About 125 km south of Chengdu, the 71m-high Giant Buddha sits in a cliff overlooking the confluence of the Dadu and Qingyi River. It qualifies as the largest stone-carved Buddha in the world, while the original second largest Buddha Bamiyan in Afghanistan was only 53m in height, which has been destroyed by Taliban regime in 2002. According to historical records, the project of Giant Buddha was begun in the in the first year of the reign of the Tang Emperor Tang Xuanzong (713 AD), and completed in the 19th year of Emperor Dezong (803 AD), a total of 90 years. The statue is not Sakyamuni, the founder of Buddhism, but the Future Buddha called Maitreya according to Buddhist sutras.

Inside the body, hidden from view, is a water-drainage system to prevent weathering, although the stone statue has seen its fair share. The Giant Buddha is so old that atmospheric moisture, water infiltration from the mountain and foliage are trying to reclaim him.

The maintenance project for the Buddha has began since the site was listed by UNESCO as a world cultural and natural heritage in 1996. The local administration of cultural relics employs experts and technicians skilled in up-to-date technology involving sound, light, and electronics to keep a constant check on the Buddha and treat all problems.

Some 150km southwest of Chengdu, Mt. Emei has been a place of pilgrimage for over 1800 years, and by the sixth century it had become one of the country's four sacred Buddhist Mountains. The Bodhisattva Samantabhadra once preached here-you'll find images of the elephant that carried him on the back at many of Emei's shrines-and these hallowed slopes once held 150 temples and monasteries.

Baoguo Monastery

was built in the 16^th century, enlarged in the 17^th century by Emperor Kangxi and has been recently renovated. Being the largest monastery in the region, it boasts three treasures: one is a 3.5-meter porcelain Buddha, the other is 7-meter 14-storied cupreous tower and another one is 2.3-meter great cupreous bell weighing 25 tons. To the left of its gate is a rockery for potted miniature tree and rare plants.

Wanian Monastery

is the oldest surviving Emei monastery with a history of 1000 years. The present brick building was reconstructed in the Ming dynasty (1368-1644). The Brick Hall, a domed building with small stupas on it, was built of bricks. In the hall is a statue of the Bodhisattva Samantabhadra (Puxian) on a white elephant, 8.5 meters high, cast in copper and bronze. Its weight is estimated at 62,000 kilograms.  

Qingyin Tower, 800 meters above sea level, was built in the 4th century. Qingyin in Chinese means pure sound because of the sound effects produced by rapid waters coursing around rock formation in the area. It is one of the famous scenic spots on this mountain.

Golden Summit Temple is located 3077m high up, where is as far as most hikers make it. Covered with glazed tiles and surrounded by white marble balustrades, it now occupies 1695 square meters. The original temple had a bronze-coated roof, which is how it got the name "Golden Summit".

Mt. Emei is rich in natural and cultural heritage and carries several monikers: "Kingdom of Plants"," Paradise of Animals"," Geological Museum", "Sacred Buddhist Mountain". The four wonders of Emeishan Mountain are the Golden Summit Sunrise, sea of clouds, Buddha"s Halo and the Holy Lamp. In 1996, Emeishan Mountain and the Grand Buddha in Leshan were included in the List of the World Natural and Cultural Heritages.


Jiuzhaigou and Huanglong

Deep in the heart of the 4500-meter-high, perpetually snow-clad Min Shan Range.

Jiuzhaigou

Scenic Reserve encloses one of the most spectacular landscapes. It was settled centuries ago by ethnic Tibetans, whose fenced villages gave Jiuzhaigou (nine stockades' gully) its name. And legend has it that the goddess Semo accidentally smashed her mirror here, the shards forming the hundred or so incredibly vivid blue lakes which descend the valley in a series of broad steps.

It can be considered a natural botanical and zoological garden, a home of densely growing conifers and broadleaf trees, and of rare and endangered animal species such as the giant panda, golden-haired monkey, and white-lip deer. Usually we can see the lakes swarm with fish and birds including waterfowl, kingfisher, shrikes, hoopoes and pheasants.

About 155 miles north of Chengdu,

Huanglong
valley is studded with terraced, colored ponds (blue, yellow, white and green) and waterfalls. It wins its fame for its breathtaking beauty of lime formations, made up of 3400 multi-colored ponds, interlace along the valley.  Besides, five waterfalls, four stalactite caves and three ancient temples, are all in the same valley, which looks like a dragon winding down from snowcapped peaks of Mt. Minshan.
The local people are as much of an attraction as the virgin forest and the scenery, Composed of more than 20 nationalities, the major ones are the Tibetan and Qiang people. An annual Temple Fair is held around the middle of the sixth lunar month, which attracts large numbers of traders from different communities.