Travel Guide to Daying County, Suining! This small town in Sichuan actually has so many beautiful sights hidden in it!
Preface
Daying County is located in the central Sichuan Basin, west of the middle reaches of the Fu River, and is under the jurisdiction of Suining City. It has a mild climate with four distinct seasons. With high-speed trains and expressways, transportation is very convenient.
Suiningcheck the details
Suining City, also known as Doucheng and Suizhou, belongs to Sichuan Province. It is located in the heart of the central Sichuan Basin and the middle reaches of the Fu River. It is a regional central city in the Chengdu-Chongqing Economic Zone, a modern industrial base in Sichuan Province, and a modern ecological garden city characterized by the "nourishing heart" culture. [1] It is connected to Chengdu in the west, Chongqing, Guang'an, and Nanchong in the east, Neijiang and Ziyang in the south, and Deyang and Mianyang in the north. It forms an equidistant triangle with Chengdu and Chongqing. Located on the main axis of Sichuan's urbanization development, it is one of the "six major metropolitan areas" strategically deployed and constructed by Sichuan Province, and an important part of the Chengdu Economic Zone and the Chengdu Plain Urban Agglomeration.
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Daying County has a long history and extremely rich tourism resources. It not only has folk culture such as Xiangshan Hualuogu and Penglai Dale, which are "Intangible Cultural Heritage of Sichuan Province", but also historical culture such as "Han Pottery Museum, Jiguang Temple, and Gufeng Temple"; especially the "Dead Sea" and "Zhutongjing" in the county are the most famous. The former is known as the "Dead Sea of China" and the latter is known as "the father of modern oil drilling in the world and the fifth invention of ancient China". The name [Daying County] is also derived from "Daying Zhutongjing".
As a perennially renowned landmark in Sichuan Province's tourism industry, the name "China's Dead Sea" is undoubtedly familiar to many. Currently a designated National AAAA-level scenic spot, the Dead Sea, covering over 132 square kilometers, is a comprehensive tourist resort integrating health, novelty, fashion, and fun. Because people can float in the water, similar to the Western Dead Sea, it's known as the "China's Dead Sea."
Many people come to Daying County to see the Dead Sea, but this time during my self-driving tour in Daying, I discovered more beautiful scenery, including Songjing Taoyuan, Lexiang Tumen, China's No. 1 Traditional Chinese Medicine and Health Tourism Village, Oriental Guesthouse, Han Pottery Museum, Xiangshan Academy, etc., as well as the rapeseed flowers and peach blossom forests blooming along both sides of the road. It can really be said that "there are beautiful scenery everywhere, and you stop at every step."
So, when you visit Britain, don’t just focus on the Dead Sea, there are many other beautiful sights that you can’t miss.
Itinerary
Daying County's tourist attractions are all conveniently located. Travelers who aren't driving can also take a direct train to Daying East Station, then take a bus or taxi to various destinations. The detailed route plan is provided below, so there's virtually no need to backtrack. In total, two full days are enough to see all of Daying County's attractions.
For office workers who only have two days off on weekends, the arrangement of leaving on Friday afternoon and returning on Sunday evening is just right and very convenient.
Day 1: Chengdu - Daying County - China Dead Sea Tourist Resort - Xiangshan Academy - Han Dynasty Pottery Museum
Day 2: Zhuotongjing - Songjing Taoyuan - Enjoy Tumen, China's No. 1 Traditional Chinese Medicine and Health Tourism Village - Oriental Ecotourism Resort - Oriental Guesthouse - Chengdu
Traveling is a process of enjoying freedom. Although "traveling on a whim" is popular now, it is still necessary to make good preparations before setting off. I would like to share my experience with you here. I hope that you can have a better and happier time when traveling to Daying County.
Tips:
1. Filming equipment:
Daying County's tourism resources are mainly architectural space and natural scenery, so if possible, remember to bring wide-angle lenses and telephoto lenses. Especially the wide-angle lens can produce spectacular photos when shooting indoor places such as the Dead Sea and Zhutong Well.
2. Change of clothes:
The Dead Sea's water comes from a 150-million-year-old salt lake, over 3,000 meters underground. Its salt content reaches 22% to 25%. After soaking, your body will feel completely covered in salt, requiring a thorough rinse. Therefore, it's essential to bring a change of clothes, a bath towel, and a washcloth for wiping. Everyone's needs and departure locations will vary, so you'll need to choose different items for your trip. I've tried my best to list the most common items, and I welcome your feedback if you have any questions.
A unique and magical landscape: China's Dead Sea
The closest I ever got to the Dead Sea was during my trip to Egypt that year. It was a shame I didn't go further east and missed the Dead Sea scenery I'd read about in books. However, after visiting Daying County, Suining, I realized I didn't need to go abroad to experience the Dead Sea, as there's also a "Chinese Dead Sea" right here.
