Things to do in Shifang

The commentary at the Sanxingdui Museum was fantastic! The guide Ms 张敏 was highly professional. The explanation was rich and vivid, giving us a deep understanding of the ancient Shu civilization, and the pacing throughout the tour was well-managed. I am very satisfied with this guided service, highly recommended!)

A sea of ​​clouds, lush trees, streams and waterfalls, the support and encouragement of my travel companions, and the pleasant coolness even in the height of summer—I'm sure it will be another beautiful sight to come back next March or April when the alpine rhododendrons are in full bloom.

The Sanxingdui Archaeological Site Park is mainly composed of three exhibition areas, namely "Western City Wall Relics", "Yan Family Courtyard·Moon Bay" and "Sanxingdui·Sacrificial Pit·Archaeological Work Station", and the Sanxingdui Museum, which basically displays the cultural features and development level of the ancient Shu culture. In 2010, the Sanxingdui Archaeological Site Park became one of the first "National Archaeological Site Parks".

Sanxingdui Site – The Origin of the Yangtze River Civilization, a Site That Shook the World. Located on the south bank of the Yazi River in Guanghan City, Sichuan Province, the site covers an area of ​​12 km², with the core ancient city covering approximately 3.6 km². It is the largest, most complete, and longest-lasting ancient Shu capital site discovered in Southwest China to date. Latest Archaeological Progress (to be released in 2025): Precise Dating: Sacrificial pits 3, 4, 6, and 8 have a 95.4% probability of dating to 1201–1012 BC (Late Shang Dynasty). Artifacts from pits 1, 2, 3, 7, and 8 can be pieced together, confirming they were buried at the same time. New Casting Techniques: The "core-strip core support" bronze casting method was discovered for the first time, filling a gap in Chinese Bronze Age technology. Gold Usage: The total weight of unearthed gold artifacts exceeds 2 kg, the highest in China for the same period; gold masks and gold foil ornaments were refined using a gold-silver alloy and ash blowing method. Silk Traces: Silk residue was detected in multiple sacrificial pits, proving that people wore gold and brocade 3,000 years ago. Key artifacts: A large bronze mask (131 cm wide, weighing 131 catties, the world's largest Shang Dynasty bronze mask); a gold-masked bronze human head (42.5 cm, made from gold-plated wood, with openwork eyes and eyebrows); and over 5,000 other artifacts including a bronze sacred tree, a bird-shaped bronze bell, ivory carvings, and jade cong, showcasing the unique cosmology of the ancient Shu Kingdom. Sanxingdui buried the ancient Shu Kingdom's gold mask, bronze sacred tree, and silk sacrificial robes in late Shang Dynasty sacrificial pits. Their discovery today serves as the most dazzling evidence that the Yangtze and Yellow Rivers are both part of the mother river of Chinese civilization.

The Yinghua Grand Canyon rafting trip was truly worthwhile! The moment I got in, the waves splashed all over my face, and I screamed with joy! There was a particularly thrilling rapid section in the middle, and the boat rocked violently, causing everyone to scream. During the lull, we splashed each other with water, not caring about getting soaked. It was so relaxing! The staff seemed very reliable and constantly reminded us to be safe. By the end, I was exhausted but so happy. This is what summer fun should be!

The Chengdu research base of giant panda breeding is really good to visit if you don’t have much time in Chengdu! I entered 8am through the western gate, as it’s quieter than the south entry. I chose to do a walking route, not the shuttle. The initial area in panda valley did not have many pandas and the glass barriers outside had condensate so you couldn’t see through even if you wanted. So this area was a bit disappointing but after moving onto the panda Forrest area the scenery was better and there was LOTS of pandas to see eating and being active, GO EARLY! I went the west > south route as I didn’t care to see Huahua, the lines can get busy and by the time I got to the South Gate there was lots of tours, students on school trips etc. entering from the west ment I had a bit of time to myself and low crowds!

