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Chengdu, located in southwest People's Republic of China, is the capital of Sichuan province and a sub-provincial city. Chengdu is also one of the most important economic centers and transportation and communication hubs in China.
More than four thousand years ago, the prehistorical Bronze Age culture of Jinsha established itself in this region. The fertile Chengdu Plain, on which Chengdu is located, is called Tianfuzhi guo in Chinese, which literally means "the country of heaven", or more often seen translated as "the Land of Abundance". It was recently named China's 4th-most livable city by China Daily.
History
Jinjiang River and Anshun Bridge
In the early 4th century BC, the 9th Kaiming king of the ancient Shu moved his capital to the city's current location from today's nearby Pixian. He was said to have been inspired by the ancient story of King Tai of Zhou, Grandfather of King Wu of Zhou, moving his capital. History recorded King Tai of Zhou's move as "it took a year to become a town; it took three years to become a capital". Following this, king of Shu named the new city as "Cheng Du", which means "become a capital" (In Chinese, the word "cheng" means "become", "du" means "capital"). There are, however, several versions of why the capital was moved to Chengdu, and more recent theories of the name's origin point to it as stemming from, or referring to, earlier non-Han inhabitants and/or their languages.
After the conquest of Shu by the State of Qin in 316 BC, a new city was founded by the Qin general Zhang Yi (who as a matter of fact had argued against the invasion). This can be seen as the beginning of the Chinese Chengdu. It was renamed Yìzhou during the Han Dynasty.
During the partition following the fall of the Eastern Han Dynasty, i.e. the era of the Three Kingdoms, Liu Bei founded the southwest kingdom of Shu-Han with Chengdu as its capital.
During the Tang Dynasty, both the "Poet God" Li Bó and the "Poet Sage" Dù Fu spent some part of their lives in Chengdu. Du Fu constructed the celebrated "Caotáng" (?? or grass-hut) in the second year of his four-years stay (759-762). But today's Caotang, a rather sumptuous house in the traditional style, was only constructed in 1078 in memory of Du Fu.
Chengdu was also the birthplace of the first widely used paper money in the world (Northern Song Dynasty, around A.D. 960).
Two rebel leaders, one around the end of Song Dynasty, the other near the end of Ming Dynasty, set up the capitals of their short-lived kingdoms here, called Dàshu and Dàxi, respectively.
Jinli Street
The Second World War brought an unexpected wave of prosperity to Chengdu as the Guomindang (Chinese Nationalist) government under Chiang Kai-shek fled to Sichuan Province to escape the invading Japanese forces. They brought with them businesspeople, workers and academics, who founded many of the industries and cultural institutions which continue to make Chengdu an important center.
In 1944 the American XX Bomber Command launched Operation Matterhorn, an ambitious plan to base B-29 Superfortresses at Chengdu and strategically bomb the Japanese Home Islands. Because it required a massive airlift of fuel and supplies over the Himalayas, it was not a great military success, but it did earn Chengdu the distinction of launching the first serious retaliation against the Japanese homeland.
Chengdu was the last city on the Chinese mainland to be held by the Kuomintang-controlled government. R.O.C. President Chiang Kai-shek and his son Chiang Ching-kuo directed the defence of the city at Chengdu Central Military Academy until 1949, when the city fell into Communist hands. The People's Liberation Army took the city on December 10 and the remnants of the Nationalist Chinese government fled to Taiwan.
Today the industrial base is very broad, including light and heavy manufacturing, aluminum smelting and chemicals. The textile industry remains important, with cotton and wool milling added to the traditional manufacturing of silk brocade and satin.
Today it is the headquarters of the Chengdu Military Region.
Geography and climate
The Dujiangyan Irrigation System located near Chengdu is one of the World Cultural Heritage Sites together with Mount Qingcheng
Chengdu is situated at the western edge of the Sichuan Basin. It is therefore sheltered from northwest winds from Siberia in winter by the Qing Ling Mountains to the north. The climate is mild and humid. The short winter is milder than in the Lower Yangtze because of the sheltering effect of the Qing Ling. Snow is rare but there are a few periods of frost each winter. The summer is longer, but not as hot as in cities such as Wuhan and Nanjing in the Lower Yangtse downstream. Average daytime highs are 49F (10C) in January and 85 F (30 C) in July. Rainfall is reliable year round but peaks in the summer months.
Chengdu has one of the lowest sunshine totals in China (less sunshine annually than London), and most days are cloudy even if without rain. This is especially so in the winter months, when it is typically interminably grey and dreary. Spring (Mar-Apr) tends to be sunnier, warmer and drier than autumn (Oct-Nov).
