The 2011 IEEE/ACM International Conference on Green Computing and Communications

Sightseeing

City Attractions
Chengdu has been a governmental and cultural center since at least 400 BC, undergoing numerous name changes during the course of its long history. Through the city flows the Jinjiang River (River of Brocade). In downtown area, long and wide avenues flanked by high-rise buildings and local shops and stores are dotted with luxuriantly-grown green trees, and well-trimmed pretty flowers. Indeed, it is a beautiful city full of vigor and vitality. Besides the local teahouses, snack bars and bazaars (also known as free markets) are still the
popular places for tourists to frequent. One can either taste the typical Sichuan cuisine, local wine and tea or sort out his shopping of local special products like Shu embroidery pieces, bamboo-woven porcelain ware and lacquer ware or familiarize himself with local folklores and customs.

		Chengdu Giant Panda Breeding Research Base The Research Base may be the best place to see them. There are bamboo-shaded paths, animal pens, research laboratories (no visitors allowed), and a museum housing exhibits on pandas, butterflies, and China's vertebrate animals, and at least a half-day visit to the base is appropriate. Eighty-five percent of the world's remaining wild giant pandas live in Sichuan, and the Research Base and Chengdu Zoo have 21 giant pandas, more than 20
lesser pandas, and many black-necked cranes and white storks. There are 14 kinds of bamboo and 300 other plant species at the Base

Wangjiang Lou Park
Located on on the south bank of Jinjiang River, it is renowned because a famous poet in Tang Dynasty, Xue Tao (768-831), once lived here. She is well known for her poetic work, which was acknowledged and admired by her contemporaries. Because Xue Tao loved bamboo, which she regarded as a symbol of modesty and self-control, over 100 types of bamboo were planted on the grounds in her honor. Wangjiang Lou Tower, offering a view of the river, is 30 meters high and very elegantly constructed.

Du Fu's Thatched Cottage
It was formerly the residence of Du Fu, a prestigious Chinese poet of the Tang Dynasty. Here, Du Fu lived for four years and wrote over 240 realistic poems. In order to respect and admire the saint in the world of verse, the later generations from the Northern Song Dynasty set up a memorial temple in the cottage site for visit. There are the Lobby, the History in Verse Hall, the Shrine of Gong Bu, Stele Pavilion of Shao Ling's Thatched Cottage and so on in the extant main buildings.

Wide & Narrow Lanes
Wide & Narrow Lanes, lying in the ancient Shao Cheng area of Chengdu, are composed of mostly buildings in the Ming and Qing Dynasties along the street and are one of the three major protect areas of the famous historical and cultural city block of Chengdu together with the Daci Temple and Wenshu Temple.

		Huanglongxi Huanglongxi -- an old town with deep tradition on construction style of West Sichuan. Around 50 Kilometers from Chengdu, a popular scenic spot in recent years. The Qing Dynasty style buildings here are well preserved and attract so many film makers to shoot exterior views. On the ninth day of the sixth and ninth lunar month, temple fairs recreate the lively scenes of olden days.


Wuhou Temple (the Temple of Martial Marquis) It was built in commemoration of the famous Martial Marquis Zhuge Liang , the Prime Minister of the Shu-Han Kingdom. Wuhou might be translated as "minister or war". That was the title given to Zhuge Liang, a famous military strategist of the Three Kingdoms period (220-280AD) immortalized in one of the classics of Chinese literature, The Tale of the Three Kingdoms. The temple displays the suppleness of the Chinese garden. There are numerous historical relics like
horizontal cribbed boards, couplets, Inscribed tablets, penmanship, furnaces, Chinese tripods, etc.

Sanxing Dui Ancient City
The site of Sanxing Dui Ancient City, located at Guanghan 40km from Chengdu, is recognized as the most important ancient remains of the Sichuan region. Sanxing Dui Ancient City is the eldest and largest Shu ancient city found in China. In 1986, two enormous altars from the Shang dynasty, the top copper statue of the world-bronze human figures and a gold masks were found. Sanxing Dui represents another source of Chinese civilization -- the Yangtze River civilization. The unique and wonderful Sanxingdui culture civilization tells us that the source of Chinese civilization is pluralistic. There was not only the Yellow River civilization, but also the Yangtze River civilization in China.


Dujiangyan (Barrier Lake) It is one of the world’s first irrigation systems, located on the upper reaches of the Minjiang River, 35 kilometers from Chengdu. It was built between 306-251 BC by the local people under the guidance of Bing Li and his son. Dujiangyan is the oldest large-scale water conservancy project in China, a major historical site under state protection, as well as a national scenic area, characterized by its well-known irrigation system. Known as a “Field Museum of Irrigation Works”, Dujianyan was listed in the United Nations Education Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) List of World Heritage in 2000.


		Qingcheng Mountain Qingcheng Mountain (Qingchengshan), 65km west of Chengdu, is one of the ancient cradles of Daoism. The mountain has numerous Daoist temples and sites along the paths to its peak. The area is green all year round and is known for its secluded tranquility. Jianfu Temple (Jianfu Gong) sits at the base of the mountain and is a large, well-preserved Daoist temple from the Tang Dynasty. In 2000, Qingcheng Mountain was listed in the UNESCO List of World Heritage.


