Qingchengshan-Dujiangyan National Park
From Wikitravel
Contents
Qingchengshan-Dujiangyan National Park (青城山-都江堰国家公园) is in Sichuan province.
[edit] Understand
Qingchengshan is one of the ancient cradles of Daoism. The mountain has many Daoist temples and sites along the paths to its peak. The area is snow-free all year round and is known for its peaceful quiet (this of course excludes the Chinese tourists that flock there on weekends and holidays).
The Dujiangyan Irrigation system is a marvel of Chinese imagination. Before the completion of Dujiangyan, the plains around the Min River were prone to flash flooding. This was due to the fast moving river flowing down from the mountains and meeting level ground. It was in the Warring States period about 2,200 years ago, that the engineer Li Bing and his son led the construction of the Dujiangyan irrigation system. This allowed the taming of the river and the irrigation of the surrounding lands.
For more information see:
- Qingcheng/Dujiangyan (China) (2000), UNESCO World Heritage. [1]
- Taming the Floodwaters: The High Heritage Price of Massive Hydraulic Projects (2005), China Heritage Project. [2]
[edit] History
[edit] Landscape
[edit] Flora and fauna
[edit] Climate
[edit] Get in
About 1-1½ hours by bus from Chadianzi Bus Station in Chengdu. The bus drops you off at the front gate, which is not actually the start of the trails.
[edit] Fees/Permits
The entrance fee is ¥60 (2009) but if you get the Panda Card (shengmao card) in Chengdu, which is designed to restore tourism after the earthquake, you can get in for free (until December 31 2009).
[edit] Get around
You can either climg to the top which takes around 3 hours or take a boat across the lake (¥5) to a ropeway (¥35 one way ¥60 round trip) which will get you there sooner depending on the queue time (which during a holiday could approach and 1½ hours or more). A sedan chair can also be hired for ¥100 or more in which two men carry you up the mountain.
[edit][add listing] See
Qingcheng Mountain is known for its Daoist temples.
If you are looking for more natural beauty then Qingcheng Hou Mountain is where you should head. There are still several trails closed due to landslides caused by the earthquake (6 October 2009).
[edit][add listing] Do
There are shrines for many Daoist masters and Chinese Medicine doctors including Lao Zi and Sun Simiao. If you are expecting a spiritual experiance DO NOT come on a Chinese holiday or the only quiet time you will have to enjoy it will be if you are lucky enough to find a bed in the monastery and wake up at sunrise before the tours get there.
[edit][add listing] Buy
[edit][add listing] Eat
[edit][add listing] Drink
[edit][add listing] Sleep
You can stay at many of the monasteries on the mountain. Some of them have recently been upgraded to 3 star status and accomadations can be in bunk style for around ¥40 to twin private rooms at ¥180. Keep in mind that during the Chinese holidays you may not find a bed or might be stuck with one of the higher priced choices.
[edit] Lodging
[edit] Camping
[edit] Backcountry
[edit] Stay safe
[edit] Get out
Pick up the bus back to Chengdu a little bit downhill of the tourist center. "Chengdu" will probably NOT be written in pinyin so you will have to ask the driver. The Chengdu bus is usually closest to the top of the parking lot though and does not leave until it is full. Cost back is ¥20 and may not bring you to the bus station you want to be at in Chengdu.
