Climate
Influenced more by the surrounding mountains than the Sichuan Basin, the area is subject to frequent rain and fog. Bring rain-gear! Wear layers.
Understand
Qingchengshan is one of the ancient cradles of Taoism in China. The mountain complex is home to both many Taoist and Buddhist temples and sites along the paths that wind up to its peaks. The area is snow-free all year round and is known for its peaceful quiet this of course excludes the Chinese tourists that flock there on major holidays and the incessantly loud blasts of bus horns along major roadsides. The back entrance to the mountain is much less touristy and much more quiet and should be visited first by those who have hiking as their priority. It contains many links to over 80km worth of very green and lush hiking paths including a few small chairlifts.
The Dujiangyan Irrigation system is a marvel of Chinese imagination. Before the completion of Dujiangyan, the plains around the Min River were prone to flash flooding. This was due to the fast moving river flowing down from the mountains and meeting level ground. It was in the Warring States period about 2,200 years ago, that the engineer Li Bing and his son led the construction of the Dujiangyan irrigation system. This allowed the taming of the river and the irrigation of the surrounding lands.
For more information see:
Qingcheng/Dujiangyan China 2000, UNESCO World Heritage. (http://whc.unesco.org/arc...)
Taming the Floodwaters: The High Heritage Price of Massive Hydraulic Projects 2005, China Heritage Project. (http://www.chinaheritagen...)
Landscape
Wonderful midrange mist covered foothills including lots of bamboo.