Ancient ruins located on the upper reaches of the Yangtze River have provided evidence of the diverse origins of Chinese civilization. The Sanxingdui Ruins in Guanghan, 40 kilometres from Chengdu, Sichuan Province belong to the ancient Shu Kingdom and can be dated back some 3,000 to 5,000 years. A peasant digging a ditch in his field accidentally discovered the Shaxingdui Ruins in 1929. Since then, more than 10,000 relics, some of which date back 3,000 to 5,000 years, have been unearthed. The excavations have yielded what are considered some of the most significant archaeological discoveries in China in the 20 th century. Archaeologists believe the Sanxingdui Ruins, located on the upper reaches of the Yangtze River, were home to a few settlements with distinctive cultural features. Jade ware with unique characteristics and made using relatively advanced technology was discovered on the site, suggesting that one of the earliest settlements to live in the area about 3,700 to 5,000 years ago interacted with the groups living on the lower reaches. of the Yangtze River.

The people who made splendid bronze ware in Sanxingdui some 3 ,000 years ago created a dominant power in the then Shu Kingdom. That did not live in isolation, either, but had extensive relationship with central and eastern part of the country. The Sanxingdui Ruins serve as convincing proof that the origins of Chinese civilization are diverse. Chen Xiandan, deputy head of the Sichuan Provincial Museum said that the archaeological discoveries at Sanxingdui have changed Chinese history. Before the excavation of Sanxingdui, it was believed that Sichuan had a history of about 3,000 years. It is now generally believed that civilized culture appeared in Sichuan about 5,000 years ago. Chen has been studying Sanxingdui since 1980. In 1986, he and a colleague took charge of the excavation of two large sacrificial pits that yielded the most important archaeological finds at Sanxingdui since the first archaeological dig on the site. The two pits held bronze, gold, jade and marble articles, pottery, bone implements, and objects made of ivory. Archaeologists also found a profusion of cowries and 800 large bronze relics. The study of the Sanxingdui Ruins, which archaeologists have been excavating for two decades, is a systematic project that needs the help' of geologists, environmental experts, hydrologists and other scientists. Through future excavations, archaeologists expect to solve such mysteries as where the raw material for the bronze came from and when and why the civilization disappeared.

Located close to the city of Guanghan on the Chengdu Plain, Sanxingdui is the oldest and largest ruins of the ancient Shu Kingdom.

Bao'en Temple (Requital of Kindness)

Bao' en Temple is one of the largest temples in Pingwu County, Sichuan Province, and one of the best preserved in China. The temple was constructed in a period 1440 to 1460 during Emperor Yingwng's reign (1427-1464, 1449 Tumu Incident-1457 came back to power) in the Ming Dynasty, by the governor of Pingwu and his son. Measuring 278 metres from east to west and 100 metres from south to north, most of the original buildings remain. The monastic complex features some architectural characteristics, such as the glazed tiles on its roof, which are more commonly found on the imperial buildings of North China. Grateful to the emperor for letting them build the temple on such a large scale, the building was named "Bao'en," which means, "paying a debt of gratitude." In 1956, the Sichuan provincial government proclaimed the temple one of the most important cultural relics in the province. In 1996, the temple joined the state cultural relics protection list. Although the temple, about 32 kilometres northwest of Chengdu, might be a bit of a trek for the visitor, it is still worth visiting. There is a big square in front of the temple on which stands two 7-metre-high stone Dharani columns. Dhanari-a peculiar Buddhist monument that originated some time in the Tang Dynasty-is a hexagonal column on which are engraved Buddhist scriptures in Chinese as well as elaborate patterns. Stone steps lead tourists onto a terrace about 6 metres above the square, on which stands the entrance hall of the temple. With its overhanging gable roof and shaded partly by a large cypress tree, the hall looks as imposing as large temples in North China. The hall contains exquisite painted clay statues of two gate deities. The temple layout is typical of most Chinese Buddhist temples. The major halls are constructed along a central axis and the minor halls and subsidiary buildings follow transverse axes. The buildings are connected by galleries and form a series of rectangular courtyards .