[China's Dead Sea] is currently a national AAAA-level scenic spot with a total area of 132 square kilometers. As a long-standing popular tourist destination in Sichuan, it can be said that this place has convenient transportation and complete construction. It not only has magical "floating wonders on the water", but also has rich architectural elements from various countries. It is great for playing in the water and taking pictures. Those who don't know would think they are "traveling abroad."
Especially the photos taken from this angle, which look extremely similar to the classic check-in photos of the Taj Mahal. If people stand in front of the arch to take the photo, the effect will be very beautiful.
The Dead Sea in China is formed by seawater from an ancient salt lake over 3,000 meters underground with a history of 150 million years. Its salt content reaches 22% or more. The rich salinity gives the water in the pool tremendous buoyancy. Even people who can't swim can float freely on the water, just like the guy in the picture. You can even lie down and sleep. It has the same effect as the Dead Sea in the Middle East.
There is a hot spring next to the floating area. When you come here, you can choose a well-lit location to take pictures. The second floor is the black mud health and leisure area. However, many tourists do not notice this place, which is a big loss. When you come here, remember to go to the second floor.
In addition to the floating area, the Dead Sea scenic area also offers numerous water entertainment facilities, such as the thrilling long slide, the super-long dragon slide, the 16-meter-high magic bowl, etc., as well as wave pools, swimming pools, hot springs, etc. There is also a huge water park and tropical landscape outdoors. There is really no limit to the fun, come here and have fun!
A literary wonderland in the mountains: Xiangshan Academy
This time, during my trip to Daying County, in addition to checking in the magical Dead Sea landscape, I also unexpectedly came across the treasure land of [Xiangshan Academy]. It was really worth the trip!
Xiangshan Academy is located in Xiangshan Town, 15 kilometers northwest of Daying County. It is a picturesque place with beautiful mountains and clear waters. When you come here, you will see many rape flowers planted on the roadside. The whole mountain is covered with a sea of yellow flowers. You can also see many beautiful views if you stop and walk along the way.
Xiangshan Academy is an ancient academy with a history of 170 years. It is also a place of great feng shui and has educated countless people over the years, and has produced top talents in many industries. The first Tsinghua University student and the first Peking University student in Xiangshan were both from here.
But what makes it even more famous is that this place served as an important rear base for our party's underground activities during the revolutionary era. It was the birthplace of the first underground branch of the Communist Party of China in the British region, the location of the Xiangshan 23rd District Branch of the Sichuan Branch of the China Democratic League, and the establishment place of the headquarters of the Central Sichuan Guerrilla Column, making significant contributions to the victory of the revolution.
Today, Xiangshan Academy has become a "Youth Ideological and Political Education Base", which inherits the unyielding spirit of the revolutionary martyrs through the large number of pictures and text materials on display. It is worthy for every young person to come and pay homage and learn from it.
A unique historical and cultural journey: Han Pottery Museum
Visiting a museum while traveling is absolutely the best thing to do, as it's a place where you'll discover a wealth of history, culture, local customs, and local practices, and it's also the quickest way to learn about them. So, which museum is a must-visit when traveling to Daying County? I highly recommend the Daying Han Dynasty Pottery Museum.
A visit to the Han Dynasty Pottery Museum revealed that during the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, Sichuan was home to four major vassal states: Shu, Ba, Zhu, and Qi. Daying in Suining was the core region of the Qi State. Therefore, this is the perfect place to learn about the civilization of the Qi State and the pre-Qin civilization of the Daying region.
[Daying Han Pottery Museum] is located in the Qijiang River Basin. Most of the cultural relics on display were unearthed on both sides of the Qijiang River. There are currently six exhibition areas and 905 cultural relics. The "Divine Lamp of the Queen Mother of the West" is the museum's treasure.
But what I am more interested in is the "Ancient Tomb Restoration Exhibition Area", where the Eastern Han Dynasty cliff tomb is reproduced in proportion, showing very clearly the shape of the cliff tomb from more than 2,000 years ago, and clearly reflecting the funeral customs of the Qi people of "living facing the water and burying in the mountains". The simplicity and luxury of the tomb is also a true reflection of the hierarchy of that period, and it is also another way to understand the civilization of that era.
In addition, I also found that the collections of the British Han Pottery Museum include a very rich variety of "animal figurines", especially dog and pig zodiac figures. This also reflects the importance and worship of animals by the ancient British people. You can take a good look around. The various pottery figurines are very exquisite and can be described as "lifelike."
