Chengdu | A small city tour where you can sleep until you wake up naturally every day
“The city is laid back and casual
You can hardly see the rush and panic on the faces of passers-by.”
E104°.07, N30°.67
Chengdu,China
Regarding the geographical positioning of Chengdu, it often appears in the circle of friends.
Looking through the records I have posted, I find that they are all positive comments about this city. It is its synonym.
Whether it’s the rabbit head that everyone recommends “you must try it” or the hot pot that’s been on your mind;
Is it a teahouse that is different from our tea drinking in Guangdong, or is it the ear-picking that can be seen everywhere on the streets; is it a rare giant panda habitat in the country, or is it a land of Bashu with a strong culture of the Three Kingdoms.
Chengdu’s talkability is always so high and so widespread.
There are many little tidbits about Chengdu during this trip, but they are not complicated. In the following content, you will probably see:
A hotel with convenient transportation and comfortable environment
Where to send the most local postcards?
Jinli and Kuanzhai Alleys, known as the epitome of Chengdu
Picky eaters won’t be surprised if they taste delicious snacks
Ancient martial arts style and modern design beauty are all here
I don’t know if I was infected by the laid-back atmosphere of Chengdu conveyed by all walks of life. With less than two hours' drive left before arriving, I remembered that my accommodation for the night had not yet been confirmed.
Fortunately, Chengdu is a popular tourist city, and the accommodation industry is also mature and developed. During the National Day travel peak season, when I opened the app, I was dazzled by the whole list.
I originally thought that I should choose a B&B, stay there for a day and a half, and listen to what the boss or friends have to say.
Later I found that the B&Bs that met my needs were already fully booked, and the apartments had mixed reviews. In the end, chose a business hotel .
If I hadn't seen the reviews from past travelers, I probably wouldn't have chosen the Home Inn series. After all, traditional Home Inns are just like other express hotels. The safety factor for women living alone is not very high.
But this series is designed to be a mid-to-high-end business type , and the environment is very similar to the pentahotel where I lived in Beijing before.
In addition, it is very close to the subway entrance , the price is also suitable, and the review scores are generally high. After comprehensive consideration, I decided to place the order.
When checking in at the door,the elegance of the lobby already makes people feel good. In addition to the etiquette training at the front desk, the well-dressed security guards also make you feel reassuring.
After looking around, I saw that the sofa in the hall also has a bar table (where you can read a book). Although the fireplace is virtual, it also matches the modern European style.
Walking inside, there is a tea room and a semi-open conference table. It is estimated that business travelers can still have suitable space for office work or small meetings if needed while staying.
The room we booked was not big, but it was fully equipped.
Small coffee table, small lamp, water bar and large color TV. The bathroom is equipped with shower gel, conditioner and moisturizer, not to mention towels, slippers, hair dryer and other basic supplies.
What is surprising is that there is a Ding Dong smart speaker (I have given one away before) placed beside the bed, and the TV was turned on for me when I first entered the door.
Although I was a little startled by the sudden sound at first, you can give voice commands to the smart speaker to turn on and off the TV, play songs , etc., which is also a relatively boring thing to do when living alone.
Although the area is too small, even a 28-inch box is difficult to unfold.
But in fact, this distance and height are just enough for me to lie on the big bed and watch TV at the most comfortable angle. So every time I walked in the door, I would just lie on the bed and shout, "Ding dong, ding dong, turn on the TV for me~"
I am quite satisfied with the following: The hotel provides breakfast and laundry service The hotel breakfast is simple, although it is a buffet, there are not many varieties. Basically, you can eat enough, but it is not rich.
As for the public laundry room, I generally don't use it. After all, the washing machine outside is still not reliable.
But I went to Daocheng Yading seven or eight days ago, and those jackets, jackets, and sweatpants were all rolled on the ground and climbed mountains. They were so dirty that I didn’t want to touch them, so I took them over and washed them.
Fortunately, there are laundry detergents and disinfectants, as well as dryers and irons .
The laundry room is also equipped with a small coffee table, sofa, and magazines for guests to kill time while waiting. It was considerate and thoughtful, but I still put the clothes away and went back to the room to stay.
Of course, the hotel is not perfect either.
First, the room WiFi is not clearly marked . Although it’s just a small thing. But I still don’t want to make this call in the middle of the night to ask for the password, and end up using my computer to connect to the mobile hotspot. I hope the hotel can understand the embarrassing cancer people.
