• Start Here!
  • Latest Articles
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Write For Us
  • In the Media
  • Español
  • Italiano

Sapore di Cina

Learn Chinese, Travel or Work in China

  • Travel to China
    • Tips and Resources
    • Health Insurance for Travelers
    • How to Book an Hotel in China
    • Book a train ticket
    • Destinations
  • China Tours
    • China Tours: Tips and Agencies
    • Beijing Tours
    • Tibet Tours
    • Shaolin Temple Tours
    • Transsiberian Tours
  • Visa for China
    • Online Visa for China
    • Tourist Visa
    • Business Visa
    • Student Visa
    • Other Chinese Visa
  • Live in China
    • Health Insurance for Expats in China
    • Moving Companies from/to China
    • Cost of Living in China
    • Open a company in Hong Kong
    • Resources
  • Learn Chinese
    • Chinese Courses
    • Learn Chinese with Videos
    • How to Write in Chinese
    • Learn Mandarin with Podcasts
    • Study Chinese in China
    • Free HSK Test
  • VPN / Internet in China
    • Best Working VPN for China
    • How to Use WhatsApp in China
    • How to Use Facebook in China
    • How to Watch Youtube in China
    • VPN for iPhone and Android
    • Internet in China
We are reader-supported and may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site

Travel to Sichuan Province: A Complete Guide

December 6, 2019 by Sapore di Cina 4 Comments

Travel to Sichuan

Travel to Sichuan: A Complete Guide – Index

  1. Why you should visit Sichuan
  2. What to see and do in Sichuan
  3. Sichuan gastronomy
  4. Travel tips for Sichuan

Sichuan is a large province located in the Southwestern parts of China and one of the most popular travel destinations among locals and foreigners. It’s referred to as the Land of Abundance, mainly thanks to its cuisine, diverse culture, and many beautiful sceneries.

In this article, I explain why you should visit Sichuan, places to visit, about the cuisine, and finally, I share some travel tips.

Quick facts:

  • Chinese Name: 四川
  • Provincial Capital: Chengdu
  • Famous Cities: Chengdu, Leshan, Jiuzhaigou, Garze
  • Population: Around 82 million
  • Surrounding provinces: Tibet, Gansu, Yunnan, Qinghai, Chongqing, Shaanxi, Guizhou
  • Ethnic groups: 55 (a bit more than 4 million people)

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Travel around China Tagged With: Sichuan, Travel in China

We are reader-supported and may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site

8 Great Dishes From Sichuan That You Can Find in a Restaurant

October 15, 2019 by Sapore di Cina 3 Comments

Sichuan food

Dishes from Sichuan – Index

  1. Kung Pao Chicken (宫保鸡丁)
  2. Boiled Dishes like Sichuan boiled fish (水煮鱼)
  3. Dry-fried dishes like fry-fried green beans (干煸豆角)
  4. Mapo tofu (麻婆豆腐)
  5. Twice cooked pork (回锅肉)
  6. Pork in spicy garlic sauce (蒜泥白肉)
  7. Cold noodle salad (涼面)
  8. Yu Xiang Dishes like Yu Xiang Rou Si (鱼香肉丝)
  9. Frequently asked questions

Sichuan cuisine is my favorite cuisine out of the eight ones of China not only because of my childhood but also because of the great taste and imagination. There is a famous description of Sichuan food: “one hundred dishes, one hundred flavors.”

Sichuan cuisine is featured by its unique cooking methods, adaption of spices and seasonings including fresh ones, pickled vegetables and dried goods. Now Sichuan dishes are enjoyed across the world. Today I’m going to introduce eight of the best dishes from Sichuan you can usually find in a real Sichuan style restaurant. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Asian Food Tagged With: Sichuan, Travel in China

We are reader-supported and may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site

Tours to Sichuan Tibetan Kham – Our Complete Guide

March 22, 2019 by Harley Greenberg Leave a Comment

Sichuan Tibetan Kham

Tours to Sichuan Tibetan Kham – Index

  1. Where is Sichuan Tibetan Kham?
  2. Top things to see and do in Sichuan Tibetan Kham
  3. Recommended Sichuan Tibetan Kham tours and itineraries
  4. Best time to travel to Sichuan Tibetan Kham
  5. How to reach the Western Sichuan Kham region
  6. Lodging and food in Sichuan Tibetan Kham
  7. Travel regulations to Sichuan Tibetan Kham
  8. Are you looking for a travel agency?

