遂宁市

Why this place

Suining sits in the middle of the Sichuan basin, at the confluence of two rivers, and it holds the Guanyin temple where the legend of the thousand-armed Guanyin is rooted — one of the more remarkable Buddhist sites in the province.

What to see

• The Guangde Temple and the Guanyin origin sites
• The Shehong county, birthplace of the Tang poet Chen Zi'ang
• The Fujiang River and the town's riverside parks

What to eat

• Sichuan cooking, with the local 'suining' tofu skin being a notable product
• River fish and the pickled dishes of the basin

Best time

March–May and September–November