Top 1 reason: a romantic city

Walking in this city, you can experience the perfect combination and contrast between traditional and modern cultures. Here are two places I highly recommend, Wide and Narrow Lanes and Jinli. You can experience the romantic life in Chengdu.

Wide and Narrow Alley, a famous historic site, is made of three parallel alleys and buildings from a quadrangle courtyard, or Siheyuan, in Qing Dynasty (1644-1911A.D.) style.  [Photo / Luo Xi]

 

A tourist takes pictures in the Wide Lane, an area where reproductions show life in Chengdu in the early part of the 20th century. [Photo / Luo Xi]

Jinli Ancient Street, reflecting the urban life of Chengdu from a traditional perspective, is where you can taste all kinds of traditional snacks in Chengdu. There is a popular local snack store selling sliced dried beef in various flavors, similar to bacon. The most interesting thing is that to attract customers, a salesman stands outside the store with his face painted black and dresses like Zhang Fei, a hero in the Three Kingdoms period in ancient China. [Photo / Luo Xi]

A tourist places a sachet containing her written wish on the wishing tree in Jinli. [Photo / Luo Xi]

Top 2 reason: a scenic city close to nature

Outside of Mount Emei located in Leshan, 156 kilometers from Chengdu, Mount Qingcheng is a paradise for mountaineering enthusiasts. It's the important center of Taoism located in Dujiangyan, Chengdu. This place will be perfection if you want to leave the bustling and hectic city life behind. Imagine how pleasant it will be when playing Tai Chi in the picturesque mountains.

Qingcheng Mountain, one of the top four Taoist mountains in the country, is famous for its Taoist culture. It' s 68-kilometer west of Chengdu city. [Photo / IC]

This photo shows the scenery of Mount Qingcheng. [Photo / Luo Xi]

 

Top 3 reason: a delicious city

Chengdu, declared by UNESCO in 2010 to be the Second City of Gastronomy after Popayan, Colombia, offers all kinds of featured food. Sichuan cuisine is renowned for its spicy flavors. Chili pepper and Sichuan pepper help Chengdu residents resist the humidity in southwest China. Outside of the most famous hotpot of various forms, you can also try many other different traditional snacks or main dishes from Chengdu in Jinli or The Wide and Narrow Lanes, which include Mapo Tofu, Sichuan Pickles and other cuisines cooked with a special salty paste called Doubanjiang, the soul of Sichuan cuisine.

Chuanchuan, a variation of the famous Sichuan Hotpot. It is cooked by threading pieces of meat, potatoes, lettuce and other vegetables through skewers, and boiling them in a big pot with hot spicy soup added with various spices. [Photo / Luo Xi]

 

Sichuan Hotpot, a traditional cuisine in Chengdu, Sichuan Province.  [Photo / IC]

 

Yeerba, a snack from Chengdu, is made of sticky rice and common rice, covered by plaintain leaves.  [Photo / IC]

  

Top 4 reason: a leisurely city

Once you are in Chengdu, you may be deeply amazed by the leisurely and relaxing lifestyle of Chengdu residents. Similar to the bar in London, the cafe in Paris, the teahouse in Chengdu is where you can soak up local atmosphere. It’s a social gathering place where people play Chengdu Mahjong and enjoy tea while chatting with friends for less than three bucks per person. Mahjong and tea drinking are the indispensable and essential elements of life in Chengdu.

Chengdu Mahjong is a variation of the game that’s popular in Chendgu. It’s quite different from Guangdong or Hong Kong Mahjong. [Photo / Luo Xi]

Top 5 reason: hometown of giant pandas

No need to go to Wolong Nature Reserve, you can see giant pandas in Chengdu and avoid a long journey with expensive fares and fatigue. Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda, which is in Xindu, a northern suburb of Chengdu, is the only giant panda sanctuary in a metropolitan area.

This big guy is exactly the prototype of Jingjing, one of the five official mascots of Beijing 2008 Olympic Games. 

Fourteen panda cubs lie in a crib at the Chengdu Research Base for Giant Panda Breeding in Chengdu city, southwest Chinas Sichuan province, 23 September 2013. [Photo / IC]

Chengdu is where the giant pandas live, where local specialty shops and bars get quite lively after dark and stay open until the wee hours of the next morning. It’s where more than two thirds of iPads around the world are manufactured and where many Chinese pop stars come from.

Dear friends, welcome to Chengdu and prepare to be amazed!

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