Major Attractions Outside the City

Dujiangyan is famous for its Dujiangyan Irrigation Project, the world's oldest irrigation system, built about 2,000 years ago. It is still in use to this day. It is located in the middle of Minjiang River, the largest tributary of the Yangtze River. The project effectively put flood waters under control. Although still functioning today, it serves more as a tourist attraction due to its splendid natural beauty. A beer festival will be held there through August 31.

How to get there: Dujiangyan is connected to Chengdu by the Chengdu-Dujiangyan Expressway. The drive is about 30 minutes on the highway. The urban districts of Dujiangyan are about 60 km west of Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport. You can ride a shuttle bus or take a taxi to several bus stations (Shuangliu, Xinnanmen, Chadianzi) of Chengdu, where coaches bound for Dujiangyan are available. Or you can take the bullet train from Chengdu to Dujiangyan (about every hour there's a train running between). It only takes about 30 minutes to get to the city and Mount Qingcheng.

Above: The gate of Mount Qingcheng. [Photo/Chinaculture.org] Below: A local martial arts master performing his daily practice in Mount Qingcheng of Chengdu, the birthplace of Chinese Taoism. [He Bo / for China Daily]

Near Dujiangyan, Mount Qingcheng, also a World Cultural Heritage site, is the birthplace of Taoism. The mountain is about 2,400 meters above sea-level. There are many Taoist temples and palaces along the paths leading to its peak. The mountain is green all year round and known for its secluded tranquility.

How to get there: The tourist area is about 16 km away from Dujiangyan, 68 km west of Chengdu. There are buses bound for Mount Qingcheng from Xinnanmen bus station in Chengdu and it's about a one-hour drive. There are coaches every half hour running from the passenger transportation center near Li Bing Square in Dujiangyan to Mount Qingcheng area. The bus line 101 also runs from Dujiangyan to the mountain.

West of Chengdu, there lies a wonderland filled with colorful water and lakes hidden in the mountain valleys of a Tibetan state in Sichuan province, Southwest China. It is Jiuzhaigou.

Clear enough to see the bottom where wood lies, the water reflects the glitter of peacock feathers against a beautiful background of blue sky and year-long snow-topped mountains. Waterfalls of various sizes are easy to find along the footsteps amid rich forests. Far away from the heat of summer, you will definitely be intoxicated by the soul of Jiuzhaigou.

How to get there: Compared to other high-traffic, scenic spots in China, Jiuzhaigou can be difficult to access by land. The majority of tourists reach the vally by a 10-hour bus ride from Chengdu along the Minjiang River canyon. Direct flights from Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu, Chongqing and Hangzhou to Jiuzhaigou Huanglong Airport are available everyday. It takes 90 minutes to reach Jiuzhaigou from the airport.

Airline deal

Sichuan Airlines offers some 1,000-yuan ($163) round-trips (tax not included) until Sept 23. Round-trip flights between Chengdu and Melbourne are available at the rate for stay-overs shorter than 30 days until Sept 23.

For more ,please visit www.scal.com.cn.