Administrative divisions
Chunxi Road
1. Qingyang District
2. Jinjiang District
3. Jinniu District 
4. Wuhou District
5. Chenghua District
6. Longquanyi District
7. Qingbaijiang District
8. Xindu District
9. Wenjiang District
10. Dujiangyan City
11. Pengzhou City
12. Qionglai City
13. Chongzhou City
14. Jintang County
15. Shuangliu County
16. Pi County
17. Dayi County
18. Pujiang County
19. Xinjin County
Notable people
* Sima Xiangru, a great writer of the Western Han Dynasty.
* Zhuo Wenjun, wife of the famous writer Sima Xiangru.
* Yang Xiong, a great writer and philosopher during the Western Han Dynasty.
* Chang Qu, the famous historian of the Western Jin Dynasty; his work 'Hua Yang Guo Zhi' is the first Chinese historical geography work.
* Xue Tao, a noted female poet of the Tang Dynasty.
* Ba Jin, a great writer, who was born in Chengdu and died in Shanghai in 2005.
* Wang Guangxi, a noted musician, the first Chinese awarded a doctoral degree in music.
* Zhou Taixuan, a noted biologist.
* Li Jieren, the famous writer, was born in Chengdu in 1891.
* Kong Xiangming, the famous female player of Go.
* Zheng Jie and Yan Zi have been making quite an impact on the Women's Tennis Tour. Although both are successful in singles (Zheng Jie with two titles and Yan Zi with one), they are better known for their doubles grand slam wins in the 2006 Australian Open and in the 2006 Wimbledon.
* Jung Chang, writer and historian, born in Yibin in 1952, and raised in Chengdu.
Previous names
Chengdu is famous for its teahouses
Traffic in Chengdu
* The Brocade City
In the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC-23 AD), brocade produced in Chengdu enjoyed great popularity among the royal and elite class in China. Emperor installed Jin Guan (an official in charge of brocade production) to oversee brocade production in Chengdu. Since then, Chengdu has been called "Jin Guan Cheng" (Brocade Official's City), or in its short form, "Jin Cheng" (Brocade city).
* The City of Hibiscus
In the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period (907-960), Mengchang, the king of the Later Shu Kingdom, ordered the planting of hibiscus on the fortress wall surrounding the city. After this, Chengdu started being referred as the City of Hibiscus. Nowadays, the hibiscus is still the city flower of Chengdu. But the last city wall was torn down in the 1960s along with the Royal Palace situated in the middle of the city.
The aforementioned "previous names" are not formal names, however, but are more accurately thought of as nicknames. The name "Chengdu" has never changed during thousands years since the city was founded, and the city has always been in the same location.
Culture and folklore
People from Chengdu (or Sichuan, in general) tend to eat spicy. Many local specialties include Grandma Chen's Bean Curd (Mapo doufu), Chengdu Hot pot, and Carrying Pole Noodles (Dan Dan Noodles).
An article by the Los Angeles Times (2006) called Chengdu "China's party city".[2] Chengdu outnumbers Shanghai in the number of tea houses and bars despite having less than half the population. The inhabitants have a reputation both within Sichuan and in China at large for having a laid back attitude and for knowing how to enjoy life.
Economy
Chengdu is home to several key industries and markets in the people's Republic of China that are both significant for domestic and international markets. First, Sichuan Province and the Chengdu region have long been the capital of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). This combined with recent intrigue into pharmaceuticals has launched Chengdu into one of the major pharmaceutical R&D centers in the People's Republic of China, as well as the leading R&D region in Western China.
Electronic and IT industry
Chengdu has long been established as a national base for electronic and IT industry. Several key national electronic R&D institutes are located in Chengdu. Chengdu's Hi-tech Industrial Development Zone has attracted a variety of multinationals, including Intel, IBM, NOKIA, Alcatel, Motorola, SAP, and Microsoft, as well as domestic powerhouses such as Lenovo. Intel's Chengdu factory is its second one after its Shanghai factory in China and the first such large-scale foreign investment in electronic industry in interior mainland China.
Over the past few years, Chengdu's economy has flourished rapidly.
Financial industry
Sichuanese opera in Chengdu
Chengdu is now building itself to be the financial hub for Western People's Republic of China and has successfully attracted major international financial institutions, including Citigroup, HSBC, Standard Chartered Bank, United Overseas Bank (Singapore). Oversea-Chinese Banking Corporation (Singapore), ABN AMRO, Bank of East Asia, BNP Paribas, etc.
Historically, Chengdu has marked its name in the history of financial innovation. The world’s first ever paper currency 'Jiao Zi' was seen in Chengdu in the year 1023, during the Song Dynasty of Ancient China.
