Situated in Southeast China, Sichuan Province has a large expanse of Sichuan Basin Area and the West Sichuan Plateau, among which Sichuan Basin is made up of three parts----the west basin plain, the middle basin hills and the paralleled mountain ranges and valleys of the east basin. As the mountain area around the Basin belongs to the constantly rising fold belt, the surface of the Basin is ringed by series of mountains of middle and lower reaches, for example, Michang Shan, Daba Shan at the north fringe of the basin, Long Men Shan and Qionglai Shan at the west fringe as well as Dalou Shan and Daliang Shan at the south and many others----all measuring 1500 meters above sea level. The west Sichuan Plateau, the highest in terrain in Sichuan, is above 3000 - 4000 meters on the average. As the Tibetan Plateau stretches north-west to Sichuan, its surface remains to be rather smooth with a relative height difference of no more than 200-500 meters. Southwest Sichuan belongs to the north section of the Hengduan Shan Range where canyons are crisscrossing, the snowy mountains stand one after another and the ridge valleys greatly differ in height. With the 7556-meter Gongga Shan, the main peak of Daxue Shan as the highest peak in Sichuan, the province possesses about 23 other high mountains over 5500 meters above sea level, such as the Shaluli Shan, Daba Shan, Min Shan and Qionglai Shan.
Sichuan Province enjoys its unique natural beatuty and places of historical interest and scenic grace, and sits welcomingly and claims great attention of distinguished visitors at home and abroad. Among the mountain areas of Sichuan Basin are Emei Shan, one of the four most well-known mountains as Buddist centers in China; the world-famous Three Gorges on both sides of the Yangtze River (Changjiang); Jiuzhaigou and Huanglong Scenic Spot, reputed as the "World of Mythology", and the natural reservation center of Wanglang, Wolong and Hailuogou (Conch Ditch).
Placing an important role in the transportation of the Province, the railway system is composed of many track lines as those of Chengdu - Chongqing, Chengdu - Kunming, Baoji - Chengdu, Xiangfan - Chongqing and Sichuan - Guizhou. Due to its high mountains and deep valleys, highway systems, however, prove to be the most efficient means of transportation while Chengdu - Aba Highway, Sichuan - Yunnan and Sichuan - Tibet Highway wind around the mountains and lead to every county by linking the branch lines together. The Yangtze River Changjiang, the major water system, runs through Sichuan Province and the water transportation on it is highly developed. With Chengdu, the Capital of Sichuan Province, as the center of civil aviation, dozens of airlines are established, leading directly to Beijing, Hong Kong and every major city in our country as well as those with in the province, providing favorable conditions for mountaineering and tourism.