In a nearby land where winter, turns to highlight the Tibetan culture, there is a place whose scenic beauty resembles that of a fairyland. Paradisiacal is the allure of Sichuan, a province in the southwest part of China. Here, glorious waterfalls cascade whole year round; several lakes of all shapes and sizes, whose colors vary from azure to emerald, pink to white, indigo to violet, form a refreshing sight; flora and fauna peacefully thrive and coexist with human beings whose mission in life is to protect the province’s biodiversity. “Are you ready to experience all the beauty and bounty of Sichuan?” asked our host in his thick Chinese accent while putting aside a book with exquisite photographs of the place from where he hails. Truth was, while we were having a meeting at a restaurant in Manila, my mind was already meandering. The next thing I knew I was on board a chartered flight en route to Chengdu, the capital city of Sichuan Province.

Like walking into a dream, we viewed the multi-colored waters. The water is crystal clear so you can see tree trunks all the way to the bottom. The most unique aspect of the scenery is the waterfalls linking many of the lakes in a fairyland network. Scattered around the park are Tibetan settlements, so all through the hills you can see bright prayer flags fluttering in the wind. Tibetans are one of the five cultural minorities in China. “The four seasons of Jiuzhaigou are equally charming,” said our tour guide. Spring ushers in greenness with birds’ singing, as well as peach blossoms. Summer sees greenness in its prime, with waterfalls and sunshine waking up every living organism, particularly wild flowers over the hills. Autumn is the most beautiful of all Jiuzhaigou’s seasons, when tree leaves turn rosy, light yellow, purple, silver, gray, brown, and ochre. Winter is such a time when icy twigs and green branches cling to jade- like trees, resembling a picture scroll of traditional Chinese landscape painting.

Another site worthy to see is the Dujiangyan Irrigation System. This age-old water management project dates back thousands of years ago and is also recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. What the Great Wall of China is to the north, Dujiangyan is to the south. The irrigation system, which has prevented flooding in this side of China ever since it was constructed, is considered the last greatest engineering feat in the history of Chinese civilization. A visit to Chengdu is not complete without going to the Giant Panda Breeding Research Base. At the breeding center, we got to see many panda bears. We arrived early in the morning to see the adorable creatures eating breakfast.