Suining Travel Guide

Chinese Name: 遂宁 (suí níng)
Population: 3,629,000
Area: 5,322.18 square kilometers (2,054.91 square miles)
Location: in the central area of Sichuan Province, southwest China
Administrative Division: 2 districts (Chuanshan, Anju); 2 counties (Pengxi, Daying); 1 county-level city (Shehong)
Area Code: 0825
Zip Code: 629000
GDP (2019): CNY 134.573 billion (USD 19.506 billion)

Suining is located in central Sichuan Province on the middle reaches of the Fujiang River. It is bordered by Chongqing to the east and Chengdu to the west and is in the same neighborhood as Neijiang, Ziyang, Deyang and Mianyang. Shizhong District was the former downtown area and became Chuanshan District and Anju District in 2003.

Suining is the birthplace of Chinese Guanyin belief and culture. Chinese Guanyin originated from Brahmanism. Instead of the Indian Guanyin, Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva, who is a God in the image of twin horse prodigy, Chinese Guanyin is a bodhisattva of great compassion and the embodiment of truth, goodness and mercy. The earliest place where Guanyin took root in China is Suining and Guangde Temple is the oldest Guanyin ashram. Today, Guangde Temple with a huge ancient building complex still stands in Suining. Many precious cultural relics such as Myanmar jade Buddha and imperial edict archway are preserved. Another Suining Buddhist activity center is Lingquan temple. In addition to the rich Buddhist culture, visitors can experience the floating at China's Dead Sea and tour the ancient Longfeng Ancient Town.  

It is located 4 kilometers (2.5 miles) southeast of Mingxing Town of Shehong County is the core scenic spot of Longfengxia National Geo-park, which boasts rich paleontologic fossil relics and woodstone fossils hiding among the forest, caves and strange stones in the valley. It also has barbarian tribal ruins, large-scale tombs of the Han Dynasty (206BC-220AD) and four temples dating from the period since the Song Dynasty (960-1279).
 

Located in the Wolong Mountains to the west of the city, it is a famous temple with a long history. Covering an area of 1.6 hectares, construction was first started in the Tang Dynasty (618-907) and was originally called Shifo Temple. It was built along the contour of the mountain. Like any other Buddhist temple, Guangde Temple includes Mahavira Hall (Grand Hall) and Tianwang Hall (Heavenly King Hall). There are over 25 attached buildings such as pavilions, pagodas and halls. The temple houses many precious treasures, for example, Yougu Pagoda built in Tang Dynasty, the wooden Shizhi Hall in Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), Shanji Pagoda in Northern Song Dynasty (960-1127).

For several dynasties to the present time, Guangde Temple has produced many excellent Buddhism scholars. It has experienced countless hardships but has still strongly survived from the turbulent times. Due to its long history and profound Buddhism culture, this important Buddhist Temple in southwest China, attracting more and more visitors and worshipers for sightseeing and prays.

 Transportation:
From Chengdu East Railway Station, visitors can take bullet trains to reach Suining and then take public bus line 5 from local railway station square to Guangde Temple. The bullet train takes about one hour to Suining and the fare is CNY45.5 for second class seat and CNY54.5 for first class seat.

Located in Daying County, it is actually an underground saline lake formed 150 million years ago. In parallel with Dead Sea in the Middle East, it is situated at the 30 degree north latitude, constituting a marvelous wonder. The bitter water originates from the 3,000-meter (9,843 feet) deep saline lake whose salt content reaches to 22 percentages, very similar to the Middle Eastern Dead Sea. Therefore, visitors can float on it like a cork leisurely. The water is rich in minerals and rare elements, such as Na, K, Ca, Br, I, having a remarkable effect on treating high blood pressure, rheumatism, arthritis, skin disease and obesity.

An area with a man-made Dead Sea was built by drawing up the underground saltwater. The outdoor floating region covers 35,000 square meters (8.6 acres) and the indoor floating region occupies an area of 30,000 square meters (7.4 acres), which can hold thousands of people. The vacation area is honored to be the largest constant temperature bathing place in China, so vacationers can float on the sea cozily all the year around. At the same time, they can receive health benefits, enjoy a variety of water recreation activities and admire exotic singing and dancing performances.

 Transportation:
From Chengdu: At the Shiling Passenger Station of Chengdu, the buses to Daying County leave from 08:30 to 17:40 every one hour and the journey takes about an hour and a half. The bus fare is around CNY40. In Chengdu, take Buses No.108, 122, 854, 869, 887, 888, 889 and 890 to the Shiling Passenger Station. Upon reaching Daying County, Bus No. 6 or a taxi can reach China Dead Sea in five minutes. The taxi fare is around CNY4. 
From Chongqing: From Chongqing Bus Station (No. Caiyuan Road, Yuzhong District), visitors can find direct buses to reach Suining or Daying County. If one reaches Suining first, from Suining Bus Station, buses to Daying can be found and it takes about an hour to reach Daying. In general, the whole journey from Chongqing to Daying takes about four hours.

The city is about one hour from Nanchong and about four hours from Mianyang. Visitors can conveniently use the airports of these two cities. Suining is 146 kilometers and 147 kilometers (about 91 miles) from Chongqing and Chengdu. Besides,  the Central Bus Station is located at No.5, Nanjin Lu, Chuanshan District.

Suining has a subtropical humid monsoon climate with moderate weather all the year round. The hottest days occur in August and the average temperature of this month falls around 27℃ (80.6℉). January is the coldest period during a year with an average temperature of 6-6.5℃ (42.8-43.7℉). It frequently rains from June to August, especially in July. According to the historical data of Suining weather, March to July and September to November are recommended months for sightseeing. 

 History: During the Xia (21st - 16th century BC) and Shang (16th - 11th century BC) dynasties, it belonged to Liangzhou, one of the nine prefectures of the nation. In the early years of the Spring and Autumn Period (770BC-476BC), it was governed by the Shu Kingdom which is one of the two slave states in ancient Sichuan (the other is the Ba Kingdom). Suining was the name of this area from the Eastern Jin Dynasty (317-420). It means ending war to achieve peace.

 Physical Features: It is situated in the central part of the Sichuan Basin, seventy percent of its territory is hilly. River valleys and low mountains occupy the rest of city. The terrain slopes gently downward from northwest to southeast. There are fifteen medium and small rivers in total crisscrossing the city.  

 Special Local Products: Tuopai Yeast Liquor, dried bean curd, grapefruit, dahuricae angelica root (herb), preserved Sichuan pickle