Now, Chengdu is not only the gateway of Western People's Republic of China for foreign financial institutions, but also a booming town for Chinese domestic financial firms. The Chinese monetary authority, People's Bank of China (China’s central bank), set its southwest China headquarters in Chengdu City. In addition, almost all domestic banks and securities brokerage firms located their regional headquarters or branches in Chengdu. At the same time, the local financial firms of Chengdu are strengthening their presences nationally, notably, West China Securities, GuoJin Securities and Chengdu Commercial Bank. Moreover, on top of banks and brokerage firms, the flourish of local economy lured more and more financial service firms to the city to capitalize on the economic growth. KPMG opened this first west China office in Chengdu City this October, and before the inauguration of KPMG Chengdu office, its rival, Ernst & Young, had already integrated Chengdu into its global operation for several years.
Defense industry
Located within the city limits is the Chengdu Aircraft Company which produces the recently declassified J-10 Fighter. The company is one of the major manufacturers of Chinese Military aviation technology.
Temple in Chengdu
Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport is the sixth largest airport in mainland China, after Beijing Capital, Shanghai Pudong, Shanghai Hongqiao, Guangzhou Baiyun and Shenzhen Bao'an. In 2006, the passenger volume in Chengdu Shuangliu reached 16.28 million, one of the world's 100 busiest airports by passenger traffic.
Currently, there are direct international flights connecting, Chengdu to Singapore (Silk Air and Air China), Chengdu to Bangkok (Thai Airways International), Chengdu to Tokyo (Air China), Chengdu to Seoul (Asiana Airlines and Air China), Chengdu to Phnom Penh (Angkor Airways), Chengdu to Amsterdam (KLM: Royal Dutch Airlines). The Chengdu to Kuala Lumpur route with Malaysia Airlines was canceled on 29 Nov 2006. Chengdu to Manila (Philippine Airlines) is set to begin on March 18, 2008.
There are also intraregional flights connecting Chengdu to Hong Kong (Dragonair, Hong Kong Express and Air China) and Macau (Air Macau).
Colleges and universities
* Sichuan University (Founded in 1896)
* Sichuan Normal University(Founded in 1946)
* Southwest Jiaotong University (Founded in 1896)
* University of Electronic Science and Technology of China (Founded in 1956)
* Southwestern University of Finance and Economics
* Southwest University for Nationalities
* Sichuan International Studies University
* Chengdu University of Technology
* Chengdu University of TCM
* Sichuan Conservatory of Music
* Chengdu University of Information Technology
* Chengdu Kinesiology University
* Xihua University
* Chengdu University
* Chengdu Medical College
* Chengdu College of UESTC
Note: Institutions without full-time bachelor programs are not listed.
High schools
The Wang Jiang Lou
* Shishi Middle School
* Chengdu Shude High School
* Chengdu No. Seven High School
* Chengdu Liewu High School
* Shuangliu TangHu Middle School
* Chengdu No. Twelve High School(The High School Attached to Sichuan University)
* Chengdu Foreign languages School
* Chengdu Experimental Foreign languages School
* Chengdu International School
* PengZhou middle School
* Chengdu No. Eighteen High School
* Shuangliu High School
Consulates
In 1986, the United States Consulate General at Chengdu was established. It is the first consulate established in west-central China since 1949. Currently seven countries have established consulates in Chengdu. The United Kingdom also established a visa application center in Chengdu. A Pakistani consulate will be opened soon.
Chengdu is located in the fertile plains of China's Sichuan province. Due to its agricultural wealth Chengdu is sometimes called "Land of Milk and Honey". The Fulan river bisects the city although boat traffic, common until the 1960's, has all but disappeared. The greater city area is divided into five districts and 12 counties, altogether home to 9.2 million people.
Get in
By plane
The airport is located 20km outside of Chengdu. Chengdu airport is one of the main air hubs in China, ranked 5th in passenger volume. It has flights to most major cities in China and some international destinations including Amsterdam, Hong Kong, Bangkok, Phnom Penh, Singapore and Osaka. It serves flights to smaller cities within Sichuan Province, including the popular tourist destination Jiuzhaigou.
Taxi fare from the airport to the city center averages ¥45. There is no extra charge for luggage or additional passengers. Going from the city to the airport, add an additional ¥10 to cover the toll on the Airport Expressway. There is also bus no. 303, which will take you to the China Airlines office on Renmin Nanlu (2. Section) next to the entrance of the MinShan-Hotel (there is no bus stop! just look for a bunch of taxis/pedicabs, since they are also waiting for the bus :). You are right in the center of the city and it costs ¥10 per person. The last bus leaves the airport around 1 am.
