2013 Backpacking to Shangri-La day 11, 12 to Huanglongxi 黄龙寺 and to Xichang 西昌


L-R: Lim Cheng Tee, Lee Kam Boon, Ching Neng Bin, Bernard Lee at Huanglongxi (黄龙寺)

Day 11 (9.4.2013) Chengdu 成都 day trip to Huanglongxi 黄龙寺
 
After breakfast we took the 1 hour bus journey at 12 noon to Huanglongxi ancient town. We spent about two and a half hours there before taking the bus back. With many scenic places of interest, Huanglongxi Ancient Town is worth a visit to find the old Chinese culture and customs.

Huanglongxi Ancient town, with over 1700 years of history, still retains its rustic charm with ancient buildings and old folklore custom. Named one of the Top 10 riverside ancient towns, it is a good place to relax yourself.

Sleeping: Traffic Inn (交通背包客栈)


Huanglongxi is an ancient town with a history of more than 1,700 years. Located in Shuangliu County, 50 km southeast from Chengdu, it is greatly admired by visitors for its beautiful natural scenery and ancient Chinese culture. It opens all day without admission fee.


Getting there is to take the bus from Xinnanmen Bus Station in Chengdu to Huanglongxi Ancient Town. Buses are available from 08:00 to 15:20. They depart every 30 minutes and take about ninety minutes to destination. It cost Y8 pp one way.


The new bridge across the river at Huanglongxi Ancient Town.


The new bridge across the river at Huanglongxi Ancient Town.


The beautiful pavilions on the main span of the bridge at Huanglongxi Ancient Town.


The beautiful pavilions on the main span of the bridge at Huanglongxi Ancient Town.


The beautiful roof of the pedestrian walkways joining to all the pavilions at Huanglongxi Ancient Town.


The view of the whole bridge taken from the ancient street at Huanglongxi Ancient Town.


Fisherman at Huanglongxi Ancient Town.


Walking around the Huanglongxi Ancient Town.


Walking through the Huanglongxi streets we see many historical civilian residences of the Ming and Qing Dynastie.


Due to its beautiful scenery and ancient architecture it has been an ideal place to make costume films here at Huanglongxi Ancient Town.


Plenty of food for sale and the famous local dishes favored are the sesame cakes, the stonewashed bean paste and the fermented beans at Huanglongxi Ancient Town.


Ancient and modern boats for hire along the river banks at Huanglongxi Ancient Town.


Ancient and modern boats for hire along the river banks at Huanglongxi Ancient Town.


Seven ancient streets which were built during the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) Dynasties are all well preserved at Huanglongxi Ancient Town.


The roads are all paved with stone slabs and the porch wooden columns on both sides are orderly arrayed at Huanglongxi Ancient Town.


Eastern Town Gate at Huanglongxi Ancient Town.


Eastern Town Gate at Huanglongxi Ancient Town.


Beautiful gardens all round the river side at Huanglongxi Ancient Town.


Chen’s Watermill dates back to Qing Dynasty. It played an important role because all grain in ancient Huanglongxi town was grinded here.


Chen’s Watermill dates back to Qing Dynasty at Huanglongxi Ancient Town.


Chen’s Watermill dates back to Qing Dynasty at Huanglongxi Ancient Town.


The beautiful river at Huanglongxi Ancient Town.


Delicious snacks such as One-strand-noodle, Sesame Pudding, Crisp Pork Legs, Yellow Catfish, Pearl Tofu Pudding, Tiny Fish and all sorts of candies become a “landmark” of Huanglongxi Ancient town and draw many foodies to satisfy our stomachs.

Day 12 (10.04.2013) Chengdu (成都) to Xichang (西昌)

Today is rest day as we are travelling to Xichang by overnight train at 8.30pm. In the afternoon we visited the Big and Small Alley (大巷小巷) in the city. Came back to Traffic Inn for dinner and at 6pm we walked to take the Jinjiang (锦江) Hotel Metro MRT to the Northern Railway Station. 
 
At 8.30pm our train departed for Xichang. In the train we had a few passengers in our compartment entertaining us with some classical Chinese songs with accordion and flute musical instruments before lights out at 10pm.

Sleeping: hard sleeper overnight train to Xichang.


Metro Line 1 Tianfu Square Station 天府广场.


Tianfu Square is in the center of Chengdu and at a distance it represent a Tai Chi. Tianfu is another name of Sichuan province.


Grace Ong Siew Hua, Teh Soon Shoei at Metro Line 1 Tianfu Square Station 天府广场


Chairman Mao statue is in the center of Tianfu Square and he raised his right hand saying: Nihao!


Kuan Alley


There are three alleys, Kuan 宽, Zhai 窄, and Jing 井 alleys 巷子.


The alleys are narrow and full of shops. The idea is to walk north along Kuan Alley, south along Zhai Alley and then North and out of Jing Alley where you have all the taxis there.


The markers outside the doors, stone lions or stone drums indicate the family's status at Kuan Alley.


Big and Small Alley are of antique buildings but only a few of them are real antique, most of them are rebuild.


The intricate carving on a piece of log hung outside the main door at Kuan Alley.


Doors and gates of buildings are usually with interesting stone architecture around them at Kuan Alley.


Ancient architecture is superb at Kuan Alley.


