Authentic Sichuan Flavor: My Chengdu Food Journey

If you come to Chengdu, you must not miss this attraction—Kuanzhai Alley.

Although it's called Kuanzhai Alley, it is actually composed of Jing Alley, Wide Alley, and Narrow Alley. Here, you can experience the local life of this city.

Kuanzhai Alley has always been a symbol of a leisurely and comfortable life. Some say Kuanzhai Alley is like Beijing's Nanluoguxiang, but in my opinion, Nanluoguxiang exudes an ancient and traditional charm, while Kuanzhai Alley is more about leisure and relaxation. However, both share one thing in common: they are packed with specialty snacks. The local famous foods here will definitely let you eat to your heart's content!

Because Kuanzhai Alley preserves a lot of old Chengdu culture, when you stroll through it, you'll see a blend of history and modern fashion. Surprisingly, this doesn't feel disharmonious but instead creates a wonderful sensation. The rows of walls built with bricks from different eras, along with the relief-like paintings of old street life, make the afternoon in Chengdu leisurely and beautiful.

When you come to Kuanzhai Alley, don't say you're just here to see the sights and not eat anything; I'm afraid you'd be embarrassed to claim you've visited Kuanzhai Alley. There are numerous Chengdu snacks here, perfect for a hearty feast. My favorite is the various types of wontons—sweet, salty, numbing, spicy—all incredibly tasty and very cheap. Ma Ma Rabbit Head, diced rabbit, street-side skewers, Guokui (stuffed flatbread), Zhong Dumplings, and PoPo Chicken are also good. I also recommend a place here that serves sweet noodles, which suit my taste perfectly—delicious and affordable, truly great.

Strolling through Kuanzhai Alley and soaking in its charm, you'll find you can slowly enjoy a peace that is hard to find in daily life. Sipping a cup of tea while tasting Chengdu's specialty snacks—this might be the true enjoyment.

In ancient times, there was the saying 'The wren nests in the deep forest,' and today, there is 'The wren nests in Kuanzhai.' Speaking of Kuanzhai Alley, this is a bustling area of Chengdu. From ancient times to the present, nobles and officials have settled here, and even ordinary people often wander around here.

Now, tourists and pedestrians come in an endless stream. From afar, you can smell the aromas of snacks wafting from every corner of the alley, and the sounds of vendors loudly hawking their goods fill the air.

The Jiaoliao Boutique Humanistic Hotel, nestled in the midst of noise, finds tranquility. With a delicate and exquisite appearance, it modestly resides in the Kuanzhai Alley scenic area at No. 28 Wide Alley. The hotel is near Metro Line 4. It is about 19 kilometers from Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport, about a 40-minute drive. Surrounding attractions include Kuanzhai Alley, Jinli, Tianfu Square, Chunxi Road, and other famous spots.

If you want to enjoy a peaceful vacation without missing out on the city's bustling excitement, the Jiaoliao Boutique Humanistic Hotel is the perfect choice.

Before coming, we had already inquired about the origin of the hotel's name. It is said that 'Jiaoliao' originally refers to a bird, derived from Zhuangzi's saying, 'The wren nests in the deep forest, but only needs one branch.' This embodies a philosophy of shedding worldly distractions, guarding one's true heart, returning to nature, and finding carefree poetic living—a philosophy of returning to nature and staying away from the hustle and bustle.

This time, however, the wren does not nest in the deep forest but chooses this alley full of the warmth of human life, situated on a long street teeming with visitors, creating a haven of urban forest for guests from afar.

Amid the noisy crowd, we pushed open this old, grand door. The first thing that caught our eyes was the main entrance, with carved hollow patterns on the screen doors on both sides. Among them, the bat pattern symbolizes blessings and happiness. The two bats at the corners, with water ripples above them, signify blessings as vast as the East Sea. The bat on the central axis represents blessings descending from heaven. Together with the one in the middle, they form the 'Five Blessings Arriving at the Door.' We hope that every distinguished guest who comes here will enjoy longevity, a good end, wealth, health, peace, and virtue.

Passing through the courtyard and into the corridor, we saw a bamboo, a tile, flowing water, and rockery, giving a sense of rustic elegance, as if entering a parallel space separate from the worldly splendor, separated by just a wall. My friend, as if on a roll, kept exclaiming how beautiful it was, constantly taking photos, laughing like a child.

Entering the lobby, we observed carefully. The entire hotel's decoration style is filled with the characteristics and elegance of Sichuan-style residential architecture. The antique and simple Qing-style ancient buildings combine movement and stillness, revealing the essence of landscapes within a small space. It seems the hotel owner put a lot of thought into this, with such exquisite decoration—no wonder it's so popular.

