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Xingwen Stone Forest and Caves

I'm now going to introduce you a extremely beautiful and unique scenic spot .Yes ,it is Xingwen Stone Forest(and caves) .

it may has been a boring site for the locals ,nevertheless ,maybe ,a blockbuster for you curious tourists ,especially those who want to find something fresh and brand-new ,which seldom be described in those travel books .caves

 

 

1,Geographic Location

The Xingwen Stone Forest and caves is located in Xingwen county of Yibin ,with Luzhou to the east and Yibin to the west .It is adjacent to the Shunan Bamboo Forest and covers an area of 126.4square kilometers .

2, status and reputation

It was ratified as a China national key tourist resort by the state council in 2002

It was ratified as a global geopark by the UNESCO in 2004

It has the biggest funnel on earth ,the longest sightseeing cave in China and the largest group of rocks in China

3,scenic features

The Xingwen Stone Forest and caves is well known for its vastness ,magnificence ,beauty and grace .characterized by karst landforms ,its main scenery is typical of Stone Forest and karst  caves .the queer peaks Tower imposingly ;under the ground are interconnecting karst caves ,with holes within holes .the scenery is described in the annuals of Xingwen county : “the rocks stand in great numbers ,some like edifices, some like young horned dragons, some like tigers and leopard ,all of which are in different poses and expressions ,some jumping ,some crouching, some gathering ,some scattering ,a real stunning view .”

underground cave and river

 

Located 30 kilometers south of Zhongcheng town ,in Xingwen county ,Xingwen Stone Forest and caves is famous for its queer stone forest and numerous caves .featured by karst landforms ,the whole scenic area includes Tianquan cave scenic area ,the Jiusi mountain scenic area ,the Dabazongyuan (大坝综源景区)and the Zhoujiagou Karst Cave Scenic Area (周家沟溶洞景区).

 

At the rear exit of the Tianquan cave ,there are two natural karst funnels, namely the Xiaoyanwan Grand Funnel  (小岩湾大漏斗) and Dayanwan Grand Funnel (大岩湾大漏斗)the Grand Funnel.the diameter of the xiaoyanwan grand funnel is 650 meters and the sunshine can penetrate as deep as 208meters .most parts of the precipice are erect turquoise streaks ,which glimmer like silver and look like a flying waterfall .in the Middle part of the precipice ,a natural plank road ,about 2000 meters long ,connects the back exit of the Tianquan cave .the dayanwan grand funnel is located 400 meters from the xiaoyanwan grand funnel .it is about 700 meters from the west to the east and about 450 meters from north to south .and the deepest part is 230meters from the ground .it is shaped like a gourd and is connected to the Tianquan cave .both of them are larger than the American Arecipo funnel (美国阿里西波大漏斗),which is 330 meters in diameter ,70meters in depth .

 

p.s. this is just a rough introduction of this magic global geopark .if you are interested in Sichuan ,Chengdu is definitely NOT the only consideration .the southeast Sichuan ,which I mean ,the cities like Yibin and Zigong also worth exploring ,absolutely !

See also :Members of the Global Geoparks Network(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Members_of_the_Global_Geoparks_Network)

 

 

 

firstly get to Xingwen county(we local residents are used to  call it Gusong town) from Chengdu or Yibin by coach.You could get to Yibin by coach or airplane.

then take the taxi ,or hire a van to get there 

there's also coach there .

Du Fu's Thatched Cottage Park & Museum

Admission to the park is Y60, so make a morning or afternoon out of the visit to make it worth the rather high entrance fee.

Du Fu, along with Li Bai, are the two most famous poets in Chinese history. Contemporaries of each other as well as friends, Chinese poets have emulated t...

Admission to the park is Y60, so make a morning or afternoon out of the visit to make it worth the rather high entrance fee.

Du Fu, along with Li Bai, are the two most famous poets in Chinese history. Contemporaries of each other as well as friends, Chinese poets have emulated their poetic styles for centuries. They both lived during the Tang Dynasty (618-906 AD). Du Fu first came to Chengdu in 759, shortly after escaping the after the Anshan Rebellion in Xian, the capital city of the Tang Dynasty. After arriving in Chengdu Du Fu constructed his legendary thatched cottage, which today is Chengdu’s leading historical attraction.