In this travel guide, we will describe what there is to see in Sichuan Tibetan Kham. Further, we will present some tour itineraries and provide you with the opportunity to get a free quotation for your tour in this beautiful region.

Where is Sichuan Tibetan Kham?

When people talk about Tibet, they usually refer to the Tibetan Autonomous Region (TAR), a province of the People’s Republic of China. However, Tibet is a much larger area, and includes all the areas of the Tibetan Plateau, where Tibetan people are native of.

So, in reality Tibet spreads across five provinces of China including the whole TAR, most of Qinghai province, the Southwest part of Gansu province, the Northwest corner of Yunnan and the Northern and Western portion of Sichuan Province.

In a traditional and historical way, the greater Tibet cultural area includes three main regions: U-Tsang (Central Tibet), Amdo and Kham.

U-Tsang is also known as Central Tibet, and is the area of the current Tibetan Autonomous Region (TAR). It is the cultural heartland of Tibet and the beginning point of the Tibetan civilization, where you can visit the first palace amd monastery of Tibet, the Yongbulakang Palace and the Samye Monastery, the world’s highest peak, Mount Everest, the universal center of Buddhism and Hinduism, Mount Kailash, and the masterpiece of Tibetan architecture – Potala palace.

In order to visit Central Tibet (TAR), foreign passport holders need to apply for an additional documents, the Tibet Permit, and take part in an organized tour.

The region of Amdo is located across the Northeast region of Tibetan Plateau, in Qinghai province, Southwest Gansu and Northern Sichuan. Amdo is best known for its high altitude grasslands and some top scholars in the Tibetan history. Amdo is the best place to experience the Tibetan nomadic life and enjoy the beautiful grasslands.

Beyond that, Amdo also boasts some top natural and cultural sites including Qinghai Lake, Amnye Machen Muntain, the traditional Thangka painting town of Rebkong (Tongren), Jiuzhaigou National Park and the Four Sisters Mountain (Mount Siguniang). Amdo is easily accessible from Xining and Chengdu. No special permit are required to visit most part of Amdo region.

Kham, is also called Eastern Tibet, and includes the Eastern parts of the Tibetan Autonomous Region (TAR), Western Sichuan, as well as a small portions at Southern Qinghai and Northwest Yunnan. It is a geographically diverse region where you will see high snow capped mountain peaks, beautiful deep river valleys, vast high altitude grasslands and the primitive alpine forests along with the distinctive Khampa culture.

While the area of Kham that is inside the Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR) is called Chamdo Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, and is currently closed to foreign tourists, but the rest of the Kham region in Sichuan, Yunnan and Qinghai is open to foreigners and no special permit is required. In this article we would like to give you a complete guide about how to travel to the Western Sichuan Tibetan Kham. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Travel around China Tagged With: Sichuan, Travel in China

We are reader-supported and may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site

Tibetan Sichuan: Traveling in the Ancient Kingdom of the Kham

February 1, 2019 by Gianluca Falso 1 Comment

In this article I will describe my travels in the Tibetan part of Sichuan.

Here’s the itinerary, if you’d prefer to “skip” directly to the place in the article that most interests you:

Tibetan Sichuan – My itinerary

  1. First day: Kangding/Litang
  2. Second day: Litang/Ganzi
  3. Third day: Ganzi/Dege
  4. Fourth day: Dege/Luhuo
  5. Fifth day: Luhuo/Daofu/Tagong

Hidden among the perennially snowy peaks of Mount Hengduan, 横断, it seems that nobody remembers the ancient kingdom of the Khampa anymore.

