The warmest winter in Sichuan is here!

This is the most unfamiliar scenery in Sichuan, and also has the sunniest winter in Sichuan. You can experience a peaceful and comfortable life with endless sunshine without having to travel across the ocean. Even in the cold winter, you can enjoy the vast expanse of green grassland .

Panzhihua Malu Village is like a dream world in Xinjiang | Photographer @石磊

A river as gentle as poetry.

Panzhihua Ertan Reservoir Scenery | Photographer @石磊

A world where flowers bloom in full bloom.

Tourists in Panzhihua enjoying the winter cherry blossoms | Photographer @石磊

It is Panzhihua , the city with the highest GDP per capita in Sichuan. Once a household name in the mining industry, it has now made a stunning transformation with its forest coverage rate of 62.4% , air quality rate of 96.1%, and the largest late-ripening mango planting base in China .

Top 10 cities (prefectures) in Sichuan by GDP per capita in 2023 | Map by @Terrace/Planet Research Institute

In the list of China's top 100 livable cities released this year, it even ranked second. Every year, more than 200,000 tourists come here to spend the winter and explore the infinite treasures of this mysterious city.

The above data was released by the 2023-2024 Southwest City Research Conference; Panzhihua is also known as the "Little Sanya" in Sichuan; the figure below is a schematic diagram of the location of Panzhihua City, and its administrative scope is like a small triangle extending into the territory of Yunnan | Map @Chen Jingyi/Planet Research Institute

If Sichuan is the land of fertile fields and snow-capped mountains, then Panzhihua is the land of sunshine. The valleys, creatures, and people are trying their best to make it the " sunniest mountain city in China "!

About 65 million years ago, the Indian Plate collided with the Eurasian Plateau, causing the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau to rise. At the junction of the two, a group of mountains running north-south and crossing east-west were formed, so the seven main ridges standing side by side are collectively called the " Hengduan Mountains ".

Hengduan Mountains after snow | Photographer @山风

Panzhihua is located on the southern edge of the Hengduan Mountains. The terrain drops from northwest to southeast, with mountains occupying more than 90% of the area and the altitude difference reaching more than 3,000 meters .

Panzhihua is located on the southern edge of Daxue Mountain, one of the Hengduan Mountains; the following figure is a topographical diagram of Panzhihua City | Map by @Chen Jingyi/Planet Research Institute

The rivers echo the mountains, cutting through the mountains and ridges along the terrain. The Jinsha River and the Yalong River , which originate from Qinghai, meet here after a long journey of thousands of kilometers, and many tributaries of the Yangtze River converge and cut through the river valleys.

Panzhihua is the first prefecture-level city that the Yangtze River passes through; the picture below shows the Jinsha River passing through Panzhihua City | Photographer @朱聪

Such terrain not only blocks the southward movement of cold air, but also produces a " foehn effect " when the moist monsoon air flows over the mountains. That is, the airflow is lifted by the terrain to form clouds and rain, and loses a lot of water on the windward slope. After crossing the ridge, the temperature rises due to the lower altitude. In addition, the valley has a heat-insulating effect, and the regional climate is formed.

Illustration of the “foehn effect” | Map by @Terraced Fields/Planetary Research Institute

Just like the plateau, the sky is cloudless and the sun shines brightly. Panzhihua has 2,700 hours of sunshine throughout the year, second only to Lhasa among major cities in China.

Lhasa is a basin city; the picture below is the golden fields of Panzhihua | Photographer @Fu Guoqing

At the same time, its average annual temperature is as high as 21°C , which is comparable to Hainan. It is classified as a subtropical climate . It is free from the biting cold and rarely has heat waves. It can be called a " climate island " located north of the Tropic of Cancer.

The island in Panzhihua Ertan National Forest Park | Photographer @石磊

The abundant energy illuminates the fields, allowing different kinds of life to bloom in every corner.

The abundant water source, three-dimensional appearance, and sunlight together breed a complex and diverse habitat. The northern end is hilly and has the highest peak in the city. The forest on the mountain is like waves, and the tree trunks reach up to the sky and embrace the sunlight.

The highest peak in Panzhihua is Chuandongzi in Bailing Mountain; the picture below is Pusa Rock in Ertan National Forest Park | Photographer @石磊

In the forest, shade-loving plants are thriving under the protection. Nearly one-third of the country's black truffles are produced here , and precious medicinal materials such as Paris polyphylla and Polygonatum sibiricum are hidden in it.

Black truffles are also called "truffles"; some shade-loving plants are prone to closure if they lack sunlight; the picture below shows mosses and light spots in the forest of Panzhihua | Photographer @石磊

Even though heavy snow falls on the top of the mountain, it is not as cold as in the north. The grass is still tender and the pines are still green, which makes it quite fun to walk in the snow and find greenery.

