Chengdu Living

Everyone in Sichuan knows Li Bo Qing. Not only for his command of local colloquialisms and the wisdom he imparts, but also for his insights into Chengdu culture.

Sichuan Cuisine has a hold on me. There was a time when I wasn’t sure why I wanted to eat Beef slices and bamboo shoots in a spicy, peppercorn broth. But those times are over. I know now that it’s all about the love.

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.

Chengdu is renowned for its hot pot, but the majority of Chengdu’s hot pot establishments are actually Chongqing imports. The “real deal” Chengdu hot pot was almost eliminated from the streets of the city in the late 1990s, but a few spots remain that still represent the old school Chengdu-style.

Hot Pot is but another Sichuanese institution – like teahouses and foggy skies – without which the locals would slowly wither and die. In fact, the overcast Sichuan sky and the damp conditions of the Sichuan basin make hot pot a necessity.

This particular restaurant offers 150 different dishes: let’s translate them all. This first post translates all 38 of the stir fried dishes on the menu.

When you’ve been living in China for a few years, you take things for granted. Like the innumerable bizarre items that you pass in the supermarket between the things you can actually identify.

Legend has it that Marco Polo brought the recipe back from China in the 12th century and made them famous in the West as ravioli — little flour pouches with tasty fillings, boiled and served. We reveal our favorite places to get dumplings in Chengdu.

Discover the tastiest noodles in Chengdu in this guide to the best that the city has to offer.

From Master Huang’s “Superior Sliced” noodles to Granny Jin’s “Palm-style”, these are some of my favorites that I’ve been going to in Chengdu for years. Best of all, you won’t find them listed anywhere else.