Top Five Highlights in Sichuan, China

Most have heard of Leshan's Giant Buddha that has been carved in the side of the mountain during the Tang Dynasty. Many, as well, have taken the time to travel to Leshan to see the attraction. Interestingly, the most exquisite site, in my opinion, is Emei Shan, also called Mount Emei. This mountain is so magnificent that it is considered one of the sacred mountains in China; the most well-known attraction is catching the sunrise over the mountains.

To see Mt. Emei's sunrise, there are a few different options. First, travelers can rent a car to take them to the top of the mountain. Seeing the sunrise in this manner would still be breath-taking. However, my preferred method is hiking up the thousands of stairs to the top. (Seriously!) The reason why this is my ideal choice is that travelers miss many wonderful sites hiring a driver, such as the monkeys or monasteries atop the mountains.

To make the trip, travelers just need to bring some water/snacks; meals can be purchased on the trail in a mountain-side make-shift eatery. (Basically, it's a bowl of rice and some additional stir-fried food.) Despite all of the technologies around the world, people in this part of the country still hike all provisions, building materials, and necessities up the mountain on their backs. Hiking up all of those stairs just makes the experience more memorable and the sunrise even more worthwhile!

Before living in China, it never occurred to me that I horse-back riding was even an option. However, this is really a great way to travel through the mountains and avoid all of the stairs! In Songpan, travelers can go on guided tours through the mountains without any prior experience riding. Plus, the guides set up camp and prepare meals; so, there is no need to worry about previsions. The ride is quite beautiful and overlooks the Huanglong Valley. Needless to say, the sights are magnificent and definitely worth the time!

Many, unknowingly, have seen images of Jiuzhaigou Valley; Mirror Lake was one of the lakes that was featured in the movie Hero directed by Zhang Yimou. Jiuzhaigou is a great location that supports eco-tourism. Jiuzhaigou is also known as the Valley of Nine Villages and incorporates various cultures into the park, such as Tibetan village as noted in the attached photo.

Jiuzhaigou Valley is located near Songpang / Huanglong Valley and is one of UNESCO's World Heritage Sites. This is most likely due to the park's naturally occurring phenomena, pristine water quality, and unique wildlife, such as the golden snub-nosed monkey. I really didn't see much wildlife but still enjoyed the location. One of my personal favorites is Five-Color Pond because of the five naturally-occurring colors in the water.

Hiking up Jiu Feng Shan would have been my first suggestion of places to visit. But, getting there is a bit in cumbersome and takes time. For me, Jiu Feng Shan is an example of personal growth.

When I first moved to China, Jiu Feng Shan was the first place I traveled with some knowledge of Mandarin and a huge backpack. Unbeknown to us, we choose to hike the mountain the same weekend as a large Buddhist festival. As we begin our hike, we could hear music softly floating down from the mountain above. It sounded like the Beijing Opera, but could it really be? We reached the first temple just before sunset and were met with freshly-pained buildings, an array of monks, and tired guests buzzing around the temple. People were laughing, playing music, singing, eating, and celebrating. Then, as if clock-work, a bell rang and all of the followers went in the temple to pray.

Then next morning, my friend ant I continued our journey - But this time, we were only met with obstacles. The weather changed from a warm sunny morning to rain and then later the rain combined with wind. These elements made the path nearly impossible to hike. By the time we reached the second temple, we weren't sure if we should continue our hike to the top of the mountain or stop. Being determined, we continued on. About an hour later, my friend twisted her knee and our adventure was finished.

Two years later, I returned to the same mountain. No longer feeling the need to travel with someone, I wanted to see if I could make the climb - but this time solo. I packed a small backpack and carried my pocket dictionary.

The mountain was again busy with noise, but this time it was from the birds chattering amongst each other. As I climbed, I noticed that the paint on the buildings was warn, shutters falling off of their hinges, and plants strongly growing from the tiled roofs. I hiked past the first monastery were the festival was held, past the second where we previously stayed, and ended logging somewhere between the clouds and the top of the mountain. The next afternoon, I reached the summit. Here, at the top, I watched another storm approach. This time, I was in awe! The clouds rolled in covering the mountains in a beauty so profound that I still cannot explain it. After the clouds passed, I sat quietly and watched the sunset.

Interestingly, both of my experiences hiking Jiu Feng Shan were memorable. Even though the second trip didn't have the added celebrations, it proved to be more of an important hike. I learned that didn't need the additional baggage, both physical (such as my backpack) and emotional (such as feeling the need to travel with a friend), that I thought I needed the first time.

So, why do I add all of these details? When traveling, the things that we bring and the events that surround a situation can change our perception. I don't know if I'll ever make the hike again or if I feel the need to see the summit for a third time. However, I'm glad that I made the trip twice!

No list would be complete without including China's national celebrity, the Giant Panda. Various zoos now have pandas. But, rather than seeing an export, why not visit the original place? The Wolong Nature Reserve is located in Wolong Valley and, as seen in the attached image, is worth the trip!

In Etsy, I have abstract photographs listed. As well, there will be old lithographs vintage books listed. For a list of the current items on Etsy, CLICK HERE.