The entrance hall stands on the central axis, which runs east-west. Behind it on the same axis are the Heavenly King Hall, the Main Hall and the TenThousand Buddhists Hall. There are three stone bridges spanning a rectangular pond in the courtyard between the gate and the Heavenly King Hall. With their elaborately carved railings, the bridges are reminiscent of those in front of the Tian'anmen in Beijing, only much smaller. A 13-metre-high two-storey bell tower stands on the south side of the courtyard. The double-eave structure supported by 16 timber columns shelters two iron casting bells, which is rare, as a bell tower usually houses only one bell. The bigger bell, weighing 5,000 kilograms, was cast in 1446, and the smaller one, weighing 2,500 kilogrammes, was made in 1472. According to local historical records, a serious earthquake struck the area in about 1470. After the earthquake, the tower started to lean backwards. To rebalance the building, the small bell was cast and hung from the front beam. The Heavenly King Hall houses painted clay statues of the Four Heavenly Kings, warrior attendants of Buddha. It has an exquisitely painted ceiling with colourful flowers. A roof of glazed black and green tiles crowns the double-eaved structure. Glistening under the blue sky, it looks majestic. The dougong, or brackets, supporting the hall's roof are also conspicuous. Dougong (sets of brackets on top of the columns supporting the beams within and roof eaves without-each set consisting of tiers of outstretching arms called gong, cushioned with trapezoidal blocks called dou ; a system of supporting brackets inserted between the top of a column and a crossbeam) are an assemblage of a number of blocks and arms. The function of dougong is to transfer the load from the horizontal member above to the vertical member below. As one of the most important elements of traditional wooden structures in China, dougong has helped numerous traditional buildings stand for ages. A total of 48 kinds and 2,200 sets of dougong were used to support and adorn the structures in the temple, which has won it a reputation as "a museum of dougong." On a north-south transverse axis between the Heavenly King Hall and the Main Hall, the Dabei Hall and the Huayan Hall face each other. They house two of the most important cultural relics in the temple. On a lotus throne in the centre of the Dabei Hall stands a 9-metre-tall golden statue of Guanyin, or Avalokitesvara, the Goddess of Mercy, which has 1,004 hands and eyes. The body of the goddess was carved out of a nanmu (Phoebe nanmu-This kind of nanmu can give off an unusual scent reputed to repel mosquitoes in summer. ). With its clusters of hands, the splendid piece looks like a blossoming flower and gives the temple a touch of magic.

The Huayan Hall contains a precious zhuanluncang, a revolving sutra cabinet. Taking the form of a double-eave pavilion, the revolving sutra cabinet is an octagonal wooden structure that turns on a pivot at the centre of the hall. The huge structure can still be turned smoothly. Around the sutra cabinet stand four timber columns, which are entwined by four 7-metre-Iong golden dragons. Dragons can be found everywhere in the temple, something that required the authority of the emperor. It is said that there used to be some 10,000 figures of dragons in the complex.

The Main Hall is the most important building in the temple. It has a roof covered with glazed green tiles and a ceiling with colourful paintings. Enshrined in the front part of the hall are golden clay statues of three Buddhas. There is a 2-metre-high wooden board in front of central Buddha's lotus throne, on which has been written, "Long live the present emperor!" The interior walls of the hall are covered with delicate murals. They vividly portray 12 different Buddhas. On the wall behind the statues of the three Buddhas are three surfing Buddhas riding the waves on their distinctive mounts-a white elephant, a green lion and a golden unicorn. Two double-eave octagonal pavilions stand in the courtyard between the Main Hall and the T en-Thousand Buddhas Hall. A small bell was hung from each of 16 flying eaves of the pavilion. They sound pleasant in a gentle breeze. The hall is the last structure on the central axis. With a height of 24 metres, the triple-eave building has two storeys. The hall contains about 300 square metres of exquisite murals. They portray dozens of 3-metre-tall respected Buddhist figures. Their lively composition, smooth lines, concise strokes and rich colours mean that they are considered among the best works of the Ming Dynasty.

