Beyond Hotpot: What Else Does Chengdu Offer?
If a city has a soul, then Chengdu's soul must be hotpot!
Though when the broth arrives, you might think Chengdu people have a different understanding of 'mild'.
Chengdu, a city that's 'very comfortable', has a magic that makes people slow down.
But when eating hotpot, every second counts—it’s as tense as a battle.
When cooking sliced meat or tripe, Chengdu people can time it to the exact second.
Yet besides savoring Chengdu's flavor through a sweat-inducing hotpot,
there’s visiting the Giant Panda Base to see the national treasure, spending an afternoon in a tea house, queuing for snacks and various skewers...
This city, famous for being livable and cozy, has so many things that are simply irresistible!
**See the National Treasure: Giant Pandas!**
What makes people most envious of Chengdu locals is that they can see pandas right on their doorstep.
Our national treasure, no matter which country it visits, draws massive crowds.
This 'ferocious beast' that has lived on Earth for 8 million years now conquers the world with its cute act.
In Japanese zoos, people queue for hours every day just to see a panda for 10 seconds...
The Netherlands spent 7 million euros building a palace for pandas...
Belgium, fearing pandas might be homesick, sent someone to sing 'Water Melody' to the pandas during the Mid-Autumn Festival...
Britain went even further: once, BBC named the female panda Tian Tian, who had just given birth, as an outstanding woman...
Panda elements are everywhere in the city.
**Sip Tea at People's Park and Laze Away an Afternoon!**
What is Chengdu-style slow living? Probably having a cup of tea that lasts all day.
Whether sitting blankly with tea or chatting idly, Chengdu people can spend from morning till night at People's Park.
No matter how noisy the outside world gets, Chengdu's tea houses always keep their own rhythm.
Like cafés in big cities, they are places where people can decompress and relax.
**Experience the Old Chengdu Vibe at Jinli!**
Jinli seems full of worldly hustle and bustle, but inside it holds a thousand years of culture.
Old Chengdu folk customs and the long-standing Three Kingdoms culture blend in this commercial street.
Colorful lanterns and shop signs on both sides create a lively atmosphere.
Whether it's old Chengdu tea houses, inns, restaurants, opera stages, or modern bars, everything is here.
Stroll with the crowd through Jinli, walk over hundred-year-old wooden doors and thousand-year-old stone paths.
Or pop into small shops to buy tea, lanterns, or local specialties...
Or watch clay figurine making, sugar painting, paper cutting on the street...
**Take a Photo Under the Red Wall of Wuhou Shrine!**
Wuhou Shrine was originally a temple commemorating Zhuge Liang.
After continuous renovations, it has become the most influential Three Kingdoms cultural museum in China.
To many, this classic red wall is a photogenic spot perfect for great shots.
Whether you are a Three Kingdoms fan or a photography enthusiast, Wuhou Shrine is a must-visit.
**Queue for Snacks at Kuanzhai Alley!**
Kuanzhai Alley is the most down-to-earth place in Chengdu.
On the neat blue stone roads hide Sichuan cuisine and rich culture.
Chengdu's ancient streets and alleys can be said to rival Beijing's hutongs.
No matter how commercialized people say it is, I feel Kuanzhai Alley is an indispensable stop in Chengdu.
Restaurants, bars, snack stalls bustling with tourists, plus tea shops, Sichuan opera face-changing, fake bronze statues...
Kuanzhai Alley has ninety percent worldly atmosphere and one percent leisurely charm.
**Enjoy a Comfortable Nightlife at Chunxi Road!**
Chengdu's Chunxi Road is a favorite among both out-of-town visitors and locals.
After all, it has everything, doesn't it?
The latest brands, time-tested flagship stores, or Chengdu's time-honored snacks...
But Chunxi Road is not as glamorously extravagant as Shanghai's Nanjing Road; it incorporates Chengdu's laid-back temperament.
When night falls and a gentle breeze blows, the nightlife here is particularly pleasant.
**Hike Up the Back Mountain of Qingcheng!**
The back mountain of Qingcheng is even more tranquil than the front mountain.
The air in the mountains is so good that even the climb itself becomes an enjoyment.
**Visit Huanglongxi Ancient Town!**
Although also an ancient town, Huanglongxi represents rich Sichuan-Chongqing folk customs.
It is different from the gentle elegance of Jiangnan water towns.
After hearing city noise for too long, people begin to yearn for the simple peace of small towns.
There are time-worn tea houses, blue stone streets, and temples with incense smoke.
In the alleys, you can taste all sorts of Sichuan snacks:
sesame cakes, yellow catfish, steamed pork with rice flour, braised pig's trotters with crispy skin, cold rice jelly, sugar-coated dough twists, stone-ground tofu pudding, one-noodle...
**Play a Game of Mahjong with Chengdu Locals!**
Throughout the seasons, whether in bitter cold or scorching heat, nothing can stop Sichuan people from playing mahjong.
The three serious daily businesses for Chengdu people are: sunbathing, drinking tea, and playing mahjong.
I remember a saying:
'For Chengdu people, the most beautiful thing is not a rainy day, but the eaves under which we played mahjong together.'
**Try Bòbō Jī (Chicken in Chili Sauce on Skewers) and Ice Jelly!**
If we talk about two must-eat foods in Chengdu, my choice would be bòbō jī and ice jelly.
What makes bòbō jī different from ordinary skewer hotpot is its key ingredient: Sichuan pepper oil.
Numbing and spicy, yet with a refreshing fragrance.
If Chengdu's spiciness hits you too suddenly, have a bowl of ice jelly to soothe your tongue.
Cool ice jelly with brown sugar syrup goes perfectly with nuts and dried hawthorn slices.
**Experience Ear Cleaning!**
Why is it said that Chengdu people truly know how to live and enjoy? Even such a small thing as ear picking has developed into a culture.
Chengdu's ear-cleaning masters, with years of experience and unique techniques, can bring you to sheer bliss.
**Watch a Sichuan Opera Performance!**
Sichuan opera is a treasure culture born in the southwestern region.
When in Chengdu, if you want to watch a Sichuan opera performance, you don't need to search hard.
Whether in Kuanzhai Alley, Jinli Commercial Street, or even a hotpot restaurant, you can find Sichuan opera performances.
Chengdu's character is so distinct.
If Chengdu were personified, it would be like a wandering singer, whose temperament carries a bit of decadent romance.
In fact, I think falling in love with Chengdu is falling in love with the city's attitude towards life.
Brew a cup of tea, order a bowl of skewers—so comfortable, so content.
The most important thing in life is to be happy!
