First visit to Chengdu: a city that makes people slow down

The first time I set foot in Chengdu was in a slightly cool autumn. The moment the plane landed at Shuangliu Airport, I didn't have much excitement of "seeing the famous city for the first time". Like many people, my cognition of Chengdu also stayed in the words "panda, hot pot, mahjong, teahouse". But the few days when I really walked into this city, I realized that the charm of Chengdu is never noisy, but it can make people intoxicated unconsciously. Day 1: A bowl of hot and spicy hot pot, start the dialogue between taste buds and the city It was almost dusk when I arrived in Chengdu, and I dragged my luggage to check into a small hotel near Taikoo Li. The first thing I did after putting down my luggage was to eat hot pot. I chose a popular restaurant, and as expected, I had to wait in line, but the waiter recommended tea while handing out snacks. For the first time, I felt that queuing could also be part of the "urban lifestyle". Finally sat down, the bottom of the pot was boiling, and the red oil was boiling. Beef tripe, tripe, yellow throat, crispy meat, winter melon slices... After taking a bite, it was spicy and fragrant. I couldn't help sweating and drinking sour plum soup while shouting that it was delicious. That hot pot seemed to open the door to Chengdu. It was warm, spicy, and strong, but it didn't urge you to finish eating and leave quickly. The next day: Kuanzhai Alley and People's Park, see life in "slowness" The next day, I got up early and started walking from the Jinjiang River, passing through the street corners and alleys, and came to Kuanzhai Alley. Although there are many tourists, you can still feel the atmosphere of old Chengdu between the gray walls and black tiles. The old house has become a cafe, a cultural and creative store, and a small theater, but it has not lost its original warmth. I bought a cup of milk tea with a lid, sat on the street and watched the Sichuan opera actors put on makeup, and watched the children chasing bubbles on the steps. My heart seemed to be gently rubbed. Later I went to People's Park. Chengdu people are really serious about "playing". Some people practiced Tai Chi, some played mahjong, and some enthusiastic parents hung their children's resumes in the "blind date corner". The teahouse by the lake was a magical place. Order a pot of scented tea, and the master came to clean my ears. He used a long silver spoon to clean my ear canals lightly. I almost fell asleep in comfort. That afternoon, I stopped checking my schedule and taking photos. I just wanted to sit longer in this sip of tea, listen to the cicadas, and watch the wind blowing the shadows of the trees. Day 3: Meet the panda Huahua, a small dream come true Before coming to Chengdu, I was "fanned" by a panda on the Internet. Her name is Huahua. She sat lazily eating bamboo, with a round face and a little "outward-facing" walk, which made people shout "so cute!!" So, I took a day off and got up early to rush to the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding. Before it was completely light, the entrance of the base was already full of fans with long guns and short guns. Huahua's place was crowded with people. She was chewing bamboo leisurely, like a "group favorite queen" who didn't take humans seriously. I stood behind the crowd and watched her for more than an hour, and my mouth curled up unconsciously. I was so happy to see the "living emoticons" on the Internet in real life. Day 4: I was reluctant to leave, but I knew I would come again. On the last day, I didn't arrange any attractions. I just strolled around Chunxi Road, ate a bowl of sweet noodles, and passed by the bookstore in Taikoo Li, and flipped through a photo album about old teahouses in Chengdu. At that moment, I suddenly realized that Chengdu is a very wonderful city. It doesn't rely on high-rise buildings to attract you, nor does it rely on bustling and prosperous to keep you. It relies on a feeling that you can't describe but is very comfortable. Walking on the road, there are always people saying: "Slow down, it's okay." "Come on, have a cup of tea." It turns out that the character of a city can also be gentle. Epilogue: Thank you, Chengdu I don't know when I will come to Chengdu again next time. But I know that as long as the word "Chengdu" is mentioned, my mind will emerge: Huahua's round face, the red soup of hot pot, the lanterns in the wide alley, the tea fragrance in People's Park, and my heart that slowed down in those days. The first time I came to Chengdu, it didn't surprise me, but it healed me. As the saying goes: "Once you have been to Chengdu, you will no longer want to leave too quickly." I believe it. #Chengdu #Panda #Travel