The old kingdom originally extended from the western part of Sichuan, the city of Kangding, 康定, to the start of the present-day autonomous region of Tibet, and the southern part of the Qinghai region to the north of Yunnan. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Travel around China Tagged With: Sichuan, Travel in China

We are reader-supported and may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site

Trip to Huanglong, a UNESCO World Heritage Site

May 11, 2018 by Nacho Garcia Leave a Comment

traveling to huanglong

Huanglong (黄龙) is one of the most beautiful natural landscapes in China. Located in the north of the Sichuan province 380 km from Chengdu, it is without a doubt an essential visit in Western China.

The main attraction is the chain of natural pools filled with completely transparent water that run along the Yellow Dragon Valley. These pools offer a unique spectacle of turquoise terraces surrounded by a dense forest. In addition to the beautiful pools, in the nature park, you will find waterfalls and hot springs. In addition, among its fauna are giant panda bears and golden snub-nosed monkeys, a primate endemic to China that is characterized by its golden coat and bluish face. However, the latter are not easy to see.

This beautiful valley surrounded by snow-covered peaks has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1992. Over the past decade and thanks to the huge popularity of the nearby Jiuzhaigou Valley, tourism has developed greatly, eliminating many of the obstacles that made this visit a real odyssey not long ago.

Note: since the earthquake on August 8, 2017, Jiuzhaigou Park will remain closed until the area is completely safe, but the damages in Huanglong were minimal, and it was reopened to the public a few days afterwards.
[Read more…]

Filed Under: Travel around China Tagged With: Huanglong, Sichuan, Travel in China

We are reader-supported and may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site

How to Open a Coffee Shop in China

April 28, 2017 by Omar Montenegro 1 Comment

opening a coffee shop in China

In the year 2011, I was in China for the first time. I remember that I was traveling with my best friend, and as he was passionate about coffee, he couldn’t hold out and ended up paying more than 40 Yuan for a black coffee at a Chinese hotel.

One year later, in 2012, I went back to China to learn the language. I arrived in Yantai (in the Shandong Province), a small coastal city with a large amount of South Korean and Japanese influence (if you ever go to Yantai, you will most likely try Korean and Japanese food). In Yantai, I saw how people were starting to open up small specialty coffee shops, some of which had coffee from many different places of origin, and how Chinese customers were slowly starting to try the drink.

Since 2013, coffee shops of this type have slowly started to increase in the city and the offering is getting broader, following the Chinese precept of the art of war… Or maybe the art of imitation.
[Read more…]

Filed Under: Business in Asia, Work in China Tagged With: Business with China, Chengdu, Sichuan, Work in China

We are reader-supported and may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site

Mosuo, the last (almost) matriarchal tribe

June 14, 2016 by Sapore di Cina 14 Comments

Mosuo TribeShot by the photographer Luca Locatelli. Visit the whole gallery at lucalocatelli.com.

I heard about the Mosuo bits and pieces at a time talking to anthropologists and backpackers. They are a Chinese ethnic minority living around Lugu Lake, on the border between Yunnan and Sichuan province. I had the idea that they were a matriarchal tribe and I believed men among them were reduced to sex objects. Mosuo men didn’t even have to work!

“Maybe I could move there,” I admit I thought sometimes… [Read more…]

Filed Under: Asian Society & History, Travel around China Tagged With: Lugu Lake, Sichuan, Travel in China, Yunnan

We are reader-supported and may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site

Jiuzhaigou – Planning a trip to the gem of northern Sichuan

May 17, 2016 by Harley Greenberg 29 Comments

Travel to JiuzhaigouJiuzhaigou National Park

Jiuzhaigou along with Tibet it is one of the two most popular destinations of western China.

