Guide to Chengdu

Don’t go to Chengdu – that’s what the Chinese advise young people who might be corrupted by this modern, energetic city. But despite all of the hustle and bustle, Chengdu manages to be one of the most leisurely places in all of China. Most visitors end up joining the locals as they while away the day playing mahjong, sipping fragrant green tea, and cracking sunflower seeds.

Among other things, Chengdu is:

  • The capital of Sichuan province – the most populated province in China and Chengdu itself is home to more than ten million people
  • An economic, transportation, and communications hub of Western China which is growing at a furious pace. Out of 280 cities in China, Chengdu is consistently ranked among the top ten cities to invest in
  • Home to the Giant Panda and the capital of spicy Sichuan cuisine. This is where Kung Pao Chicken and all Pandas come from
  • Preceded by an incredible amount of history and culture which has spanned more than 3,000 years and countless dynasties
  • Located a mere eighty kilometers from 2008’s devastating Sichuan Earthquake, although thankfully Chengdu sustained no discernable damage

Fast Changing, Modern Life

The city is changing at a dizzying pace. Much of the old city has been razed to make room for modern high-rises. But there is still much to see here in terms of history and culture. Its temples and memorials display the importance Chengdu holds as the cosmopolitan capital of western China. The city is also a great center for Sichuan cooking, which many believe to be the best in China. The Sichuanese cuisine is famous for its spicy peppers and strong flavors and Chengdu does not disappoint. There are too many good restaurants to list and oftentimes the hole in the wall around the corner may serve the most authentic and tasty Sichuan dishes you’ll encounter.

Don’t let all that talk about teahouses and mahjong fool you. Certainly, most travel writers tend to romanticize this aspect of Sichuan life, but the teahouse myth is overblown. Coffee shops are now changing the city’s leisure-time atmosphere to nouveau. There is alot of new money in Chengdu and it much prefers the modern lifestyles of SUV’s, exciting nightlife and weekend escapes that discretionary spending power brings. Chengdu is an attractive and very modern city with an urban landscape that blends natural elements much better than the larger eastern centers. Its citizens are increasingly affluent and sophisticated and no longer under the shadow of Beijing or Shanghai, when it comes to variety or availability of lifestyle choices. In fact, as you’ll read below; Chengdu has an unmatched natural environment within a half hour drive of its 2nd Ring Road

Unparalleled Access to a Bustling Metropolis and Beautiful Scenery

Long known as the Gateway to Tibet, Chengdu sits essentially at the base of the foothills of the Himalayas, and where hiking ruggedly beautiful terrain is but a half an hour ride in any direction. While admittedly, not the most technical trails in the world, arguably, some of the most spectacularly scenic; like the Superstition Mountains in Arizona; the Canadian Rockies near Banff or the Canadian Shield in Northern Ontario. Measuring up to all of them, stands Emeishan in Sichuan Province, little more than an hour’s drive from Chengdu. From the vantage point on Emei, visitors can look across the horizon above the sea of clouds and view the snowy peaks of the Himalayas. And with the added bonus of a stay at a monastery perched on a sheer cliff edge at 3,077m, your hike of Emei Mountain, with its humbling terrain and breath-taking reach to the stars at the summit in the dead of night, may just be the highlight of your entire China experience.

All roads into Southwest China lead through Chengdu. As the gateway city to Tibet, the permits and supplies needed for your trip there are best handled. Journeys south to Yunnan or north to Xian pass through here as well. Lying in the middle of Sichuan Province, Chengdu is also a good base for excursions to the scenic spots dotting Sichuan.

To learn more about Chengdu check out some posts about Chengdu.