Things to do in Xichuan

Aside from the crowds, there are no other problems. It has a classic and antique feel, and the shops inside are very bustling, with everything you need for eating, drinking, and entertainment. Some local specialties are worth buying. The overall planning of the scenic area is also good, with both a sense of traditional history and a modern atmosphere. It's worth a visit.

Danjiang Grand View Garden is mostly man-made landscape near my hometown. It happened to be the Chinese New Year, so I took my family and friends to have a look. Overall, it was pretty good. It is the source of the middle line of the South-to-North Water Diversion Project, with clear water and beautiful scenery. Friends who are interested can go and have a look.

The exhibit mainly features dinosaur eggs, and the collection is very rich. There's a horizontally excavated tunnel that cuts directly through the strata containing dinosaur egg fossils, showcasing three different geological layers. At the end is a vertical shaft leading directly to the surface, revealing the layered distribution of dinosaur eggs vertically. The core exhibition hall houses a collection of large dinosaur fossils from various regions, including a gigantic dinosaur estimated to be 10-20 meters long, spanning the entire hall – truly spectacular. It's very interesting for children and a rare and awe-inspiring geological wonder for adults. While the exhibition hall is large, the exhibits are relatively limited.

It's clear that Xichuan once aimed to develop Xiangyan Temple into a cultural tourism landmark to boost the tourism economy. They not only built a memorial archway six kilometers away, installed road markers, and arranged numerous statues of deities in various poses, but also created a massive relief sculpture on the mountainside beyond the archway. However, judging from the sparse number of vehicles in the parking lot, the results are far from satisfactory!

I recommend taking the shuttle bus, as there are many steps to climb, and it might be tiring if you don't exercise regularly. The scenery is quite nice, especially inside the cave, where there seem to be many crystal-like objects. Geology enthusiasts will love it. There also seems to be a zoo, which is also worth visiting, and it's not crowded.

I personally think it's a place well worth visiting, especially since the guide's explanations provide a general understanding of the Qin Dynasty, which is a different experience from a classroom setting.

From the entrance, the Zen Valley gives people a sense of the picture of a quiet valley and gurgling water. The further you go inside, the more wonderful it feels. There is a scene every ten steps, a pond every hundred steps, and waterfalls can be seen everywhere. The whole natural world gathers strange mountains and rocks, clear springs and waterfalls, cliffs and other wonders, and it is known as the "Fairyland Valley".

Thanks to Xiao Guo for his earnest and humorous explanation. His logic was clear, and he took an unconventional route, which helped us avoid overcrowding. After the trip, we gained a deeper understanding of the history behind the cultural relics.

I highly recommend spending 80 yuan for the aerial photography at the summit; I personally think it's well worth the money. The footage is very clear and excellent. We started climbing at 10 am. It was the off-season, so the first-level cable car wasn't crowded. After reaching the top, we started hiking. Zhongtianmen requires walking up stairs (if you can't climb, take the second-level cable car 🚡). The rest of the path was very gentle, all the way to the summit. The weather on the mountain was a bit cold, probably around 0 degrees Celsius, but it didn't snow; it just drizzled a little (I still recommend bringing a raincoat just in case). There were many people on the mountain. The descent involved both cable car and toboggan rides. A complete tour takes about 7 hours.

It's not very entertaining and doesn't seem suitable for children, but it's great for adults. It's very moving and thought-provoking; the stolen Buddha head and the historical events surrounding the Buddhist reforms serve as evidence of the entire East Asian Buddhist statue civilization. It was truly heartbreaking to see.