If you intend to take a taxi, be sure to turn LEFT when you exit the domestic arrival area toward the taxi stand and get in a marked, green-and-yellow or blue-and-yellow taxi. Turning right may lead you towards no-goods who are waiting to prey on foreign tourists with unmarked vehicles. Beware as these people sometimes sport official-looking ID, but is in reality fake. The fare offered will often exceed ¥100, and if you bargain with them, you may find yourself sitting in the cab for a while until agreeing to raise the price back up.
By train
The Chengdu railway station is located in the north of the city, a ¥15 taxi ride from the city center. Caution is advised in the neighborhood around the train station after dark.
By bus
For bus stations, there are three bus stations in Chengdu, and they serve different destinations:
* Chadianzi bus station, for Songpan and Jiuzhaigou Nature Reserve.
* Xinnanmen bus station, near the Traffic hotel, has daily buses heading to Leshan, Jiuzhaigou Nature Reserve, and Mount Emei and to Kangding in Ganzi Prefecture.
* Wuguiqiao bus station, for Chongqing
Get around
* Chengdu has an extensive system of city buses plying the streets. At each bus stop, there is a list of the bus lines coming through on this road, and on some city maps the whole network is displayed. Tickets are ¥1 for common and ¥2 for air-conditioned buses respectively. After 10pm, tickets are ¥2 for common and ¥3 for air-conditioned buses respectively.
* Taxis are equipped with meters, which should be used. A free taxi will display an illuminated sign with Chinese characters in its dashboard. Taxi fares at ¥5 on flagfall and increase at ¥1.4 per km. At night, the fares at ¥7 on flagfall and increase at ¥1.6 per km.The meter records fares in increments of ¥1. Try to have small change on hand for taxi rides.
* There are bicycle-propelled pedicabs called san lun che who will take you short distances. Fix a price (¥4-10) in advance.In city,san lun che are forbidden to pass in some streets.
* Most guesthouses have bicycles for hire. Check for technical problems before starting out unless you want to be held responsible for it later. If you leave your bicycle, do so in one of the designated "parking lots", where it will be guarded over for a small fee. If you can't find such a place, be sure to lock it securely against some structure.
* A subway system is under contstruction. The first line is slated to open in June of 2008. It will start at Tian Fu Square and extend southward down Ren Min Nan road.
See
Chengdu's Panda Base, located just outside the city, is a favorite of visitors
* Panda Research Base is the biggest facility of this kind in the world. Due to habitat destruction and other reasons, the Giant Panda is maybe the most famous endangered animal. The Research Base is home to some 60 giant Pandas, but also has some Red Pandas and a colony of black-necked cranes. The Research Center affords views of the pandas from much closer than is possible at many Western zoos. Be sure to bring your camera. The Research Base also has a small museum and a cinema screening related documentaries. A restaurant and souvenir-stalls top off the tourist installations. Admission fee is ¥30. The best time to visit is in the morning, when pandas are most active. It is possible to take your picture while holding a Red Panda for a fee of ¥50; occasionally during the morning you can take a pictures alongside a giant panda for a fee of ¥1100 per person. Knowledgable English-speaking tour guides can be hired at the office by the Base entrance. The cost for a guide for a small group is ¥100. There are several ways to get there:
o By Taxi (recommended) the cost is about ¥35 from downtown Chengdu.
o By Bus (if you are on an ultra-low budget) Catch a northbound bus Nr.1 (¥1) and stay with it until the local bus-terminal. Leave the local bus-terminal through the exit leading to the long distance-terminal (LDT), but do not enter the latter. Instead, wait for the suburbian public bus Nr.532 or 107 to come by and stop at the left corner of the LDT. For another ¥1 it will take you to the Panda research center within 20 min. Get off when you see a big white Panda-Statue in the middle of the street.
* Tian Fu Square This square, overlooked by an enormous Chairman Mao statue in the center of the city, has been spruced up. Every evening at dusk, as well as at noontime, an elaborate water show, synchronized to music, bursts out from the square's fountains. Below the square will be shopping and the future hub of Chengdu's subway system.
* Sichuan Science and Technology Museum Located directly behind the Chiarman Mao statue in the city center's Tian Fu Square, this huge 4 storey museum is filled with interactive exhibits about science, aerodynamics, space, mathematics, robotics and physics. Children will love the interactive displays and indoor playground on the 4th floor. Adults will appreciate the descriptions in both English and Chinese. Everyone will love the crowd-pleasers like the robotic orchestra and walk-through maps of Sichuan's waterways. Admission is ¥35 per adult, free for children. To get there, take a taxi or bus to Tian Fu Square and walk to the large building directly behind the Chairman Mao statue. Note: During weekdays this museum can be overrun by local school groups.
