For many, Dujiangyan is only remembered as an ancient irrigation project from textbooks. Yet this city in Sichuan, southwest China, is far more than an engineering marvel. As a City of Three World Heritages, a beloved panda habitat and a serene haven of leisure, it blends millennia of history, breathtaking nature and laid-back charm to stand as the very source of the Land of Abundance.
A Timeless Triumph of Ancient Engineering
The Dujiangyan Irrigation System is the world’s oldest and only surviving dam-free water diversion project. Built over 2,200 years ago, it still nourishes the fertile Chengdu Plain today—a perfect harmony of human ingenuity and natural balance that remains a global model of sustainable water management.
Where Culture and Serenity Thrive
Nestled beside the ancient waterworks, Mount Qingcheng enchants visitors with its perpetual greenery and quiet grace, inspiring poets like Du Fu to praise its secluded beauty. The historic Old Guanxian district carries over two millennia of legacy while embracing modern vitality.Lingyan Mountain offers a peaceful Zen retreat, where golden ginkgoes and red maples paint a stunning autumn scene, echoing the spiritual legacy of scholars Yuan Huanxian and Nan Huaijin. The Anlan Cable Bridge, known as the Couple Bridge, is China’s largest ancient rope suspension bridge and a symbol of love. Meanwhile, the Two Kings Temple stands as a masterpiece of traditional architecture, honoring Li Bing and his son, the visionary builders of Dujiangyan.
A Pristine Ecological Paradise
Straddling the transition zone between the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and the Sichuan Basin, Dujiangyan boasts extraordinary geological landscapes: towering peaks, deep valleys and vast fertile plains. It shelters more than 10,000 plant species, including rare living fossils such as ginkgo and dove tree, and is home to Asia’s largest alpine rhododendron garden.Golden monkeys, blue sheep, Chinese monals and other rare wildlife thrive here freely. As a key global panda habitat, Dujiangyan is home to dozens of giant pandas, supported by a dedicated wild-release base and disease control center. In 2005, Shenglin No.1 made history here as the world’s first giant panda to visit an urban area.With 300 square kilometers of pristine ecological zone, Dujiangyan serves as a vital ecological barrier for the upper Yangtze River and Chengdu’s cherished “natural oxygen bar”.
A Livable, Vibrant City of Opportunity
Just a 30-minute journey from downtown Chengdu, Dujiangyan enjoys a stunning natural setting of “six mountains, one river and three fields”, with a charming urban layout of “a city half embraced by water and mountains”. It has been renowned as a land of longevity since the Tang Dynasty, drawing scholars and artists through the ages to uncover its secrets of well-being.It delights travelers with iconic sights and flavors: Mount Qingcheng, the Dujiangyan Irrigation System, giant pandas, and local delicacies including spiced rabbit head, braised chicken, cold-water fish, Qingcheng tea and fresh kiwifruit.A thriving hub for business and innovation,
Dujiangyan offers a top-tier business environment and a booming “Tianfu Precious Water” industry. Major brands like Nongfu Spring and Genki Forest have settled here, making it a place where enterprises grow and talents pursue their dreams.
Dujiangyan is more than an ancient wonder—it is a living, breathing city where history, nature and modern life come together in perfect harmony, offering a life of peace, joy and prosperity.（Photography:He Bo）