Chengdu Living

I love Chengdu, but I gotta go. I took a job as copy editor in the antithesis of the ‘Du: glitzy, glamorous Shanghai. Here’s what I think about these two cities after spending 10 years in Sichuan.

It’s easy to get stuck ordering and eating the same dishes over and over again, but it’s important that you not let that happen. Here’s how you can prevent yourself from falling into the trap that we spring on ourselves.

Tired of hearing pop music in Chengdu bars and nightclubs?

This Friday at Panda Club the 8th monthly DISCO DEATH features Chengdu’s best DJ talent playing dubstep, drum & bass, and who knows what else. Read more in the post to find out how to get in for free.

Perhaps you’ve already noticed, but we at Chengdu Living are big fans of Freedur VPN. So we’re happy to announce that we have ten free annual subscriptions (valued at the newly discounted price of $60) that we’re giving away to readers! Read on to find out how to win.

Bikes are all the rage in green suburbs like San Sheng Xiang and Dujiangyan. And now you can rent one for 10RMB. The rent-a-bike system comes from cities like Paris and Lyons and Forever Corp. has done a good job of implementing the scheme here in Chengdu.

You might have heard of the Gao Kao before. It’s the rigorous week-long exam that Chinese high school students take before embarking on the first steps of adulthood. I find out what it’s like by talking with a recent high school graduate.

The term in-laws is loaded with meaning. The classic depiction is of a crazy father and a domineering mother, but in my situation, I find neither is really true. All families are nuts in their own way and here is a glimpse into ours.

We sat down recently and recorded the second Chengdu Living Podcast on the following topics: nationality, Zebra Music Festival, and a two-part topic: buying bicycles and bicycle thievery in China. Listen on the site or subscribe in iTunes.

Chongqing and Chengdu are “sister cities,” but they are as dissimilar as apples and beefsteak. They have different histories, different personalities and wildly different trajectories and through it all they manage to come together over a steaming vat of hot pot.

Freedur, our favorite VPN service, has recently raised its prices. Fortunately we have a coupon code which will get you 50% off. Read more inside.