Snow scene in Gesala, Panzhihua | Photographer @石磊

The most beautiful scenery is the colorful sea of ​​flowers. The wild azalea flowers that love the sun are in full bloom, thousands of layers in a row, some of which gather into patches covering an area of ​​up to 200,000 mu, which is extremely spectacular.

In 2008, the sea of ​​flowers was awarded the title of "China's largest wild azalea sea" by the Shanghai Guinness Headquarters; the picture below is the Longtou Mountain azalea sea | Photographer @石磊

There are also golden rapeseed flowers, pink peach blossoms and snow-white pear blossoms competing with each other in beauty, announcing the earliest spring in Sichuan.

Panzhihua Miyipuwei Rapeseed Flower Sea | Photographer @王东

To the west , karst landforms are widely distributed. Hundreds of millions of years ago, this place was an endless ocean, and the dead marine organisms deposited a large amount of carbonate rocks. The sea and the land changed in an instant, and under the action of flowing water, a large number of sinkholes and floor drains appeared, and the flow of underground rivers in the caves was huge.

Qinghe Waterfall in Panzhihua | Photographer @王东

A large area of ​​virgin forest covers it, creating a unique landscape. The interior of the tiankeng is full of vitality and uniquely quiet.

Interior view of Panzhihua Cave | Photographer @石磊

The eastern and southern parts of the river are at a lower altitude, and the vegetation is extremely thriving. Even the river valley area, which has the driest and hottest climate, is by no means lifeless. Common drought-tolerant plants in tropical areas, such as cacti and sisal , take root along the river, and the huge wild kapok flowers contrast with the emerald green water.

Kapok is also known as " Panzhihua "; the picture below is the scenery of Panzhihua River Valley | Photographer @王东

The cycads , an ancient relic species with a history of hundreds of millions of years, have avoided the threat of the Quaternary glaciers and survived to this day thanks to this special climate. A total of 389,200 cycads bloom every year. This is the northernmost, highest altitude, largest area, most numerous and most concentrated wild cycad forest in Eurasia.

The male flowers of Cycas revoluta look like giant corn | Photographer @石磊

The excellent ecology also attracts a variety of animals to stop by. Rare wildebeests and clouded leopards appear from time to time; cute macaques and red pandas wander in the forest; and cheerful birds fly to the branches and sing and dance.

Macaques and more animals at Panzhihua Baima Forest Farm | Photographers @刘家成&齐馨&石磊

Around mid-October every year, many migratory birds migrating southward along the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau or over the Qinling Mountains choose to stop here. On the wetlands and in the rivers and lakes, large numbers of red-headed pochards, mallards, and red-billed gulls splash around in the water, playing and frolicking.

Overlooking Panzhihua Renhe Wetland Park | Photographer @石磊

The luckiest ones may even spot black-necked cranes foraging for food. These cranes, the only species in the world that grows and breeds on plateaus, often take shelter from the cold here.

Capturing the Black-necked Cranes in Panzhihua | Photographer @林东军

The earliest traces of human beings can be traced back to about 18,000 years ago, when the Huilongwan Cave people lived close to the river valley. Until the opening of the Southern Silk Road, which began in the Qin and Han dynasties, the ferry was busy and prosperous as a transportation hub connecting Yunnan, Guizhou and Sichuan.

Panzhihua was called "Dukou" in its early days; the picture below shows the Jinsha River and the brilliant sunset in Panzhihua | Photographer @王东

There are scholars, merchants, monks, and ethnic minorities such as the Miao and Naxi people who come and go, singing and dancing in the mountains. The Lisu people have built thousands of acres of terraced fields, weaving beautiful patterns on the earth.

Panzhihua Miyi Lisu Terraces | Photographer @石磊

The Yi people intermarried with the Han soldiers who stayed behind to guard the border, and the bricks and tiles of the courtyards were integrated into the style of the Jiangnan water town.

Please watch horizontally. Yishalaju, the largest natural settlement village of the Yi people in China, has a history of 600 years . From a distance, it seems as if you are in the red Buddhist country of Seda. Photographer @邓忠

Sunlight and life create a warm home for the soul. Even with the advent of modernization, people still remember to live in harmony with nature and build a unique " healing city ".

In 1964 , a loud noise was heard on the banks of the Jinsha River. By flattening the hillside into four steps, a steel plant that originally required 9 square kilometers rose from less than 3 square kilometers of land, symbolizing the opening of a new city.