As we passed through the corridor, the parrots hanging on both sides, hopping up and down, became unusually active because of our arrival, chirping incessantly, making my friend laugh. It seemed these birds were also welcoming our stay!

The hotel's green bricks and black tiles, together with the birds' chirping, complement each other—movement and stillness combined with the hotel's design style, enhancing each other. This interplay of movement and stillness is fully embodied.

The 'movement' is reflected in the detailed decorations throughout the hotel, with bird-shaped ornaments echoing the hotel's name in various places.

The 'stillness' is embodied in the antique quadrangle courtyard of green and black bricks and tiles, where every plant and tree exudes tranquility, and every bamboo and stone brings elegance, establishing a quiet and leisurely lifestyle, allowing one to ride on things and roam freely.

Passing through the corridor, we arrived at the accommodation area. Entering the guest room, we found that the materials used are all natural, solid raw wood. The room also features Shu embroidery, one of the four famous embroideries, and a traditional rice-pounding mortar, fully interpreting the concept of returning to simplicity.

On closer inspection, we noticed that the room's hardware facilities are also top-notch. Whether it's the bathroom fixtures, smart感应 toilets, or the mattresses, they are all configured to the highest international five-star hotel standards. Understated luxury exudes a high-end vibe. Such configurations far exceed those of other hotels—how could we not be tempted?

Inheriting the culture of Laozi and Zhuangzi, creating high-end facilities, neither vulgar nor detached from the world. The Jiaoliao Hotel allows you to find the perfect balance between bustling excitement and peaceful seclusion, letting you enjoy both the tranquility away from the world and the convenience of urban life—all for your unique experience.

Speaking of Sichuan, we must not forget the home of giant pandas—the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding. Many people love the adorable, clumsy appearance of giant pandas. In the past, we could only see pandas online. When browsing pictures, they looked so soft and cute. This time, coming to the base and thinking about seeing real pandas, I was especially excited—after all, they are our national treasure. 'Being cute for the country' is the true talent of these panda babies.

At this base, you will see many giant pandas, a completely different experience from browsing pictures online!

The panda babies enjoy a national treasure-level treatment here. The environment is a complete simulation of pandas' wild habitat.

There are lakes, streams, and of course, their favorite food—bamboo!

Most notably, 'Panda Villas' have been built for them. These are their daily leisure and entertainment venues. When the weather is cool, the panda babies play here—some stroll leisurely in the yard, others roll on the ground—a truly carefree scene!

Visitors can also watch the adorable pandas from behind the railings. When it's hot, the pandas cleverly hide in their resting rooms, and visitors can only watch them through the glass as they sleep soundly inside.

In short, when you come to Sichuan, you must check out the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding. The pandas here come in all poses, and you'll see whatever you want.

The national treasure giant pandas are really cute—clumsy, adorable, free, and happy. Suddenly, I found myself envying them a little. Maybe—and perhaps I'm not the only one who thinks so!

Eating Skewers in High Spirits

Located right at the exit of Huazhaobi Station (Metro Line 7), just a few minutes' walk away, Chengdu Gua Chuan Chuan (Guakao Skewers) has a very eye-catching sign. When I walked in, I felt its style was unique, with a particularly Chinese feel—quite interesting.

I must say their storefront is quite grand. Inside, the tables are square and well-spaced, so it doesn't feel crowded. Sitting inside is very comfortable.

The serving speed is also quite fast. I should mention that their skewers are of the cold-pot type—you choose your ingredients, and the restaurant cooks them and brings them out directly. No need to worry about whether they are done; just eat them as soon as they arrive. Very convenient.

The dry dipping powder is their specialty. It has a great flavor, with plenty of crushed peanuts on top—really nice. My friend loved it so much that he wanted to ask the owner for the specific recipe, but that's impossible—the owner won't reveal it. The dry dipping powder is good, but for someone like me who can't handle very spicy food, it wasn't quite suitable. If you love spicy food, this is your ultimate dipping condiment!

Of course, they don't just have skewers; small bowl dishes are also their specialty. Many small bowls with great flavors. Recommended must-order items: Maohuoguo Fensi (spicy hot pot vermicelli). The vermicelli is really tasty and very flavorful—every strand is soaked in the broth. The taste is absolutely amazing!

Mao Tudou Tuotuo (spicy potato chunks) is my favorite. Not too spicy, and the potatoes paired with the seasonings are incredibly delicious. The potatoes are neither hard nor mushy—just the right texture. After one bowl, you'll want a second.

My first time trying rabbit kidney was at Chengdu Gua Chuan Chuan. Unexpectedly, the rabbit kidney was very good, even better than I imagined. Tender and soft, one bite each—simply delightful.

After finishing the skewers, having some ice jelly to cut the grease makes life simply wonderful.