Chengdu China, spice up your travel adventures!

People in general, I think, associate the Panda with China. You certainly see the Panda Bear used in advertising for various things all over China.
But if you want to see the real Panda up close and in person, then Chengdu is where you come to visit.
Most of my time in China has been spent in Chengdu. And I’m ok with that, it’s my favorite city in China and one of my favorites in the world.
And because of that time spent there, I’ve visited the Chengdu Panda Breeding Research Center multiple times.

visit Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding

Who can resist these perceived gentle giants?
The research center is more reminiscent of a zoo with only Pandas. I have not verified but can only assume that they are indeed performing research to better understand and protect these animals.
If you are in Chengdu, you must put this as a top priority to visit. Not only are the Pandas awesome to see, the park…ehh zoo is peaceful to walk around in and enjoy.

While I love food, I find it hard to put as a top reason to visit a location. I don’t find it that hard when it comes to Chengdu.
And the reason I regard it so highly is because of the flavor native to the Sichuan province where Chengdu is located.
I’m talking specifically about Hot Pot!

Hot Pot, which has become one of my favorite dining experiences, consists of a specialty table with a heating element where a large caldron of broth is placed.
This broth typically, consisting of a beef, mushroom or vegetable base, is loaded with hot red chilis and Sichuan peppercorns amongst other spices and ingredients.
Yes, you can get tame version of this dish…but what’s the fun in that?
You then get to select the meats, mushrooms, vegetables, noodles and various other things to cook in the broth at your table. Think Fondue.
The spice, the heat, the flavor are addicting and give your mouth an almost numbing sensation. I love it!
If you are unsure about actually trying Hot Pot, just walk the neighborhoods where the multitude of Hot Pot restaurants are. The smell out on the street is intoxicating and will draw you in.

While this isn’t necessarily a place that you might think to visit, I suggest that you do, it is not something that you can easily ignore. Especially if you are anywhere near or on the G5 Ring around the south side of the city.
I’m referring to the New Century Global Center, the world’s largest building (in floor area).
This multipurpose building is huge, measuring in at just over 18 million square feet.
Inside there is a shopping center as well as a hotel with a water park.
I did stay at the hotel on one of my trips just to see what the fuss was about. It is far from my worst experience in a hotel. But it also isn’t on my recommendation list unless you want the experience of staying there.
My biggest complaint was just the sheer distance from the main entrance to the rooms. If I haven’t been clear, this place is huge!

Chengdu has a very low crime rate.
And in all of my travels there I can honestly say that for it’s size (roughly 21 million at the time of writing this) I always felt safe walking the city freely.
Maybe it’s the cuddly Pandas, or the delicious food. But the people all seem happy and maybe that low stress environment keeps it safe.

Kuan Alley and Zhai Alley, not far from the city center provide a feel of what the old city might have been like during the Qing Dynasty.
You’ll find vendors selling Tea, Trinkets and Street Food throughout as well as modern comforts like Starbucks.

There are also peaceful park areas within that provide a place for families to relax and let their kids play.
Chengdu Wu Hou Shrine has a very similar feel to it and is also located near the city center.
Both locations are busy during the weekends, or at least that was my experience. But that didn’t make it any less fun.
Spending time in these places will absolutely make you feel like you have been pulled away from the hustle and bustle of the city to a simpler time.
If you are a westerner, be prepared to be the subject of many photo ops. Participate with the locals, trust me it is part of the fun!

As I mentioned earlier this is one my favorite cities, so far, in the world.
Great food, great people and great things to do and see.
My favorite place to stay when in Chengdu is the Renaissance Hotel. This luxury hotel is priced fairly, clean, comfortable and in a great location.

Renaissance Hotel Chengdu

Nearby you will find many Hot Pot options as well as western restaurants such as the Tiezhu American Style Barbecue if you need a taste of home.
The train station is a short taxi ride away, as is the city center. It is also less than 20 minutes from Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport.
Chengdu also offers itself as a hub to other places nearby that are worth a visit.
The Wangcong Shrine, Pearl Tower, Giant Buddha of Leshan, and Emei Mountain Golden Buddha are some of those examples.
I will return to Chengdu one day soon, along with Lauren for her first time there.

Have you spent time in Chengdu? We want to hear about your travels in Chengdu and some of your favorite things about it. Leave a comment or send us an e-mail.

Do you want to know more about China? Check out my blog about traveling throughout China here.