Milton Liu

Eastern Maoxian is traveled through often, in the passerby sense. The fast train station is located here, where many ride into and from Chengdu. Travelers typically arrive at the train station without spending much time in the immediate surroundings, before getting a ride to Fengyi (about a 30-minute drive). This “east wing” of Maoxian is composed of two very close neighbors: the towns of Fushun (富顺) and Tumen (土门). Suffice to say, they are down from the road from each…

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Nanxin (南新) is the town spread out over the southern “tip” of Maoxian. It is the closest Maoxian town to Wenchuan (汶川), the neighboring county that was the epicenter of the 2008 earthquake. The Minjiang and Highway 213 (G213) run alongside each other through Nanxin, going south into Wenchuan. G213 is rather noteworthy for running all the way from Inner Mongolia to Yunnan (where it reaches Laos). Over 1,700 miles through four provinces. In 2008 it was an essential route…

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The Mínjiāng (or Min River, or 岷江) is the 457-mile force which flows throughout Sichuan, and thus Chengdu… and Maoxian: the land of the Qiang people (羌族). In the town of Fengyi, which I consider the hub of Maoxian, this river separates the town in two. For maybe 5 miles here, roughly the length of Fengyi’s primary urban stretch, is a largely complete and connected promenade right by the Minjiang. Although some sections of it show their age more than…

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It’s September 2024 and I am on a fast train from Chengdu (成都) heading into Maoxian (茂县). I’ve visited before, but never by train (it’s a new development). The train is markedly more comfortable, and steady, than the alternative: taking a car or bus through the winding road through the mountains. Of note, the train enters a large tunnel section when the geography becomes mountainous. Thus, the train ride is missing key components of the “experience”: the ominous rocks, the…

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In college, I took an elective called, “Images of China”. A history and social studies class. The teacher and fellow students were good, pleasant. But I don’t recall much specific information that was taught. Maybe my frontal lobe was not quite there yet. I am able to recollect that China was depicted in a sort of poetic, painted way. A really striking landscape with rich history. Minus the course’s overview of the political system (this was 2013 or 2014), this…

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It was not my first time visiting the town of Fengyi (凤仪) in Maoxian (茂县), but it sure felt like it was. The town has utterly transformed. Walking through the streets at night elicit the particular feelings of a neat and modern city: safe, clean, illuminated and convenient. But this is not strictly a celebration. As colorful as it can be, it feels slightly sterile, when reflecting on the past – although that’s certainly OK. But it’s shocking, the perceivable…

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Although I have a couple posts examining the Sichuan countryside already, I don’t think any amount could ever be adequate. Even if the imagery of the countryside ever manages to blend together, I believe there are endless powerful stories that took place in these parts. Looking at the furthest ends of my own ancestry, one can find the dramatic accounts of urban youth dispatched to the countryside, rich landowners forced to give up their property, and destitute farmers securing opportunities…

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Hei Hu (黑虎) is one of 11 official towns in Maoxian. It is a quintessential Qiang village, with a folksy central area that doubles as a cultural tourist attraction. I initially wanted to make a rather long and detailed post about this village but wasn’t satisfied with the photos I captured and spent only a few hours there. But the location left a powerful impression on me, and I earnestly hope to visit again. As breathtaking as it was, I…

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