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,…

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…

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…

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…

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,…

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.…

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…

Shèhóng (射洪) is a small city/county within Sùiníng (遂宁), in east Sichuan. Take a train from Chongqing to Chengdu (or vice versa) and it will pass through Suining on the way. From my brief visit, Shehong is a largely rural area. There is a small…

On the topic of ancient towns, my opinion is arbitrary, I just felt like over-analyzing it by examining the authenticity and purpose of these locations. At a high level, these places are mostly just aesthetic cultural attractions. Styled after traditional Chinese architecture, with streets designed…

During my visit to Chongqing, I traveled to the city’s most western district, Rongchang (荣昌). Unlike the big city, there are not many signs of modernity or luxury in Rongchang, it’s a mostly rural location. But one can find the remnants of a different spirit…

In eastern Maoxian is the small town of Tumen (土门). The town is quite standard for the region, while being known for a bridge, the No. 3 Bridge (三元桥), or Sanyuan Bridge, which is over a hundred years old. Although this bridge is maybe unremarkable…