Chengdu

Chengdu, China

In Chengdu, history is everywhere. The ruins of the Kingdom of Shang, China's first government-run school, the humble cottage of one of China's most celebrated ancient poets, and, of course, various time-honored temples all provide interesting peeks into the city's past.

But Chengdu is no stranger to modernity. Taiguli on Chunxi Road looks her best for the chic-inclined. The eye-pleasing bulk of the New Century Global Center offers the whole gamut of activities for leisure-seekers and shoppers. Landing Art Center has evolved into an art and music avant-garde. The bars, cafés and eateries at Jiuyanqiao possess the right vibe for the after-work crowd and nightlife mavens after nightfall. Kuanxiangzi, Zhaixiangzi (wide alley and narrow alley) makes for the most rewarding cultural immersion – kick back in a bamboo chair and watch the local life go by in a teahouse, chomp on mouth-numbing Sichuan cuisine or watch an exotic Sichuan stage show with tea sipping and seed cracking.

Getting around

• Dujiangyan

  This ingeniously conceived irrigation project is still alive and kicking after having weathered the elements for 2200 years. It's a fascinating example of how ancient Chinese engineers leveraged the terrain to “dam up” a river without actually building a physical dam.

• Qingshengshan

  This thickly forested woodland became the center of Taoism in the dynastic era when a Taoist master settled down here for his monastic, secluded life. Time-honored Taoist buildings still stand today, following the lay of the land, which fully reflects the Taoist philosophy on nature.

• Du Fu's Cottage

  The former home of one of Tang dynasty's most celebrated poets has been preserved to this day and age and turned into a museum. It is here that Du Fu dwelled for 4 years to escape from social turmoil and wrote some of the most read and cited poems.

• Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding

  Over 100 giant pandas are living a debauched life here in this breeding ground made to approximate their habitats in the wild to the largest extent possible. But pandas won’t feel lonely - many other rare wild animals also live and multiply here, including lesser panda, black-necked crane and white crane.

• Jinsha Ruins

  Over 6000 relics, including bronze, jade and lacquer items, have been unearthed from the ruins dating back almost 4000 years ago. The Sun Gold, a hollowed out ornamental gold disc, is today depicted in the China Cultural Heritage logo.

  
  
  
• Kuanxiangzi, Zhaixiangzi

  Over 1,000 Qing soldiers stayed in Chengdu and built permanent barracks in the city after coming back from their mission to rout the invaders into Tibet. Now, the barracks boil down to only two alleys known to the locals as Kuangxiangzi and Zhaixiangzi, or Wide Alley and Narrow Alley. Cruise through these two alleys flanked by mock-ancient courtyard homes, which have been turned into pedestrian streets. Get the lowdown on how the locals are living their signature laidback life.