Du Fu Thatched Cottage（杜甫草堂）

Du Fu Thatched Cottage [File photo]

The Du Fu Thatched Cottage is an idyllic park and museum situated in the western suburbs of Chengdu, Sichuan Province, adjacent to the picturesque Flower Rinsing Brook. The museum, in honor of famous Tang poet Du Fu (712-770), is considered a sacred spot of Chinese literature. Du Fu, one of the greatest Chinese poets, set up a straw-roofed house by the brook in 759, and lived there for about four years. In his thatched hut, he was inspired to compose more than 240 poems, including his best known ones such as "Thatched Hut Torn Apart by Autumn Wind" and "The Prime Minister of Shu."

The original hut built by Du was destroyed and the major buildings we see today were constructed during the Ming Dynasty in 1500, and renovated in 1811 during the Qing Dynasty. They include the Thatched Cottage, Former Residence of Du Fu, Screen Wall, Front Gate, Grand Lobby, Memorial of the Poet-Historian, Firewood Gate and Gongbu Shrine. The museum is noted for its unsophisticated historical relics, elegant buildings and tranquil environment. It's a tourist attraction for visitors from around the world to pay tribute to the poet Du Fu.

Admission: 60 yuan (US$9.8) / person