Things to Do in Jiangyou, China

Quick facts: With a drop of 108 meters, this is the tallest waterfall in Sichuan province. The water thunders down into a natural pool that glows emerald green on clear days.

Highlights: On sunny afternoons, a double rainbow appears in the mist around the waterfall, a phenomenon that occurs in only a handful of places in the world. The force of the falling water is so intense that you can feel the ground tremble under your feet when standing ten meters away.

Quick facts: This hall is dedicated to the famous Tang dynasty poet who reportedly wrote 1,000 poems per month in his heyday. Visitors can view more than 200 original calligraphy works and historical artifacts that document his life and work.

Highlights: The museum houses a rare, hand-written scroll measuring 15 meters long featuring one of his longest poems, complete with ink stains from the original calligrapher. In the inner garden stands a 300-year-old ginkgo tree under which the poet is said to have recited his most famous verses.

Quick facts: Underground, this cave system houses a subterranean river that stretches for 6 kilometers. The largest chamber measures 180 meters long and 80 meters high, large enough for multiple football fields.

Highlights: At the bottom lie crystal-clear pools that reflect the light of headlamps like thousands of diamonds. The rare 'cauliflower limestone' formations have been growing here in slowly dripping water for more than 300,000 years.

Quick facts: More than 3,000 Buddhist statues adorn the walls of this impressive cave, some already over 1,200 years old. The cave stretches across five large halls with high ceilings and ancient murals that tell stories from Buddhist mythology.

Highlights: In the middle hall stands an 8-meter-tall stone statue of Buddha, surrounded by thousands of smaller figurines carved into the rock wall. What most visitors do not know is that the cave once served as a hiding place for local villagers during invasions, explaining the deep carvings and traces of wear at the entrance.

Quick facts: The summit offers a panoramic view of the surrounding hills of Jiangyou. Each year, the walking trails attract about 300,000 visitors who come to enjoy the tranquil nature.

Highlights: On a clear day, you can see up to 50 kilometers across the green valleys from the top. At sunrise, the morning mists dance among the rock formations, a spectacle witnessed by only a handful of early birds.

Quick facts: Over 80,000 visitors per year come here purely for the peace and quiet and the beautiful old trees. The pond in the center is home to hundreds of colorful koi fish that you may feed by hand.

Highlights: Every morning at seven o'clock, a group of local tai chi practitioners begin their day with a graceful ritual right next to the large pond. A blind pianist has been coming here almost daily for forty years, playing classical Chinese melodies on his own keyboard, something that deeply moves visitors.

Quick facts: More than 100,000 trees adorn the hills, with a 45-meter-tall Li Bai statue overlooking the city. The park combines the wild beauty of Sichuan's nature with the literary legacy of China's most famous poet.

Highlights: On a clear autumn day, the morning sun casts a golden glow back from the white pagoda atop the central hill. Local poets still gather here at sunrise to recite verses, just as Li Bai himself did a thousand years ago.