* Chengdu Zoo The Zoo, located in the north of the city near the Panda Research Base, offers all the typical animals that one might expect in a zoo (elephant, tigers, giraffes, monkeys, as well as panda bears). While the zoo itself is large and spread out, some of the cages are woefully small and the facility seems understaffed. Might be good for a family to visit. Admission is ¥12 per adult. The zoo has vendors selling Chinese snacks as well as some carnival type rides.
* Sichuan University Museum has an excellent display of local artifacts and is worth while way of spending an hour or two. The museum is one of the better in China and there are four floors of well lite, air conditioned displays with decent English translations. Starting in the basement, enter the first room where dozens of stone carvings dating from the Han dynasty to the Tang are on display. The room next door has a moderately interesting display on the museum's history and numerous examples of ancient bronzes and stone age artifacts. The first floor is mostly artifacts from the Ming and Qing dynasty, including furniture, silk clothing, and an interesting display of leather puppets. The second floor has the perhaps the most engaging display: artifacts and daily use items from ethnic minority groups in China's southwest, including Tibetans, Miao, Yi, Qiang, Jianpo and Naxi. The third floor has a decent display of calligraphy scrolls, paintings, and ceramics. The museum is located on Wangjiang Road, about a 15 minute ride from Xinnanmen bus station or a 40 minute walk. Admission is ¥30 (students ¥10) and the museum is open from 9:00-5:00 seven days a week. It's telephone number is (028）85412313.
* Sichuan Opera Most guesthouses and travel agencies offer to arrange visits to these traditional shows. It's more like a burlesque cabaret than an actual opera, sometimes including magicians, musicians and dancers besides the traditional pieces. Of course the most famous is never omitted: face-changing and firespitting performed by dancers clad in colourful traditional costumes. You will follow the story sitting at your table, sipping on your constantly refilled tea cup and nibbling some salted snacks.
(Information as of 28 June 2005)
* Jin Li This neighborhood is part of the old city of Chengdu, it features hotels and small stores in and old-fashioned style. Antiques are sold in a variety of different stores. It is very popular among both tourists and locals, especially at night, with many bars and nightclubs.
* Jin Sha Excavation Site is a recently discovered site featuring various tools and art pieces from around 3000 years ago. The amount of unearthed items is just massive. They include pottery, blades, jade items, building foundations and various golden art pieces.
* Wenshu Temple,15 Wenshu Yuan Jie. This Tang Dynasty temple is the most impressive, and perhaps also the most used, temple in Chengdu. It is dedicated to the Buddhist representation of Wisdom, Wenshu Pusa (Manjusri Bodhisatva), and contains more than 450 Buddha statues and other precious relics. In addition to the halls and gardens, the temple also has a charming tea house that offers an insightful window of Chengdu life as it is frequented by locals who engage in games of chess, reading, knitting and just chatting with family and friends. The temple also has a delightful vegetarian restaurant with seats offering views over the gardens.
Do
* Massage / Foot Washing Chengdu has establishments that offer massage or foot washing. Generally, these places cater to groups of people who come in together, relax in a private room, perhaps eating fruit or sipping tea, while receiving a fully-clothed massage or foot washing. Prices are very reasonable, often well under Y80 per person. A great way to relax with friends.
* Read a Book The Chengdu Bookworm (see listing under Eat) has a membership-based lending library of English language books, as well as travel guides for sale. Peter's Tex Mex, as well as some of the other restaurants that cater to foreigners, have book exchanges.
For up-to-date information on activities, places and attractions you should check out the CHENGDOO citylife magazine's listings. You'll find copies in most bars, restaurants, cafes, hostels and hotels.
* Play Weiqi(the game of go) A weiqi tutor lives in Chengdu(KGS 8d),who can teach weiqi in english.his webpage http://my.hn8868.com/cdweiqi
Learn
The following universities accept foreign students with the proper visa:
* Sichuan University
* Sichuan Normal University
* Those interested in ongoing, private classes in the Chinese language can hire a experienced teacher for ¥40-¥85 per hour. Ask for a referral at one of the universities, or from another student. Textbooks for learning Chinese are available at many local bookshops.
Work
* Job postings for English teachers are located in many guest houses, at Western bars and restaurants, anywhere foreigners congregate.
* The Peace Corps has its China headquarters in Chengdu and places highly selected and qualified US Citizen volunteers in 2 year assignments throughout the region.
Buy
* There is a big antiquities-market close to the Green Ram Taoist-temple in the western city. From the temple, walk straight west. It's on your right hand side after you crossed the bridge over the channel. You'll find communist relics, old porcelain dishes, jewellery, calligraphy equipment and also some Tibetan stuff. Be warned that overpricing is excessive (10-20x the real price), so bargain hard.
