Posted: Soumis par sxd (10) le mar, 2006-06-13 05:54. | Sujet: San Xing Dui Museum - Chengdu - Guanghan - Sichuan

The San Xing Dui Museum ( www.iHotPot.com ) is a must-do day-trip when coming to Chengdu. Located about 35-40km down the Chengmian Expressway which exits Chengdu in the Northeast quadrant of the city, it will take you about 30 minutes to get there by private car, or 60 minutes using bus routes. San Xing Dui is located about 7km from Guanghan, which is also home to the Civil Aviation Flight University of China, where they train most of China's pilots, air traffic controllers and flight attendants. The Duck River runs through Guanghan and you will discover a 2 km stretch of it lined with the usual teahouse and ma-jiang set-up. Guanghan has the best Sichuan Pork ( www.iHotPot.com ) dish that I have found in over 6 years of Sichuan living. The pork strips are meatier and thicker than most others. There is a small farmer's restaurant located just past the Flight University main gate (about a half kilometre) which outsiders do not know about, but which has simply incredible local food. Ask a student on the sidewalk and they can point you in the right direction. Most students there can speak English, so no troubles!

The main point of visiting the San Xing Dui Museum ( www.sxd.ca ) is to view the bronzeware. The copper masks are the most intriguing discoveries and have baffled historians as to their true origin. It remains one of the world's most profound mysteries and coupled with the Jinsha Ruins in Chengdu, comprises the basis for research into the Shu culture and the Kingdom of Shu. The Museum's exhibits are displayed in a modernistic pseudo-art-deco style building as shown in the cartoon depiction above. the interior is mood-lit and sets the tone for viewing the strange objects found within. You only need a few hours to see everything, so make it an early morning or afternoon trip and catch a Sichuan Pork lunch or dinner afterwards in Guanghan.

by Matt Vegh ( www.sxd.ca )