Second, I took a shower too late and there was no hot water? Although it's a bit unusual for me to wait until two or three o'clock to take a shower, it's pretty basic to ensure a 24-hour hot water supply, right? The water temperature, which was always slightly warm, almost made me shake to death in the bathroom.
Third, you can press the floor whether you swipe or not, and the access control machine on the elevator button is useless. Even if there are security guards standing guard in the lobby, they cannot prevent outsiders from going upstairs on their own. Since the access control is set up, it should play its role to make the overall security work more in place.
Regarding these three points, I also wrote them carefully on the user feedback card. What is commendable is that within less than 2 hours after checking out,the hotel manager called me to learn the details and was very attentive.
To sum up, I am really satisfied with Homeinn Hotel. So I applied for a membership card when I checked out of the hotel. I thought that when I travel to other cities in the future, I will also consider staying at the same chain.
In addition to the hotel's hardware facilities, the location near the subway is also one of the reasons why I chose it. But I didn't expect thatthe hotel's location is not only convenient for transportation, but also at the intersection of major business districts.
After returning from Daocheng Yading, my companions arranged their own itineraries. Some went to Chongqing, and some returned to Beijing, Shanghai and Northeast China. I originally wanted to wander around Chengdu by myself in the next few days.
Sister Lai, whom I met during the trip, made an appointment with me to go with us the next day. I am quite lazy and took a long time to pack up before going out that day. I was still thinking that no matter what, it took more than half an hour for everyone to leave, and now others would have to wait for me.
As a result, searched "Panda Post Office" in the navigation, and it was actually 200 meters away ? ! Oh my God, what a surprise. I almost walked there happily and happened to meet up with Sister Lai at the stepping point.
I heard about Panda Post Office from Brother Liu. He left a message saying, Go there and print a photo I took as a postcard for him.
When I first heard it, I thought it was quite interesting and wanted to experience it myself. But unfortunately we didn't get what we wanted because the printing machine broke down that day.
Standing outside the floor-to-ceiling glass window, you can already feel the bustling tourists in the store. Rather than saying it is a post office, it is a theme store that promotes and promotes local culture.
With the most representative panda as the theme, it sells various local specialty products and provides simulated post office services such as stamping, stamps, and delivery.
The store stocks postcards, souvenirs (refrigerator magnets, tableware, dolls, ornaments, etc.), peripheral products, etc. There is also a small drink shop of the same series next door. At the same time, a small coffee table is also set up for customers to write postcards, and there are also exclusive commemorative medals.
Many children and girls were immersed in writing carefully, probably describing their excitement and love at this time.
There is a large mailbox at the door, but I don't think the postman came to collect it, but the store clerk collected it and sent it for a second time.
The place is not big and it does not take much time. It’s just busy during the day with people coming and going. If you just want to see and write postcards, you might as well come here at night. This will give you plenty of time to write slowly .
When it comes to Chengdu, you must have heard of Kuanzhai Alley and Jinli .
"These are things that can be seen all over the country. Where to go? If you ask the locals, they will definitely not recommend you this." I believe many friends will have this idea.
Nanluogu Lane in Beijing, Ciqikou in Chongqing, Hubu Lane in Wuhan, Confucius Temple in Nanjing, Tianzifang in Shanghai, Shangxiajiu in Guangzhou and so on.
These are food and culture districts that have been criticized in recent years but are still popular . After all Nowadays, cultures from various places are intertwined with each other, and rare things will become boring if they are repeatedly imitated.
Although the commercial atmosphere is very strong, as a tourist, it is not a bad idea to go to the local cultural streets. Because many times, this kind of business district happens to be the epitome of a city's culture .
For me, even if I know that there are many people in these places and there is nothing special about them, I am still happy to visit them. After all, the judgment after personal experience is more convincing.
Standing at the door of the post office, Sister Lai and I were studying which bus would be better to take to Jinli. But in the end we decided to walk there.
Because it’s only 1 kilometer, instead of the busy traffic, it’s better to walk to your destination while chatting.
Just as I imagined, the lanes are crowded with people, and there are regular and orderly shops on both sides. The shop door shouted to attract customers, and the tourists poked their heads and looked around curiously.
Jinli is very large, and its overall planning is different from the conventional symmetrical garden landscape. There are typical square courtyards and buildings around the lake.
