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Leshan (very basic) tourist information with map
Many visitors come for just a few hours on a day trip from Chengdu—but that’s a mistake. You need a full day to properly visit the Leshan Giant Buddha , see it from the river, and explore the nearby Oriental Buddha Park and Wuyou Temple hill. At a leisurely pace, it could easily take two days. You can also do a day trip to Emeishan from Leshan by public bus, but in my opinion, it's better to stay overnight there—perhaps in a monastery below the Golden Summit. So, for Leshan alone, you’ll need at least one night, preferably two. The city itself is quite sprawling, modern, and tidy, but it doesn't offer many attractions. The train station is a bit far from the center, but public transport is a good option to reach both the city center and the Leshan Giant Buddha. Below are the tourist basics.
Avatar Mountains, Zhangjiajie National Forest Park - Day 1: Yuanjiajie & Golden Whip Stream
Located about 30 kilometers from the city of Zhangjiajie, near the town of Wulingyuan, is China’s oldest national park: Zhangjiajie National Forest Park. This is the place that inspired the floating mountains in the movie Avatar, earning it the popular nickname "Avatar Mountains". The park covers a large area, with shuttle buses, cable cars, and even lifts operating inside to connect the main scenic spots. (Shuttle buses are free with the ticket; the rest are at an additional cost.) There are popular cliff-edge paths as well as quieter hiking trails. The national park is divided into 4 main areas, and the entrance ticket is valid for four consecutive days, which is useful if you want to explore each earea to some extent. It's not likely that you can hike every trail in four days unless you’re an extreme walker. The four main areas consist of Tianzi Mountain, Yuanjiajie, Yangjiajie, and Huangshi Village (Huangshizhai), and between them are other locations such as the Gol...
Riyadh - Transport and districts (updated in July 2025)
Practical information and photos of Riyadh. Map of Riyadh and surroundings 1. King Khalid International Airport ; 2. King Abdullah Financial District (KAFD) ; 3. Al Murooj and King Fahd Districts ; 4. Al Olaya ; 5. Al Batha ; 6. Ad Dirah ; 7. Al Aziziyah Transportation Center ; 8. Diriyah ; 9. Qasoor al-Maqbil ; 10. Camel Trail ; 11. Red Sand Dunes ; 12. Edge of the World, Manjour Trail . Since this post was first published, major developments have taken place in Riyadh: most importantly, the metro network has been inaugurated, and six lines are now in service. This updated information, current as of 2025, has been added to the original post. The two most important lines are the Yellow and Blue. The first connects the international airport to KAFD, and from there the other covers all the main areas of interest in Riyadh, all the way to the Transportation Center in Al Aziziyah. You can find detailed metro maps below.

























































