Sichuan announces routes for holiday travelers

Buddha statues in Anyue county, Sichuan province. [Photo provided to China Daily]

Southwest China's Sichuan province announced travel routes and discounts to woo tourists during the National Day holiday week and the Mid-Autumn Festival in early October.

The 10 routes announced connect places with many draws, including giant pandas, heritage and health preservation sites and gourmet food, and cover the province's beautiful landscape while offering multiple choices to travelers to explore, Xie Haiyin, a senior official of the Sichuan tourism authority said at a promotional event in Beijing on Wednesday.

The Chinese capital has been a major source of tourists to Sichuan. Beijing residents paid 165,000 visits to the province in the first seven months of the year, up 18.7 percent over the same period last year. They have become the third-largest force in the province's tourism market, the official said.

Tourism resources in Beijing and Sichuan are complementary and the two places have the potential for tourism cooperation, Shi Jianzhong, secretary-general of Beijing Tourism Industry Association, says.

Travel agencies in Beijing will continue to send more tourists to Sichuan, Shi adds.

A series of discounts have been rolled out to attract visitors. A "panda passport" will be issued which will allow visitors to enjoy discounted or even free entry at major scenic spots in Sichuan.

Tourists who drive themselves or take trains and flights that are associated with tourism will be able to enjoy special benefits too, according to Xie.

Sichuan's diverse geographical environment and history make it a great tourist destination. The province has five UNESCO World Heritage sites, including Jiuzhai Valley, Huanglong and Qingcheng Mountain, and the local cuisine is a favorite of tourists from home and abroad.

"The view will be at its best in the fall," Xie says.

Guangwu Mountain offers splendid red leaves in the season, while Hailuogou features a glacier, polychromatic forests and hot springs.

One could learn about giant pandas by visiting the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, the giant panda valley in Dujiangyan and 46 panda reserves. In particular, the wild giant panda can be found in the Minshan and Qionglai mountains.

For those who love challenges, Daocheng county in the Garze Tibetan autonomous prefecture is ideal to explore primitive wonders of nature, featuring a vast plateau and a snow-capped mountain. Tourists who drive themselves shouldn't miss the Minya Konka mountain. They can get a full measure of Jiarong Tibetan ethnic group's hospitality. Xinduqiao is one of the highlights along the way and can offer stunning views for photographers, with a golden forest and a tortuous river.

The Leshan Giant Buddha statue and Mount Emei allows one to become immersed in local Buddhist culture.