My Independent Trip to Chengdu Left Me with Deep Memories
Chengdu's cuisine is profound and extensive. To be honest, the main purpose of coming to Chengdu was to taste all kinds of local specialties. Even if I couldn't try every single dish, I wanted to have a chance to visit the must-try food spots in Chengdu. I was lucky to come here. Although I dare not say I fully accomplished my ambitious goal, I indeed gained a lot.
The 339 area has long become a gathering place for Chengdu’s nightlife and a new landmark of the city’s evening scene. Many bars and entertainment venues here are very attractive, but one stood out and drew us in—Bie Yuan Li, a small tavern full of literary atmosphere.
It's located near the 339 TV Tower, at No. 96 Mengzhui Bay. The environment is quite nice. The bar is spacious, with two floors and good ventilation, so you won't feel stuffy inside.
The interior design features a Chinese courtyard style, blending a living atmosphere with modern elegance. Wooden tables and leather chairs offer great comfort, and the two floors provide ample space.
Following the recommendation of a young server, we chose a type of wine. This hot pot wine was especially aromatic and rich, with a hint of multiple fruit fragrances. It had a sweet taste, went down smoothly, and had a low alcohol content that wouldn't get you drunk—perfect for girls.
The snack, grilled fish with lemongrass, was also delicious. The fish was grilled until crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, incredibly tasty. Though it looked covered in chili peppers, it was actually not very spicy. The fragrant fish paired wonderfully with the wine.
Unexpectedly, there were also famous Chengdu snacks here, such as San Da Pao. The glutinous fried small tangyuan were really soft and chewy, irresistible.
The freshly fried french fries were crispy and tasty. The owner was thoughtful enough to provide two dips: salad dressing and ketchup. I personally prefer the tomato flavor—after all, the classic can't be surpassed in my heart.
The fruit platter had super fresh fruits with a sweet flavor that was intoxicating. Not only was the taste good, but the presentation was also beautiful, revealing my hidden girly heart.
The barbecue platter, in Dai-style skewers, was generous in portion with both meat and vegetables. The flavor was good, and the meat and offal were grilled tender, easily coming off the skewer with a gentle bite.
I love this small tavern. Though called a small tavern, it's more like a typical quiet bar—not too noisy, not too quiet. The decor is nice, with lighting that creates a great atmosphere in the hall, plus there are live singers, which adds to the vibe.
Maybe in life, we need such spontaneous trips to wherever we want. So I came to a must-visit place in Chengdu—Wenshu Monastery.
Wenshu Monastery is located in Qingyang District of Chengdu, with a very long history. It is one of the national key Buddhist temples designated by the State Council. This is a place you must come to when in Chengdu.
As soon as I turned the street corner, the red brick wall with green tiles came into view. Looking over the antique wall, I saw towering trees inside and couldn't help but silently applaud: what a peaceful spot amid the hustle and bustle.
Stepping into the courtyard, the first thing I encountered was a tea house and a vegetarian restaurant. In the tea house, I saw many people leisurely drinking tea and chatting. The scene of tea drinkers and tourists seemed to freeze together at that moment, and I couldn't help but sigh at such a carefree picture.
Since it was afternoon when we arrived and we had just started exploring, it wasn't time for tea, so we passed through. To avoid the crowds, we headed towards less crowded areas. Walking along, we reached a small courtyard, which was bustling with tourists. But in my eyes, it presented a warm and peaceful scene, like a flowing ink painting—dynamic yet still, still yet dynamic.
Following a small path beside it, we arrived at the rear hall, where we encountered some men and women from a monastery life experience camp, dressed in loose white casual clothes, sitting together in a circle and discussing their experiences and feelings about meditation.
Moving forward, we reached Wenshu Pavilion, where the scripture library is located. The doors were closed, but we noticed several monks sweeping fallen leaves in the courtyard. Later I learned that the scripture library is not open to the public usually, only on certain specific days. It is said that it houses tens of thousands of Buddhist scriptures, including the "Medicine Buddha Sutra" and "Diamond Sutra" bestowed by Emperor Kangxi, as well as calligraphy and paintings from the Ming and Qing dynasties. The most famous is the ink trace of "Kong Lin" (Empty Forest) bestowed by Emperor Kangxi to Wenshu Monastery. Since we couldn't enter, we had to leave with this regret. Perhaps a bit of regret makes life more interesting.
