Things to do in Yuexi

Wenchang Hometown Scenic Area of Yuexi

Xiaoxiang Range

2026 Global 100 - Best Things to Do

Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding

The Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding is home to many adorable giant pandas, and you can observe these charming national treasures up close. Located in the northern suburbs of Chengdu, the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding is approx. 10 km from the city center, and its construction fully simulates the wild living environment of giant pandas, with lakes, streams, bamboo forests, lawns, and more. The Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding has many "panda villas", which are enclosed leisure areas for pandas. Each features an outdoor yard and an indoor rest room. When the weather is cool, the giant pandas play in the yard, and visitors can watch the adorable pandas through the railings; when the weather is hot, the giant pandas hide in the air-conditioned rest rooms, and visitors can only watch them through the glass. You can also see pandas in the new area of the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, and they are our hero pandas. The pandas' home is bigger, and their activity range is wider. Seeing pandas is the main draw, but there is plenty more to do and see. A must-visit is our landmark building — the internet-famous Panda Tower. As a new landmark of Chengdu, it stands at the highest point of the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding. The tower is 69.8 m tall with 11 floors. Its exterior resembles a giant bamboo shoot, while the interior is shaped like a blooming hibiscus flower. Inside, 81 platforms are distributed throughout, allowing visitors to enjoy the views of the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding from multiple angles. There is also the Art Museum (New Building) located in the dense forest area of the new district, which uses emerging exhibition methods such as multi-sensory interaction, lighting installations, interactive installations, and thermal sensing to create immersive exhibition scenes for visitors. The new area of the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding plans to set up science popularization display boards and interactive facilities with rich content and diverse forms in four major zones, so that visitors can learn about giant pandas while watching them and enhance their interactive experience. On festivals related to animal and environmental protection, themed science popularization activities will also be carried out for visitors of different age groups, such as interactive lectures, family-friendly science popularization, mystery exploration games, and other activities that combine education with entertainment. When you're tired from playing, you can also go enjoy a musical — "Panda": it vividly presents to the audience the scene of magical animals, with the giant panda as their representative, coexisting harmoniously, sharing nature, and loving life on the beautiful and fertile land of Chengdu, Sichuan. Through the form of a musical, it reflects the livable landscape of Chengdu, Sichuan, and the simple and leisurely life of the local people. In terms of total area, it has increased from the original 1,035 mu to 3,570 mu, expanding by 2.5 times. During the expansion, the original topography and landforms were fully followed and preserved, and the multi-level landscape belts of mountain valleys formed by mountain gullies and streams were utilized to create 11 giant panda venues, multiple science popularization venues, and visitor pedestrian streets and other sightseeing locations. After the expansion project is completed, it can accommodate no fewer than 180 giant pandas and companion animals such as red pandas and golden snub-nosed monkeys. As of now, multiple giant pandas and red pandas have moved into the "new homes" in the expansion area, and rare animals such as golden snub-nosed monkeys will also be waiting to welcome everyone in the future. In terms of design, the new area is equipped with ample visitor facilities in accordance with 5A attraction standards. It not only provides basic facilities such as sightseeing vehicles and tourist restrooms, but also equips the hill commercial street, the exit commercial street, and scattered commercial complexes in various zones with a large number of tourism service facilities. The planned business formats include dining, souvenir sales, postal services, cinemas, theaters, and experiential education, among others, and the quantity is sufficient to meet visitor demand. After nearly a year of operation, in response to the practical issues of the new area's large size and uneven distribution of supporting facilities, the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding has added multiple beverage vending machines, direct drinking water dispensers, and shared convenience facilities throughout the new area to improve the visitor experience. Next, the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding will further supplement and improve visitor rest facilities, inquiry service facilities, and guide and navigation facilities to meet visitor needs. The expanded Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding will help Chengdu build a demonstration site of harmonious coexistence between humanity and nature, improve conditions for giant panda research and conservation, protect biodiversity, fully demonstrate the brand value, cultural value, and economic value of giant pandas, and build the cultural tourism brand of "Sanxingdui, Jiuzhaigou, and Giant Pandas: A Leisurely Journey Through Sichuan." New businesses and projects such as the Panda Art Museum, IMAX Theater, and Panda Theater are now open, meeting visitors' needs for dining, entertainment, sightseeing, shopping, and leisure while they watch giant pandas.

