My Chengdu stories

By Atubga David Atia Ibrahim (chinadaily.com.cn) Updated: 2016-03-14 17:07

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Chengdu, is one of the prominent cities in China that when I first arrived I felt I made a mistake travelling of my country and I was showered with mix feelings but within a week up to two, I said to myself, Oh what a sweet, diplomatic, neat, lovely, attractive, exquisite, gorgeous home full of passionate people. I now understand why it was once stated metaphorically by Mao Zedong in one of his poems that Great China was like “a Rooster’s Crow awakens the dreaming earth”. This description of the then China was not just a mere saying but he foresaw from the onset that China was just not only awakening the world, but will one day serve as a home of inventions, a land of peace loving, home of the world economic power, home of international cooperation and Chengdu is not an exception. The warm heartedness of the people of Chengdu culminates to the traditional passion passed on to all Chinese by Confucius that “isn’t it a joy to welcome friends from afar”? since then, every Chinese has cultivated this unique habit in him or her.

It is therefore an undisputable fact that Chengdu is a nice city full of kind, philanthropic, caring, loving, and friendly people from children to the aged. There are numerous or countless cities in China but among them, I think Chengdu which within a twinkle of an eye has developed to the admiration of natives and every foreigner who finds him or herself in the land of great Chengdu. This generosity of the people of Chengdu can be seen in the pictures below.

Remarkably, the food in Chengdu is superb because of its specialty in nature. Have you ever being to Chengdu before? If yes, have you tried HOT POT? Which is also called the “Sichuan Cuisine” (Chuan Cai) hot and pungent flavoring? If No, then you have not come out from your home. I was first introduced to hot pot by my professor Wu Huijuan who is philanthropic, generous, and welcoming and since then I countless dinner only hotpot. Check this, but control your lust.

It is said that, when it comes to dinner, private and business ideas are mooted and considered intrinsic part of business negotiations. They have a saying that “you are what you eat” is “you are where you eat” in other words, we must eat quality food all the time to become healthy and strong. In terms of eating seasonally, they have yet another saying that “reddish in winter and ginger in summer, keeps the doctor away” this shows that much priority is place on health, nutrition and harmony.

My story about Great Chengdu still continues unabated, when it comes to sightseeing, then you have no other place to discuss with friends apart from Chengdu. Why? Because where else can one see pandas in the world? The answer is Chengdu.

My Chengdu stories

Also, the most prominent artificial dam in China can be found in Chengdu. It is called the Dujiangyan irrigation system. This was a dam built by one prominent man and his son for irrigational purpose and later the army supported to extend or widen it and now it stands as the prominent dam in China.

My Chengdu stories

It is emphatically lucid that Chengdu is a unique city, nature has found itself in China and Chengdu has the biggest to offer to the world.

In addition, I think a visit to “huanglongsi” in summer would be the best for you to challenge your Chinese friends in water fighting and the amazing experiences at the sight. Have you being there before? This part of Chengdu has loving and caring people and would like to assist any foreigner who finds him or herself there. Classical examples can be seen from these pictures when UESTC International students visited there in 2015 summer.

In terms of industries, let’s say, Chengdu is still leading and is the heart of industries such as Hauwei, ZTE etc and one of the prominent electronic industries known as DEC Dong Fang Electric Company is also founded in Chengdu. This company has developed and had its tentacles wide spread throughout the whole world. From Asia, Europe to Africa.

I must say that I am always speechless when it comes to transportation system in Chengdu. Its aviation road networks and subway system and in the night Chengdu always take you to paradise. Let’s check out these;

In terms of education, health care, farming and what have you, the least said the better. As part of my success stories of Chengdu, there are numerous universities in Chengdu but I should say the University of Electronic Science and Technology of China (UESTC) which stands as one of the best electronic engineering universities in China and again a project 211 and 985 university is also found in Chengdu. As a dream university for Chinese students, I must say, I am glad to be an international student of UESTC which is also located in the heart of Chengdu.

I will forever remember Chengdu because of this university, and the opportunity for the first time in my life to leader International students UESTC coming from over 56 countries worldwide.

Permit me to say that Chengdu is a land of beauty, why because the following images say it all;

Chengdu is a land predominantly of agriculture and produces every kind of farm products from food kinds to all animals. Everything about Chengdu is unique.

Based on these few examples of the application of technology in the production of food in Chengdu, I will say it is a great and unique city in China that one can ever think of.

The people of Chengdu celebrate all the Chinese festivals in conformity with the farming seasons to the admiration of everyone and they include;

• Spring Festival which is noted as one of the biggest traditional festivals and also known as the Chinese New Year Festival always involves mass exodus of people from cities back home. They always embellish their homes on the eve of New Year as signs of luck couple with sacrifices, fireworks, firecrackers and family reunions,

• Tomb Sweeping Festival is yet another prominent festival carried out in commemoration of the departed souls to have eternally everlasting lives.

• Dragon Boat Festival which also falls on the fifth day of the fifth month of the Lunar calendar was and is still celebrated to remember the death of the Ancient Chinese Poet by name Qu Yuan who lived around (340BC to 278BC), and finally,

• Mid-autumn Festival which falls on the fifteenth day of the eighth month of the Lunar calendar is celebrated to have a glance of the full month.

If I mean to continue my story about Chengdu, it will take us the whole year. What I can only say is “No matter who you are, how experienced you are, and how knowledgeable you think you are, life is a learning process and always delay in judging others. Give others the privilege to explain themselves. What you see may not be the reality or false. Never conclude for others. That is why we should never only focus on the surface and judge others without understanding them first.

Those who like to pay the bill, do so not because they are loaded with money but because they value friendship.

Those who take the initiative at work, do so not because they are stupid but because they understand the concept of responsibility.

Those who are willing to help you, do so not because they owe you anything but because they see you as a true friend.

One day all of us will get separated from each other and from Chengdu, we will miss our conversations of everything and nothing else, the dreams that we had, days will pass by, months will pass by, years will pass by, until one day, our children will see our pictures and ask, who are these people? And we will smile with invisible tears because our heart is touched with a strong word and you will say “it was them that I had my best days of my life with in Chengdu.

Other people may have different stories about Chengdu but this is mine.

Chengdu, My Second Home, God Bless Chengdu, God Bless China!

The opinions expressed do not represent the views of the China Daily website.

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