1. Immersive exhibition experience The exhibition design of Sanxingdui Museum is a fusion of modernity and historical depth. The new museum (Bronze Museum) uses spiral architecture to symbolize the Sanxingdui of the ancient Shu civilization and the evolution of human history. Through the interaction of light and shadow and layered display cabinets, the museum presents the bronze sacred tree, golden mask and other cultural relics in an almost "suspended" posture, which has a strong visual impact. Especially the 3.96-meter-high bronze sacred tree, with its scattered branches and details of bird and animal patterns, combined with sound and light explanations, makes people feel as if they are at the ancient Shu sacrifice site. It is recommended to rent smart guide equipment (about 20 yuan/time), which can restore the original appearance of cultural relics through AR technology, and the experience is far better than traditional museums. 2. Must-see cultural relics highlights 1. Bronze standing figure: The 2.62-meter-high bronze standing figure, with its hands clasped in a posture that remains a mystery, and the pattern of its clothing is clearly visible, which is an important basis for studying the clothing culture of ancient Shu. 2. Golden Mask: The golden mask with a gold content of 85% and an exaggerated hollow eye design show the ancient Shu people's worship of "divine eyes". 3. Golden Staff of the Shang Dynasty: weighing 463 grams, engraved with fish and bird patterns, it may be a symbol of the ancient Shu kingship. 4. Tongtian Divine Tree: The bronze-cast "Cosmic Tree" with nine branches symbolizing "nine suns", echoing the "Ten Sun Myth" recorded in the "Classic of Mountains and Seas". III. Practical Tour Suggestions - Transportation: From Chengdu, it is recommended to take the high-speed rail (18 minutes to Guanghan North Station) or the "Tianfuxing" scenic area through bus (round trip is about 50 yuan) to avoid the problem of self-driving and parking. - Time arrangement: It is recommended to reserve 4 hours and arrive before 9 am to avoid the peak of tour groups. If you have enough time, you can combine it with the Jinsha Ruins Museum (Sanxingdui Tourist Through Bus Line 2 has opened a special line connecting the two places). - Dining recommendations: There are only simple meals in the museum. It is recommended to go to the center of Guanghan after the tour to taste special delicacies such as silk-wrapped rabbit and Lianshan twice-cooked pork. The average consumption per person is about 40 yuan. IV. Cultural experience and interaction The cultural and creative products of Sanxingdui can be called "Internet celebrities" in the museum industry. Bronze mask ice cream (matcha flavor "bronze", chocolate flavor "unearthed") is a must-have for checking in, and the archaeological blind box "Three Stars and Moon" series combines bronze portraits with rock elements, which is both interesting and collectible. In addition, the museum regularly holds ancient Shu theme script killing (reservations must be made in advance), and participants can immerse themselves in the archaeological process by deciphering clues to cultural relics. V. Surroundings and accommodation - Guanghan City: It is recommended to stay at Shangkeyou Hotel (Sanxingdui theme room is about 200 yuan/night), the terrace on the 5th floor overlooks the night view of Yazi River, and the snack street can be reached by walking 1.3 kilometers. - Extended attractions: Guanghan Fanghu Park, Longju Temple and other niche attractions are sparsely populated and quiet, suitable for in-depth tours. VI. Personal Reflection The charm of Sanxingdui lies in its duality of "unsolved mystery" and "civilization dialogue". Standing in front of the bronze vertical-eyed mask, its bulging eyes and wide mouth are both strange and familiar - it is different from the realistic style of the bronze ware in the Central Plains, and has a subtle similarity with the statues of the Mayan civilization. This civilizational resonance across regions and time and space makes people wonder: Did the ancient Shu people

It is a very suitable scenic spot for taking the family, young and old, to see the red leaves. It is not tiring. Although it was drizzling, it did not affect the viewing of the red leaves. The journey was not far. There were many snack stalls on the roadside when returning. In addition to the regular cold noodles, fried skewers, etc., there were also maocai, stir-fried vegetables, and rice. Isn't this a proper meal? It is affordable and delicious.

The nearest Red Canyon Plank Road is very beautiful and worth a visit. There are three sections of the Red Canyon Plank Road: The first section is the Guandong Bridge entrance of the Red Canyon Plank Road The second section is the Goldfish Bridge entrance of the Red Canyon Plank Road The third section is the Lime Bridge entrance of the Red Canyon Plank Road Each entrance can be searched on WeChat.

Dujiangyan is truly the greatest water conservancy project. Li Bing deserves to be enshrined in the Imperial Ancestral Temple. The wisdom of the ancients is truly admirable! The only thing I'm not entirely satisfied with is that the shuttle bus from the exit to the entrance of the scenic area costs 10 yuan, which is a bit expensive. I hope this can be improved.