Emei Mountain Noted by the UN as one of the greatest legacies of ancient culture and natural landscape, Emei Mountain is one of four Buddhist mountains in China, it is situated 160 kilometers away from the southwestern Chengdu. The mountain extends more than 200 kilometers and the epic reaches 3099 meters above the sea level. For tourists they can reach 3077m above the sea level. Emei Mountain features craggy, layered cliffs and lush green trees That is why there is a
Chinese saying that “Emei is the most beautiful place in the world”.


		Leshan Giant Buddha The largest stone sculpture of Buddha in the world - Leshan Giant Buddha, 71-meter (234-feet) high, is as famous as the standing Buddha of Bamiyan in Afghanistan, and 17 metres (56 feet) taller than the Buddha of Bamiyan destroyed by Taliban authorities in 2001. According to records, the carving of this giant Buddha began in the first year of the region of the Tang Emperor -- Tang Xuanzong (713 AD), and completed in the 9th year of Emperor Dezong (803 AD), a total of 90 years.


Jiuzhaigou (Nine Stockaded Gap) Noted by the UN as one of the greatest natural legacies in the world. Jiuzhaigou is located in the Nanping county of Aba province which lies 450 kilometers away from Chengdu. With the total area of over 72,000 hectares, it is named as Jiuzhaigou because there were 9 “Zang” (a Chinese clan) stockaded villages. The tourist spot is divided into 5 scenic areas including Baojing Rock, Shuzheng, Rizi, Jian Rock, Chang Sea and Zhayu. Most of the spots are found within the
three main Y-shaped gaps. Besides, there are more than 100 highland lakes scattered like a terraced field. The turquoise water is clear and fresh. In particular, Jiuzhaigou’s Karsts image, the magnificent waterfall and fountain are attractive sites that Jiuzhaigou is described as the kingdom of fairy tale.


		Huanglong Huanglong was inscribed in World Natural Heritage Sites in 1992. "The most important features of the site are the outstanding karsts formations, the most notable being the travertine falls and limestone shoals in Huanglong, a valley set between high hills and snowy mountains in a protected environment." -- Praise from WCMC (World Conservation Monitoring Center). The 5588m snow-crowned Xuebaoding, the summit of Minshan Range, emerges at the background during fine days.


Daocheng Daocheng, located on the southeast of Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and the east of Hengduan Mountains, is a county on the southwest border of Sichuan, China. Daocheng County is special in geographical features. The high-altitude mountain and deep serene valley with gurgling brooks and broad pastures are covered with snow all the year round. The scenes are various and bewitching. Its heavenly natural scenery, simple and unsophisticated customs, and mystical
primitive human landscapes, having broken through the barriers of time and space, shine with charm and enchantment which have attracted photographers, whose artistic pictures present its beauty and charm before us. We sincerely hope that all those who love the beauty of nature and life will come to share the charms of Daocheng with us.


		Sichuan Opera It is one of the most famous operas in China, and has a very long history. Bian Nian is the masterpiece and essence of the present Sichuan opera, which has been widely publicized and well known in China, and grasped only by few people. Face off or face change in English, Bian Nian is the one of the artistry of the stagecraft, which reflects the minds and sentiments of the stage performers in a romantic way.


Sichuan Cuisine As one of the Chinese four great dish systems, Chuan dish is made up of Chengdu dish, Chongqing dish, Zigong dish and the ancient traditional vegetarian dish. It is famous all over the world for its hot flavor, and has the reputation of "Food in China and Flavor in Sichuan". The main characteristics of Chuan dish are: careful selection, meticulous cutting and arrangement, exquisite cooking, various seasoning. The usual flavors are: garlic sauce, five spices, piquant sauce, red pepper sauce, tingling and hot, sour and hot.


		2008 Beijing Olympics Game Since Beijing Olympics Game will be held on August 8, 2008, you can make a successive plan to travel in Beijing after ICESS'08.


Three Gorges of the Yangtze River Three Gorges of the Yangtze River scenic spot, including Qutang Gorge, Wu Gorge and Xiling Gorge three sections of canyons, is located in the Chongqing city nearby Sichuan Province.

More information about Chengdu:

http://www.chengdu.gov.cn/echengdu/tourism/landscape_list.jsp
http://www.muztagh.com/chengdu/index.html
http://www.warriortours.com/cityguides/chengdu/
http://www.chinatour.com/attraction/chengdu.htm
http://www.travelchinaguide.com/package/chengdu.htm
http://www.chinaplanner.com/sichuan/
http://www.chinats.com/chengdu/
http://www.travelchinaguide.com/cityguides/chengdu.htm
http://www.sc.gov.cn/htmlnew/culture/culture_content.asp?id=72 (in Chinese)
http://www.chengdu.gov.cn/zhonghe/zhuanti/tianfu/index.htm (in Chinese)