* All sorts of plush pandas, and other panda trinkets, are sold at the gate of the panda base, as well as ones of a slightly higher quality at the shop inside the panda base itself.
* Supermarkets are located throughout the city, although the selection of imported foods is limited. If you must buy American food, and don't mind a 50% premium over US prices, Sabrina's Country Store at #54 Ke Hua Bei Lu, across from the western gate of Sichuan University and near Linshiguan Lu has friendly service and all imported products.
* Major retailers Carrefour, Metro and Wal Mart have locations in Chengdu.
Eat
Sichuan being the most known Chinese food style within China, you will find no shortage of delicious Sichuan food in Chengdu. Most of the food is quite spicy, be sure to order non spicy, little spicy food, old spicy.at least if you are not accustomed to it yet, or have a bottle of peanut milk ready to quell the fire. The local king of kings is the Hotpot, basically a big pot of oil, water and spices simmering in a hole in the middle of your table. Patrons choose from a big variety of skewered food including veggies, sea-weed, fish, beef, chicken, and dog's meat and proceed to boil them in the oil. After the meal, your bill will be calculated by counting the skewer-sticks.
Budget
* There are a number of stalls and hole in the wall type places all over town. Food here is dirt cheap - expect to pay no more than ¥8 for a meal, and the quality is good. Things to be on the lookout for are spicy bowls of breakfast noodles, double cooked pork, and dozens of dishes coated in "ma" the Sichuan chili spice famous the world over.
* There's an excellent place serving Uighur Food across the street from Sam's Guesthouse. Buns, noodles and more.
* Steamed buns (baozi) are sold for breakfast or lunch from street vendors throughout the city. Typical fillings include meat, sweet read bean paste, mushroom, or pork. Three buns cost around ¥1. A container of soy milk (dou jiang) is about the same price.
Mid-range
* Wenshu Temple Vegetarian Restaurant 15 Wenshu Jie. Tel:+8 28 693-870. Located in the grounds of a monastery and run by monks, Wenshu Restaurant offers a huge selection of traditional vegetarian dishes, including some containing imitation meat.
Splurge
* Veranda Bridge Restaurant This restaurant is actually a historic bridge over the Fulan river. Sichuan food. Very good reputation within Chengdu. Expect to pay at least US$10 per person for food, drinks additional.
* Huang Cheng Lao Ma [6] Phone 8513-9999. Located on 3rd section of south part of the 2nd Ring Road. Elaborate restaurant featuring hot pot followed by live entertainment, including Sichuan face-changing. Don't miss the diorama scene of ancient Chengdu built into the restaurant lobby's floor. A separate section on the ground floor of the restaurant also features a pan-Asian buffet with contemporary entertainment. Child care is available on premises. Prices are in the range of RMB100 per person for dinner and one drink.
Western Food
Chengdu has a few local Western restaurants. Service is always friendly, although you should expect occasional mistakes, such as appetizers served at the same time as your meal. Chengdu is just starting to get accustomed to Western tastes.
* The Chengdu Bookworm The Bookworm has something for everyone: it is an English language lending library, a Western restaurant, a bar, as well as an occasional venue for local singing and musical talent. Expats might want to join the membership library or take kids to the children's morning storey hours. Evenings, you might find a travel author reading from and signing books, poetry reading, or singing. Great place for to connect with others, catch up on some reading, or just relax.
* Grandma's Kitchen Western restauant with four locations around Chengdu, including one next door to Peter's on Zhong Hua Yuan.
* Peter's Tex-Mex Actually an American restaurant with some Mexican dishes. Peter's has good food. The Zhong Hua, the best ice cream you will find in Chengdu. If you are coming from out of town, the Zhong Hua Yuan location is right in a major expat area with lots of other restaurants and shopping surrounding it.
* Zoe's Barbeque & Restaurant- Western BBQ and more,the best pork ribs in Chengdu .. Good food with friendly service, plus wireless access. N0.30 Section.4 Renmin Nanlu
* Paul and Dave's Oasis is a place for volunteers, ex-pats, and all manner of foreigners, a place where you can go and just chill. Though he does serve chinese food, you're better off going elsewhere for this, it is however a place where you can sit and lose yourself for a day or so. Usually ocupied by the local foreigners, usually playing Western music. This place is conviently located directly opposite the Travel Hotel and main Bus station (other side of river).
* Fast food including McDonalds, KFC and Pizza Hut have locations throughout Chengdu. McDonalds and Pizza Hut add some distinctively Chinese offerings to their menus. Unusual cultural tidbit: At Pizza Hut only one trip to the salad bar is allowed per person. Notice how many Chinese turn their salad plates into artistic creations, stacked high with vegetables to share.
