Holiday in Mianyang

What makes Mianyang special as a destination?

Mianyang is the second largest city in Sichuan Province and is known as China's Science City. Behind this modern facade lies a history of over 2,000 years — Mianyang is the hometown of Li Bai (701-762), arguably the greatest poet in Chinese literary history, whose verses are still memorized by every Chinese schoolchild today. The Li Bai Memorial (Taibai-Ci) in nearby Jiangyou, 40 kilometers to the north, is an expansive temple complex in classic Chinese style, surrounded by bamboo groves and ponds. Here, Li Bai grew up before he traveled as a wandering poet through the Tang Empire. The museum houses rare calligraphies of his poems, sculptures, and a replica of his study. Every year in October, Jiangyou celebrates a grand Li Bai Cultural Festival. The Qiqu Mountain on the banks of the Fu River in the city center is Mianyang's green lung: Taoist temples from the Song Dynasty, pavilions, and viewpoints offer panoramic views over the city and the confluence of the Fu and Anchang Rivers. The China Science and Technology Museum in Mianyang — not to be confused with its counterpart in Beijing — is dedicated to aerospace research and nuclear physics, as China's most important nuclear research facilities are located nearby. The exhibitions are surprisingly accessible and showcase China's technological rise. The Qiang villages in the mountainous region northwest of Mianyang offer insights into one of China's oldest ethnic minorities: The Qiang have lived for millennia in multi-story stone towers on steep mountain slopes and maintain unique traditions such as the Salangga dance and the Qiang New Year festival. The mountainous nature with gorges, waterfalls, and alpine meadows is spectacular.