2026 Asia 100 - Best Things to Do

Dujiangyan Scenic Area

The Dujiangyan Irrigation System is located along the main branch of the Lancang River, west of Dujiangyan City. It was constructed in the Qin dynasty around 256 BC by Li Bing, Prefecture Chief of Shu County, and his son. It is one of the few ancient Chinese water conservancy projects that has remained preserved and intact. The project consists of three primary works—Yuzui Diverting Embankment, the Feishayan Spillway, and the Baopingkou Water Inlet, and two secondary works which include the Baizhangdi (the thousand-feet dam) and Renzidi (the y-shaped dam). They divide the Yongjiang River into an outer and an inner branch, the former of which is used to divert floods and the latter for irrigation. This has allowed the Western Sichuan plateau to become "the land of abundance" as we now know it.

2026 Asia 100 - Best Things to Do

Yulong Snow Mountain

Yulong Snow Mountain is one of Lijiang's famous attractions and a sacred mountain in the hearts of the Naxi people. It consists of 13 undulating peaks that resemble a dancing silver dragon, which is how it got its name. Within the attraction, visitors can take a cable car directly up the mountain to easily admire the magnificence of the high-altitude glacier, which is a highlight for many visitors coming here. Snow mountain overview Yulong Snow Mountain is renowned for being "dangerous, wondrous, beautiful, and elegant." From the foot to the summit, there are multiple tiers of views ranging from subtropical to temperate to frigid zones. At the foot of the mountain lies Ganhaizi, a vast pasture where gentians and azaleas bloom across the meadows in spring and summer. From here, the peaks of Yulong are clearly visible in the distance. Yunshanping, at an elevation of over 3,200 m, is a sacred place in the hearts of Naxi youth. It is a tranquil meadow surrounded by ancient towering trees and dense vines, creating a serene environment. Below the thirteen peaks of Yulong are 13 modern maritime glaciers, which from afar appear like a waterfall hanging overFanzi DouBelow, under the sunlight, it glistens with silver light. Tourists can take the large cableway to an altitude of 4506 m, and then follow the mountain boardwalk to view the glacier and the majestic main peak up close. Large cableway The attraction's popular cable car transports visitors from the lower station at Ganhaizi to the Glacier Park at an elevation of 4,506 m. After getting off the cable car, you can follow the wooden boardwalk laid out on the glacier all the way to the highest point at an elevation of 4,680 m, where you can experience the charm of the snow-capped mountains and glaciers up close. In case of strong winds, the cable car may be suspended; please keep an eye on official messages for details. Spruce meadow cableway The lower station of the cableway is located at the foot of the snow mountain by the Baishui River, and can be reached by taking the attraction's eco-friendly bus. Riding the Yunshanping cableway takes you to Yunshanping at an elevation of 3,240 m, a great spot to view the peaks of Yulong Snow Mountain from afar. Yak Meadow cableway Maoniuping is a large meadow located on another side of Yulong Snow Mountain, about 15 km from Yunshanping. Climbing up to Maoniuping, you can view Yulong Snow Mountain from another angle.

yang po ti tian

No. 4 of Best Things to Do in Sichuan and Chongqing

Mount Qingcheng

Mount Qingcheng has long been praised as "Tranquil Paradise under Heaven," with its peaks encircling like city walls—hence the name. Legend says Zhang Daoling of the Eastern Han dynasty established Taoism here in a thatched hut, making it the ancestral home of Celestial Master Taoism, where temple incense still burns today. The mountain divides into front and back sections: the front features Taoist temples and cultural relics, commonly referred to as "Mount Qingcheng" by most travelers; the back excels in natural landscapes like pools, waterfalls, streams, and gorges, making it ideal for hiking and summer retreats. The highlights of Qianshan are concentrated. Starting from Jianfu Palace beside the mountain gate, follow the ancient stone steps upward past Natural Picture, Tianshi Cave, Chaoyang Cave, and Shangqing Palace, with the summit's Laojun Pavilion as the final vantage point. Tianshi Cave, also called Changdao Temple, is one of the mountain's largest Taoist complexes—its front courtyard holds a millennium-old ginkgo tree allegedly planted by Zhang Daoling, while the cliffside Ink-throwing Trough behind is said to be where the celestial master drew mountains with vermilion ink. Painting master Zhang Daqian once resided at Shangqing Palace, styling himself "Guest of Qingcheng." At the mountain's base, Yuecheng Lake's mirror-like waters add ethereal beauty to the lush greenery. The rear mountain entrance is the quaint Tai'an ancient town. From here, the trails connect Wulong gully and Feiquan gully into a loop, with views like Misty spring triple pools, Double spring water curtain cave, and Hundred-zhang long bridge accompanied by the sounds of water and shaded woods. The Longyin gorge walkway built along cliffs overlooks rushing streams below, making it a dedicated hiking route. The mountain stays pleasantly cool even in midsummer. The front mountain and back mountain entrances are not connected, usually requiring separate itineraries. Most 1-day tours choose one of the two. The front mountain's main temples can be visited in half a day, while the back mountain loop is longer and requires reserving most of a day. Travelers wishing to see the sunrise often ascend the mountain a day early, staying overnight at mountain temples for convenient morning viewing.

