Sichuan - The Innermost Province
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Sichuan is the most populous Chinese province with around 10 percent of the Chinese population, more than a hundred million people, live on a land area of 567,000 sq km. The plain, which is surrounded by high mountain ranges to the north, east and west, has a climate very favourable to agriculture. Even during the winter months, the peasants supply the market with fresh fruit and vegetables. The main grain of the region is rice, a large amount of rape seed is also grown, which supplies most of the cooking oil used in China. Today, the province, which in past centuries was not easily accessible and as a result has preserved a rich tradition, is linked to the rest of China through numerous routes. The capital of the province, Chengdu, lies in the centre of the Sichuan plain, the Red Basin. The town which is more than 2,000 years old, now has around four million inhabitants. Built on flat ground, the town can be explore on foot or bicycle. Tourists may wish to visit places in the town such the Temple of the Duke of Wu, Straw Hut of the Poet Du Fu, River View Tower, Chongli Pavilion, Tomb of Wang Jian and Chengdu’s zoo.

On the north 18 km from Chengdu, the county town of Xindu is the famous Buddhist Precious Light Monastery (Baoguangsi). The site was burnt down during the Ming period and rebuilt in 1670. The oldest building of the monastery site is the 30 metres tall pagoda (Sheita) in the front courtyard. The 500 relatively well preserved Luohan statues from the Qing Dynasty are well worth seeing.

The Emei mountain range is to the south-west of the Sichuan basin, 160 km from Chengdu. The Emei Shan mountain was named after its shaped, a curved eyebrow. The county town Emeixian at the foot of the mountain range can be reached either by bus or train from Chengdu. The Baoguasi Temple, which is only one of the many temples scattered around the mountain ranges, dating from the 16^th century was built on a slope, comprises four halls, each one built in a more elevated position than the previous one. There are also various exhibtion halls with artefacts, calligraphy and paintings. There are steps leading from Baoguosi Temple up to the peak. In favourable weather conditions, visitors can experience a remarkable, unique natural phenomenon on the peak.

Leshan can be easily reached by bus from Emeixian . The town, which is over 1,300 years old, lies at the confluence of the Qingyi, Min and Dadu rivers. The most important sights are on the mountains Lingyun and Wulong. On the cliff face of Linyunshan, Buddhist monks in the 8^th century spent 90 years carving a huge, seated Buddha figures.

The head of the 71 metres high Buddha is 14.7 metres long and 10 metres wide and is covered with more than 1,000 snail-shaped hair knots. Lingyun Monastery lies on the mountain above the Buddha figure. Its buildings originally date from the Tang period, but have been renovated several times in the course of the centuries.