Chengdu

I came for the pandas but stayed for the vibe. Chengdu has this relaxed, friendly energy that’s rare in such a big city. I rented a bike and rode along the river, spent a lazy afternoon in a traditional teahouse, and took a cooking class that completely changed my view of Sichuan food. The locals were so warm and patient with my terrible Chinese. Everything about the trip felt wonderful — I can’t wait to go back.

As a total food lover, Chengdu is heaven on earth. I made a list of all the local classics and every single dish delivered — twice-cooked pork, boiled fish in chili oil, cold noodles, dumplings with that amazing red sauce. The wet markets are vibrant and chaotic, and the street stalls are ridiculously cheap. The city is also greener than I expected, with lovely parks to rest in between meals. Go hungry!

Chengdu completely stole my heart. The pace is so much slower and easier than Beijing or Shanghai. Walking through Jinli at night with the lanterns, music, and sizzling street food felt like stepping into another world. The giant pandas at the breeding base made me emotional — they are just so unbelievably cute. And the dan dan noodles? I still think about them every day. 100% recommend.

Chengdu is a solid stop if you’ve got a few days in China. I loved sitting in People’s Park teahouse, sipping jasmine tea and watching locals get their ears cleaned while old men played cards. Wuhou Shrine was interesting but really busy. The food is amazing if you can handle the spice — my mapo tofu was incredible. I’d give it a five if the metro hadn’t been so packed during rush hour.

Chengdu was okay, but not the magical place I was expecting. The panda base is wonderful, but the rest of the city felt really crowded and the haze made every photo look grey. Hotpot was tasty, but the staff at the restaurant seemed rushed and we struggled to get a taxi afterwards in the rain. Maybe I just hit it on a bad weekend.

I ended up staying in Chengdu for a month instead of the planned week, and that says everything. The daily rhythm here is so lovely—morning tai chi in the park, fresh dumplings from the same little street stall every day, and lazy afternoons at a bamboo teahouse. The night markets get chaotic but in the best way, with sizzling skewers and fried tofu everywhere. It's a city you don't just visit; you live it. If you want an authentic, gritty, beautiful Chinese urban experience, Chengdu is it.