3rd Sichuan International Travel Expo to be held in Leshan

Solemn Leshan Giant Buddha (Source: Xinhuanet)

Leshan, in the southwest of Sichuan province -- the hometown of giant panda, is a brilliant tourist and historic city in China, thanks to its rich tourist resources, profound history and time-honored culture.

Mount Emei, 3,099 meters above the sea level, is a most singular representative of Leshan’s scenic beauty, which changes by the season and from its foot to the top. Mount Emei lives up to its reputation as a kingdom of flora and fauna by virtue of more than 3,200 plant species and over 2,300 animal species. The Jinkou Grand Canyon, 26 kilometers long and 2,600 meters deep, is among the top ten canyons in China. The Ebian Heizhugou Valley, a national forest park lying in the world’s most mysterious latitude 30 degrees north, is called “the oriental Bermuda”. Besides, amazing spots from the giant panda habitat Da Feng Ding Nature Reserve to “China’s natural oxygen bar” -- the Western Sichuan Bamboo Sea all contribute to the matchlessly gorgeous Leshan landscape.

Leshan is revered as a “Buddhist paradise” for its sacred position in Buddhism in the east. More than two thousand years ago, Buddhism was introduced from India to Leshan along the Southern Silk Route. From then on, Buddhism has been further cherished and developed in Leshan. Now, its Mount Emei -- the “Major Bright Mountain” -- boasts of 26 Buddhist monasteries and is the ritual place of Bodhisattva Samantabhadra and one of the Four Sacred Buddhist Mountains of China. The 48-meter-high golden statue of Bodhisattva Samantabhadra on its summit has become a symbol of Mount Emei. The Big Buddha Temple at the foot of the Mount Emei is Asia’s biggest Buddhist monastery and also the first gate through which Buddhist pilgrims climb to pay respect to Mount Emei. Before the year 713 during the Tang Dynasty (618-907 A.D.), Leshan was a flood-stricken area. Through nearly one century’s hard work, people of Leshan chiseled the world’s largest, 71-meter-high, solemn-looking Maitreya Buddha on a cliff above a roaring rushing river. In 1996, Mount Emei and Leshan Giant Buddha were included in the List of World Natural and Cultural Heritages by the UNESCO.

The martial arts of Mount Emei, which has been practiced throughout centuries, is one of the top three schools of Chinese martial arts together with the Shaolin and Wudang martial arts. It has been attracting martial arts fans from home and abroad to come and learn year after year. The Jiayang narrow gauge steam train, reputed as “a living fossil of Industrial Revolution” runs among Leshan’s towering mountains on a daily basis, serving as a witness to the ever-advancing history. The Dongfengyan, a heritage of world significance, was built in 1662 by Leshan people as a water conservancy project mainly for agricultural irrigation. Though 350 years have passed since its birth, this project is still in full service. Leshan, a livable city sitting by the confluence of the three rivers Dadu, Min and Qingyi, best explains the ecological harmony of nature and man. Sichuan cuisine is world famous, and Leshan cuisine is its best. Food-loving locals have invented legions of Sichuan-style delicacies, such as Malatang (the hotpot) and Qiaojiao Beef (spicy beef) and so on. Geographically endowed, the leaves of Mount Emei Tea is designated a natural product under the protection of geographical symbols. Taking a sip of Mount Emei Tea and a taste of Leshan food has become a must for every visitor to Leshan.

In late September, the third Sichuan International Travel Expo is to be held in Leshan. This event will center on three aspects: exhibition, trade and forum while integrating resources, products, markets, information and tourist sources, in a bid to build an exchanges and cooperation platform for industrialist, for trade, as well as for specialized exhibition of mountain tourism. Two expos have been held in Leshan since 2014. This year’s Expo will welcome tourism professionals from 42 countries and regions including America, Germany, Malaysia, Japan, and South Korea. Leshan is willing to set up platforms for them to show and trade their products.

Thailand is invited as the Guest of Honor country to this Expo. Sichuan is a traditional destination for Thai tourists and in turn one of Thailand’s important overseas tourist sources. In this Expo, Thailand is to hold promotion fairs, and organize “see-and-feel” Thailand week and Thai food week, to present its rich tourist resources to Sichuan people from walks of life.