# Xichang

Xichang is a relatively small city in the Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan province. While the town may be of little interest, it is an excellent midpoint stop when traveling between Sichuan city and Yunnan, Lugu Lake is 6 hours to the west.

## Understand

The area's best-known feature is Xichang Satellite Launch Center or "Base 57", about 64 km (40 miles) northwest of the city. Xichang, the capital of Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture is also known as China Moon City, China Space City and Xiaochun City.

### Climate

Xichang has a reputation as "Spring City" because it has spring-like weather all year round and a pleasant climate.
Xichang City belongs to the tropical plateau monsoon climate area, known as the small "spring city", rich in climate resources, with warm winter and cool summer, all seasons like spring, abundant rainfall, rainfall concentration, sufficient sunshine, rich light and heat resources. During the day, the solar radiation is strong, and the temperature difference between day and night is large.

## Get in

The city is on the main rail line and on the main highway connecting Kunming and Chengdu, and it has an airport.
The Chengdu–Kunming Railway (成昆铁路), while scenic, is extremely slow. By comparison, buses run on the newly constructed elevated G5 expressway.
The Xichang High-speed Railway was opened for operation in 2022. It serves Xichang West Station.

## Get around

* No. 6 bus (xichang West Railway Station-Yuecheng Square）Bus No. 6 goes directly to Yuecheng Square, where you can eat around and visit Jianchang Ancient City.
* No. 108 Huanhu Bus ：There is a bus from Xichang West Railway Station to the entrance of Wetland Park Party School. After arriving, you can take a sightseeing bus to Jinlin Beach.
* Bus No. 106： The Huanhu Bus from Xichang West Railway Station to Walnut Village passes through Lushan, Qionghai Park, and Dashiban Ancient Village.
* Bus No. 111：The bus from Xichang West Railway Station to the small fishing village passes through Xichang City.
* 27.892989102.2292541 Xichang Tourism Distribution Center, West Railway Station East Road. (updated Dec 2023)
* 27.908363102.2644322 Xichang East Passenger Transport Station. (updated Dec 2023)

## See

* Xichang Ancient City (西昌古城). Not exactly one of the finest ancient cities in China. Most iconic building is the Ming era city gate (巍巍大通门).
The ancient city of Jianchang was square in the Ming Dynasty, with four walls each 1,200 meters long, covering an area of 144 hectares. There are more than 2,400 cultural relics in the ancient city. Ancient ruins, ancient tombs, ancient stone carvings, rock paintings, and ancient buildings are all over Xichang City. The existing area is about 130 hectares. The city is centered on the four archways and radiates in all directions. The north is called North Street, the south is called South Street, the west is Cang Street, and the east is Fu Street. The four streets intersect in a "ten" shape. establish. The Ming Dynasty writer Yang Sheng'an, the Qing Dynasty calligrapher He Shaoji, the Qing minister Zha Jiantang, and the modern educator Huang Yanpei all left their ink marks in the ancient city of Jianchang.
* 27.837706102.2686381 Liangshan Yi Slave Society Museum (凉山彝族奴隶社会博物馆), 6 Lushan Road (泸山路6号) (on Lushan hill), ☏ +86 834 3950099, +86 834 3223150. Tu-Su 09:00-16:00, closed on Mondays. Slavery remained in the Liangshan area until the 1960s. This is the only museum in China with exhibitions on the slavery system of the Yi people. Free. (updated Jan 2023)
* Qionghai Lake and Lushan Mountain Scenic Area (邛海泸山风景区). Qionghai Lake and Lushan Mountain are south of the city center. There is a surrounding wetlands area with a bike path which is approximately 40 km all around. There is a ticket fee of ¥55, but there are many sections of the lake which can be accessed without purchasing a ticket. (updated Jun 2015)
* Xichang Lushan (西昌泸山) Xichang Lu Mountain is one of the famous scenic spots, there are many ways to go up the mountain, you can climb on foot, and the monkeys on the mountain to a zero-distance interactive experience (but be careful of the "mountain king" grab food) you can also take the ropeway up the mountain, take the slide down the mountain. Go to the top of the mountain to enjoy the panoramic view of the entire city of Xichang, breathe the freshest air, and take a spiritual purification trip.
* 27.585141102.4343092 Luoji Mountain (螺髻山), Luojishan Avenue, Luojishan Town, Puge County, ☏ +86 834-4779326. 08:00-18:00. It spans two counties and one city, Puge, Dechang, and Xichang, and is the Qiong It is part of the Hai-Luoji Mountain Scenic Area and is the largest Yi-inhabited area in China. It has simple folk customs and culture. The tourist area covers more than 1,000 km². The main peak is 4,359 meters above sea level. There are 72 peaks above 4,000 meters above sea level. Because the main peak towers into the clouds and looks like a green snail or a jade bun, it is named Luoji Mountain. The name comes from and Mount Emei has a "sister" relationship. Luoji Mountain is steep and aloof, with an altitude of more than 2,500 meters densely covered with Quaternary glacial relics. The scenic area has glaciers, hot springs, springs, waterfalls and other scenic spots. In addition, there are no people or roads in the undeveloped area of the scenic spot, so you cannot rush in. ¥70. (updated Sep 2023)
* 27.828514102.3663863 Xichang Dashiban Ancient Village (西昌大石板古村), Hainan Street, toll-free: +86 13881480172. 08:30-18:00. It is a rural revitalization demonstration area supported by Liangshan Prefecture and Xichang City. The ancient village was built in the Ming Dynasty and rebuilt during the Daoguang period of the Qing Dynasty. With a history of nearly 600 years, it was an important town and post station on the ancient "Southern Silk Road" and the Ancient Tea Horse Road. The ancient village is located in Qionghai National Tourism Resort, facing Qionghai, backed by Luoji Mountain, and surrounded by mountains on three sides. It has beautiful scenery, unique natural ecological resources, and distinctive cultural characteristics of the Tea Horse Road. (updated Sep 2023)
* 27.893262102.2449261 Xichang Satellite Launch Center, Zeyuan Township, Aerospace North Road, ☏ +86 8343864011. Xichang Satellite Launch Center (XSLC) was founded in 1970 and delivered for use in 1982. Since the launch of China's first communication satellite in January 1984, it has carried out more than a hundred satellite launches at home and abroad. (updated Dec 2023)