Zhuotongjing, a living fossil of handmade salt production
Zhuotong Well does not refer to a specific scenic spot, but is a general term for 41 ancient wells in Daying County. This living fossil of handmade salt making was invented during the Qingli period of the Northern Song Dynasty, with a history of 1,000 years, more than 800 years earlier than the West. It uses upright and thick bamboo tubes to suck brine from deep underground, and then boils it to make salt. Its diameter is only the size of a bamboo tube, but it can drill wells hundreds of meters deep. It is known as "the fifth greatest invention of ancient China and the father of world oil drilling."
At present, the [Dashun Stove] in Daying County is the only remaining salt stove that can still produce salt using the Zhutongjing technology. However, the place I navigated to this time was the "Zhutongjing Exhibition Hall". Entering the exhibition hall is the ancient salt well, and you can also visit the documents in the museum along the way.
[Zhuotong Well] pioneered the use of mechanical drilling by humans and is a milestone in the history of world drilling. Its principle seems simple and primitive. It uses the lever principle used by ancient people when pounding rice, and drives a drill bit up and down by people's feet to achieve the purpose of drilling wells. However, from the perspective of that time, it was definitely a great epoch-making invention and a culmination of the wisdom of the ancient working people.
The most beautiful rural journey: Songjing Taoyuan
Visit Songjing Taoyuan Scenic Area in Daying, Suining, to see seas of rapeseed blossoms, peach blossom forests, and ride a miniature train! Located in Zhuotongjing Town, Daying County, Suining City, the Songjing Taoyuan Scenic Area is right next to the renowned Zhuotongjing Scenic Area, making it a convenient spot to visit both.
[Songjing Taoyuan Scenic Area] is based on the reproduction of Song Dynasty scenes, and has constructed three major groups: "Songyi, Songcun, and Song Festival". With the immersive "Song style" tour method, the three major theme scenes are connected into a line. While tourists experience it, they can appreciate the profound local culture and play a new chapter in rural revitalization. Various exciting projects are available to enjoy, plus special farmhouses, rapeseed fields, peach blossom forests, and various daily celebrations. It is really worth visiting.
In addition to the rich history of the Song Dynasty and the salt well culture, there are also thousands of acres of rapeseed flowers and peach blossom forests to enjoy. Especially when you take the small train through the sea of flowers, it is really beautiful like a fairyland on earth. Everyone must experience it once when you come here. It is really wonderful.
Enjoy Tumen: China's No. 1 Traditional Chinese Medicine Tourism Village
The Tumen Ya Village in Longsheng Town that I encountered by chance this time is also a very profound place worth exploring. It adopts the "enterprise + farming" integration method, with Tumen Ya Village as the core, and transforms the seven villages around Longsheng Town into a Chinese medicinal materials industry development park with Chinese medicinal materials such as "Citrus aurantium and Rosa rugosa" intercropping, with a total area of more than 10,000 acres, and realizes the new industrial development momentum of the common prosperity of medicine, grain and medicinal materials in many villages and groups in Longsheng Town; coupled with the rich and long-standing Chinese medicine culture here, together they have created such a traditional medicine "China's No. 1 Traditional Chinese Medicine Health Tourism Township."
Besides traditional Chinese medicine culture and medicinal herb cultivation, this place is also a beautiful cultural and creative park. Various check-in signs, rainbow trails, and internet celebrity decorations are all perfect for young people to take photos, so hurry over and snap some beautiful photos to share on your social media!
Romantic beauty: right at the Oriental Ecological Expo Park
The trip to Daying was full of surprises. In Yinjiagou, Penglai Town, Daying County, I came across a comprehensive resort park covering an area of more than a thousand acres. Its name is [Oriental Ecological Expo Park].
Although the Oriental Ecological Expo Park is a modern rural ecotourism destination, it offers a wide variety of holiday activities and a tranquil environment. Staying there feels like being in a scenic area, with breathtaking scenery just outside the door. The Oriental Ecological Expo Park comprises nine distinct areas: a star-rated hotel service area, a rare flower viewing area, a dining area, a cultural and leisure corridor, and a rural children's play area.
The park has a well-organized layout and complete functions. There is also the "Oriental International Hotel" which integrates fitness, sauna, health care, accommodation, KTV and other leisure and entertainment facilities. Therefore, there are also many accommodation options, including bustling star-rated hotels and quiet country villas.
Final Thoughts
[Daying] Such an excellent travel city is indeed worth visiting. Whether it is the magic of the Dead Sea, the beauty of the sea of flowers, the ancient salt wells from a hundred meters underground, or the century-old academy with outstanding people and beautiful scenery, they can all give me a reason to set off immediately.
The transportation here is so convenient that you can come here any weekend to have fun. What are you waiting for? Let's arrange your trip now~