Sister Xiao Lai and I didn't have any plans, so we just went wherever we went.
When I come back to my senses or turn a corner, I forget whether I have walked this road before, and when I see the alley, I feel familiar again.
There is also the Wuhou Temple in Jinli (Three Kingdoms Relics Museum)Therefore, it is not uncommon to see various dolls or furnishings with characters from the Three Kingdoms in the store. Combined with modern animation design, it is very interesting. .
After all, Chengdu became one of the characteristics of the Three Kingdoms because Liu Bei founded the Shu Kingdom here, and it has been passed down to this day.
In Jinli, instead of worrying about not having food, what may be more important to worry about is not having a cosmic stomach . Although I am not a food fanatic, I am eager to try all kinds of snacks when I come here.
Unfortunately, it still has no ability to fight against spicy food. The delicious shredded rabbit head was too spicy and I had to eat it after two bites before throwing it away. Then there are the famous three cannons, jelly, Chaoshou Dandan noodles, etc., which are great.
Whether a city can have rich tourism resources, in addition to landscape, food is also an important influencing factor.
Do you think that in a city without cultural heritage, its famous delicacies are often “Internet celebrity shops” with more popular elements?
Maybe it’s so enjoyable to pose for a photo, and you’ll forget what it tastes like after eating it. And a store like will inevitably make people feel that it is missing a bit of fireworks.
Standing on the street,eating food with local characteristics that are not very expensive or good-looking in simple storefronts,maybe you have truly come into contact with this city .
In addition to delicious food, Jinli also has many talented craftsmen. Not to mention the sugar paintings and sugar mice that were common in my childhood, there are also workers who are concentrating on wood carvings, and there are also foreigners making sand bottles.
Rather than being a monotonous commercial street, is more like a gathering of culture and food, as rich and interesting as a Japanese garden party. Even if there are many people, it doesn’t seem to affect the mood of the game. Occasionally, when you look up, you will see one or two young ladies wearing Hanfu, which even matches the garden scenery.
And another place Wide and narrow alleys, Although it is directly classified as the same scenic spot as Jinli, you can still feel the difference after walking through the two places.
Different from the patchwork layout of Jinli, here is composed of wide alleys, narrow alleys, and well alleys arranged in parallel, basically all of them are courtyards with indigo bricks and tiles . In essence, it is indeed a larger courtyard left over from history. The large-scale ancient streets are one of Chengdu's three major historical and cultural city protected blocks.
Perhaps because of the more regular structure, this place is obviously much more orderly than Jinli . But at the same time, there are also fewer market-like stalls, all of which are located in storefronts on both sides of the alley.
There are exhibitions and studios here, as well as many petty bourgeoisie coffee shops and teahouses. There are also cultural walls and bolt horse stones. Tourists lined up waiting to take photos with the scenic spots.
In such a diversified market, not only can we see modern products, but we can also see the style designs of ancient immortals and martial arts. It’s wonderful not to forget to retain the old elements while innovating.
What is surprising is that even in such a bustling city with so many people coming and going, there are still some bookstores. And it’s still full of guests, so it’s hard to have a peaceful place for even a moment.
Of course, in addition to books, there are also some interesting things. For example, those yellow charms written with popular sayings, and books only as big as a palm. The words on it are indeed printed clearly and legibly.
If there is any difference between the two places, my humble opinion: Kuanzhai Alley is more petty-bourgeois and sentimental, and its planning and management are more modern; The crowds of people walking around or the streets are arranged in an orderly manner, even if there are many tourists. Not necessarily crowded.
Jinli prefers a down-to-earth market culture and has a richer variety . However, because there are many vendors and the crowds come and go in an disorderly manner, it is easy to get separated. Fortunately, there is also a garden landscape design in the area, so you can sit and take a rest even if you are tired.
A conventional teahouse with yellow bamboo tables and chairs does not attract much attention from me. However, after walking around, I was surprised Why are there so many teahouses in Chengdu?
After walking a few steps, I saw a store. I even saw it right next to the store. And even if every restaurant is not full, it will not be deserted.
It is different from my morning and midnight tea in Daguang. Although teahouses in Chengdu are open from morning to night, they don’t have that many snacks or meals. Drinking tea is really about making tea and drinking tea.
