If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below. |
|
|
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
#1
|
|||
|
|||
Chengdu/Leshan/Dazu vs Xi'an
Ok, it's early February. Not the best time to travel to central China. We're
going to do it anyway. The question I have for those of you in the know or even not-so-in-the-know is what follows. From tour books we know what sights there are in Chengdu/Leshan/Dazu and what sights there are in Xi'an (I understand that the Banpo neolithic village is unavailable). Which would you visit if you could visit only one? To make it harder, after we leave China we are going to Australia where it will be mid-summer, and we don't relish the thought of carrying a lot of cold weather gear. Will Chengu/Leshan/Dazu be enough warmer than Xi'an that we wouldn't have to carry much extra warm clothing? Or is Xi'an so much more interesting that we should stop crying and bring the cold weather clothes? What would you do? Thanks for your help. Steve |
#2
|
|||
|
|||
Chengdu/Leshan/Dazu vs Xi'an
I think the key to your quandry is:
Which would you visit if you could visit only one? Based on that criterion, I would say Xi'an, especially if you don't plan on returning to China anytime in the future. Additionally, the city of Xi'an itself is much more visitor-friendly (read, easier to handle) with any number of sights/shopping/restaurants within the city itself to keep you very busy. Adding up the pagodas, temples, Muslim quarter, the two excellent major museums (don't miss the indoor collection of tomb and Buddhist sculpture at the "forest of stone tablets"), souvenir shopping opportunities (if you need such things), as well as the Warriors, Famen Si, Xingjiao Si (burial place of the monk Xunazang), and other temple sites around the city, then Xi'an is the way to go. Forget Banpo. Chengdu, by contrast, is great too, but is more just a big city that lacks the concentration of history and compelling attractions. Dazu is wonderful, and so is the big Buddha, but you will be making an overnight trip to appreciate Dazu and at minimum, a very long day trip to appreciate the Buddha. Emeishan in February would run you into the cold weather again and requires an overnight at minimum to fully appreciate or a separate, very long day trip to hike around and see the lower temples. There's also the excellent Sanxingdui museum, another day trip. Anything natural or wild that Sichuan is famous for will include the cold weather condition you seem to been concerned about. Pandas too, half a day to experience the breeding center in the north of the city. In the end, it depends on what you really want to leave China with: Xi'an is filled with what "China" conjures up in the minds of most, while Chengdu and environs are a bit more idiosyncratic. In either case, pray to the weather gods...more so for the sun than for the cold. |
#3
|
|||
|
|||
Chengdu/Leshan/Dazu vs Xi'an
"Oceras" schreef in bericht ... Ok, it's early February. Not the best time to travel to central China. We're going to do it anyway. The question I have for those of you in the know or even not-so-in-the-know is what follows. From tour books we know what sights there are in Chengdu/Leshan/Dazu and what sights there are in Xi'an (I understand that the Banpo neolithic village is unavailable). Which would you visit if you could visit only one? To make it harder, after we leave China we are going to Australia where it will be mid-summer, and we don't relish the thought of carrying a lot of cold weather gear. Will Chengu/Leshan/Dazu be enough warmer than Xi'an that we wouldn't have to carry much extra warm clothing? Or is Xi'an so much more interesting that we should stop crying and bring the cold weather clothes? What would you do? Thanks for your help. Steve Don't go to Xian The "famous" teracotta army is not really worth a visit, you can see similar things elsewhere in China. Compared with Chengdu, is Xian dirty and foreigner-unfriendly There is a widespread scan-culture in Xian And on top of that: there are a number of muslins who don't like foreigners at all I will save you the details Chengdu is extremely clean, people are friendly, food is excellent Leshan/Dazu are magnificent. Don't worry about temperature. Other interesting places in China a Lijang, Datong, PingJao, Yunnan province. |
#4
|
|||
|
|||
Chengdu/Leshan/Dazu vs Xi'an
|
#6
|
|||
|
|||
Chengdu/Leshan/Dazu vs Xi'an