* All of the hotels in the "Splurge" category have Western restaurants or buffets. Call ahead for more information.
Drink
On the southern bank of the Jin Jiang there is a row of bars between Renmin Nanlu and Xinnan Lu.
* Highfly Cafe, 18 LinJiang Rd, 028-85442820 is a relaxed place with a tiny outside sitting area. They serve beers and western food including pizza and breakfast. There is one computer for free Internet access and a small book exchange (2 for 1).
* Feeling4Seasons Cafe, Orient Times Mall 2F, Xia dongda street (near Dongmen bridge), Chengdu. Good Italian coffee: espresso, cappuccino, especially latte. Also pasta and pizza. They also provide Internet service: wireless access for your laptop, loan of a wireless card if you don't have one, use of a PC if required. You can also burn CDs. It is also one famous China blog freelancer's cafe bar; he published a book named "Ten Years, Flying with one Dream".
* Shamrock Pub, #15, 4th Section, Renmin Nan Lu, 028-8523-6158 ( located near Linshiguan Lu and the US Consulate), an Irish pub in Chengdu is currently the hub of Chengdu's small expatriate community (of approximately 3,000). Friendly pub atmosphere and live music some evenings. In addition to drinks the pub serves dishes including pizza and other snacks. The pub has also sponsored several nonprofit organizations, including holding events for moon bear rescue and for the disabled. Copies of the informative Chengdu Sichuan book are available at the Shamrock.
* High Connections Coffee House is located on the west side of Chengdu near Metro and the Southwest Financial University at Qingyang Qu Shuangqing Nanlu 6 Hao Fu A-20, 028-8732-5855. The coffeehouse provides a relaxing, comfortable, environment with soft lighting and easy-listening music. They have non-smoking and smoking sections. Bring your computer and hook up to the wireless Internet. They also have large conference rooms available for meetings.
Contact
Consulates
* United States Consualte General #4 Linshiguan Lu, Chengdu. Phone 8558-3992. American Citizen Services hours Monday-Thursday 1:30pm-5:00pm, Fridays 9:00-4:00pm.
* Royal Thai Consulate Located in the Kempinski Hotel: 42 Renmin Nan Rd. 4th Section C210-212, Sichuan 610041
* German Consulate General 25th Floor of Western Tower located at No. 19, 4th Section Renmin Nan Road, Chengdu 610041, Tel: (0086-28)8528 0800 Fax: (0086-28) 8526 8308
* Consulate General of Singapore 31/F East Guan Cheng Square, No.308, Shun Cheng Main Street, Chengdu. Phone 86 28 8652 7222
* Consulate General of the Republic of Korea No. 2, Wangfu Oasis Hotel, Xianan Main Street of Chengdu. Phone 86 28 8616 5800
Phone
China's country code is 86. Chengdu's area code is 28. Coin-operated pay phones are located throughout Chengdu, and calling cards can be purchased from many vendors. Local landline phone numbers are eight digits long; cellular phone numbers in Sichuan are elevin digits long and start with 13.
Internet
Internet access can be found in most guesthouses and through cheap internet cafes all over town. Look out for the Pacman-character in the Chinese name for internet bar.
* A large Internet cafe is located on the second floor of the Xinnianmen bus station, just 100 meters from the Jiaotong Fandian hotel. The connection is fast and access is ¥2/hour.
Stay safe
Thieves are prevalent around certain areas of Chengdu. Be careful around the Yanshikou markets and especially around the North train station. There are also many thieves on crowded buses who use razors to cut open pockets and bags. Also watch your bag at all times when riding bicycles around the city, thieves like to run alongside bicycles at traffic lights and reach into bags.
Cope
For such a big city, there's surprisingly little Western influence in Chengdu. It's definitely not Beijing or Shanghai. This may be trying initially, as the level of English spoken is noticeably lower than other places, but it's also a blessing; carry a phrasebook and enjoy the authentic Chinese urban experience.
* Jingyi Optical, 19 Chunxi North Road, (fuwu@jyglasses.com.cn). A large and professional opticians with a good range of glasses, contact lenses and checkup facilities.
Get out
Chengdu is the gateway to Sichuan. Daytrips and trek can be organized to any major attraction is the province. The Giant Budda, Mount Qincheng, Stone Elephant Lake and Jian Chuan Museum can all be reached by regular bus or tour bus (ask your hotel for guidance). Families and those short of time might consider hiring a car with driver (¥300-900 per day, depending upon type of car and experience of driver, with cars booked at the luxury hotels the most expensive and highest quality).