Three or two people were sitting idle at a table, a cup of tea in a bowl was spreading heat, and a plate of peanuts or melon seeds was placed to accompany the tea. Everyone seems to have come here on an appointment, but it seems like they are just meeting by chance, drinking tea just to chat. Perhaps drinking tea is not only a way of leisure for Chengdu people, but also one of the social activities.
Chunxi Road is the shopping and commercial district of Chengdu , similar to Chongqing's Jiefangbei, Guangzhou's Beijing Road, Beijing's Wangfujing, Wuhan's Jianghan Road, and Shanghai's Nanjing Road.
Rather than looking at culture, this place is more suitable for shopping . It’s just that when traveling domestically, there doesn’t seem to be a need to go out of your way to buy things, so I usually just look at the younger brothers and younger sisters.
Similarly, I slept until I woke up naturally that day, wrote postcards in the hotel, and went out for a walk around 2 p.m.
Likewise, walk from the hotel along —— After passing the Sichuan Science and Technology Museum, the library, the art gallery and other buildings, we arrived at Chunxi Road.
Chunxi Road didn't bring many surprises, except for the chance to encounter a long queue of beef jerky . I was very curious, so I lined up to buy one. The beef portion was generous, but a bit spicy with black pepper, and the dough was very crispy. It was so delicious that I took a photo to share it on the spot.
In addition, not far from Chunxi Road is Sino-Ocean Taikoo Li and IFC . The former is a shopping and leisure district with antique design, while the latter is a completely modern shopping mall.
Many photographers with cameras are looking for good-looking fashionistas to take street photos. Only then did I realize that there are really a lot of young trendy elements focused here. Every time I walk by someone, I think they are the kind of young men and women you see online. They are pretty and good-looking.
Because it was a bit cold, I bought a cup of hot milk tea and a wheel cake. The warm matcha mochi filling was very delicious.
The most important thing is that the store also kept pace with the times and added the popular "skr" emoticon package as a pattern, which was very cool.
The panda on the IFC floor is the same as the elephant at Shenzhen Vientiane World. It can also be called a small landmark . I don't know if this posture is preparing to escape or climbing over the wall to get inside.
The appearance is honest and cute, and the characteristics of the panda are also vividly displayed. After entering the mall, you can go upstairs to the open-air garden to face the panda and take photos with it.
Famous Chengdu attractions include Qingyang Palace, People's Park, Du Fu Thatched Cottage and other places , which are also not far from the hotel.
But I didn’t really want to go to these places. Instead, when I was casually browsing nearby attractions, I was attracted by a classical European Ping An Bridge Church .
It just so happened that this place was not far from Kuanzhai Alley, so Sister Lai and I went to check it out.
The navigation has been guiding us to the backyard, but only the main entrance of Xihuamen Street can be entered. I also went around a lot at that time.
What’s interesting is that on the road we passed an alleyway with graffiti on both sides, which was filled with childlike handmade creations. The name is also a bit interesting, it is called "Big Tree Turn Street".
The church didn’t bring much surprise in the end.
The building under the semi-circular arched roof is only 2 stories high, which does not look too grand. The flower-cut windows are quite beautiful. There is a cosplayer taking photos at the door, and there is worship inside the church.
Sister Lai and I are both non-believers, so we only visited at the door.
Dongjiao Memory is a creative craft park given to us by the guide of the Daoya itinerary in the car. It is also a gathering place for bars.
It's a bit far from the city here. We got there by taking a taxi after getting off the subway. It is much quieter than the regular bar street here, and it is not overcrowded.
It is quite comfortable for walking and walking at night.
Although the lights are dim, you can still see the industrial outline of the former electronic tube factory . It is not only a formal cultural industrial park , but also a industrial heritage themed tourist destination . I saw many teams shooting their photography, short films, and videos here.
However, we still didn’t get a drink in the end. Sister Lai is allergic to alcohol, and I am a poor drinker.
🏠 Accommodation Reference
Home Inn (Chengdu Kuanzhai Alley Store)
The location is at No. 9 Shaocheng Road . It is very close to any business district including Jinli, Kuanzhai Alley, Chunxi Road, etc. The subway station is close to People's Park Station . There are also many buses around.
Price reference: 280-400 RMB | Night
🚃 Transportation
Walking | Bus | Subway
Public transportation is very developed and convenient. Remember to prepare some change. If you want to scan the code to pay, you need to download "Tianfutong" and complete the registration.
