Where Did Sichuan Come From?
The Three Sacred Mountains of Yading, Mount Que'er, and Mount Genie
Ruoergai, Lugu Lake, and Xinluhai
As well as countless other mountains, valleys, rivers, and lakes
(Please view horizontally: The Three Sacred Mountains of Yading—Xiannairi, Yangmaiyong, and Xianuoduoj—in one frame, photographer @ Xi Xiaoyuan's Vision)
It is the alpine rhododendrons and the Bamboo Sea of Southern Sichuan
Golden snub-nosed monkeys, snow leopards, white-lipped deer, dwarf blue sheep, and takins
Chinese monals, Tibetan snowcocks, and Temminck's tragopans
As well as countless other forests, grasslands, birds, and beasts
(Please swipe to view more: Niubei Mountain alpine rhododendrons, image source @ Visual China; giant panda, photographer @ Zhou Mengqi; golden snub-nosed monkey, photographer @ Xue Kang)
Sanxingdui, Jinsha Ruins, and Wuhou Shrine
Du Fu Thatched Cottage, Langzhong Ancient City, and Jianmen Pass
As well as countless other Sichuan delicacies and the vibrancy of life
(Huili Ancient City, located at the southernmost tip of Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture, is a national historical and cultural city, photographer @ Fifty Thousand Gallons)
You will find it to be one of the most unique places on the land of China
Its western region is dominated by towering mountains and countless peaks piercing the sky
(Sichuan's location, map by @ Chen Zhihao/Planet Research Institute)
The Land of Abundance, ideal for human survival and prosperity
Further shaped by the complementary relationship between mountains and basins
The southern land of China had not yet taken form
Large and small plates were separated from each other
One of these is known to geologists as the Yangtze Block
one of the oldest blocks in China
(later named for its approximate location in the Yangtze River basin)
a massive amalgamation began among countless blocks
but part of the Yangtze Block underwent metamorphism at this time
the surrounding landmasses deformed significantly, uplifting into high mountains
the rigid Yangtze Block remained virtually unmoved
(schematic of regional block movements in China 210 million years ago, mapped by Luo Zihan/Planet Research Institute)
thus the periphery uplifted while the interior relatively subsided
with elevations of 1,500-3,000 meters
(please view horizontally, Micang Mountains, photographer: Zhao Yongqing)
with elevations of 1,500-2,000 meters
Xuefeng Mountains, Wuling Mountains, and Qiyao-Dalou Mountains
(please view horizontally, the Xuefeng, Wuling, and Qiyao-Dalou Mountains form the southeastern peripheral highlands of the Sichuan Basin, now mainly distributed across Hubei, Hunan, Guizhou, and Chongqing; pictured are the mountains in eastern Chongqing and western Hubei, photographer: Shanfeng)
with elevations of 3,000-4,500 meters
Daxiangling Mountains, Daliang Mountains, Mount Emei, etc.
(please view horizontally, Mount Emei, towering at the southwestern edge of the Sichuan Basin, photographer: Zou Tao)
the overall uplift exceeded 4,000 meters
Minshan Mountains, Qionglai Mountains, Daxue Mountains, and Shaluli Mountains
(please view horizontally, Qionglai Mountains, photographer: Xing Ying Bu Li)
The two most important geographical units established in Sichuan
including the surrounding mountains such as the Western Sichuan Plateau
(Schematic diagram of Sichuan's terrain; for clarity of the Sichuan Basin, parts of Chongqing are lightly shaded; map by @Chen Zhihao/Planet Research Institute)
The elevation difference between the Hengduan Mountains and the Sichuan Basin is significant
Their interception and blocking effect on air currents is most pronounced
The precipitation in the transitional zone between them can exceed 1,200 millimeters
making it one of the wettest regions in inland China
(Please view horizontally, sea of clouds at Niubei Mountain, photographer @Maple Leaf Wutong)
(Hailuogou Glacier, photographer @Zhang Yang's Xiaoqiang)
(Please view horizontally, Hongyuan Wetland, photographer @Xiong Ke)
In areas where carbonate rocks are exposed
calcium carbonate dissolved in flowing water redeposits
(Travertine pools at Huanglong Scenic Area, photographer @Zhai Dongrun)
(Please view horizontally, Lugu Lake, located at the border of Sichuan and Yunnan; photographer @Chen Xiaoyang)
including the Jinsha River, Yalong River, Dadu River, and Min River
as well as the Tuo River, Fu River, Jialing River, Qu River, and others
(Please view horizontally, meandering Tuo River, photographer @Yang Jian)
(Please view horizontally, Tangke Yellow River meander, photographer @Chen Erdog's Motorcycle Journey)
(Schematic diagram of Sichuan's river system; for clarity of rivers in the Sichuan Basin, parts of Chongqing are lightly shaded; the Jinsha River is called "Yangtze River" after merging with the Min River; map by @Chen Zhihao/Planet Research Institute)
Rivers rushing out of the mountains carry sediment
It also developed the most fertile plain in Sichuan
(Chengdu Plain, photographer@Jiang Xi)
including the surrounding mountainous areas such as the Western Sichuan Plateau
Who will be the new creators on these two lands?