Kuan Alley has a lot of bars, restaurants and shops.


Sichuan Snack on Jing Alley to get the special dan dan mian (a local noodle specialty).


Sichuan Snack on Jing Alley to get the special dan dan mian (a local noodle specialty).


The architecture and ambiance is nice at Jing Alley.


Grace Ong Siew Hua taking a photo shoot with the 3D picture at Jing Alley.


Grace Ong Siew Hua taking a photo shoot with the 3D picture at Jing Alley.

The architecture and ambiance is nice at Jing Alley.


Teh Soon Shoei taking a photo shoot with the 3D picture at Jing Alley.


At the crowded Northern Railway Station, Chengdu departing for Xichang at 8.30pm.


We had the hard sleeper for overnight train for Xichang, but we enjoyed the music on board.



/// Backpacking Adventure to ShangriLa China the Last Frontier 30 March to 23 April 2013 (25 days)




Total Grand Per Pax
Day

RMB RMB RMB
11 a. Room - Traffic Inn(4X50)+(2X90)+(2X80)+(2X50) 640.00
64.00

b. B'fast - noodle/fruits/soya bean/bread -rmb67



c. Bus to Huanglongxi 14 X 5 = rmb70



d. Bus - HLX to & from ancient town 1 x 5 x 2=rmb10



e. Bus HLX to chengdu 10 x 5=rmb50



f. Lunch - noodle rmb28






640.00 64.00






12 a. Metro - Jinjiang hotel stn - NTS 2 X 10 20.00
2.00

b. Train - Chengdu to XiChang 1,415.00
141.50




1,435.00 143.50

click below:
Day 01 (30.03.2013) AirAsia D7-320: K. Lumpur to Chengdu (成都), Sichuan (四川)
Day 02 (31.03.2013) Chengdu to Hailuogou (海螺沟) (296km/7.5hrs bus)
Day 03 (01.04.2013) Hailuogou (海螺沟) Red rocks @ Swallow Gully (燕子沟)
Day 04 (02.04.2013) Hailuogou (海螺沟) Luding (泸定) Kangding (康定) to Xinduqiao (新都桥)
Day 05 (03.04.2013) Xinduqiao (新都桥) to Danba (丹巴) Land of thousand watchtowers

Day 06 (04.04.2013) Danba – day trip to Jiaju Tibetan Village "the most beautiful ethnic town
Day 07 (05.04.2013) Danba (丹巴) – staying in Jiaju Village
Day 08 (06.04.2013) Jiaju Village (甲居藏寨) to Xiaojin (小金) to Rilong (日隆)
Day 09 (07.04.2013) trekking up Changpinggou (长砰沟) middle gully of Siguniang (四姑娘山)
Day 10 (08.04.2013) Rilong (日隆) to Chengdu (成都)

Day 11 (09.04.2013) Chengdu (成都) day trip to Huanglongxi (黄龙寺)
Day 12 (10.04.2013) Chengdu (成都) to Xichang (西昌)
Day 13 (11.04.2013) Xichang (西昌) to Lugu Lake (泸沽湖)
Day 14 (12.04.2013) Lugu Lake - cycling around Lugu Lake
Day 15 (13.04.2013) Lugu Lake (泸沽湖) to Lijiang (丽江)

Day 16 (14.04.2013) Lijiang (丽江)
Day 17 (15.04.2013) Lijiang (丽江) to Shangri-La (香格里拉) (Zhongdian (中甸)
Day 18 (16.04.2013) Shangri-La (Zhongdian) - day trip to Potatso National Park
Day 19 (17.04.2013) Tiger Leaping Gorge (虎跳峡) / Bai Shui Tai terrace waterfall(白水台)
Day 20 (18.04.2013) Tiger Leaping Gorge to Lijiang (丽江)

Day 21 (19.04.2013) Lijiang (丽江) to Lugu Lake (泸沽湖)
Day 22 (20.04.2013) Lugu Lake (泸沽湖) to Xichang (西昌) to Chengdu (成都)
Day 23 (21.04.2013) Chengdu
Day 24 (22.04.2013) D7-327 Chengdu to K. Lumpur (2355 – 0430)
Day 25 (23.04.2013) 25 23/04 Arrival K. Lumpur: 0430 hrs




      RMB        RM
Total Costs per person excluding Air fare    4,664.15      2,360.06


Return Airfare per pax incl. insurance, meals   1,632.41    826.00 


Total Cost Per Pax incl. of Airfare    6,296.56 3,186.06

3 comments:

  1. hi, Mr. Ching,

    It is very interesting to read your tour account in one of the remote, historical and yet lively areas in China. I enjoyed reading. Keep up with your good work.
    Thank you.

    from,
    au kwok heng

    ReplyDelete
  2. Anonymous26 June, 2013

    The Adventurers made it to this part of China with more discoveries and surprises. Chengdu is the gateway to Panda Country in SiChuan; I see you fellas befriended one upon arrival. The black & white 3D pic is really something unique. Music on the train with sleeper beds? That's nice but hope it ain't too loud for sleepy eyes and mind. This part isn't too cold as summer will be around soon.

    Regards,
    Alan, K.L.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Roland Tang27 July, 2013

    Very enjoyable pictures. Please keep me posted of your adventures. Wish you pleasant journeys. Regards.

    ReplyDelete