Day 8th
Chengdu
Day 8 Chengdu
In the hometown of pandas, nothing would be a better start for our journey than a visit to its Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, the largest facility for breeding and researching giant pandas in the world. Get your fill of those cuddly pandas! Since they are most playful in the morning, it will be the best time for us to watch those adorable creatures eat, play or climb, for your heart to be melted.
After that, we will take you to explore the Wide and Narrow Alleys. A historical relic in Chengdu famous for its artistic and cultural ambience, it is just the right place for you to taste Sichuan flavors loved in China.
In the afternoon, you will pay a visit to the Jinsha Site Museum, the place for ancient sun-worshipping Shu Kingdom to conduct sacrificial rituals, dating back to some 3,000 years ago. This is where archeologists unearthed the astounding discovery of Gold Foil of Sun and Immortal Bird, which relates the ancient history of kingdom’s cult belief in the Sun God. Its image has been used widely for many purposes, such as being the logo of China Cultural Heritage. You might want to explore the ancient Shu culture for yourself!
► Mysterious Ancient Shu Civilization Featuring Special Bronze Culture
Jinsha Site is an important part of the ancient Shu civilization, which is the unique local indigenous culture in southwestern China different from the mainstream Chinese Central Plain culture. Around 38 km (23.6 mi) from the Jinsha Site is the famous Sanxingdui Site whose culture flourished 3,000-5,000 years ago, considered the center and the origin of the ancient Shu civilization. Jinsha’s culture is widely believed to be the succession of Sanxingdui’s.
Some discoveries from the Sanxingdui site have surprised the world. First, Sanxingdui people may have mastered welding technology more than 4,000 years ago. The researchers have found the amazing fact by detecting the unearthed tortoise-back mesh bronze. In the 1990s, Japanese scientists tried to make an exact replica of the Bronze Heavenly Tree of Sanxingdui, but they failed. Copper cools so quickly and it would be solidified before reaching the grain. In Sanxingdui bronzes, scientists found phosphorus, which can speed up the flow of copper. However, phosphorus was discovered by the Germans in the 17th century, so we don’t know how Sanxingdui people extracted it. In addition, a round bronze with shaft was found very similar to the pattern on ancient Egyptian frescoes. Like a steering wheel in the car, it was presumably a symbol of the sun.
Enough of profound history, now we will head to Renmin Park to stroll amid beautiful landscape and experience real life. You will learn about China’s Blind Date culture at the “matchmaking corner”. You can read flyers of personal profiles of unmarried young men or women hang up in rows, by their parents to seek proper life partners for their daughters or sons. Or, chat with locals over Gai Wan tea, a local tea served in a cup with a lid and a saucer, or give some gratuities to a traditional ear-cleaning expert and have your ears artistically and enjoyably cleaned.
Meals: Western buffet breakfast
Small Group Tour
Adorable Pandas in Chengdu & Gold Mask in Jinsha Site Museum Scenery
