kind of jade adornment of the leader of a tribe, the symbol of power). While some
cultural relics are apotheosized and mysterious, others are realistic and primitive, but
all of them are very impressive and aroused worldwide attention.
Experts now believe the Sanxingdui Relic is the centuries-old center of the ancient
Shu on Chengdu Plain. Traditionally, archaeology considered Shu as a closed area and
without communications to the Central Plain (the most developed region in ancient
China), but the cultural relics unearthed had affirmed that the area is no less
developed than the Central Plain; some say it maybe even the most representative
cradle of Chinese civilization in the upper reaches of the Yangtze River. Sanxingdui
Relic is a significant means to comprehend the development of history and culture not
only in Sichuan, but China as a whole.
And in order to preserve and display the cultural relics, the Sanxingdui Museum was
opened in October, 1997. The museum is divided into four sections, displaying more
than 1000 pieces of cultural relics from the area and the two sacrificial pits of Shang
Period. Each of the four sections is as followed:
Section 1 Splendor of Ancient Shu Culture.
The section is divided into five units. The first unit outlines and introduces the history
and the background of the ancient Shu. The next four units exhibit handicraft
地址：北京市西城区阜外大街甲 35 号 邮政编码：100037
Address: No.A35, Fuwaidajie, Xicheng District, Beijing 100037 China
techniques employed by the Shu people to showcase the skill, imagination and
technical achievements of the Shu people.
Section 2 Mystery of the Primitive Faith
The exhibition in this section focuses on one topic: human and divinity. It adopted the
imitative real scene to show the mental world of Shu people.
Section 3 Exquisite Cultural Artifacts
More than 10 groups of cultural relics are exhibited here. These treasures exemplify
Shu people's ever-lasting spirit.
Section 4 Sanxingdui: Excavation and Study
This section of the museum focuses on the academic impact of the Sanxingdui Relic
on the Chinese culture and aboard. It also includes a history on the discovery and the
excavation of the site and its vital position in academic study. Furthermore, a new
Exhibition Hall was opened on May Day in 2004; it covers an exhibition area of 7,000
square meters. The exhibition in this hall is mainly comprises of jade articles, gold
plates, and potteries, while the old Exhibition Hall specializes in bronze wares.
Chengdu Panda Breeding and Research Center
The giant pandas are not only a Chinese national treasure but also are beloved by
people all around the world. They are found only in Sichuan, Shaanxi and Gansu
provinces. In total there are fewer than 1000 left in the world, 80% of which are
scattered within Sichuan province. Consequently, when visitors, from home and
abroad, come to Chengdu, Sichuan Province, one of their main objectives is to see the
giant pandas.
Located just 10km (6miles) away from downtown Chengdu, the Chengdu Panda
Breeding Research Center has been created to imitated the pandas' natural habitat in
order to provide the giant pandas the best possible environment for breeding. The
Center also cares for other rare and endangered wild animals. The Research Center,
itself, covers an area of 92 acres, 96% of which is verdure. Giant pandas, lesser
地址：北京市西城区阜外大街甲 35 号 邮政编码：100037
Address: No.A35, Fuwaidajie, Xicheng District, Beijing 100037 China
pandas, black-necked cranes, white storks, and over 20 other species of rare animals
are fed and bred there throughout the year.
The necessary facilities for giant pandas have been completed and it includes a
fodder room, numerous sleeping quarters and a medical station. In addition, there is a
Giant Panda Museum coupled with research laboratories and a training center. A great
number of plants and over ten thousand clumps of bamboos and bushes have been
cultivated to simulate the giant pandas' diet and habitat. The center is planning to
expand by another 500 acres of land to simulate a natural environment in order to
prepare the giant pandas’ release into the wild.
The Giant Panda Museum was opened in 1993 to further scientific education and
to improve public
awareness of the protection of wild creatures and their
environments. It is the world's only thematic museum for rare and endangered animal
species. The three main exhibitions are: the Giant Panda Hall, the Butterfly Hall and
the Vertebrate Hall. The exhibits include all kinds of precious fossils, over 800
materials and showcases more than 2140 different samples gathered in Sichuan. The
museum also includes up to ten thousand samples of resources and a library of
thousands of books and documents. This excellent and comprehensive museum
provides a wonderful venue for all who are interested in the natural bio-diversity and
the protection initiatives of the region.
地址：北京市西城区阜外大街甲 35 号 邮政编码：100037
Address: No.A35, Fuwaidajie, Xicheng District, Beijing 100037 China