Along a small path, we reached the central area of Wenshu Monastery. Seeing the magnificent and majestic halls, ancient and solemn, I couldn't help but feel awe. The pavilions and towers had upturned eaves and intricate carved windows with beautiful patterns, full of classical beauty.
Wenshu Monastery is a typical traditional Chinese architectural complex, with many antique buildings to appreciate. Due to time constraints, we couldn't finish exploring the entire monastery, but as with life, a little regret makes things more interesting.
As the saying goes, "Young people shouldn't enter Sichuan, and old people shouldn't leave Shu." Chengdu is known as a city you never want to leave once you come. The rich Sichuan culture is displayed throughout the streets and alleys of Chengdu. Whether it's the food, the scenery, or the Sichuan girls, everything is dazzling and overwhelming.
When in Chengdu, eating, drinking, and having fun are indispensable. And with all that, accommodation is also essential. When it comes to lodging, you must check out this guesthouse hotel—Jiaoliao Renwen Boutique Hotel. The moment you step in, you'll be amazed by this Chengdu homestay.
Location: The hotel is located in Kuanzhai Alley, known as the "Chengdu Living Room."
Metro: The entrance of Kuanzhai Alley is right at Metro Line 4.
Location: The location is fantastic! It's inside the Kuanzhai Alley scenic area, so you can go out and eat and shop conveniently. It's not far from Chunxi Road, Taikoo Li, and Tianfu Square. You can take the metro or a taxi—a taxi costs about ten yuan.
Hotel style: The overall style of this guesthouse is exactly what I love. The guest rooms are designed in a Japanese style, made of pure wooden structures. The rooms have a unique fragrance that is very soothing. There are also hand-made Shu embroidery and a painting of the wren bird specially painted by a master artist.
The hotel features many calligraphy, paintings, and antiques that the owner worked hard to acquire. Every detail is thoughtfully crafted and impeccable.
Rooms: The doors use electronic locks for safety. The entire room, including decorations and beds, is made of sycamore wood, giving off a light woody fragrance that is very relaxing.
The room has a dedicated dining area, and the lunch and dinner were quite good.
Bathroom: When I go out, whether staying in a hotel or a guesthouse, the bathroom is my biggest concern. The cleanliness of the bathroom can definitely affect my mood. I give full marks to the bathroom at Jiaoliao! The details show understated luxury. It has ultra-five-star deluxe amenities: Carnation linens, King Koil mattresses, Kohler bathroom products, TOTO smart toilets. Even turning on the faucet made me feel the owner's care.
Washing area: It's worth mentioning that the washing area has a separate wet and dry section. You can take a shower or lie in the bathtub, and the hotel even provides bath salts.
The three-piece toiletries are from June Jacobs (a high-end spa skincare brand from New York). I had used this brand at a Sheraton in Guangdong before and really liked it. I didn't expect to use it again in Chengdu. According to the butler, June Jacobs specially customized a treatment method for the hotel, combining local culture, environment, climate, and some traditional Chinese medical therapies to create the hotel's unique "Jiaoliao Chao Lin" (Wren's Nest in the Forest).
Bedding: Lying down was extremely comfortable—I fell asleep in no time. The quilt and mattress were soft and skin-friendly. I like buckwheat pillows, and the hotel thoughtfully provided one.
The biggest highlight is the hotel butlers, a very enthusiastic group of young people. When I was about to arrive at Kuanzhai Alley, the butler contacted me in advance, came to the alley entrance to pick me up, and introduced the culture of Kuanzhai Alley along the way. This alone made me have a good impression of the hotel. After arriving, the butler learned that I can't eat spicy food, so they specially prepared wontons without chili for breakfast.
Life is not only about delicious food and beautiful scenery, but also about the marks of hard work. On the long road of life, we need to strive a little more.