Guizhou, Yunnan, and Tibet are all mountainous regions
and there is no other large basin
that possesses such favorable hydrothermal conditions as Sichuan
This is the most fertile large basin in China
(Distribution map of China's four major basins, designed by@Chen Zhihao/Planet Research Institute)
5000-4000 years ago
two ancient human groups originating from the upper reaches of the Yellow River and the middle-lower reaches of the Yangtze River
entered the Sichuan Basin along the Min River and the Yangtze River respectively
and met on the fertile new land of the Chengdu Plain
(Distribution of prehistoric city sites on the Chengdu Plain, 4500-4000 years ago; the ancient Shu people built at least 8 cities of varying sizes on the Chengdu Plain, with the Baodun Ancient City being the largest, hence the archaeological culture of this period is also called the "Baodun Culture"; designed by@Chen Zhihao/Planet Research Institute)
4000-3000 years ago
they created a culture on the Chengdu Plain that was distinct from the Central Plains
(Bronze sacred tree unearthed from the Sanxingdui site, embodying the nature worship of the ancient Shu people, photographer@Tang Yuxing)
The Central Plains dynasties began to recognize the value of the Sichuan Basin
as a strategic base for unifying the realm
and a strategic rear during times of conflict
It also served as the most important outpost and stronghold for governing the Southwest.
Converging toward the Sichuan Basin and its surrounding mountains.
Transforming the Chengdu Plain into the "Land of Abundance" where water and drought obey human will.
Then advancing into the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River to unify the nation.
(Dujiangyan, photographer: Wu Lihong)
Liu Bang once again used the Sichuan Basin as the foundation for his imperial ambitions.
(From Chen Shou's "Records of the Three Kingdoms: Biography of Zhuge Liang," a dialogue between Zhuge Liang and Liu Bei)
Yizhou (Sichuan) is a land of strategic passes, fertile fields stretching thousands of miles, a heavenly storehouse—Emperor Gaozu relied on it to establish his imperial rule.
Thus laying the foundation for the tripartite division of Wei, Shu, and Wu.
(Red walls and bamboo groves of Wuhou Shrine, the only temple in China jointly dedicated to a ruler and his minister, consisting of Wuhou Shrine, Zhaolie Temple, and Hui Mausoleum, though collectively referred to as Wuhou Shrine; photographer: Li Shaokang)
Sichuan's textile and lacquerware industries were among the finest in the world.
("Five Stars Rise in the East, Benefiting China" brocade armguard, a Shu brocade produced in Sichuan, excavated from the Niya ruins in Xinjiang; photographer: Liu Yusheng)
It was said, "Yangzhou first, Yizhou second."
Such as the textile, salt-making, and tea industries.
Papermaking, printing, and shipbuilding.
(By the early Southern Song Dynasty, Sichuan already had 4,900 salt wells, producing over 60 million jin of salt; pictured is Zigong well salt production; photographer: Wang Huan)
It also gave birth to the world's earliest paper currency.