This article was written by Harley Greenberg, who lives in Chengdu, Sichuan, and works with a local travel agency. It’s a guide to visit Northern Sichuan and is going to focus on the following points:

  • Challenges of getting in and out of Jiuzhaigou.
  • Who is Jiuzhaigou for and why visit it?
  • How long should I spend at Jiuzhaigou National Park?
  • When is the best time to visit Jiuzhaigou National Park.
  • Tour or no Tour? Different ways to reach Jiuzhaigou National Park.
  • Activities and things to do in and around Jiuzhaigou National Park.
  • Other plances to visit near Jiuzhaigou: Songpan, Huanglong National Park, Munigou and Aba grassland.
  • Entrance ticket and times to visit Jiuzhaigou National Park.
  • Other “special” things you should know.

Depending on your travel plan, a trip to Jiuzhaigou could be as short as just three days. But in most cases I encourage people to spend at least six days in the beautiful Aba area of Northern Sichuan. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Travel around China Tagged With: Sichuan, Tours in Asia

We are reader-supported and may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site

Non-Panda Related Things to Do in Chengdu

March 14, 2016 by Kristen Ng Leave a Comment

PeoplesparkladyPhotos by Kristen Ng

Chéngdū (成都), the provincial capital of Sichuan, where the clattering of mahjong blocks fills the air from morning till night. and the evening hours see a ritual emergence of clothed dogs, twist dancers, tai chi troupes, spinning top whippers and China’s ubiquitous herds of dancing ayis.

Chengdu is a proud and fiery city, where “better put your toilet paper in the freezer” is a fond joke for tourists and visitors. The pungent aroma of chilli-filled hot pot, eau de Chengdu, lingers in virtually every street, while the distinct local dialect Chengduhua is their lingua franca. In my opinion, the people of Chengdu have more pride and identification with their city than the nomadic metropolises of Beijing and Shanghai.

Dubbed as an up-and-coming city with the government’s ‘facing west’ policy, Chengdu has undertaken a dramatic facelift in recent years with the construction of several enormous overpasses, countless high rises, shopping malls and a city-wide subway system. However amidst all the heavy machinery and upheaval, Chengdu still has pockets of traditional architecture, local food and culture which retain the relaxed, grassroots atmosphere the city is known for. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Travel around China Tagged With: Chengdu, Sichuan, Travel in China

We are reader-supported and may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site

The Best Hotels in Chengdu, the Panda’s Hometown

June 15, 2015 by Sapore di Cina Leave a Comment

Choosing a good hotel in Chengdu, the capital Sichuan Province, can be a difficult task due to the large number of hotels that exist, many of which are of doubtful quality. In this article, you will find a review of some of the best hotels in Chengdu, whatever your budget may be.

If you are interested in the general idea of how to book hotels in China, you can read our recommendations here.

Reviews of Luxury Hotels (5 Star) in Chengdu

Diaoyutai Boutique Hotel Chengdu


The Diaoyutai Boutique Hotel Chengdu in the historic Qing Dynasty quarter – Kuan Zhai Alley, is just 5 minutes’ walk from the local bus station and conveniently situated for the international airport. Every room has free Wi-Fi, flat screen TV, mini bar, fridge and iPod docking station. There is a bathtub in the en suite bathroom, safe and ironing facilities. Internal entertainment includes 2 restaurants, karaoke rooms and a relaxing Garden Lounge. There is a fitness center and businessmen have suitable services for their needs. English is spoken and staff is happy to help with tours, transfers and other arrangements. The Hotel is very popular with locals and international travelers alike.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Hotels in Asia Tagged With: Chengdu, Hotels in China, Sichuan

We are reader-supported and may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site

The Giant Pandas Reserve in Chengdu, Sichuan

November 18, 2013 by Sapore di Cina 1 Comment

Giant pandas can only be found in Sichuan, Shanxi and Gansu Province, in western China. Scientists estimate that there are less than 2,000 giant pandas left, whom 80% live in Sichuan. Luckily they were included on the international endangered species of wild flora and fauna list and, in the last years, important steps were taken to preserve them.