Du Fu composed more than 240 poems here, and although the cottage itself is a replica, it is easy to understand how this bland dwelling was fitting for the timeless and compassionate poet. Du Fu’s works are said to display constant anguish for the state of his motherland and in particular for the countless people who were homeless as a result of the recent political upheavals. Du Fu lived here in 2 stints between 759 and 765 AD with his wife and children.

The cottage is part of a park filled with statues of Du Fu and other poets, shrines, gardens, and two pagodas. There are two small museums or exhibition halls across from each other which display a visual biography of Du Fu’s life and many of his poems. There is a fair amount of English. In Chengdu’s summer heat the heavily shaded walkways, benches, and gardens provide much needed relief to Chengdu residents who can purchase yearly passes to the grounds. Like any park in Chengdu, there is ample space around the edges of the park to relax, play cards, read a book, sip tea, or take a quiet nap.

 

The park’s north gate is on Qinghua Lu. Buses 17, 35, 82, 84, 301, 309, 503, and 509 all stop across the street from the entrance if you are coming from the center of town. The park is a few kilometers west of the city center; a taxi should cost no more than Y12.

Chunxi Lu

Chunxi Lu could be included in the shopping category, but because of the brand names, bright lights, and crowds of people it is likely better suited as a tourist stop. Filled with brand name shops from around the world, Chunxi Lu is an expensive place to go shopping. You could probably buy the sa...

Chunxi Lu could be included in the shopping category, but because of the brand names, bright lights, and crowds of people it is likely better suited as a tourist stop. Filled with brand name shops from around the world, Chunxi Lu is an expensive place to go shopping. You could probably buy the same goods in your home country for similar rates. However, make time to walk down Chunxi Lu and night and witness a scene reminscient of Times Square in New York or Trafalgar Square in London. Bright lights and enormous colorful advertisements make your head spin. It is a perfect microcosm of the new globalized capitalist economy of China. The Chinese love to shop here, simply so they can say they bought the item at Chunxi Lu. Adidas, Gucci, Kappa, Nike, Seiko, Ito Yokado are just a few stores on Chunxi Lu. Try to avoid a visit on a weekend, as you will likely be overwhelmed by throngs of shoppers shoving their way down the promenade. The street is free of cars and sidestreets are filled with street vendors selling yummy snacks filled with sugar to keep you in a shopping frenzy.

Directions: Simply walk in the direction of people with shopping bags, slightly east/southeast of Tianfu Square. When the stores begin to get fancier with more and more recognizable brand names, you know you are close. All taxi drivers will know Chunxi Lu. 

Dagu Glacier

Dagu Glacier is located in Heishui County, Aba Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture .Sichuan Province ,China . the altitude of the peak is 5283m. The mountain top is covered with snow all year round. In autumn, you can see the spectacular scenery of the colorful forest since late October ; &nb...

Dagu Glacier is located in Heishui County, Aba Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture .Sichuan Province ,China . the altitude of the peak is 5283m. The mountain top is covered with snow all year round. In autumn, you can see the spectacular scenery of the colorful forest since late October ;  in winter, it is suitable for extreme sports such as ice climbing.

Until 1992, Japanese scientists discovered through the satellite that she was hiding in the mountains . In August , they crossed the ocean to Heishui County and made a one-week visit to her. They become very excited for such a modern glacier and since then it’s known to the world. There are lakes , waterfalls, forests and meadow here

 

Entrance

120 rmb

Sightseeing bus 70 rmb

Cable car 180 rmb

 

Open : 8:00-19:00 ( get into the park before 15:30)

 Travel in Dagu Glacier

Scenic spots

  1. Golden Monkey Lake ( Jinhou Lake ) 金猴海

It’s quite similar to Jiuzhaigou

  1. Honjun Lake ( Red Army Lake ) 红军湖

It’s recorded that in 1935 the Red Army had been camping here

  1. Zena Cuo -in Tibetan language means Released lake
  2. Hongju Bridge (Red Army Bridge )红军桥
  3. Shenniu Lake (Holy Yak Lake) 神牛湖
  4. Hongyun Slope (鸿运坡)
  5. Dagu Lake ( 达古湖)
  6. Luogesi Mountain 洛格斯神山