(Jiaozi printing plate, photographer: Liu Yedao; Jiaozi, image source: Visual China Group)
It further shaped the basic demographic and cultural landscape of modern Sichuan.
(Luodai Ancient Town, preserving multiple guildhalls from the Ming and Qing dynasties, including Huguang, Guangdong, Northern Sichuan, and Jiangxi guildhalls, along with the largest Hakka Museum in western China; image source: Visual China Group)
(Lizhuang Ancient Town in Yibin, during the Anti-Japanese War, hosted cultural and educational institutions such as Tongji University, the Preparatory Office of the Central Museum, the Academia Sinica, and the Society for the Study of Chinese Architecture. Image source @ Visual China)
The First and Second Five-Year Plans, Third Front Construction
It also drove large-scale organized migration
Into the Sichuan Basin and surrounding mountainous areas
Laying the foundation for Sichuan's modern industrial system
Chengdu's fighter jet R&D and production base
Mianyang's aerodynamics research center, among others
(A J-20 armed with missiles, a fifth-generation stealth air superiority fighter developed by the Chengdu Aircraft Design & Research Institute of AVIC. Photographer @ Luo Tao)
Allowing Sichuan, though inland, to remain unenclosed
Instead often standing at the forefront of China
Such as Sima Xiangru, Yang Xiong, Li Bai, and Su Shi
Whose masterpieces became milestones of Han fu, Tang poetry, and Song ci
(Meishan's Three Su Temple, built in honor of Su Xun, Su Shi, and Su Zhe. Photographer @ Qi Ge)
Such as Gao Shi, Cen Shen, Du Fu, Yuan Zhen, Bai Juyi
Liu Yuxi, Li Shangyin, Wen Tingyun, Wei Zhuang
Huang Tingjian, Lu You, Fan Chengda, and many others
(From Li Diaoyuan's "Seeing Off Zhu Ziying to Serve as Magistrate in Shu" in the Qing Dynasty)
Since ancient times, poets invariably journey to Shu, storing new verses in their travel bags
(Du Fu Thatched Cottage. Image source @ Visual China)
(Laojun Pavilion on Mount Qingcheng. Photographer @ Li Qiong)
(Mount Emei, one of the Four Sacred Buddhist Mountains, photographer: Shen Jun)
The largest cliffside stone carving statue in China
(Leshan Giant Buddha, photographer: Li Qiong)
Blending Shaanxi dialect with the native dialects of other immigrants
Incorporating elements from Kunqu opera, Hui opera, Han opera, and Qinqiang opera
Especially renowned for face-changing and fire-spitting
(Sichuan opera fire-spitting, photographer: Cai Zhenyu)
Combining Hunan’s braising, Jiangxi’s steamed dishes
Northern stir-frying and quick-frying, Jiangnan’s simmering and stewing
Along with local grilling and various other cooking methods
Merged with the region’s abundant local ingredients
Creating the most accessible cuisine among Chinese culinary traditions
(Sichuan cuisine, below are twice-cooked pork, mapo tofu, skewers, maocai, and hotpot, image source: Visual China Group)
The relatively abundant resources and laid-back environment within the basin
Give Sichuanese life a strong secular character
Possibly the highest mahjong popularity rate in China
(The endless river of mahjong, photographer: Zhu Jianguo)
(Chenjin Shop’s open-air tea house, photographer: Qi Ge)
(Shuijingfang Distillery ruins, photographer: Zhang Yan)
A direct continuation of the lifestyle of Sichuan people today
(Eastern Han Dynasty pottery figurine of a drumming storyteller, photographer @ Liu Yedao)
Another Land of Abundance continues to shine
(Mount Gongga above the mountain ranges, photographer @ Yu Yong)
The main peak of the Qionglai Mountains at 6,250 meters above sea level
(Mount Yaomei, photographer @ Su Tie)
Xiannairi, Yangmaiyong, and Xianuoduojie
Mount Yala, Mount Renzong, and Mount Tianhaizi
Mount San'ao, Mount Xuelongbao, Mount Jiajin, and Mount Xuebaoding
(Mount Yala, photographer @ Wan Ben)
(Mount Dawa, a typical mesa mountain, photographer @ Wang Zhi)
Such as the Jinsha River Gorge and the Yalong River Gorge
(Yalong River Gorge, photographer @ Cao Tie)
