Chengdu

cctv.com 05-31-2004 10:51

A place is also known as "heaven on earth", It is rich in nature, culture, history, spicy food... do you know that it is also said that "the taste of Shu kingdom is to be find in Sichuan, while the flavor of it? Concentrated in the capital-- Chengdu!

Size of France, enjoys its vast land rich in natural resources and superior natural conditions, Sichuan province has always been known as "the place of abundance" since ancient time.

Its capital, Chengdu is one of the oldest cities in the world established as early as 4000 years ago. Numerous scenic and historic sites in and around the city make Chengdu the best place to marvel the imperial prowess of SHU kingdom and experience the anciently of distinguished SHU culture.

Modern Chengdu is famous for its relaxed life style, a perfect destination for travelers, especially city people to enjoy what a modern city has to offer while feeling taking a pleasant respite from hectic city tempo elsewhere.

Lied in a geographic and cultural crossroads, today's Chengdu serves as the major gateway to Tibet and other tourist attractions, in and around Sichuan. Arrested by myriads of things to see, worldly renown Sichuan cuisine to try, not mentioning china's animal ambassador鈥檚 charm, most travelers find Sichuan, chengdu, simply hard to resist!

Old town

I always find the old town is where the heart of a city resides. Tugged away, yet pulsating in a city's original beat, and when would be the best time to feel the throb? In the morning...

Intertwined alleys and courtyard houses in Sichuan style weave up the guanxiangzi area that wakes up early and slowly. It is the closest place for a traveler to feel the ebb and flow of local daily life, expecting some pristine encounter.

The quietude can be stirred up occasionally by some inquisitive outsiders, and people are so used to it they take it as a part of their morning ritual== answering similar questions repeatedly, telling stories behind the crusted doors, sometimes may even puff up slightly for some variations of tones and moods...

Thanks to the kind granny! She is helping me fix my shoes! But that鈥檚 not her job; she is just doing me a favor! She makes and sells these cute toys! I have to buy one right? Such a kind souvenir!

A poet or poetaster? Doggerel or a lyric? Flattered to be called a lark and put his efficiency in terms of time into account, I was deeply impressed.

Sichuaneses are renowned for their sense of humor and clever word-play. It is known for being famous literati鈥檚 hometown or favorites place for them to reside since ancient time.

Even today, almost every poet would visit this place once they are in Chengdu---Du Fu thatched cottage museum.

Inside the great poets' hall, statues of china's most renowned poets over the last 2 millenniums stand side by side, in their distinctive poses.

That's exactly how I imagined libai should look like, look like Bacchus, and this one, lying like Morpheus. How I wish more of our fellow Chinese can be like them, just loosen up a little bit!

Li Bai's blithe drunken poems are popular even today. In sharp contrast, Du Fu's serious, allusive, sometimes even anguished pieces are less accessible. But as a master and innovator of all the verse forms of his time, Du Fu is also considered to be an undisputed genius in Chinese literary history.

Like many geniuses in the history, Du Fu never achieved fame or fortune, or a worldly career in his lifetime. Lived in the turbulent times, witnessed the decline of the Tang dynasty, it was only here he spent some of the most serene time in his life.

From 760- 764, Du Fu lived in rusticity here, the humble cottage that鈥檚 now known as "the shrine of Chinese poetry".

Sometimes I could help asking myself what's the point of visiting famous people's former residence. When the person is long gone, even the site is rebuilt. But every time when I am actually here, I could not help marvel, --HE, was actually HERE!"

It was from here, he wrote one of his most recital poems "urprised by the spring rain", recorded the glory of Chengdu in the past by calling it The brocade city.

The history of shu brocade can be traced back to the anciently of Sichuan, which is the cradle of Chinese silk. Since Warring States Period, Shu Brocade had become important merchandise for export.

Tang Dynasty witnessed the most prosperous period of silk industry in China, Chengdu, as the center of Shu Brocade of this time represented the top level of ancient silk handcraft of China.

Nothing feels like touching the soft silk! it was from here that I learned the brocade route, also known as southern silk road was established at least 200 years earlier than the silk road on the north that we all know about! the route went through Sichuan, Burma, India and all the way to the middle east, I can even see some influence in between here!

The first brocade-weaving machine was invented around 220AD. These that are still in use in Shu Brocade Institute are Qing dynasty machine replicas.

Hand-knit Shu brocade is also known as "gold of threads", one day's labor can only produce 10 centimeter long brocade like this.

The historic site that I felt impossible to miss in Chengdu, is WUHOU memorial temple, the place is dedicated to the memory of ZHUGELIANG, a prime minister during THREE KINGDOM period.

THREE KINGDOM period is long gone, left few picturized record. But the image of Zhuge Liang is very clear in China. He is known as a man always wearing Taoist outfit, waving a white feature fan, and a real renascence man who was good at playing go game, and even playing many musical instruments.

Before becoming the Prime minister of Shu kingdom, Zhugeliang lived a recluse life while keeping a close watch on the state affairs outside. His insightful commentaries of ongoing happenings and even prediction for future events made him famous throughout China.

