Great Excursion in Chengdu

The Shunan Bamboo Sea region, where Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon was shot, is loated in the south of Sichuan with an area of 120 square kilometers. The landscape is dotted with bamboo trees and waterfalls and the fresh air and serene ambiance of this unique and isolated place lure many people from all over the world each year.

You can take the tourist bus from Chengdu directly to Shunan Bamboo Sea. The bus is available from Xinnanmen bus station at 09:10 at a fee of CNY112 per person. Upon your arrival, you can visit the Bamboo Museum and the Worry-Dispelling Valley. The Bamboo Museum integrates the collection, protection, exhibition, academic research and social education of the bamboo cultural relics, where you can have a better understanding of bamboo culture. The Worry-Dispelling Valley is a narrow and long valley, along with large bamboo forests on both sides. As its name indicates, when you wander around the Worry-Dispelling Valley, you will forget all your worries and find inner peace. The entrance fee is CNY100.00 per person during the peak season from 1st Jan to 31st Oct and CNY60.00 per person during the low season from 1st Nov to 31st Jan. After the visiting, you can stay one night at a hotel in the tourist area. There are many for your choice. Or you may choose to stay at a temple or a farmhouse, which will indeed be a new experience.

On the next day, you can visit the Cloud-watching Pavilion, Jade Long Corridor, Immortal Living Cave, Tianbaozhai and the Fairy Lake. You can tour the area on foot, ride the cable car at a fee of CNY50 per person for single way or CNY75 per person for double way, or take the tourist bus at a fee of CNY55 per person. During this period, you can immerse yourself in the nature and enjoy the beauty of the bamboo forests. At 15:00, you can take the bus at the gate of the spot back to Chengdu.

Located in Dayi County around 95 kilometers (59 miles) northwest of Chengdu, Xiling Snow Mountain peaks at an altitude of 5,364 meters (17,598 feet) and covers an area of 483 square kilometers. Over 90% of the tourist area is covered by the virgin forests and different sceneries in the different climate zone attract many people throughout the entire year.

It is convenient to get to Mt. Xiling by tourist bus from the Chadianzi Bus Station. There are 2 buses every day, departing at 09:00 and 09:30 separately. It takes CNY38 per person and around 2.5 hours.

Xiling Snow Mountain is divided into two parts, the anterior part and the posterior part. The main tourist sites, including the Hongshijian, Hongshi Fort, Yeniudao, Riyueping and Yinyangjie, are all located in the posterior part. The largest ski resort in China, with an area of 8 square kilometers, is also located here at an altitude of 2200 to 2400 meters (7218 - 7874 feet). If you have interests, you could ski here at a fee of CNY120 per person per hour, CNY160 per person 2 hours and CNY360 per person the whole day. The snow cover lasts from November to the next March and the snow is 60 to 80 centimeters (24 - 31 inches) thick. The average temperature year round is 10 Celsius (50 Fahrenheit) and the temperature in winter is below minus 2 Celsius (28.4 Fahrenheit).

The highlight of Xiling mountain is Yinyangjie, which is located on the boundary of the plateau and basin climates. The special geographical position makes the scenery unique, one side clear and sunny, while the other side cloudy and misty, which is like the Yin and Yang in Taiji diagram, hence the name.

If you plan to stay overnight, you might consider staying at the Huashuiwan Hotspring Resort, which is close to the tourist area. Then get back the next day by the tourist bus, which departs at around 16:30 and 17:20.