Siguniang (Four Girls) Mountains

Siguniang Mountains are as beautiful as their name, but uncovering their veils and appreciating their many charms can be exhausting. Located in Xiaojin County of the Aba Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture in western Sichuan Province, the Siguniang Mountains are about 220 kilometres away from Chengdu. The mountains stand in the remote distance, like four beautiful Tibetan girls dressed in white scarves. Legend has it that many years ago, there lived a mountain god named Balang who had four beautiful daughters, and the youngest was the tallest and had the most graceful figure. A devil admired the girl's beauty and wanted to marry them. So the devil suggested to the mountain god that they fight a duel. If he won, he would get the four girls. The mountain god was killed by the devil. And the four girls fled and eventually died from cold weather. Their bodies became the Siguniang Mountains and their father became the Balang Mountains. But another tale holds that the four girls were later saved by a hunter and became fairies. The Siguniang Mountains resemble four graceful fairies wearing white mantles and waving to guests from afar.

The Siguniang Mountains area consists of the Siguniang Mountains, Shuangqiao Gully, Changping Gully and Haizi Gully. The mountains are 6,250 metres high, reputed by some to be the "Oriental Alps." Snow covers the mountaintop all the year round. Under a blue sky and white clouds, the dark rocks and clean rivers are coated with green moss and various flowers, or golden grass and leaves, milky fog, white snow and crystal-like ice.

Langzhong

Langzhong, a small city in the northern part of Sichuan Province and famous for its ancient architecture, plans to apply for the World Cultural Heritage List of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. The Sichuan provincial government planned to spend nearly 300 million yuan (US $ 37.5 million) to preserve its original flavour of the centuries-old town. Of the city's 860,000 residents, more than 30,000 live in the ancient streets and lanes and about 10,000 of them will be resettled in order to better protect the cultural relics in the area. All buildings not conforming to the original style of the ancient city will be demolished.

Surrounded by green mountains on one side and the Jialing River (the third longest tributary in the upper reaches of the Yangtze River, totalling 1, 119 kilometres with a drainage area of 159,300 square kilometres) on the other, Langzhong has been standing for more than 2,300 years. The mountains, river and the black tile roofs of the ancient structures form a natural Chinese atmosphere. Strolling along the narrow pebble lanes visitors might have the chance to experience the different architecture of the past dynasties. Langzhong boasts 92 ancient streets and lanes mainly in the construction style of the Tang and Song dynasties and more than 1,000 ancient houses in the construction style of the Ming and Qing dynasties. The area of its ancient streets, lanes and houses register 1.5 square kilometres. The layout of Langzhong's ancient streets and lanes is in the shape of a chessboard. Streets and lanes link with each other, and all lead to the Jialing River. Most of the ancient houses face north, with the front part serving as shop and the rear part being a residence. Supported with a wooden pole, the shop's eaves extend over two metres, sheltering pedestrians from rain and sun. In the town some ancient quadrangle dwellings of the rich have also been preserved, featuring small courtyards, screens and rock works. Gingko, sago cycas and sweetscented osmanthus trees are mostly seen. The hollowed-out window decorations are popular and are carved in the shape of flowers, birds, animals and paintings. In addition to their artistic taste, the decorations make the rooms brighter. Since the Warring States period (475-221 BC), rulers of different dynasties regarded Langzhong as an important strategic stronghold for governance of southwest China and established government offices there. During their stay in Langzhong, many princes, members of the royal families and government officials of different ancient dynasties were fascinated with its fengshui, or Chinese geomancy (the location of a house or home, supposed to have an influence on fortune of a family), and invited talented architects to build houses and palaces. Nowadays, Langzhong is valued as one of China's four largest and best-preserved ancient cities together with Shexian in Anhui Province, Lijiang in Yunnan Province and Pingyao in Shanxi Province.

