The Mianyang Qiangcheng Tourist Area, also known as the Beichuan Qiangcheng Tourist Area, is located in Beichuan Qiang Autonomous County in the northwest of the Sichuan Basin. The tourist area consists of attractions such as the Beichuan Earthquake Relic Area, the new Beichuan County seat, the Beichuan Earthquake Memorial Hall, the Beichuan Qiang Folk Custom Museum, Jina Qiang Village, and the West Tourist Center. It covers a total area of 6.01 square kilometers. It is the sixth national 5A-level tourist attraction in Sichuan Province and the first in Mianyang City. Composed of three major parts: the earthquake memorial site, the Great Love Cultural Observation Area, and the Yu Qiang Cultural Experience Area, it has a complete range of resources and rich individual attractions.
History and Culture
Beichuan is the only Qiang autonomous county in China. For thousands of years, the ancient Qiang people have lived and multiplied here with 17 other ethnic groups such as Han, Tibetan, and Hui, forming a simple and profound folk culture. Beichuan has a long history. During the Xia and Shang dynasties, the county was part of the Liangzhou region. During the Zhou dynasty, it was part of the territory of the Ruanma tribe and subordinate to the Shu State. After various dynastic changes, in the fourth year of Baoding (564 AD) of Emperor Wudi of the Northern Zhou dynasty, the name of Shengzhou was changed to Wenzhou. In the first year of Tianhe (566 AD), Beichuan County was newly established in the Northern Commandery, marking the beginning of Beichuan County.
At 14:28:04 on May 12, 2008, an 8.0-magnitude earthquake occurred in Wenchuan County, Sichuan Province. Beichuan County, adjacent to Wenchuan, was severely hit, with houses collapsing extensively. As an extremely hard-hit area of the "5·12" Wenchuan Earthquake, 15,645 people died and 1,023 were missing in Beichuan County. Among the victims of the Wenchuan Earthquake, one out of every four was from Beichuan. The direct economic loss of the entire county reached 58.57 billion yuan. After the earthquake, with the care of the people across the country and compatriots at home and abroad, Beichuan embarked on the path of earthquake relief and post-disaster reconstruction.
Main Attractions
Beichuan Earthquake Relic Area
The earthquake relics of the old county seat are the most complete and largest-scale earthquake relics preserved in the world today. They are a precious legacy left by the "5·12" earthquake disaster to the world. They truly retain the scene after the earthquake, allowing people to intuitively feel the tremendous destructive power of the earthquake.
"5.12" Wenchuan Earthquake Memorial Hall
The memorial hall is a national patriotic education base, a national red tourism classic scenic spot, a national science popularization education base, and a national social science popularization base. Through rich exhibits, scene restorations, multimedia displays, and other means, it comprehensively showcases the disaster process of the "5·12" Wenchuan Earthquake, the heroic deeds of earthquake relief, and the great achievements of post-disaster reconstruction.
Beichuan Qiang Folk Custom Museum
The museum collects and displays a large number of cultural relics and materials related to the history, culture, and folk customs of the Qiang ethnic group, covering various aspects such as the production and life, religious beliefs, and arts and crafts of the Qiang people. It is an important place to understand and study Qiang culture.
Jina Qiang Village
Located in Leigu Town, Beichuan County, Mianyang City, Sichuan Province, it is only way for the new and old Beichuan County seats and is known as the "First Village in Beichuan." Towering watchtowers rise from the ground, and the Qiang village stands beside mountains and rivers. The houses are built of stone blocks, forming a beautiful and eye-catching scenery among the green mountains and rivers.
Banacha Commercial Street
Located on the central axis of the new Beichuan County seat, it is adjacent to Yongchang Avenue in the west, Juda Road in the east, Hongyan Street in the north, and Baiyang Street in the south. It is full of Qiang characteristics, with many shops selling special local foods, handicrafts, etc. Tourists can experience the Qiang customs here and buy souvenirs.
Local Cuisine
Yangyu Ciba (Potato Ciba)
This is a special Qiang snack made by steaming potatoes and mashing them into a paste, then shaping them into ciba. It has a soft and glutinous texture and can be served with white sugar, honey, or spicy seasonings for a rich and delicious taste.
Blood Sausage
Made mainly from pig blood and intestines, it is filled with appropriate spices and seasonings. After cooking, the sausage is firm and has a mellow, unique flavor.
Buckwheat Cold Noodles
Made from buckwheat flour, it has a smooth texture. Served with chili oil, mashed garlic, Chinese prickly ash powder, vinegar, and other seasonings, it is spicy and appetizing.
