Chengdu Travel Food, Drink and Entertainment Recommendations
Chengdu is not only a city of ancient times and pandas, but also a paradise for travelers and food lovers. It offers spicy food to teahouses, night markets to cultural shows, something for everyone. Below is a speedy guide for where to eat, drink and go to help you in your Chengdu travel.
Must-try Food
Special Spicy Flavor
Sichuan is famous for its spicy flavor, and Chengdu is the birthplace of Sichuan cuisine. Hot pot is a must-have dish during a Chengdu travel. Sit at a boiling hot spicy pot and enjoy beef, tofu, mushrooms and vegetables. If you don’t like spicy food, most restaurants have spicy and light Yuanyang Hotpot. “Da Long Yi” and “Haidilao” are famous hot pot chains in Chengdu. They have many branches in Chengdu and are easy to find.
Mapo tofu is another classic dish. It is soft tofu with spicy sauce and minced meat. The combination of chili and Sichuan peppercorns creates a unique spicy taste that you will never forget. You can try authentic Mapo tofu at Chen Mapo Tofu Restaurant, which has a long history in Chengdu.
If you want to eat something simple, Dandan noodles will be an appropriate choice. Thin noodles are accompanied by a spicy but nice sauce made from soy sauce, chili oil and peanuts.
Street Food
Walk through any of Chengdu’s markets and your nose will lead you to delicious snacks. Jianbingguozi is a breakfast dish that you can watch the vendors make right in front of you. It is a fried pancake filled with eggs, sauces, and vegetables. Jianbingguozi vendors near Kuanzhai Alley are popular.
Stinky tofu smells stinky, but it tastes delicious. It is a popular local snack. It is fried and topped with hot sauce. You can try it. Most tourists fall in love with it when they try it. The stinky tofu at Jinli Ancient Street must be tried.
Sugar-coated haw is a sweet snack made of fresh hawthorns coated in hot syrup to get a crispy, sweet, and sour taste, usually served on bamboo sticks for easy eating on the go.
Other Delicious Foods
Kung Pao Chicken is a favorite Sichuan dish. It is made up of diced chicken, peanuts and vegetables, stir-fried in hot sauce, with a perfect blend of sweet, sour and hot taste.
Twice-cooked Pork is also popular. The belly of pork is first boiled and then stir-fried in chili peppers and garlic sprouts. It is oily but not fatty and the flavor is rich.
The following are some food recommendations. Hopefully, they can be of use to you to have a better experience of Chengdu travel.
Must-try Drinks
Special Teas
Locals in Chengdu love drinking tea, and teahouses are prevalent. Jasmine tea is an excellent choice, strongly scented and exceedingly light-tasting. You can sit at a traditional teahouse like People’s Park and drink tea and watch locals play mahjong. Heming Teahouse inside People’s Park is very popular and has a long history.
Another favourite drink is Sichuan herbal tea, which consists of a variety of herbs and has a subtle bitterness but a cooling taste. It is said to aid digestion and is perfect for drinking after eating spicy food.
Specialty Drinks
If you like something chilled, drink ice powder. It is a sweet chilled beverage that contains red beans, peanuts and fruits. Eating a bowl of it on a hot day is very refreshing. There are stalls selling ice powder at almost every night market.
For coffee lovers, there are plenty of popular cafes in Chengdu, like in the Taikoo Li district, where you can enjoy delicious coffee and experience the laid-back atmosphere of Chengdu. M Stand and Seesaw Coffee are young people’s favorites.
Local Wine
If you like to drink, you can have Luzhou Laojiao or Wuliangye, two of the most famous Sichuan liquors with rich aroma and robust flavor. Sichuan rice wine is also present, which is sweeter and milder.
The above are what I suggest you drink when you are in Chengdu. Hope it is helpful to you.
Entertainment
Cultural Experience
Going to see a Sichuan Opera is an absolute necessity. The best-loved aspect of Sichuan Opera is face-changing, where the actors manage to change masks before your eyes, all done. It is not something that can be learned quickly and requires earnest practice over years. You can catch the performances at places like Chengdu Sichuan Opera House. You do need to book tickets ahead of time, especially in the peak tourist season.
Playing Mahjong is an excellent way to blend in with the locals. The majority of teahouses have Mahjong tables, and some even offer lessons to tourists. Mahjong is more than a game in Chengdu; it is a way of life.
Nightlife
Jinli Ancient Street is full of energy at night, with lit-up lanterns and street performers self-accompanied by music. You may go shopping for some small souvenirs or you may simply stroll here and enjoy the lively atmosphere.
For something more lively in the evening, head to Lan Kwai Fong, where there are many bars and clubs where you can drink and dance, popular with locals and tourists alike. Helen’s is one of the popular bars here with affordable drinks.
Parks and Recreation
People’s Park is such a great place to relax. You can rent a boat on the lake, get a shoulder massage, or just sit on a bench and people-watch. Weekends have the park full of entertainers: singers and dancers.
If you are traveling with children, a suitable choice would be Chengdu Happy Valley, an amusement park with roller coaster rides and other fun attractions suitable for a family day out.
Modern Entertainment
Chengdu has many shopping malls, like “IFS” and “Taikoo Li”, where you can shop, watch movies, and try various foods. These malls are not only for shopping but also great places to experience modern Chengdu.
For art lovers, the Chengdu Contemporary Art Museum offers a number of shows and is a fine spot to while away a peaceful afternoon.
Where to Find Them
Most of the snacks and drinks are conveniently available. There are many restaurants and street vendors around Chunxi Road, Kuanzhai Alley and Jinli. For entertainment, you may check the performance schedule of Sichuan Opera House on the internet, or simply go to the hot spots and follow the crowd to find where the fun is.
Conclusion
Chengdu’s food, drinks and recreation are all about enjoying life. Whether you eat spicy hot pot, sip a calming tea in a peaceful teahouse, appreciate superb Sichuan opera performances, or stroll at the lively night market, you can feel the warm and laid-back atmosphere of the city. So it’s better to take action than to be moved. Come to Chengdu travel.
If you are still unclear what to do when you arrive in Chengdu for the first time, please call China Chengdu Travel Agency. Here, we have professional tour guides specially for you, and we also can help you book hotels and rent cars. Looking forward to your contact.
