Welcome to South-West China Chengdu

Welcome to South-West China
Chengdu
Capital of Sichuan province, Chengdu is a thriving city of more than one million people. Sometimes described as the gateway to Tibet, it is over 2,500 years old and considered a highly cultural city and a center of academic excellence. As a busy city in a largely rural province, it is also a place where modern and traditional China coexists. As a great city of the Tang Dynasty, it has much to offer and is a pleasant city to spend time in. The international airport is about 20km from the city and easily accessible by taxi or shuttle bus. Chengdu is also a rail and bus hub and the transport system is geared towards people heading into Tibet. Within the city it is best to travel by taxi although a subway system is under construction. There are also bicycle taxis, which can be fun.The average temperature in Chengdu is over 15 degrees Celsius. Summers are hot and humid with rain. In winter, temperatures generally stay above zero. Spring and fall are the best times to visit.Sichuan food is famous and usually spicy. Some classic dishes to try are Mapo Dofu, a beancurd dish; Gong Bao Ji Ding, diced chicken fried with peanuts; Yu Xiang Rou Si, a pork dish; and Hui Guo Rou Pian, pork slices 'twice cooked'.
Guiyang
This city of three million is the capital of Guizhou, one of China's prettiest provinces. Its position on a high plateau surrounded by mountains makes for inspiring views and pleasant weather. The city has wide boulevards and there are areas of the old town worth visiting. There are more than thirty minority groups in the region, the most populous being the Miao, although the Muslim Hui are also visible throughout. This gives Guiyang a more traditional feel than many cities of similar size and age in China and it is worth exploring the city for a day. Guiyang is a rail hub and also has an international airport about 10km away. Once in the city, buses and minibuses are easy to use but taxis are also convenient. Guiyang, on the Yungui plateau, has a temperate climate all year round without much difference between seasons. It is however commonly overcast and temperatures can drop quickly at night.
Jiuzhaigou
Jiuzhaigou Valley is a protected nature preserve in northern Sichuan's Min Shan mountain range. Some 450 kilometers north of Chengdu, the area has a tiny indigenous population in an area covering more than 5,000 square kilometers.This is a place of extraordinary unspoiled beauty and you can easily spend a week here. Despite a massive increase in tourism in recent years, there are local villages where Tibetans live in much the same way as they have for centuries. Made up of three valleys, the area offers an extraordinary range of sights: snowy mountain peaks, thick forests and emerald lakes. There are 12 different peaks to climb and almost every waterfall, lake, and mountain has a local legend attached in either Chinese or Tibetan folklore. Peak season is from April to November. Most visitors arrive as members of package tours either by air or by a ten-hour bus ride from Chengdu. If you are traveling individually, arrange a driver to travel within the preserve or use local tourist buses; there is over 50km of paved road.The valley is high in the mountains so although the sun can be fierce in the summer, generally the temperature stays in the twenties. At night it cools down considerably and temperatures drop below zero in the winter. Spring and fall are by far the most pleasant times to visit; but you will always need warm clothing. The valleys are dry but on the mountains themselves rain or snow is common.