🍝 Diet recommendations
Hot Pot | Chuan Chuan | Guokui | Jelly Noodles | Chaoshou | Hoof Flowers
The streets are full of food, so you don’t have to worry. The skewers and hot pot are both great. We teamed up to have a meal at Xiaolongkan. It tasted better than the ones in Guangzhou and was much cheaper.
Price reference: 60 RMB per person
There is also the Beef Squid mentioned above, located at Chunxi Road. This suggestion is that if there are boys or two people traveling together, you can share the meal. There are so many delicious foods, but the emphasis is on experience.
Price reference: 10-15 RMB | pieces
Xiyuecheng Tan Douhua is a restaurant I found on Dianping for dinner. It is said that the douhua is quite famous. The most important thing is that it is located right on the way back to the hotel, which makes me feel convenient again.
I chose water noodles, fermented tofu pudding and glutinous rice cake . The noodles were quite delicious, but the spiciness still threw me off.
Price reference: Per capita15-25 RMB
Another famous snack Yan Taipo Guokui is also on this road. This store has several branches, and I just happened to find one nearby.
You can choose the fillings, such as ham, pork, etc., plus radish, cucumber and other cold things. You can cut the pancake and stuff it in quickly. But it's a pity that I can't eat this after eating beef squid.
A few stores away there is Lai's Mutton Soup, which is also a very popular soup pot (the name of this road is Shu Sock North Third Street)
Price reference: Per capita8-15 RMB
What saved my life in the cold weather was Bu Er Juan .
I took a bite of it, and the matcha sauce dripped on my body without paying attention. The snow-white mochi is also very soft and waxy.
This is not a local specialty, but it is worth recommending. This hotel is at the junction of Chunxi Road and Sino-Ocean Taikoo Li . On the contrary, the drinks are weak and not very complimentary.
Price reference: Per capita10-20 RMB
The egg baked cake stall is not easy to find. It is located in the alley of Jing Alley of Kuanzhai Alley . A business run by a couple, customers can choose different flavors under the two lines of salty and sweet.
In fact, I think it tastes like pancakes or waffles, but it is indeed on the list of "Recommended Chengdu Foods".
Price reference: per capita10 RMB
Rabbit heads and jelly balls are common snacks, especially in Jinli. So don’t worry too much about stepping on the wrong side, everyone’s methods and taste should be similar.
If you still feel uneasy, just choose the most popular one and buy it. I don’t recommend the jelly balls, we just think they look good. Others are uncompetitive.
Price reference: per capita15 RMB
Also in the lively Jinli, there is Wansi Cake that looks very much like Guangdong’s Silver Cake. It's just that the area and volume are much larger.
The way of eating is also different. In Guangzhou, it's a small one and eaten with condensed milk. Here, the ingredients are put into the cake. It will taste a bit like hand pancakes, but the taste is not as rich.
Price reference: per capita10 RMB
✏ Postcards and souvenirs
Refrigerator Magnets | Small Ornaments | Commemorative Coins | Dolls
Souvenirs are everywhere, so don’t worry about missing anything. This time I bought myself a refrigerator magnet and a commemorative coin as a check-in souvenir.
Postcards don’t have to be expensive to buy (it’s more expensive at Panda Post Office). You can finish writing them at the hotel and go to Panda Post Office to buy stamps.
You can also be like me and write a dozen or so pages before 9:30 as if you are rushing to hand in the paper for an exam. Even the clerk said, wow, there are so many.
I hope you all received them one by one.
✏ Route planning ideas
Kuanzhai Jinli | Ducao Qingyang | Chunxi Taikoo | etc.
Except that Du Fu Thatched Cottage and Qingyang Palace are not drawn not far to the east, the routes in the city are actually well divided.
The location of the bunny is where the hotel is.
Dedicate one day to Kuanzhai and Jinli to eat exclusively. In one day, we will visit Du Fu Thatched Cottage, People's Park, and Qingyang Palace to get close to the life of old Chengdu.
On the other day, I walked west, walking through Renmin East Road and Tianfu Square like me, specifically to stroll around the commercial shopping streets. And then circle back.
When you see a museum, art gallery or library that interests you, you can visit it and breathe in the artistic atmosphere.
If you don’t have such a long itinerary, just pick the one you like and mark it on the map, so you don’t have to travel back and forth.
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