One-day Taoism and the Ancient Water Conservancy Project Exploring Tour

Dujiangyan Irrigation Project and Mount Qingcheng were added to the list of World Cultural Heritage Sites by UNESCO in 2001. Both are located in the northwest of Chengdu, about 60 kilometers(37 miles) away from downtown Chengdu.

As a feat of engineering and a wonder of the world, the ancient water conservancy project was begun in 256 B.C., and completed in 261 B.C.. Sichuan is nicknamed as the Land of Abundance. Before the irrigation project was completed, the west part of Chengdu plain was prone to floods, while people in the east were threatened with starvation as a result of drought and poor harvest. Li Bing designed and built up the irrigation project with a purpose of diverting water from the west to the east. He succeeded and completely transformed the land of Sichuan. The water project irrigates 6,678 square kilometers(1,652,393 acres) of farmland and supplies more than 50 cities in the plain with water resource. Some scholars believed that the construction of Dujiangyan Irrigation Project made a great impact on Chinese history, even more great than the Great Wall. The Great Wall has lost its defending function for hundreds of years, while the water conservancy project still benefits millions of people.

Qingcheng Mountain is the birthplace of Taoism, the native religion of China. It rises up to 1,600 meters(5249 feet) and has a high rate of vegetation coverage. The mountain is well-known in China for its unique beauty which is called “You” in Chinese. There is no appropriate word or expression in English for this Chinese word “You”. It is used to refer to a tranquil and beautiful place where a zigzag path fades in secluded woods, flowers emit faint fragrance, and singing birds play a delightful chord with murmuring streams.

Suggested Itinerary:

Day1Tour in Mount Qingcheng and Dujiangyan Irrigation Project

Your guide and driver will pick you up at your hotel at 8:00 A.M., then you will ride the car to Mount. Qingcheng. It takes about one and a half hours to get to the mountain from downtown Chengdu. You will be transferred from the parking lot to the mountain entrance by sightseeing shuttles, then walk about 20 minutes upstairs to the Crescent Lake along a winding path, take a boat to the lower cable-car station. The cable-car makes your tour in the mountain easier. After getting off the cable car, you need to hike along the path 15 minutes or longer to get to Shangqing Temple. Pay a visit to the temple, then keep ascending to the summit. Usually, it takes about three and a half hours to accomplish the tour in the mountain.
At 1:00 P.M., you may have lunch in a nearby restaurant. After lunch, you will take your car to Dujiangyang Irrigation Project. It takes about half an hour to get to the water conservancy project. Then you will spend two hours for your tour in the scenic area. Sightseeing mini-buses shuttle between the dam to the channel.
At 5:00 P.M, your guide and driver will escort you back to your hotel.

Services Included:

√ On-line professional consultancy

√ Helpful local guide

√ Well-trained professional driver and comfortable vehicle with ample space

√ Mineral water(one bottle of mineral water per person per day)

√ Entry to all attractions listed on your itinerary

√ 24-hours helpline covering the whole of your tour

What's excluded:

Hotel accommodation

Personal expenses

Tipping

Travel Tips：

Activities Recommended for Enriching Your Tour

Are you still wondering how you could kill time before going to bed? We have listed two highly recommended activities below for your preference. If you are interested in our recommendations, just feel free to contact us to add it.

Face-changing Show(one and a half hours)

Face-changing refers to the painted masks Changing. It is a significant cultural heritage of China, is the highlights of Sichuan folk art, as well as a national secret. Only few masters have grasped the skill. Only they know how to change their masks in a magically quick succession. Many customers exclaimed that the face-changing was extremely amazing.

Sichuan Food Cooking(three to five hours)

To eat in China, taste in Sichuan, as a popular saying goes. In fact, you can also easily try to cook Sichuan dishes in Chengdu. Sichuan Cuisine Museum is located in Pidu District, Chengdu. It takes only one hour to get to the museum by driving from your hotel. The trip to Sichuan Cuisine Museum offers you a chance to cook the world famous Sichuan Dishes, such as Kungpao Chicken and Mapo Tofu. No doubt, English speaking chefs will show you how to cook Sichuan dishes.

Tips for Your Trip

1. Please bring your passport in case that you might be asked to identify yourself when you enter the scenic areas.

2. Please ware a pair of walking shoes, and bring a raincoat.

Author: Tina Luo

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