"Jacuo" schreef in bericht ... Użytkownik "Dieter Aa" Dieter napisał w wiadomości ... Don't go to Xian The "famous" teracotta army is not really worth a visit, you can see similar things elsewhere in China. Where in China or elsewhere int the world is another teracotta army ? I can name you at least two places in China .... try Google with full colour teracotta images But, i must admit, not with 3 excavation pits Compared with Chengdu, is Xian dirty and foreigner-unfriendly There is a widespread scan-culture in Xian And on top of that: there are a number of muslins who don't like foreigners at all I will save you the details Xian has magnificent old city - sure, "old" in the way that it is worn-out, but authentic ? something quite rare in China, If you are looking for a really old and authentic city with real walls and people living in authentic old houses, then you better go to PingYao Muslim quarter has great atmosphere. and real scam-champions. Food is best in China ( try sweet & sour meat ). ....in Sichuan province Even without teracotta army Xian is worth visiting ... Are you stating that food in Xi'an is better than the famous food of Sichuan province ? Chengdu is extremely clean, people are friendly, food is excellent Chengdu is another noisy and dirty small copy of Hongkong. Chengdu is 3 times more authentic than Xi'an And: no muslims in Chengdu |
#7
|
|||
|
|||
Chengdu/Leshan/Dazu vs Xi'an
On Sun, 23 Nov 2003 00:43:30 GMT, the renowned "Dieter Aa" Dieter
wrote: Chengdu is 3 times more authentic than Xi'an And: no muslims in Chengdu What's your beef with Chinese Muslims? As a traveller I certainly had no issues with them- very friendly and helpful, and the food was a great change from the usual Chinese slop. Best regards, Spehro Pefhany -- "it's the network..." "The Journey is the reward" Info for manufacturers: http://www.trexon.com Embedded software/hardware/analog Info for designers: http://www.speff.com |
#8
|
|||
|
|||
Chengdu/Leshan/Dazu vs Xi'an
"Spehro Pefhany" schreef in bericht ... On Sun, 23 Nov 2003 00:43:30 GMT, the renowned "Dieter Aa" Dieter wrote: Chengdu is 3 times more authentic than Xi'an And: no muslims in Chengdu What's your beef with Chinese Muslims? As a traveller I certainly had no issues with them- very friendly and helpful, and the food was a great change from the usual Chinese slop. No particular problem with chinese muslims. Probably you didn't had issues with muslims in China. I had more than a couple of issues with muslims in Beijing, in Xi'an and in some other cities in SE Asia and India And (coincidently ?) I only had issues with muslims, never with other people. Strange isn't it ? I can tell you about simple scams, but also horrible stories, even live treatening issues(in Xian !), i faced with muslims on my travels in SE Asia. I learned my lesson: I will stay away from muslims as far as possible. But it is up to everybody else to decide where to go and how to face muslims. Thanks for your agreement with the other issues of our previous discussion. |
#9
|
|||
|
|||
Chengdu/Leshan/Dazu vs Xi'an
|
#10
|
|||
|
|||
Chengdu/Leshan/Dazu vs Xi'an
Jesus, what happened to this thread; is this soc.culture.china now??
Since no one has constructively refuted anything in my initial reply, let me also add for the record that I lived in Chengdu and traveled to Xi'an during the time the OP plans to go. Yes, the food in Chengdu is great, but there is plenty of food to keep you happy in Xi'an as well. Try getting a room at the Wuyi and there's a fun, cafeteria style place right in the hotel that's mobbed with locals. Fantastic doughnuts out in front on the street in the morning. The Muslim Quarter alone will keep you happy for several days' worth of meals. Better yogurt in Xi'an too. Of course there are tourist scams in Xi'an ("would you like to come in and see a special students' exhibition of paintings?") but come on, how easy is that to avoid? That aside, in the souvenir districts you can stock up on a lot of cool stuff that you never see in Chengdu, partly because of the geographic location and partly because of the huge numbers of tourists. As I already said, it depends on what you're after, but if it's an either-or proposition, the choice is really quite clear. Chengdu continues to be modernized at a rapid pace and physically retains very little of its history. Xi'an strikes a better balance in this regard. Am I dogging Chengdu? Not in the least; I love the place and it will always be my home in China. And get over this Han vs. Hui business...or go Muslim-bashing on the aforementioned soc.culture forum. |
|
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
3 DAYS XI'AN TOUR | jinglijia | Asia | 0 | October 16th, 2003 06:13 AM |
9 DAYS BEIJING XI'AN GUILIN SHANGHAI TOUR | gulingmei | Asia | 0 | October 15th, 2003 12:14 PM |
9 DAYS BEIJING XI'AN GUILIN SHANGHAI TOUR | qianyi | Asia | 0 | October 15th, 2003 10:12 AM |
9 DAYS BEIJING XI'AN GUILIN SHANGHAI TOUR | ?????? | Asia | 0 | October 14th, 2003 09:22 AM |
9 DAYS BEIJING XI'AN GUILIN SHANGHAI TOUR | ???????? | Asia | 0 | October 12th, 2003 08:28 AM |