"Nongnongping" is also known as the "Ivory Micro-carving" Steel City. Panzhihua is also one of the first special economic zones established in New China | Photographer @李昌华

If it weren't for the exploration by geologists, no one would have imagined that the mountains beneath our feet actually buried a huge amount of minerals that supported the country's industrial system. A total of hundreds of thousands of construction workers responded to the call of the " Third Line Construction " and came one after another.

Within a 30-kilometer radius centered on Panzhihua Iron and Steel, almost all the minerals needed for steel smelting can be mined; the picture below is the Panzhihua China Third Line Construction Museum, which has the largest Third Line theme area, the most comprehensive exhibitions, and the most collections in China | Photographer @石磊

In just six years, molten iron gushed out of Panzhihua Iron and Steel's No. 1 blast furnace. The Chengdu-Kunming Railway , connected by 991 bridges and 427 tunnels, opened up the traffic artery between Sichuan and Yunnan, and countless steel was loaded onto trains and roared to all corners of the world.

Panzhihua transportation now has a new look | Photographer @石磊

The city, formed by immigrants, has grown explosively along the narrow river valley. In order to make full use of the land, houses, factories and bridges are interspersed and intertwined, and the complex steps are transformed into city symbols, presenting a mountain city with a strong sense of space.

Panzhihua's residential buildings with scattered layers | Photographer @李昌华

In the 1990s, Panzhihua's per capita GDP ranked first in Sichuan. There were many public facilities such as shopping malls, parks, and squares, and the living standards were among the best in the entire southwest.

Night view of Donghua Mountain Sports Park | Photographer @石磊

However, as the national industrial capacity reached its peak, steel prices fell rapidly, and the heroic years passed mercilessly, the scars left by the transformation of the land are still visible. Panzhihua, which was once highly dependent on mineral resources, is determined to start subversive innovation and development.

Morning scenery in Panzhihua city | Photographer @蒋小翼

The fruit planting industry is the first to take the lead. Not only is there plenty of sunshine and a large temperature difference between day and night, which is conducive to the accumulation of sugar, but also because the weight of a single fruit can reach more than 5 kilograms and it is easy to fall off, the Kate mango has been directly promoted to the king of production in Panzhihua, which has no plum rain or typhoon.

The planting area of ​​Kate mango in Panzhihua accounts for nearly 70% of the country; the picture below shows the plump and juicy Guifei mango in Panzhihua | Photographer @美食摄影娜娜子

Dozens of mango and other tropical fruits were introduced from Yunnan, Hainan and other places for trial planting, all of which were a great success. The " Panguo " brand gradually became well-known and renowned around the world.

Illustration of Panzhihua's special fruits | Map by @Terraced Fields/Planet Research Institute, image source by @Visual China & Wang Yuhao & Wang Dong & Zhou Xinyue

Plateau vegetables , sugarcane and other economic crops are also of high quality and unique flavor in an environment with low pollution and few pests and diseases.

Panzhihua Early Spring Vegetable Base | Photographer @王东

Traditional industries are moving towards high-tech industries. Leading enterprises, including Panzhihua Iron and Steel Group, have mastered many core technologies, and their products, mainly rails, are exported to more than 30 countries and regions.

The single 100-meter-long fixed-length rails used in Indonesia's Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed ​​Railway are all manufactured by Pansteel; the picture below is the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed ​​Railway | Image source @Visual China

Vanadium-titanium materials are indispensable in vanadium liquid flow energy storage batteries, electronic communications, medicine and other fields due to their light weight and high strength. Panzhihua, which ranks first in the country in terms of vanadium and titanium ore reserves, has gathered more than 100 vanadium-titanium companies and is committed to enhancing the competitiveness of China's strategic resources.

Please watch horizontally, panoramic view of Panzhihua city under the blue sky | Photographer @蒋小翼

There are also new energy industries such as hydropower, wind power, solar power, hydrogen energy, and energy storage, all of which have broken the inherent impression of resource-based cities and achieved nirvana and rebirth.

Panzhihua solar power generation site | Photographer @王煜豪

When you come to Panzhihua today, you will see numerous highways, a bustling airport, and a criss-crossing transportation network. It is the most convenient channel for Sichuan to reach South Asia and Southeast Asia.

Panzhihua lacks flat land, and even the airport is built by cutting down the peaks and filling the valleys on the top of the mountain; the picture below is the Panzhihua Baoanying Airport | Photographer @张一扬

Completed in 2000, this is the largest hydroelectric power station built and put into operation in China in the last century. It provides inexhaustible power for the operation of the city, and the high gorges and flat lakes are breathtakingly beautiful.

Please watch horizontally, Panzhihua Ertan Hydropower Station | Photographer @石磊

Bougainvillea, azaleas, and jacarandas fill the city in their best glory, and even the mines are covered in greenery again.