Giving Sichuan's mountains distinct vertical climate zones
The overall climatic base zone is subtropical
Enabling Sichuan alone to encompass
Six major climate zones from southern subtropical to plateau subarctic
(Distribution of climate types in Sichuan, the Sichuan Basin is generally a central subtropical climate, while the surrounding mountains feature diverse climates, map by @ Chen Zhihao & Luo Zihan/Planet Research Institute)
Especially the dramatic climatic changes over short distances
Allowing many relict plants and animals to thrive here
Such as those that coexisted with dinosaurs during the Jurassic and Cretaceous periods
Numerous remains are found in southern Sichuan
(In today's Cycad Nature Reserve in Panzhihua, Sichuan, over 200,000 cycads still grow, forming what can be called China's oldest surviving "forest," photographer: Li Guiyun)
Such as dove trees, tulip trees, and katsura trees
(Dove trees in the Daxiang Mountains, photographer: Jiang Xi)
It also created favorable conditions for the evolution of new species
It is an evolutionary center for modern gymnosperms
Sichuan is home to 101 species of gymnosperms (including varieties)
Among them, pines, cypresses, and firs account for 87 species
Sichuan larch, whitebark spruce, Kangding spruce, Xichang Douglas fir
(Spruce in Cuopugou, Batang County, photographer: Wang Minghua)
Plants such as Rhododendronaceae, Primulaceae, and Ranunculaceae
(The Hengduan Mountains and southern Sichuan highlands are one of China's evolutionary centers for rhododendrons. Currently, Sichuan has over 200 species of rhododendrons. Photo taken on Mount Emei, photographer: Shen Jun)
Kangding magnolia, Sichuan peony, round-leaved magnolia, camphor tree
Emei mountain raspberry, Emei coptis, Emei parakmeria
Awnless wild rye, short-awned wild rye, and others
(Kangding magnolia, photographer: Zou Tao)
It also provides refuge for flora and fauna from human disturbances
Becoming the last sanctuary for many rare species
(Vegetation on Balang Mountain, photographer: Tan Junji)
Allowing Sichuan to thrive beyond human cultivation
Sichuan is home to nearly 10,000 species of higher plants
accounting for about one-third of the country's total higher plant species
including 84 species listed as nationally rare and endangered protected plants
(Dawagengza vegetation, image source @ Visual China)
Sichuan also boasts nearly 1,400 species of vertebrates
including 217 species of mammals and 757 species of birds
ranking among the highest in species richness nationwide
With climate change and human activities causing disturbances
it provides them with a final refuge
(Giant pandas, with 3/4 of the wild population distributed in Sichuan and a small number in Gansu and Shaanxi; a panda walking in the snow, photographer @ Zhou Mengqi)
The golden-snub-nosed monkey with its golden fur
is the northernmost-distributed species of snub-nosed monkeys
(A mother and baby golden-snub-nosed monkey, photographer @ Xue Kang)
Sichuan sika deer, snow leopards, civets, and others
(Sichuan sika deer, endemic to Sichuan, photographed in Ruoergai, Sichuan, photographer @ Zou Tao)
Sichuan hill partridge, golden pheasant, Chinese monal, and others
(Golden pheasant, photographer @ Cao Tie)
This is the sheltering mountainous region of Sichuan
one of the world's 36 biodiversity hotspots
(Global biodiversity hotspot map, designed by @ Chen Zhihao/Planet Research Institute)
Migrating north and south along the Hengduan Mountain valleys
formed a famous ethnic corridor
(Danzha Tibetan Village in Zhonglu after snow, photographer @ Zhang Hao)
(Wrestling activities of the Yi people in the Yakde Highland Park Wetland, Daliangshan, Sichuan, image source @ Visual China)
(Pingtou Qiang Village in Maoxian County, image source @ Visual China)
(Xiayong Village in the Sun Grand Canyon, Derong, Ganzi, photographer @ Zhao Biran)
(Herdsmen grazing under Mount Genie, image source @ Visual China)