## Do

* 27.826701102.2797931 Qionghai National Wetland Park (邛海国家湿地公园), ☏ +86 834-3952075. 08:00-18:00. A plateau wetland nature reserve with high ecological value, it is one of the largest urban wetland parks in the city. The total area of the wetland is about 20,000 acres. It has multiple functions of conserving water sources, regulating urban microclimate, purifying water quality, and providing habitats for animals and plants and ecological landscapes. ¥50. (updated Sep 2023)
* Xichang Haihe Park（海河公园）It is a good place for locals to take a walk after dinner. You can drink a cup of good tea in the riverside teahouse and steal half a day's leisure.
* 27.83723102.2724362 Moonlight style town (月色风情小镇) (at the foot of Qionghai Lushan Mountain on Haibin Middle Road). It is one of the three most beautiful tourist towns in Liangshan. It is composed of moonlight culture and fishermen culture. Its natural style The ethnic customs can be compared with Erhai Lake and Kuanzhai Alley. It is a scenic spot to appreciate the customs of Liangshan. (updated Dec 2023)
* 27.846061102.2958313 Small fishing village (小渔村) (Take bus 111). The small fishing village is the most important natural fishing base in Qionghai. Because Qionghai is an important natural fishery base in Liangshan Prefecture, there were 829 fishermen in Qionghai in the past. They mainly lived here, so they were named "small fishing villages". With the continuous development of society, most of them no longer make a living from fishing. (updated Dec 2023)

## Festivals

Xichang Torch Festival: The most grand annual event of the Yi people, also called the Oriental Carnival, starts at the end of July every year. The opening ceremony in Xichang is particularly large in scale and is divided into main venue and branch venues, which is full of atmosphere.
There will be many ethnic minority girls who will help everyone dance together and feel the ethnic customs here. There are different performances at each venue. Among them, the torch parade is the highlight of the Torch Festival.
The Torch Square is located in the central area of Xichang City.
Xichang Yi Year: Yi Year is a traditional festival of the Yi people in China. In history, the Yi ancestors once created the October solar calendar, 10 months a year, 36 days a month, October for the festival, so it is also called October year.
The festival generally has no fixed date, and is mostly held in October after the autumn harvest by the Bimo (wizard). Others are determined by the head of the family. During the New Year, kill pigs and worship ancestors, bake around the fire, listen to the old man, pray for grain harvest. 3 days later, visit relatives and friends, greet each other and drink "round wine" together. In the old days, slaves would send pigs' heads and goods to the head of the household. The time of the New Year is determined by the people according to the busy or idle farming, and it is not uniform in all regions. During the festival, archery, wrestling, bullfighting and other entertainment activities are also held.

## Buy

* Xichang Wanda Plaza (西昌万达广场) Xichang Fire Pit BBQ: Xichang Barbecue is a specialty of the Xichang area in Liangshan Prefecture. Xichang barbecue is divided into "skewer grill" and "net grill". A short wooden table is hollowed out in the center, a simple fire pit made of enamel pots is placed under the table, and a wire net is placed on the table, so that all the ingredients can be put on the wire net and roasted.
* 27.889911102.2649341 Dada Shopping Plaza (西昌达达购物广场), Pedestrian Street in Xichang City. 09:00-22：00. the largest shopping mall in Xichang and has three branches in Xichang. (updated Dec 2023)
* 27.882258102.2743352 Nantan Farmers Market (南坛农贸市场), The junction of Southeast Street and Shizhu Road, Xichang City. Here you can achieve fruit freedom! There are all kinds of fruits including strawberries, mangoes, and blueberries. (updated Dec 2023)

