Chengdu

travel time: October 2024

Chengdu City

In Chengdu, we had plenty of time to explore the city and its surroundings, which was a treat as Chengdu has so much to offer. We began our city tour with the Wenshu Monastery, the largest and best-preserved Buddhist temple in Chengdu. The temple complex was bustling with people - tourists eager to explore the winding architecture and locals coming to pray and burn incense. The garden surrounding the temple provided a peaceful escape, offering a calm and relaxing atmosphere among the activity.

Our next stop was the People’s Park, a lively place where you can engage in all kinds of activities. From boating on the lake and dancing with locals to admiring the bonsai garden and browsing the handwritten dating advertisements at the blind dating corner, there’s something for everyone. We visited on a Sunday late afternoon, and while it was crowded, the vibe was relaxed and joyful.

In the evening, we had tickets to the famous Face-Changing Opera show, which we were eagerly anticipating. After enjoying a hot (incredible hot 🌶️🌶️ !!!) pot dinner, we were ready to be enchanted. We opted for VIP tickets, as they were nearly the same price as standard tickets, and we wanted to be as close as possible to the action. Upon arrival, we were served tea, and then the show began. The performances were fascinating, funny, and heartwarming, but the highlight was the incredible mask-changing act. The variety of performances was impressive, and although some involved dialogue in Chinese, the expressive gestures and captivating performances made it easy to follow, even with the language barrier.

Leshan Grand Buddha

The next day, we took a trip to Leshan to see the Grand Buddha. Carved directly from a cliff, the Buddha overlooks the confluence of three busy rivers, standing an impressive 71 meters tall. We were initially unsure how best to view the Buddha - visitors can either enter the park and admire the statue from above, then hike down a staircase to see its full height from his feet, or take a boat ride for a panoramic view from the river. Wanting to capture the Buddha in his entirety, we chose the boat option.

We boarded at the Jiazhoudu Wharf, located at the park entrance, where there’s a tourist center selling both park entry and boat tickets. The boat schedule, however, is a bit flexible - departing only when full. As the first passengers on board, we waited about 20 minutes before setting off. The view from the river is spectacular, especially seeing the tiny figures standing by the Buddha's feet, giving a true sense of its enormous scale. The boat paused for around 10 minutes directly in front of the Buddha, so you’ll want to snap photos and videos quickly! The entire ride took about an hour, after which we strolled into Leshan to grab something to eat and drink.

Leshan is easy to reach by train from Chengdu, with plenty of connections. We even bought our tickets just a day in advance. From the Leshan train station, we called a DiDi to the dock - a quick and affordable option.

Back in Chengdu, we visited Jinli Old Street. Once known as an authentic Chinese experience, it’s now more of a lively tourist spot with countless souvenir shops, food stalls, and drink stands. While not entirely authentic, it’s a great place to explore, shop, and enjoy the atmosphere.

Giant Pandas

Everywhere in Chengdu, you can see what the city is famous for and what has become its mascot - the Giant Panda. Naturally, we wanted to visit a panda reserve to catch a glimpse of these adorable creatures. We chose to visit the Research Base of Giant Pandas, which is easily reached by metro and bus, as perfectly described on their website.

In the morning, when we arrived at the West Entrance of the base, there weren't too many tourists, and we had a great experience watching the pandas. As Giant Pandas are solitary animals, nearly all of them stay in separate enclosures. They have plenty of trees and food options, so it's not always easy to spot them. But since there are many Giant Pandas in the research base, chances are high that you'll see quite a few.

The further we went into the park, the more crowded it became. In front of the baby pandas, there was a huge crowd wanting to catch a glimpse of these cute, tiny, and clumsy pandas. We walked all the way through the park and exited at the South Gate, which took us about four hours - including the many, many stops to take pictures and videos of the pandas.

Overall, it was a fantastic experience, and we loved seeing the Giant Pandas.

In the evening, we had a private cooking class booked with Chilli Cool . Our guide, Lance, met us at a metro station conveniently close to our hotel. From there, we walked a few minutes to a local market. At the market, Lance introduced us to a variety of vegetables, spices, and other ingredients, answering all our questions along the way. The market visit was a fantastic experience - we learned a lot and even picked up some spices to bring home. We also bought fresh ingredients we’d need for our cooking later on.

When we arrived at their kitchen, we were welcomed with tea and sweets before diving into the cooking process. In the kitchen, we met the chef, a wonderful Chinese woman. Since she didn’t speak English, Lance translated as she explained each step to us. We cooked alongside her, carefully following her techniques. After each dish, we got to taste our work. Once all five dishes were finished, we set the table and enjoyed the delicious flavors together with our guide.

The cooking class was an incredible experience, especially since we love recreating dishes from around the world at home. We learned some great wok skills and received all the recipes for the dishes we prepared. If you’re ever in Chengdu, we highly recommend a cooking class with Chilli Cool. Thanks to our guide Lance, it was truly an unforgettable experience.