Chengdu is located in southwestern China and is full of fun and exciting things to do. As a city known for its teahouses and spicy food, this metropolis also has its fair share of cultural based activities. Choices abound, and every type of tourist can be satisfied. So if you are stopping here during your tour of China, prepare an itinerary for this large city that suits you. As a expat resident of Chengdu of more than three years, I know that this city comes prepared to accommodate all kinds of people.
1) Visit the Numerous Parks
Sitting amidst the sounds and sights of development-incessant construction and endless skyscrapers-rests numerous parks and places to relax within the city of Chengdu. Renmin Park (The People’s Park) is at the top of the list, and is an important cultural area of Chengdu. After all, it’s where many protests against the Qing Dynasty were held. Come here to watch the older locals play Mahjong or do Tai Chi, and get an ear cleaning or cup of tea while you’re at it.
Wangjiang Park, with its array of bamboo trees and classical garden design, is remarkably tranquil. Dufu’s Thatched Cottage (Dufu Caotang) features classical Chinese gardens, Tang Dynasty architecture, and is named after the famed poet Dufu of the Tang Dynasty, as this was where he lived and wrote many of his great works.
Chengdu is a city known for its parks, and no matter which one you choose, such as East Lake Park or Taizishan Park, you’ll be provided with a unique setting hard to find at home.
2) Eat Sichuanese Cuisine
Sichuan food is arguably the best of all Chinese cuisine. You must eat it while you’re here. Kung Pao chicken (Gongbao Jiding), sweet and sour pork (Cangcu Liji), Mapo tofu, Sichuan green beans, Huiguo Rou (twice-cooked pork) and more, all are famous dishes in Sichuan. Many local restaurants serve these dishes. Of course upscale places do cook up delicious dishes, but some mom and pop style joints have incredible and authentic flavors at unbeatable prices. So head into a local restaurant, order up a few dishes and a local Snow beer (one of the world’s most consumed beers), and dig in.
3) Venture out to the Nature Sights
Indeed the city of Chengdu is an imposing concrete jungle, and you feel light-years away from natural beauty. Yet around Chengdu are some magnificent places like Qingcheng Mountain, a Taoist center full of monasteries, caves, and noteworthy vistas. Other mountains like Leshan (Le Mountain) and Emei Shan (Emei Mountain) take roughly two hours to travel to, and combining both into a two-day excursion is recommended. Leshan features the Giant Buddha statue, which at 71 meters high, is the tallest in the world. Emei Shan is truly breathtaking, and hiking from its base to the famed Golden Peak is not a light task, but gives one the feeling of triumph once the summit is reached.
Dujiangyan, which is about an hour’s drive or bus ride from Chengdu, is the world’s first irrigation system and gives testament to the ancient prowess of Chinese innovation.
References
1) Chengdu’s Best Nature Spots
2) Author’s Personal Experiences
3) Cheap Eats in Chengdu
