Wang Yuanyuan cheekywang@hotmail.com LOCATED in Southwest China, Chengdu is the capital of Sichuan Province and one of the most important economic, transportation, and communication centers in West China. Known as the “Country of Heaven,” the area is famous for its beautiful scenery, long history, tasty delicacies, relaxed lifestyle and beautiful girls. The archaeological excavations in Sanxingdui-Jinsha Ruins show that Chengdu has been an important hub for at least 4,000 years. As a central city for at least 2,000 years, it later became the capital of the State of Shu (221-263) during the Three Kingdoms Period (220-280). Chengdu is also a major tourist destination. Moreover, other major tourist destinations in Yunnan Province, Shaanxi Province, Qinghai Province and Tibet are all within a short travel distance of Chengdu. Sichuan Province is a great place to travel through and travelers in Chengdu can take coaches, rent cars or hire travel agencies with which to do so. Places to relax Chengdu is known as a “city of leisure” in China. Teahouses can be found at nearly every corner of the city. Locals gather at teahouses to chat, play cards, do business and enjoy the local Molly tea. Due to the fast development of the city, the city has few remaining traditional Chinese teahouses with stone tables and bamboo chairs. If you want to experience old Chengdu, you can go to the People’s Park and Wangjiang Park where old men play cards, feed pigeons and drink tea in the ancient teahouses. Kuanzhai Alley is another must-go place in Chengdu. The site was rebuilt on the ancient residential houses in downtown Chengdu and is now a big leisure area featuring restaurants, cafés, pubs, night clubs and shops. Chunxi Road is a shopping area with “the largest number of beautiful girls” in China. The area also boasts many famous restaurants and snack shops. City of history Of the city’s many iconic historic sites, the most famous one in downtown Chengdu is Wuhou Shrine (Temple of Marquis Wu). The temple boasts the greatest number of Three Kingdoms relics in China. It was built around the year 300 in honor of Zhuge Liang, the military and political strategist who was the prime minister of the State of Shu. The Hui Mausoleum of Liu Bei, king of Shu, represents a unique pattern of enshrining both the king and his subjects in the same temple, a rarity in China. Situated in the northeast of the State-protected Sanxingdui Site, the Sanxingdui Museum is 40 kilometers north of downtown Chengdu. The main collection highlights the ancient city of Chengdu, ancient Shu site and ancient Shu culture, while displaying thousands of valuable relics including earthenware, jade ware, bone objects, gold ware and bronzes. The Sanxing culture, which could be traced back to about 4,000 years ago, impresses with its unique art. Chengdu is also a religious center and Wenshu Monastery is the best preserved Buddhist temple in the city. Initially built during the Tang Dynasty (618-907), it has a history that dates back 1,300 years. Parts of Xuan Zang’s skull are held in consecration there. There are also many traditional snacks and restaurants in the area. Delicacies Sichuan cuisine is one of the most popular Chinese cuisines in the world. Unlike Cantonese food with its light taste, Sichuan cuisine is famously spicy. The city boasts one of the most diverse array of snacks in the country. Popular snacks include minced noodles, spicy dumplings, wonton with chicken soup, Chinese jelly made with rice, green bean and millet, egg cake, glutinous rice cake and salted vegetables wrapped in bamboo leaves, pork bun, and all kinds of spicy noodles. The famous must-try dishes also include “boiled” pork, spicy tofu, hotpot, spicy rabbit meat, Sichuan-style roast duck, fried pork with peppers, cold spicy cow’s lung, and meat with pickles. There are also various types of fresh vegetables and fruits in Chengdu due to its fertile soil. Transport: Fly to Chengdu from Shenzhen airport. The flight takes around two and a half hours. | 