With a population density as high as 500 people/km²
the mountainous areas of southern Sichuan have a population density of only 80 people/km²
(Sichuan population distribution map, designed by @ Chen Zhihao/Planet Research Institute)
Humans and creatures in the mountains of Sichuan
a harmonious shared homeland
The unyielding land, amid chaotic collisions
created two super paradises: the Sichuan Basin and the surrounding mountains
According to the March 2021 release by the Sichuan Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism
"Sichuan Provincial Cultural and Tourism Resources Census Report"
It boasts 3.0574 million cultural resources
and 245,700 tourism resources
making it one of the most densely concentrated regions of alpine and extreme alpine tourism resources in the world
(Snow Treasure Peak, the main peak of the Min Mountains, photographer @ Yang Youli)
(Ganzi Xinlong Danxia, a plateau Danxia landscape, photographer: Yang Jian)
(Please view horizontally, Nuorilang Waterfall in Jiuzhaigou, photographer: Ye Changchun)
It also boasts over 1,400 rivers of various sizes
(Please view horizontally, the convergence of the Qingyi River, Dadu River, and Minjiang River in Leshan, where the Leshan Giant Buddha is located, photographer: Shi Yaochen)
Sichuan's hydropower installed capacity reaches 78.92 million kilowatts
(Ertan Hydropower Station at the confluence of the Jinsha River and Yalong River, located in Panzhihua, Sichuan, photographer: Shi Lei)
It also has countless plateau lakes
(Milk Lake and Five-Color Lake in Yading Scenic Area, photographer: Shan You)
The best-preserved plateau peat swamp wetland
(Please view horizontally, Ruoergai Flower Lake, photographer: Jiang Xi)
The province's forest area reaches 370 million mu
(Forests in western Sichuan, photographer: Yang Tao)
It also has 313 million mu of grasslands
(Tagong Grassland, photographer: Zuo Ma)
It also has 17.66 million mu of bamboo resources
(Shunan Bamboo Sea, image source: Visual China Group)
It also has Asia's largest red-leaf viewing area
"Asia's longest natural red carpet"
(Please view horizontally, Guangwu Mountain's colorful forest in Bazhong, image source: Visual China Group)
It also houses the world's largest collection and exhibition of
The place with the most Jurassic dinosaur fossils
It is an important dinosaur fossil production site in China
(Zigong Dinosaur National Geopark, image source @ Visual China)
World Cultural Heritage, World Natural Heritage
And the province with dual World Cultural and Natural Heritage
(Mount Emei-Leshan Giant Buddha is a dual World Cultural and Natural Heritage, pictured is the Golden Summit of Mount Emei, photographer @ Wang Jin)
It also boasts over 8,000 intangible cultural heritage items
More than 64,000 immovable cultural relics
And 1.082 million movable cultural relics
(The Sun and Immortal Birds gold ornament unearthed at the Jinsha Site, a symbol of China's cultural heritage, image source @ Chengdu Jinsha Site Museum)
The largest number of Red Army stone carvings in China
(Anyue Purple Bamboo Guanyin, photographer @ Yang Hu)
(The winding road of National Highway 318, photographer @ Zhu Xiaoma)
(Please view horizontally, after the opening of Tianfu International Airport, Chengdu became the third city in mainland China after Shanghai and Beijing to have two international airports, photographer @ Jiang Xi)
It also possesses endless human vitality and cultural heritage
One Sichuan, two super paradises
(Please view horizontally, Chengdu and the Hengduan Mountains, photographer @ Jia Nan)
Proofreaders | Quasimodo by the River, Ding Hao, Alpaca, Wang Changchun, Chen Jingyi
For more information on Sichuan's cultural and tourism resources, please click [Read More]
Explore the Sichuan Culture and Tourism Resources Cloud
Sichuan Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism, Sichuan Provincial Cultural and Tourism Resources Survey Report, 2021.03.