Bian lian (变脸), literally “Face-changing”, is an ancient Chinese dramatic art that is part of the Sichuan opera. Performers wear brightly colored costumes and move to quick, dramatic music. They wear vividly coloured masks, and within a second, their masks’ change — revealing completely new and vibrant visages. He is a joker. Can you see…
Archives for November 2007
Sichuan Giant Panda Sanctuary
The giant panda is a National Treasure of China and a symbol of the world’s endangered wildlife, and Sichuan Giant Panda Sanctuary is a must-visit attraction. After all, Sichuan is the home of the endangered Giant Pandas! I always have the impression that pandas have white fur apart from their black patches. These have light…
Leshan Giant Buddha / 乐山大佛
The Leshan Giant Buddha (乐山大佛) is the world’s largest statue of a Buddha carved out of a cliff and faces Mount Emei (we visited Mt Emei later). The Giant Buddha, standing at 71 metres, was built during the Tang Dynasty. It has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1996. The Leshan Giant…
Mount Emei / 峨嵋山
Mt. Emei is one of the four sacred Buddhist Mountains of China and was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1996. Chinese novels have been referring it as a sacred mountain with nuns highly skilled in martial arts. Next: Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan!
Chengdu /成都
Chengdu (成都) is the capital of Sichuan province. During the era of the Three Kingdoms, Liu Bei (刘备) founded the the kingdom of Shu-Han (蜀汉; 221-263) with Chengdu as its capital. People from Sichuan love to eat “Mala” which means “numb and spicy”. The tingly numbness is caused by Sichuan pepper “hua jiao” (花椒) or…