In order to protect the giant pandas in 1987 Chengdu’s government opened the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, which imitates the natural habit of the animals. Visiting the center is also the easiest way to see the pandas. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Travel around China Tagged With: Chengdu, Sichuan, Travel in China

We are reader-supported and may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site

Leshan Giant Buddha in Sichuan Province – Photo Essays

November 11, 2013 by Sapore di Cina 2 Comments

Leshan Giant Buddha

The Giant Buddha of Leshan (乐山大佛, Lèshān Dàfó) is 71 meters tall and its shouders are 28 meters large. It was carved out of a cliff during the Tang Dynasty and lies in front of the water, exactly at the confluence of the Minjiang, Dadu and Qingyi rivers, in Sichuan Province. The Leshan’s Buddha is by far the largest stone Buddha in the world.

How to get to Leshan

There are three main ways to get to Leshan. The first one is to take a bus from Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan Province. The second way is to take a bus from another popular touristic attraction, Mount Emei. In both cases the trip takes about two hours, the ticket costs less than 50 Chinese yuan and there are buses that leave every 30-60 minutes. The last option is to take a tour. There are plenty that leave from Chengdu every day. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Travel around China Tagged With: Sichuan, Travel in China

We are reader-supported and may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site

Climbing Mount Emei: Invisible monkeys, gurneys and canes

October 14, 2013 by Sapore di Cina 12 Comments

Mount EmeiThe top of Emei Shan

Mount Emei (or Emei Shan, in Chinese) is a 3099 m. mountain located 150 Km South of Chengdu, Sichuan Province. As the title says, it’s a sacred Buddhist mountains and, moreover, an UNESCO World Heritage Site.

I must say that climbing this mountain was quite an experience. But before let’s see how to get there.

You can get there from Chengdu by bus (buses depart from Xinnanmen Station every twenty minutes and the ticket costs around 50 RMB) or by train (20 RMB). The trip takes about ninety minutes. Another popular option is to take the overnight train from Kunming, the capital of Yunnan Province. It will cost you around 190 RMB for an hard sleeper ticket and it will take around twelve hours.

What route did I choose? I came here directly from Lugu Lake, which is located at the border between Yunnan and Sichuan. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Travel around China Tagged With: Lugu Lake, Sichuan, Travel in China

We are reader-supported and may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site

Chinese food: Malatang from Sichuan

November 19, 2012 by Sapore di Cina 7 Comments

Malatang, SichuanA malatang cauldron.

When I was in Europe, the only Chinese dishes that I could get were fried rice, noodles, spring rolls and beef with mushrooms. I couldn’t afford expensive ethnic restaurants and most of the cheap Chinese spots adapted their dishes to the European taste in order to attract more customers. Now you know why the main dishes of a Chinese buffet all-you-can-eat are often the french fries or the chocolate ice cream.

A couple of months ago I started to bring my camera to the restaurants with the goal of documenting my experience with the “real” Chinese food. This is the first episode: say hello to Chongqing malatang. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Asian Food Tagged With: Sichuan, Travel in China

travel insurance for Asiahotel in asiaVPN access in china

Topics

  • Asian Food
  • Asian Society & History
  • Books & Movies
  • Business in Asia
  • Hong Kong SAR
  • Hotels in Asia
  • Internet and Technology
  • Interviews
  • Learn Chinese
  • Live in China
  • Medical Clinics
  • Other Asian Countries
  • Singapore
  • Taiwan ROC
  • Thailand
  • Travel around China
  • Vietnam
  • Visas
  • Work in China

Need help for organizing your trip to Asia?

travel insurance for Asiahotel in asiaVPN access in china

dcma-logo Copyright Sapore di Cina | Disclosure | Privacy & Cookies Policy | Terms and Conditions

  • Travel to China
  • Live in China
  • Learn Chinese
  • VPN for China
  • Hong Kong SAR
  • Singapore
  • Taiwan ROC
  • Thailand
  • Vietnam
  • Latest Articles
  • Contact Us