The urban aesthetics of Panzhihua is " the flower is a city, the city is a flower "; the picture below shows the spectacular poinciana flowers in Panzhihua | Photographer @王东

Supermarkets have a continuous supply of fruit all year round, and the most popular mangoes can be available as late as mid-winter, allowing you to enjoy delicious food at off-peak times.

Panzhihua mangoes are being packed | Photographer @李依凡

The local specialties, such as fried meat, sandworms, copper hot pot, and mutton rice noodles, are rich in flavor and soothe the taste buds of ordinary people.

Panzhihua mutton rice noodles are made with pure mutton broth, served with smooth and chewy rice noodles, and topped with chili oil, mint leaves and other ingredients | Photographer @王东

Events such as the International Road Cycling Race, the International Yangtze River Rafting Race, and the Asian Canoe Slalom Race present the speed and passion unique to Panzhihua.

Panzhihua International Road Cycling Race, Panzhihua Rafting Race, National U16 Archery Championship | Photographer @王东&石磊

The rich national culture and colorful intangible cultural heritage are a quaint picture that solidifies history.

There are 43 ethnic minorities in Panzhihua; the picture below shows the lively scene of the Yi Torch Festival and more ethnic minority festivals | Photographer @石磊&王东

More and more tourists regard this place as an ideal place for a new generation of "sunshine therapy" and come here to see the cattle and sheep living freely and the horses running freely.

The scenery of Malu Village in Panzhihua is comparable to anime scenes | Photographer @王东

In 2010, Panzhihua was the first in the country to propose the concept of " health care ", combining the " six degrees of endowment " of altitude, temperature, humidity, cleanliness, high productivity and harmony, covering labels such as forest city, garden city and sunshine city, providing everyone with a safe place to live where they can nourish their body, mind and wisdom.

Panzhihua "Healthy Living and Travel" Map | Map by @Chen Jingyi/Planet Research Institute

For example, the Hongge Hot Spring , 30 kilometers away from the city center, contains more than 60 kinds of trace elements beneficial to human health. The water temperature at the hot spring wellhead can reach up to 57°C . It has good medical, health care and health-preserving effects, and has driven new development of the local tourism service industry.

The tropical atmosphere of Hongge Hot Spring | Photographer @王东

In addition, Panzhihua has comprehensively promoted the " health care + medical " industry, with a total of 5 tertiary medical institutions and more than 700 social medical institutions, exploring new ways to integrate medical care and health care. From December 4th to 5th, the " 2024 China Health Care Industry Development Conference " will also be held in Panzhihua, drawing a new blueprint for China's health care industry.

Panzhihua is working hard to promote the brand of "Sunny Flower City, Health Resort"; the picture below is Puda Sunshine International Health Resort | Photographer @石磊

This is Panzhihua, the sunniest scenery in Sichuan, treacherous and tender; the sunniest mountain city in China, tough and romantic. It grows towards the light, a miracle created by the earth, and a legend of heroic struggle.

Panzhihua is the largest and youngest immigrant city in western China, with a variety of dialects; the picture below shows the flag-raising ceremony at Panzhihua Renhe Square | Photographer @石磊

The charm of Panzhihua is not just a beautiful name, but also the warmth of the valley, the enthusiasm of the creatures, and the healing of the world. Come to Panzhihua this winter! You can achieve endless freedom: freedom of fruit, freedom of sunshine, freedom of mountain breeze, and freedom of flowers!

Please watch in horizontal mode to overlook the dazzling night view of Panzhihua | Photographer @Five Hundred Thousand Gallons

I hope to dedicate all the beautiful things to your life, to those silent years, to the treasured land, and to the world that never gives up.

This article was created by

Written by : Zhou Yangguang

Image : Xia Xue

Design : Terraces

Map : Chen Jingyi

Reviewer : Wang Dan & Sun Yangguang & Chen Zhihao

Cover source : Visual China

Co-produced by

Publicity Department of CPC Panzhihua Municipal Committee

【References】

[1] Panzhihua Local Chronicles Compilation Center. Panzhihua Yearbook 2023. Kaiming Publishing House, 2023.

[2] Li Zhengcui. The Rise of Panzhihua City. Nanchang: Jiangxi People's Publishing House, March 2016.

[3] Panzhihua Health Care Industry Development Center, Panzhihua University. Panzhihua Health Care Industry Development Report 2022. Chengdu: Southwest Jiaotong University Press, 2024.06.

[4] Peng Xu. Pan Guo. Chengdu: Sichuan University Press, 2024.07.

[5] Dai Shengpei, Li Maofen, Luo Hongxia, et al. Characteristics of agricultural climate resources in the dry-hot valley area at the junction of Sichuan and Yunnan [J]. Journal of Tropical Crops, 2018.