"Preview of my Asia trip - Part I - China" Personal Page by mim95

I spent about 10 days in Sichuan, a western province in China. Much of my stay was in Chengdu, the captial of Sichuan.

Busy traffic in downtown Chengdu

Although there is an increasing demand of cars, bicycles and scooters are still the way to get around for most ppl in Chengdu. The population of Chengdu, one of the most populated cities in western China, is slightly over 10 million!!

Can't post for you...I'm too busy eating!!

Of course, seeing pandas is a must when visiting Sichuan. It is home of a panda research center just outside Chengdu. If you can afford paying 800 yuan (about US$100), you can take a photo with a baby panda.

Sipping tea and playing mahjong on a laneway in Ch

Chengdu is known for its relaxed living style. Teahouses can be found everywhere, and they are where ppl go to hang out, play mahjong or cards.

The giant Buddha carving in Leshan

Leshan is just 1.5 hour from Chengdu, and it is the home of the largest stone Buddha in the world. It was built over a thousand years ago.

Doing taichi on the mountain top of Emei Shan

Emeishan is a renouned sacred mountain about 2 hours from Chengdu. Beware of aggressive monkeys, as they robbed my food! It's possible to walk from the bottom to the top (3100m), endurance and strength are required. The trail is mainly a series of endless stone steps, rather than a simple slanted slope. My lower legs hurt so much for a few days after the walk.

a valley in the middle of Qing Cheng Shan

Qing Cheng Shan, about an hour from Chengdu, is another sacred mountain - for the Taoist. For nature lover like me, it is better to visit the back mountain instead, as the front mountain is where the Taoist shrines and temples are located.