Chengdu, China
I previously visited Chengdu when filming the Journey Through China series in 2023, unfortunately due to limited time left on my visa and other places to visit I only managed to spend a day and a half there. At the end of that video I remember saying Chengdu is somewhere I have top come back and spend more time exploring.
Luckily nearly a year on from my first visit an opportunity arose to revisit Chengdu on an 144 hour transit visa and explore some lesser known locations of this incredible part of china rich with History, Tradition & Culture.
Tiantai Mountain Scenic Area
After arriving in Chengdu late the previously evening I was up bright and early travelling 110km out from the urban area of Chengdu to the Tiantai Mountain Scenic Area.
As a natural landscape closely combining culture and history, Tiantai Mountain is widely known for mountains, dense forests & cascading waterfalls. Home to rare and endangered species such as Chinas iconic Giant Panda, not only a sanctuary for wildlife but also home to over 20 species of rare plants. The scenic area enjoys a mild climate and abundant rainfall, with an average annual temperature of 16°C.
Dujiangyan
Dujiangyan is located to the West of Chengdu and home to some incredible sights and home to two UNESCO World Heritage sights. The first is the Dujiangyan Irrigation System is an ecological engineering feat originally constructed around 256 BC and still in operation today. Effectively what it does is firstly stops flooding, secondly it distributes water for irrigation across the whole of the Chengdu Plain without the use of a dam.
The second UNESCO World heritage site is Mount Quingcheng which dominates the skyline to the south of the Dujiangyan Irrigation System, it is one of China’s 4 sacred Taoist mountains. It was here that the philosopher Zhang Daoling founded the Way of the Celestial Masters, one of the major sects of Taoism, during the Eastern Han dynasty (25–220 CE).
On my first visit to Chengdu I visited the Chengdu Panda Research base but Dujiangyan is also home to a Panda Centre that covers 126 acres. I was only lucky enough to see one panda on my visit to the Chengdu panda research base due to arriving late in the day when Pandas are less active so made it a priority to arrive bright an early at the Dujiangyan Panda Centre to hopefully see this national icon being more active.
Chendgu
Whenever I travel to a new country I am always fascinated the daily life of locals and ancient crafts that still exist to these days. After some research I came to learn about the art of Shu Brocade a traditional Chinese silk brocade originating from the region of Shu, which is today's Chengdu, in Sichuan Province. It is renowned for its intricate weaving techniques, vibrant colours, and elegant patterns, often featuring nature-inspired designs such as flowers, birds, and geometric shapes. Shu Brocade has a long history, dating back over 2,000 years to the Han dynasty. During this time, Chengdu became an important centre for silk production and trade. Shu Brocade was highly prized by Chinese nobility and was often used for making luxurious garments, robes for emperors, and official attire.
I visited the Chengdu Shu Brocade and Embroidery Museum and spend some time with Master He Bin, a 60 year old master weaver who holds the highest professional title in China’s Brocade industry. The Intricate Patterns that the master and his apprentices weave tell a story about attention to detail and artistic vision and is one of the most fascinating crafts i’ve witnessed during my time as a photographer.