You have probablely heard crouching tiger, hidden dragon. In china it is a very common phrase that is referred to heroes that lived in recluse life waiting or seeking for the right opportunity and time to rise! Zhugeliang was called by his friends "hidden dragon", which raised curiosity of Libei, the ruler of SHU kingdom. Legend goes that He came to zhugeliangs humble house 3 times trying to convince him entreat from his withdraw. It is quite a reminder for those of you: be courteous to the wise and talented, that's the best and least investment one can do!

Liu Bei's gesture paid off. Once Zhuge Liang took the post as chief military advisor, he suggested the strategy of teaming Shu kingdom with the equally weak Wu Kingdom to the east, against Wei kingdom, in the north boasted the strongest force.

Zhuge Liang's tactics, courage, even military inventions like wheel barrow helped to defeated Wei and kept them back on the north of the Yellow River for a long time. Wei and Shu kingdom sustained their sovereignty and form the confrontation of three kingdoms for over thirty years.

How to truly win a battle? No one understands the secret better than zhugeliang. That's to "win the heart, and conquer the mind". How I wish people today can understand this just slightly better!

Liu Bei learned this from zhugelinag and used it right back to his teacher. To repay liu Bei's trust, zhugeliang devoted himself to SHU kingdom and his master for more than 30 years.

The famous maxim "work with devotion until deat"鈥from his "memorial on sending out troop" is the very picture of his life. In 234, he died at this post when out battling for the kingdom.

Night scene

When the night falls, the lights are up, even restaurants start closing, I went to a teahouse, of course not only because I was craving for a cup of tea...

It is always good to come to a show on time, even in good time! Look at that, looks comfy, I am gonna try that too!

If you have seen Japanese tea ceremony performance before only, Chinese tea performance will certainly surprise you. It is almost like a combination of a martial art and acrobatic performance.

The performers need to be strong enough to twirl and turn the heavy brass pot with ease; and also need to be flexible and precise like an acrobatic dancer.

The pair I saw were twins, that probably helps to form such seamlessly inline collaboration.

Hotel in the rain

If you are lucky like me, find a guesthouse like this; you will probably not complain much about the weather in a rainy afternoon like this.

Yes, it is a rainy day again. No surprise. In chengdu there is a saying that says the dogs would bark if they see sunshine, such a strange and rare phenomenon... but there is nothing like "rainy day, bad day, rainy day, sleeping day". More like...write a poem or something...

Women are like jade,

Long hidden in the secret paths.

So I always right as I please

On my scarlet poem slips.

Grown old, one can't collect one's work and

Fix up all that鈥檚 wrong.

So I send this verse to you,

As if to show to teach a young bo

Do you see her now? Pretty clearly right?

Lived in Chengdu in Tang dynasty, Xue Tao is one of the most renowned Chinese poetess in Chinese history.

Known as a "wonder child in literacy", Xue Tao was said to have written her first poem at the age of 7. It is said that from her, she drew water and made her "scarlet poem slips"...

The park is also the best place to view and admire more than 100 kinds of luxuriant bamboo plants clustered in groves. In ancient China bamboo was a feature of various aspects of daily life. It was used for food, clothing, housing and transportation. China's first books were crafted from bamboo strips strung on string, and almost all ancient musical instruments were made of bamboo

Chinese literati LOVE symbolism and they always find it in nature. Bamboo is seen as a "virtuous plant". Since it is seen as courteous and humble because it is hollow inside, and it is also the most persistent plant in the world. Xue Tao probably loved bamboo for the same reason. Lived as courtesan in her life time, she is remembered as one of the most renowned Chinese poetess in the history!

The Riverview pavilion today it stands as a monument where people come to look for some barely discernible traces of this talented poetess.

Rising more than 39 meters high, the Riverview pavilion, it is a perfect belvedere to view the city's mother river fu nan river.

Most temples and palaces in China are routinely crowded more with tourists and superstitious types than worshipers. The mysticism in and about a temple or palace is always a stronger pull to most lay people than what the place actually represents.

Other places you will find a totem pole, here in qingyang gong, the oldest Taoist palace in chengdu, you find a bronze sheep.

The entire temple complex was built around this bronze sheep. But if you look closely, it is not a pure sheep. You may know your Chinese sign, it is said if you touch the goatee, or horse head, it will bring you luck. I wont tell you my sign though!

I have to admit I check up my horoscope from time to time too but I still can鈥檛 relate to people who are really fascinated by a motive. Bronze sheep carries afflatus and guides the road? I doubt I would ever be that lucky, so I turned to a safer bet.

What makes one a good teacher? A good analogist at least.

The most famous architecture in qingyanggong is the BAGUA pavilion. The young master happened to be an ICHING expert in the palace and explained the divinatory symbols on the roof briefly according to the theory of ICHING, the book of changes.

ICHING, The book of Changes, the most mysterious book in China is a 4000 years old divination guidebook. Annotation of it generally considered to be a Taoist territory.

I still don't believe future can be calculated. What is unforeseeable about it, makes life interesting, right? I would rather imagine myself standing in the future, looking back at me, in a nice teahouse, drinking another cup of tea, RIGHT HERE, RIGHT NOW. Enjoy your day, you have been watching travelogue, I am yanling, see you next week!

Editor:Zhang  Source:CCTV.com