Zhang Huanhou Memorial Temple

Situated amidst the ancient streets and lanes, the temple is dedicated to Zhang F ei (? -221), a famous general of the Three Kingdoms period ( 220- 280) . After the 195-year-old Eastern Han Dynasty collapsed in 220, China was divided into three kingdoms-Wei, Shu and Wu. Competing to reunify the country, the three were locked in wars, leaving behind historic remains and countless heroic stories throughout China. The personification of bravery, Zhang Fei is a household name in China. A sworn brother of Liu Bei (161223, ruled 221-223), founder of the Shu Kingdom, Zhang Fei followed Liu Bei at a young age and helped him establish the Shu: Kingdom. Zhang Fei ruled Langzhong for seven years from 214 to 221. In 220, the Wu Kingdom killed Guan Yu (? -220), as known as Lord Guan, the sworn brother of Liu Bei and Zhang Fei. To take revenge, Liu Bei led a punitive expedition to the Wu Kingdom. Zhang Fei was ordered to join forces with Liu Bei in today's Chongqing Municipality with 10,000 brave soldiers. Before he set off, Zhang Fei ordered two of his subordinate generals, Fang Jiang and Zhang Da to make in only three days to mourn Guan Yu. Fearing severe punishment, the two generals, who could not fulfill the impossible mission , killed Zhang Fei when he was sound asleep. Zhang Fei was buried in Langzhong and was given the title Huanhou (meaning "Marquis Huan"). Admiring Zhang Fei's bravery, loyalty and virtue, local people built the Zhang Huanhou Memorial Temple more than 1,700 years ago. Since then, the temple has undergone many renovations. The temple now consists of ancient structures of the Ming and Qing dynasties and Zhang Fei's Mausoleum with a total area of more "than 10,000 square metres. Its main structures include the temple gate, memorial gateways, halls, wing~rooms, a mausoleum pavilion and a garden. With a compact layout, the temple, which houses 4,000 precious cultural relics of different dynasties, boasts a quiet and elegant environment.

Like other part of Sichuan Province, food in Langzhong is mainly spicy.

The city is known for a kind of beef commonly called Zhang Fci Beef. The beef is black, but when cut open, it is red. The beef got its name because Zhang Fei is believed to have had dark skin but a red heart, which means loyalty in China.

The Capital of L1quor-Yibin

Yibin in Sichuan Province is a city with many unusual attributes. For Chinese people, the word "Yibin" is synonymous with W uliangye , one of China's best-known liquors with a history of more than 600 years. Yibin is China's largest liquor producing base and is known as the "capital of liquor." For geographers, Yibin is the first city in the upper reaches of the Yangtze River. It is situated at the juncture of the Minjiang (a tributary of Yangtze River, totalling 711 kilometres with a drainage area of 135,700 square kilometres) and Jinsha (part of the Yangtze River, totalling 2,308 kilometres with a drainage area of 490,500) rivers. Archaeologists have been trying to figure out who placed the coffins of the Eo people on cliffs at heights ranging from 26 to 200 metres and why?

Yibin was the home to the Eo people prior to the Qin Dynasty (221-206 BC). Aechaeologists believe there are more hanging coffins in Yibin than anywhere else in the world. For geologists, they are fascinated with Yibin's seven whole plots of fantastic stone forests and more than 260 mysterious underground karst caves. The city has the world's largest stone funnel and more than 50 underground karst caves, each with an area of over 10,000 square metres. For researchers interested in ethnic culture and customs, Yibin is the home to Sichuan's largest community of the Miao ethnic group. With a population of more than 30,000, the Miao people have managed to well preserve their unique customs and dress . For nature-loving visitors, this southern Sichuan city is best-known for the 120-square-kilometre bamboo forest in its Changning and Jiang'an counties, commonly known as the Bamboo Sea in southern Sichuan. For architects, Yibin has a strong appeal with profuse ancient structures in Lizhuang Town, 19 kilometres from downtown Yibin. Situated in the southern bank of the Yangtze River, Lizhuang is a historically and culturally prominent town in Sichuan Province and a harbour along the Yangtze River. It has a history of more than 1,000 years. Its streets and lanes retain the layout and original architectural style of the Ming and Qing dynasties. The streets and lanes adopt their old names, such as Scholar, Well, Sheep and Mat streets. With their width ranging from 2 to 6 metres, they are mainly paved with green slab stones. All the ancient houses along them are made of wood and are orderly arranged. On Well Street, local residents still use two wells dug some 100 years ago.