Obviously the May earthquake has devasted a large part of the province and affected our Getway there in Anxian. This is of course very minor compared to the human toll and our thoughts are with those affected. So below is an introduction to Sichuan before the disaster. How the re-developent is going to proceed we are unsure at the moment but will leave news here as we find out.
Introduction to Sichuan Province
Sichuan Province, also known as Szechwan, is known as "The Land of Abundance" It is situated in China's western hinterland and covers most of the Sichuan Basin. Surrounded by mountains it accounts for over 5% of the country's total area. Almost 90 million people live in Sichuan! In some peoples eyes it is the heart of China and it is panda country! The capital city Chengdu is around two hours drive from our Getaway in Anxian. There are a few UNESCO World Heritage sites scattered around this vast area including Dazu Rock Carvings (officially part of Chongqing Municipality), Jiu Zai Gou Valley, Mount Emei and the Leshan Giant Buddha and of course there are many Giant Panda Sanctuaries.
Traditional Culture
Culturally, Sichuan is fairly diverse as its population includes many minority groups including Bai, Tibetan, Miao, Lisu and Tujia. It's most famous form of entertainment is Chuanju (Sichuan opera) and Xieju (Comic opera) but as with almost all of China just being there and soaking it all up is entertainment in itself. Sichuan Cuisine, one of the Eight Great Cuisines in China, emphasizes the use of chilli, red hot peppers and garlic and is not for the faint hearted.
Climate
The climate in the west of the province is quite different from the east. Anxian is situated towards the North and East. Generally summers are very very hot and humid and winters are cold, misty and damp. Spring and Autumn/Fall are the best times to visit
Language
Mandarin and Sichuanese are widely spoken through out the province and in the north and west Tibetan is the mother tongue.
Go to the next page to find out what could be in store for you at our Anxian Getaway in Sichuan
