Leshan Giant Buddha May 2017
The drive from Chengdu to Leshan Giant Buddha took about 2.5 hours. Leshan Giant Buddha is carved out of a cliff face during the Tang Dynasty and took 90 years to complete, from 713 to 803 AD. The seated Maitreya statue is 71 meter tall and sits on the river banks at the confluence of … Continue reading Leshan Giant Buddha May 2017
Dujiangyan & Qingcheng May 2017
Dujiangyan irrigation system 都江堰 was first constructed in 256 BC to control floods. It is still used today to irrigate the region. Instead of building a dam to prevent floods, governor Li Bing constructed an artificial levee to redirect a portion of the water as well as cut a channel through Mount Yulei to discharge the … Continue reading Dujiangyan & Qingcheng May 2017
Sanxingdui & Jinsha May 2017
Sanxingdui 三星堆 is the name of the archaeological site outside Chengdu of a previously unknown Bronze Age culture. The site is believed to be a major ancient walled city on the banks of the Minjiang River dating from the 11th century BC. Archaeologists are identifying it with the ancient kingdom of Shu before the Qin conquest. … Continue reading Sanxingdui & Jinsha May 2017
Chengdu Giant Panda May 2017
Giant Panda Breeding Research Base is a must when visiting Chengdu. It is the closest panda base to the city. You will see many pandas ranging from cubs to adults playing, eating, and just relaxing inside the enclosures. If you want to have your photo taken cuddling a panda, then you must head to Dujiangyan … Continue reading Chengdu Giant Panda May 2017
Chengdu May 2017
Chengdu is the capital of China’s Sichuan province and is one of the only major places that has maintained its name nearly unchanged and its location from imperial to communist eras. Chengdu served as capital to Liu Bei’s Shu during the Three Kingdoms Era (220-280 AD). Nowadays, it is famed for being the home of … Continue reading Chengdu May 2017
Chichen Itza & Valladolid April 2017
Today we head inland to visit one of the largest Maya cities that ever existed: Chichen Itza. Chichen Itza translates to “At the mouth of the well of the Itzaes” and was built between the Late Classic (600-900 AD) and the Terminal Classic Period (800-900 AD). It is located near two large sinkholes called cenotes, … Continue reading Chichen Itza & Valladolid April 2017
Tulum & Sian Ka’an April 2017
Leaving behind the old world charm of Cuba, we arrived in Playa del Carmen, Mexico for some ancient ruins, good food, sun and sea. We stayed at the Thompson Hotel Playa del Carmen for our visit. The first day after our arrival, we headed to Tulum about a 40-minute drive away. Tulum was one of … Continue reading Tulum & Sian Ka’an April 2017
