A monk was concerned about the accidents, so he proposed for a Buddha statue to be carved from the rock while using the rubbles to fill the river bed in a bid to calm the water currents. The construction took 90 long years to be completed but efforts were paid off as accidents had reportedly reduced. And now whatâ€s left is the worldâ€s tallest and awe-inspiring Giant Buddha. The Buddha was featured before in The Storm Riders movie starring Aaron Kwok and Ekin Cheng.

I would very much prefer to see the Giant Buddha on foot because it doesnâ€t make sense to travel so far and long just to catch a glimpse… If only I get to choose… And so we boarded a boat and put on the mandatory lifejackets provided while the boat slowly made its way towards the Buddha.

When the boat reached alongside the Buddha, it stopped briefly for people on board to have a good view of Buddha. The strong water currents can be felt even while the boat is stationary. But my, the majestic Leshan Giant Buddha is so amazing! We were told that itâ€s 71 meters tall and each giant toe is already around 8 meters… Wow, just look at those ant-like humans around the foot area!

Before we knew it, the boat moved forward slowly and turned back. And the 20-30 minutes boat ride was over…oh well.

Huanglongxi Ancient Town

Next destination was an ancient town named Huanglongxi (黄é¾æºªé•‡) before heading back to Chengdu. A picturesque quaint town which has a history dated almost 1,700 years back. In addition, the buildings around here seem well preserved and we were told that it has been featured as backdrops for movies.

The charming town of Huanglongxi is quite big. And it has some uniqueness which made it rather interesting.

Tianfu Square, Kuan Zhai Xiangzi and Chunxi Road

The last day of the trip was spent around Tianfu Square (天府广场), Kuan Zhai Xiangzi (宽窄巷子) and Chunxi Road (春ç†è·¯). Tianfu Square is located at Chengduâ€s city centre, where a huge iconic statue of Mao Zedong stands. The site used to be where the Imperial Palace once stood. But sadly, it was destroyed during Chinaâ€s Cultural Revolution. For a city which has been the capital city for so many emperors in the past, there werenâ€t any palaces which remain to tell its historical importance.

Kuan Zhai Xiangzi

Kuan Zhai Xiangzi simply means “Wide and Narrow Streets” and itâ€s yet another ancient town we visited. The area is much smaller than Jinli but has the usual teahouses, foodstuff, handicrafts and performing arts.

Oh, and the ear cleaning service, right in the open street.

Chunxi shopping street

Chunxi Road is Chengduâ€s shopping strip with lots of restaurants, cafes, shops and malls lining the street.

Well, shopping ainâ€t my thing so I just grabbed some ice cream and people watch at Häagen-Dazs. Next to the ice cream shop is a bronze statue of Sun Yat-sen and the wall beside with four Chinese characters 天下为公.

That sums up my short stay in Chengdu and I do hope to come back here on my own in future. So that I can explore more stuff and perhaps venture to the nearby National Parks like Jiuzhaigou (九寨沟).

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What are your thoughts about Leshan Giant Buddha or Huanglongxi? Leave a comment and share it with me.

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This short work trip opened out my mind about Chengdu to realize that this provincial capital of Sichuan province has got tons to offer! Chengdu is synonymous with pandas, ‘Face-changing†(变脸) and the spicy Sichuan cuisine. Itâ€s also a perfect gateway to the nearby Jiuzhaigou National park, Huanglong Scenic Area, Emei Mountain, Qingcheng Mountain, Leshan Giant Buddha and even Tibet. I was merely scratching the surface during this trip and hope to be back for more.

Jinli Ancient Street

Jinli (锦里古街) was historically a commercial street during the Shu Kingdom era. Itâ€s now a lively tourist zone which is surrounded by shops, teahouses, and restaurants housed in ancient-looking buildings. Not too bad a place to hang around for local food, snacks, and souvenirs. But I find Jinli to be somewhat a little over-touristy.

Thereâ€s this garden towards the end street where I found some interesting stone carvings of Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei.

Nearby is San Yi temple where the three sworn brothers are worshipped, together with Zhuge Liang.

Spicy Sichuan Mala hot pot

My first dip into the spicy Mala hot pot (麻辣é¦é”…) and itâ€s much spicier than Iâ€ve thought! What sets the Sichuan version apart from those typical hot pots is the ‘tongue numbing†spicy broth. The fiery combo of red chilli oil and the peppercorns are not for the faint heart or stomach. Itâ€s a refreshing change from the usual hot pot. But I donâ€t think I will try Mala hot pot anytime again soon…

Saw this lady selling the super sweet Tanghulu (冰糖葫芦) outside the hot pot restaurant.

Paradise Ethos Show in Chengdu

The evening was spent watching Paradise Ethos, a music and dance performance choreographed by Zhang Yimou, Chinaâ€s famous film director.

Itâ€s a nice experience for the beautifully designed stage, bright colourful costumes and nice music which went well with the storyline.

But the epic moment was when the face-changing performers moved around and showcase their show-stopping acts. How the hell they do that??? I am totally mesmerized by the amazing face-changing feat!!

And the ending…

Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding

As mentioned that Chengdu is synonymous with the panda bear, so it’s surely a must to visit Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding (成都大熊貓繁育研究基地). Panda bear is regarded as one of Chinaâ€s national treasure but the rare animal is also among the world’s most endangered species.

Hence, the non-profit research base is dedicated to pandaâ€s protection, conservation and public education in a bid to preserve the dwindling Panda population.

Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding is a huge place, surrounded by lush greenery with primarily bamboo trees, replicating pandaâ€s natural habitat. Itâ€s nice to walk around on its own actually. But of course, weâ€re here to see panda and we are not disappointed.

One of my favourite pictures…is he looking at me?

More pandas alert, on the tree this time. The duo having fun on top of the trees.

Itâ€s best to be here early morning where the crowds are lesser and while the pandas are up and around for their breakfast. Some interesting facts about pandas: they spend around two-thirds of their day consuming up to 20kg of bamboo and thatâ€s because bamboo is nutritionally poor. And when theyâ€re not feasting? They rest!

Famous international star Jackie Chan donated 1 million RMB for the cause and adopted two pandas.

The best part is to get to see the little ones outside the nursery room.

Thereâ€re also shops within the research base where any souvenirs related to panda can be found. Itâ€s really crowded inside the small shop and the most popular item seems to be the panda soft toys.

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What are your thoughts about Chengdu? Leave a comment and share it with me.

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