Visit Classic China
The laid-back city of Chengdu is the capital of fiery Sichuan Province, insulated from the rest of the country by an encircling ring of wild peaks. The food is super-spicy, the locals friendly, and the temples and teahouses provide some of the best opportunities for people-watching in the whole of China. Outside of the capital accommodation tends to be basic, but great natural beauty compensates. Southwest of Chengdu, mistshrouded Mount Emei is an important focus for Buddhist pilgrims, its slopes lined with temples heady with the scent of incense. At nearby Leshan one of the world’s largest Buddhas, hewn from the sandstone cliffs over a thousand years ago, gazes serenely over the turbulent confluence of three rivers.