Chinese Name: 广元市 (guǎng yuán shì)

Population: 3,050,000  

Area: 16,314 square kilometers (6,299 square miles) 

Nationalities: Han   

Administrative Division: 3 districts (Lizhou, Yuanba, Chaotian); 4 counties (Wangcang, Qingchuan, Jiange, Cangxi) 

Seat of the City Government: 42, Renmin Lu, Dongba Jiedao, Lizhou District, Guangyuan City 

Useful Telephone Numbers: Tourist Complaints: 0839-96927
                                          Tourist Inquiries: 0839-3301219 
                                          Weather Forecast: 121
                                          Zip Code Inquiry: 184

Bank of China Guangyuan Branch: Lizhou Dong Lu, Lizhou District, Guangyuan City 

China Post Guangyuan Branch: Jinlun Lu, Shangxi Development Zone, Lizhou District, Guangyuan City 

Location: Situated in the north of Sichuan Province, Guangyuan City is bordered by Gansu and Shaanxi provinces to the north and Nanchong, Mianyang and Bazhong to the south west and east.

History: From the Spring and Autumn Period (770BC-476BC) to the Warring States Period (476BC-221BC), Guangyuan was the capital of Ju Kingdom. The Chinese named it 'Lizhou' in the Tang Dynasty (618-907), because it is the birthplace of the only female emperor in Chinese history, Empress Wu Zetian. The name of the city was changed from Lizhou to Guangyuan during the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368) and it is still been used as the name of the district where the city government is seated.    
 
Physical Features: Guangyuan is the point of convergence for the Micang Mountains, the Longmen Mountain and the low mountainous area in northern Sichuan Basin. To the north the area is mountainous, while the south is hilly with a lower altitude.                 

Climate: The city enjoys a subtropical humid monsoon climate with four distinct seasons and moderate weather. It has abundant rainfall and its annual average temperature falls around 16℃ (60.8℉).

When to Go: spring and autumn  
  
Special Local Products: Jianmen bean curd, Cangxi Snow pear, Baihua (White Flower) Stone carvings

 Attractions:
Jianmen Shu Road (Jianmen Shudao), also known as the ancient plank road, was the main pass from Central China to Southwest China through Shu (old name for Sichuan). The pass runs from Hanzhong City in Shaanxi to Chengdu. The plank road is total 450 kilometers (280 miles) long with a history stretching back two thousand years. Jianmen Shu Road refers to the section of the ancient plank road near the Jianmen Pass. The Ancient Plank Road in Mingyue Gorge that was first built by the Qin States in Warring States Period is the starting point of the ancient Jianmen Shu Road. 

Huangze Temple was built on the bank of Jiangling River as a place for the cults which favored Wu Zetian, the only female emperor in the Chinese history. The temple is also famous for the stone carvings in its caverns. 

Thousand-Buddha Cliff, located 5 kilometers (3 miles) north of downtown Guangyuan on the east bank of Jialing River, is home to the largest grotto in Sichuan. About 1,500 years ago, numerous Buddha statues and niche caves was chiseled on the long cliff, which measures about 45 meters (148 feet) tall and 200 meters (656 feet) long. Dayun Cave is the largest in scale among these grottoes with a total of 234 statues. The Thousand-Buddha Cliff is easily attainable from the Ancient Plank Road in the south and stands facing the Huangze Temple on the other side of the River.

Other Scenic Spots: Tiantai National Forest Park, Yuntai Scenic Area, Gucheng Mountain

Travel Tips:
Guangyuan Airport is located on the Longpan Mountain, 14 kilometers (9 miles) from downtown Guangyuan (Lizhou District). Flights to Beijing, Guangzhou and Jiuzhaigou are available.

Guangyuan is a big stop to Sichuan from the north. Through the Chengdu-Guangyuan Expressway, about three hours are needed from Chengdu Zhaojuesi Bus Station in northern Chengdu to Guangyuan.

Main bus stations in downtown Guangyuan:
Nanhe Bus Station: 54, Shumen Nan Lu, Lizhou District
Shangxi Long-Distance Bus Station: beside the railway station in Shangxi Development Zone
Jialing Long-Distance Bus Station: 15, first section of Shumen Bei Lu, Lizhou District (operating buses to Jiuzhaigou)