Xichang

The "Moon City": cycling around the Qionghai Lake wetlands, ancient temples on Lushan, the Torch Festival and the Satellite Launch Center, and sunny winters ideal for wellness stays.

Xichang lies in the Anning River valley in southwestern Sichuan and is the capital of the Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture. At about 1,500 m, it has no harsh winters or scorching summers, over 2,400 hours of sunshine a year, and an exceptionally bright moon, earning it the nicknames "Moon City" and "Little Spring City." This destination centers on Xichang city and Qionghai Lake: southeast of the city, the Qionghai Wetland and lakeside greenway, Lushan with its Guangfu Temple, and the Liangshan Yi Slave Society Museum are all clustered on the lake's west shore; in the north of the city are Jianchang Ancient Town and Torch Square; the northern outskirts hold Lizhou Ancient Town and the Xichang Satellite Launch Center; and about 1.5–2 hours' drive south are the glacial lakes of Luoji Mountain and the Jiushijiuli Hot Spring Waterfall.

The best time to visit is the dry season from November to April, with plenty of sunshine and clear skies, making it a popular winter escape. May–October is the rainy season; the Yi Torch Festival in July–August (around the 24th day of the 6th lunar month) is the liveliest time of year, so book accommodation early. Local specialties include fire-pot barbecue, tuotuo pork, Qionghai vinegar fish and buckwheat cakes.

Getting there: Xichang Qingshan Airport has direct flights to Chengdu, Chongqing and elsewhere, and bullet trains on the new Chengdu–Kunming line reach Xichang West Station from Chengdu in about 3 hours. Qionghai is a 10–20 minute taxi ride from downtown, and you can rent a bike or take a sightseeing shuttle around the lake; for Luoji Mountain and the Satellite Launch Center, hire a car with driver or drive yourself. Most visitors spend 3–4 days. UV is strong at this altitude, so use sun protection; visits to the Satellite Launch Center must be booked in advance and are suspended during launch missions.

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