* The Giant Buddha in Leshan is probably the most popular nearby destination. A day trip to this ancient man-made wonder should be about ¥100-150. Two day tours are available which combine the Buddha with a visit to the nearby Buddhist holy mountain Emei Shan.
* Mount Qincheng and the Dujiangyan irrigation system (built 250 BC) are easy day trips about 40km from Chengdu and make for a fascinating visit. You can do both sites in one long day, or better yet, plan to spend a day at each. Qingchen is a beautiful mountain with an extensive and well kept network of steps and pathways, and includes many pogadas, a small lake, and a chair-lift for those who don't want to walk. Dujianyan has a fascinating history and a marvelous swinging pedestrian bridge. Both trips involve lots of walking. The entrance fees for both sites are not cheap. The mountain is ¥90. The cable car up is ¥35 one way or ¥60 round trip. There is a boat one needs to take to cross a natural pond for ¥5. The irrigation system costs an additional ¥90 to enter.
Stone Elephant Lake
* Stone Elephant Lake Ecological Resort is a fantastic park with acres upon acres of live tulips and tiger lily flowers as well as nature walks and boat rides, and stone carved animals. The best time to go is during the Tulip Festival in early Spring and when the Tiger Lillies bloom in late summer, however, various flowers are usually in bloom from March through August and the nature walks are open year round. Bring your camera. Also bring a picnic lunch or eat in one of the several Chinese restaurants and noodle shops there. The park is about an hour and 15 minutes drive of pure highway driving south of Chengdu. Arrange a car to take you there or ask about bus service. Admission is ¥50.
* Jian Chuan Museum Cluster Industrialist Fan Jian Chuan built this campus of museums to explain the history of 20th Century China. This is the first privately owned museum in Sichuan (privately operated museums in China have only been permitted since the year 2001). The Museum campus contains four buildings about World War II in China - one explaining the Communist Party role, one the Kuomington, one about the American volunteer group "Flying Tigers", and one about Sichuan volunteers. There is also a the modestly named "New China Porcelian Museum", which actually tells the story of the Cultural Revolution through porcelians of that era. A museum that more directly addresses that era is under construction. You will also see buildings explaining the practice of foot-binding and one about prisoners of war. Nearby, you can also walk through a landlord's manor. Make a day trip out of it; the Museum is in the nearby county of Dayi about an hour's drive from Chengdu. Admission is ¥60. Get around the museum cluster by walking or rent a bicycle built for two; a tea-house is located on site.
* Bi Feng Xia Bi Feng Xia is a large ecological park in the mountains about a two and a half hour drive from Chengdu. It centers around a huge gorge with waterfalls. One can hike down into the gorge on well marked paths and take an elevator back up. The park also has special panda bear habitats, as well as a more traditional "zoo". The main reason to go here is for the walks and hikes into the gorge. The zoo, although filled with animals such as tigers, lions, bears, monkeys, and even a drive-through section, has woefully inadequate and sometimes smelly enclosures. (The enormous bird aviary is one exception). Admission is about ¥80, with additional charges for bus rides between different sections of the park. There is a hotel and basic restaurants on site. Given the distance from Chengdu, probably best to make an overnight trip if you wish to stay here.
* Huang Long Xi is worth a day trip. Buses start from Xinnanmen station and take two hours. The little town features a lot of original dwellings and old temples.
* Luodai is an ancient village inhabited by the Hakkas minority. Buses start form and take about an hour.
* Sanxingdui (Xanxingdui) is an ancient Chinese city where archaeologists discovered remarkable artifacts that radiocarbon dated circa 12th-11th centuries BCE, and Sanxingdui (Three star mound) is the name given to this previously unknown Bronze Age culture. The Sanxingdui archaeological museum is located about 40 kilometers northeast of Chengdu in Sichuan Province and 10 kilometers east of the city of Guanghan.
* Further afield, you can also trek out to the Tibetan areas of Sichuan. Buses leave everyday for Moxi and other towns. These long bus trips from Xinnanmen-bus station (it's about seven hours to Moxi, and the heating systems on buses in the winter are painfully inadequate) pass through incredibly steep mountain valleys wandering through the Gongga Mountain range. This all terminates at the Hailuogo Glacier, a massive park nearly nine hours from Chengdu. A good two or three day trip.
* The Jiuzhaigou Valley to the north of Chengdu is famous for its stunning nature and the cyan water terasses.
JiuZhaiGou
Train connections are available to Kunming in Yunnan, Chongqing and Xi'an. Frequent buses also leave for Chongqing, which is the beginning of many cruises down the Yangtze. These tours are available around town in Chengdu, and include transport to Chongqing, about three or four hours away.
