Sichuan's dragons burn bright

Some researchers believe Sanxingdui's people moved to Chengdu after the civilization suddenly fell in the aftermath of a disaster, such as a flood, and then founded the Jinsha civilization.

Sichuan is promoting both ruins' joint application for inclusion on the UNESCO World Heritage List, Zhu says.

A 62-minute bullet train ride north of Deyang leads to Sichuan's northernmost city, Guangyuan, which is hosting the 24-day Empress' Hometown Lantern Festival through Sunday.

Guangyuan is best known for the Shu Path and as the birthplace of Wu Zetian (624-705), China's only ruling empress.

Construction of the Shu Path, linking Sichuan and neighboring Shaanxi province, started around 316 BC. It was built on mountains so precipitous that luminary Chinese poet Li Bai (701-762) wrote, "Traveling on the Shu Path is as difficult as ascending to heaven".