2026 Asia 100 - Best Things to Do

Chengdu Du Fu Thatched Cottage Museum

Chengdu Du Fu Thatched Cottage is the former residence of Du Fu, the Sage of Poetry, during his exile in Chengdu. In the winter of 759 AD, Du Fu came to Chengdu with his family to escape the An Lushan Rebellion. In the spring of the following year, he built a "thatched cottage" by the Huanhua Stream and lived there. Du Fu resided here for three years and nine months in total, during which he composed more than 240 poems that have been passed down to this day. Chengdu Du Fu Thatched Cottage is hailed as "the holy land of Chinese literary history." In the late Tang Dynasty, the poet Wei Zhuang located the site of the thatched cottage and rebuilt the thatched hut. Thereafter, Du Fu Thatched Cottage underwent fourteen large-scale renovations and expansions from the Song, Yuan, Ming, and Qing Dynasties to the present day. After the founding of New China, in 1952, Du Fu Thatched Cottage was fully renovated and officially opened to the public. In 1955, the Du Fu Memorial Hall was established, and in 1985 it was renamed Chengdu Du Fu Thatched Cottage Museum. It is now one of the first batch of Major Historical and Cultural Sites Protected at the National Level, a National First-Class Museum, a National Key Protection Unit for Ancient Books, and a National 4A-Level Tourist Attraction. Its area has also grown from the "one mu of cleared thatch" when Du Fu built the cottage to nearly 800 mu today, including 300 mu of cultural relic area and 500 mu of Huanhua Garden area. Chengdu Du Fu Thatched Cottage Museum is a public welfare Class II institution, and is also additionally designated as the Du Fu Thatched Cottage Poetry, Calligraphy and Painting Academy Art Museum and the Chengdu Chinese Calligraphy Museum. It currently has an authorized staffing of 123 positions and 16 internal working bodies, with its main source of funding being admission ticket revenue. Chengdu Du Fu Thatched Cottage Museum is a museum of ancient architecture, a large-scale center for the collection and display of Du Fu research materials and Du Fu poetry calligraphy and painting in China, an important platform for inheriting and promoting excellent Chinese poetry culture, a representative base of classical gardens in western Sichuan, and a protection and exhibition center for ancient architecture in western Sichuan. Its ancient buildings feature wooden column-and-tie structures, with representative buildings including the Grand Hall, the Hall of Poetry History, the Ministry of Works Hall, the Thatched Hut, and the Sutra Library; its distinctive poetic garden views include the Bonsai Garden, the Orchid Garden, and the Plum Garden.

2026 Global 100 - Best Things to Do

Mount Emei

Mount Emei is one of the four famous mountains of Chinese Buddhism, and it is also the temple of Samantabhadra Bodhisattva. There are numerous Buddhist monasteries in the mountains that combine to give this place a holy and serene atmosphere. The scenery in the mountains are beautiful. The four seasons each have their own characteristics. If you are lucky, you can see the sunrise and sea of clouds. Do note that the monkeys in Mount Emei are notoriously naughty. They are not afraid of people, and even take the initiative to ask tourists for food.

No. 1 of Fall Viewing Attractions in Mianning

The Lingshan Temple

Lingshan Temple is located in the Lingshan Scenic Area, 17 km east of Mianning County. It lies at the foot of Lingshan Mountain on the west branch of Xiaoxiang Ridge, named after the mountain to its rear. Lingshan Temple is famous for its "spiritual effect." The temple fair takes place from July 18 to 28 on the lunar calendar every year, and is also the peak period of incense worship and tourism. In addition, in the deep mountain there are little known landscapes that had been hidden for thousands of years, including the Red Sea, the Ink Sea, the Mountain Connecting Sea, the Waterjetting waterfalls. Now they have gradually revealed their splendor, adding endless charm to Lingshan Temple.