## Eat

* Side fried potatoes It is a specialty delicacy of Xide County, Liangshan Prefecture. You can also taste the authentic local taste in Xichang.
* Fishing Village Spicy Fish Fillet： It is a special delicacy developed by local villagers in the small fishing village of Xichang. It tastes delicious and spicy. The ingredients are made from fresh fish from the local Qionghai Sea.
* Vietnamese bean curd：A home-cooked delicacy from Yuexi County, Liangshan Prefecture. The tofu curds made from beans are cooked together with the fried crispy pork. It is paired with the boss’s secret sauce. It tastes great and is highly recommended.
* Old Yi flavor,（老号家彝家风味餐厅）Here you can taste authentic Yi specialties. You must order the pickled cabbage and potato soup, it is very appetizing!
* Cupot vegetables（铜锅野菜）This is a copper pot hot pot that uses many local wild vegetables and a soup pot base made of chicken stock. Taste sweet and delicious
* Huili chicken fire wire bait block（会理鸡火丝饵块）It is a delicacy that locals often eat in the morning. It tastes a bit like thin shreds of rice cake. The soup is very delicious and is served with shredded turkey and local specialty ham.
* Fat Brother Chuan Chuan（胖哥串串）Highly recommend buckwheat jelly, roll noodles, cold noodles, sweet and sour taste, very delicious
* 27.912087102.2664261 Li Xiaochang Special BBQ (西昌李小肠烧烤庄园). 14:00-22:00. 150¥. (updated Dec 2023)
* 27.8627102.2622692 Mianning Local Restaurant (冕宁特色土菜馆), Section 1, Haiting Road in Liangshan. The cuisine is Sichuan cuisine, and the per capita consumption is about ¥42. Recommended dishes: Two pepper mushrooms, tofu, three delicacies, crispy broth, chanterelles, stir-fried meat, Qionghai Lingjiao, stir-fried ham, golden bars, bee pupae, vegetables, stir-fried ham, twice-cooked meat, drunken shrimps, cold crucian carp, Qionghai drunken shrimps, sour and spicy fungus, potato sauerkraut soup, chicken fir soup ¥100. (updated Dec 2023)
* 27.868873102.2636013 Asi Niu Niu (Asi Beef and Buckwheat Garden BBQ, 阿斯牛牛荞香花园烧烤), Minzu Avenue. ¥200. (updated Dec 2023)
* 27.876664102.260784 Old Yi flavor. 9：00-22：00. ¥100. (updated Dec 2023)
* 27.854923102.2582395 Vegetable restaurant, toll-free: +86 8342167388. 9:00--17:00. ¥150. (updated Dec 2023)
* 27.861923102.2626516 Huili chicken fire wire bait block, 29, Xichang City. 7：00-22：00. ¥18. (updated Dec 2023)
* 27.891786102.2607647 Fat Brother Chuan Chuan, Xiama Shuihe Lane, Xichang City. 7：00-22：00. ¥30. (updated Dec 2023)

## Drink

* Liangshan snow yogurt（凉山雪）Xichang’s unique specialty yogurt, paired with barbecue to relieve the spicy taste and is refreshing
* Xichang special rice wine（西昌特色米酒）
* 27.872202102.2586622 Xichang Bar Food Street. ¥500. (updated Dec 2023)

## Sleep

* 27.83857102.272291 Qionghai Hotel, No. 115, Haibin Middle Road (bus 、taxi), ☏ +86 834 395 3333. Check-in: 14:00, check-out: 12:00. It has a garden-style layout and the buildings are distributed like villas. The hotel has an international conference and exhibition center, lakeside villas, hot spring spas, international standard tennis courts, and a number of independent buildings. It can provide nearly 500 beds such as sea view suites, sea view single rooms, and standard rooms; 19 large and small restaurants. ¥622. (updated Sep 2023)
* 27.872845102.2846473 Qionghai 17 degrees. 6:00-18:00. ¥300. (updated Dec 2023)
* 27.879341102.2507432 Xichang Minshan Hotel, No.88 Shengli South Road, Xichang,, ☏ +86 8343200888. Check-in: 6:00, check-out: 14:00. ¥600. (updated Dec 2023)
* 27.883569102.2406433 Mingren Hotel (in the center of Xincheng District), ☏ +86 8348888898. Check-in: 6:00, check-out: 14:00. ¥500. (updated Dec 2023)

## Learn

* 27.94554102.2095194 Xichang University, ☏ +86 8342580001. It is a public full-time undergraduate school under the supervision of the Sichuan Provincial People's Government. (updated Dec 2023)

## Stay healthy

* 27.887632102.2693075 Xichang People's Hospital, No. 17, Shunhe Street, ☏ +86 8342164776. 0：00-24：00. (updated Dec 2023)
* 27.88647102.262196 Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture First People's Hospital, Longyanjing Street. (updated Dec 2023)

## Stay safe

Fire alarm number 119,Police phone number 110,Emergency hotline 120

## Go next

* Chengdu — 3 hours by train, 6 hours by bus
* Kunming — 4 hours by train, 6 hours by bus
* Lugu Lake — 6 hours by bus
* 3 hours to Chengdu
* to Kunming