Tickets
All attractions in the Beichuan Qiangcheng Tourist Area are public welfare and free for tourists. However, the "5·12" Wenchuan Earthquake Memorial Hall implements a "free but ticket-required" system. Tourists who have successfully made reservations can enter by swiping their ID cards through the ID card verification channel.
Opening Hours
The Beichuan Qiangcheng Tourist Area is an open scenic area with no specific closing time for the entire area. However, the "5.12" Wenchuan Earthquake Memorial Hall is open from 09:00 to 17:00 (last entry at 16:30) from Tuesday to Sunday, and is closed on Mondays for maintenance (except on legal holidays and May 12th when it falls on a Monday). The Beichuan Qiang Folk Custom Museum is generally open from 09:00 to 17:00, subject to the actual arrangements of the scenic area.
Tour Routes
One-day tour: Tourist Center → Old County Earthquake Relics → "5.12" Wenchuan Earthquake Memorial Hall → Science Popularization Experience Hall → Banacha Commercial Street. This route allows tourists to quickly understand the earthquake-related history and experience Qiang customs.
Two-day tour: Day 1, Tourist Center → Old County Earthquake Relics → "5.12" Wenchuan Earthquake Memorial Hall → Tangjiashan Quake Lake; Day 2, Qiang Folk Custom Museum → Happiness Hall → Earthquake Resistance Memorial Garden → Banacha Commercial Street → Yuwang Bridge → New County Central Axis Landscape Belt. Two days allow a more in-depth experience of the commemorative significance and cultural connotations of the scenic area.
Transportation
- By Air:
- Chengdu Shuangliu Airport: Take a bus to Chengdu Zhaojuesi Bus Station, then take a passenger vehicle from Chengdu Zhaojuesi Bus Station to Mianyang Bus Terminal, which departs every 15 minutes; then transfer to a passenger vehicle from Mianyang Bus Terminal to Beichuan, which departs every 10 minutes.
- Mianyang Nanjiao Airport: Take a bus to Mianyang Bus Terminal, then transfer to a passenger vehicle from Mianyang Bus Terminal to Beichuan, which departs every 10 minutes.
- By Train: After getting off at Mianyang Railway Station, cross the street to reach Mianyang Bus Terminal and take a passenger vehicle to Beichuan, which departs every 10 minutes.
- By Bus: Take a passenger vehicle from Mianyang Bus Terminal to Beichuan, which departs every 10 minutes.
- By Self-driving:
- From Chengdu and Deyang: Take the Chengdu-Mianyang Expressway or the Chengdu-Mianyang Expressway Duplicate Line—Mianyang South (Mojia) Toll Station—Liaoning Avenue—Tourist Center.
- From Chongqing and Nanchong: Take the Mianyang-Suining Expressway—Mianyang Xinqiao Toll Station—Jiuzhou Avenue—Mian'anbei Expressway—Liaoning Avenue—Tourist Center.
- From Xi'an and Guangyuan: Take the Mianyang-Guangyuan Expressway—Mianyang Toll Station—Mian'anbei Expressway—Liaoning Avenue—Tourist Center.
Must-visit Attractions
- Beichuan Earthquake Relic Area: The most complete and largest-scale earthquake relics in the world, allowing visitors to intuitively feel the tremendous destructive power of the earthquake and remember that solemn history.
- "5.12" Wenchuan Earthquake Memorial Hall: Comprehensively showcases the earthquake disaster, earthquake relief, and post-disaster reconstruction, and is an important base for patriotic education and more.
- Jina Qiang Village: Known as the "First Village in Beichuan," it has typical Qiang architectural styles, beautiful scenery, and allows for an in-depth experience of Qiang life and culture.
Tour Tips
- Make reservations for tickets to the "5.12" Wenchuan Earthquake Memorial Hall through official channels in advance to avoid delays.
- Maintain silence and respect history and the victims when visiting the earthquake relics and memorial hall.
- Participate in Qiang folk activities such as Guozhuang dancing when visiting the Qiang village to better experience Qiang culture.
- Choose the spiciness level according to your personal taste when sampling local cuisine and try different special dishes.
Precautions
- Some areas in the scenic area are protected relics. Please do not touch or climb them casually.
- Take good care of your personal belongings, especially in crowded commercial areas.
- Follow the instructions of scenic area signs and staff for safe sightseeing.
- Respect local customs and religious beliefs, especially in areas such as Qiang villages.
- In case of adverse weather, pay attention to your safety and adjust your itinerary in advance if necessary.