Chengdu | Day 2

We started the day early, making use of the hotel’s laundry facilities before heading down to the buffet for breakfast. The selection was better than expected, with a decent variety of options, though nothing particularly stood out.

Our first stop was Kuan Alley and Zhai Alley, which loosely translate to Wide and Narrow Alley. It’s a well-known tourist spot in Chengdu, so while it was interesting to see the mix of old-style architecture and shops, we didn’t linger too long due to the crowds.

From there, we continued exploring the surrounding neighborhood on foot, eventually finding a restaurant called JiMaoDian for lunch. This place specialized in Sichuan cuisine, and every dish we tried was full of the bold, spicy flavors the region is famous for. Definitely a memorable meal.

After lunch, we crossed the road and took a walk through People’s Park. The park was quite busy, full of locals enjoying the day. It had several tea houses scattered throughout, along with flower gardens and water features, making it a peaceful spot to relax for a while.

Next, we hopped on the metro and made our way to Gudashengci Temple, a small Buddhist temple right in the middle of the city. It was a working temple, and you could feel the spiritual energy there, with monks going about their daily routines and the soft sounds of people chanting Buddhist mantras in the background.

After visiting the temple, we returned to the hotel to rest up before heading out for the evening’s entertainment.

Our evening was a special treat—a performance by a Chinese opera troupe at Shufengya Yun Theatre. The theatre was packed, and the show lasted about an hour and a half. It included a variety of acts, from dramatic opera scenes and musical performances featuring rare instruments, to puppetry and shadow plays. The two major highlights of the night were the face-changing performance and a mesmerizing rod puppet act.

The face-changing artist wore several thin masks, removing them so quickly with a flick of the wrist that it was almost impossible to see. Equally captivating was the rod puppet performance. Rod puppets are controlled by long, thin rods attached to their limbs, and in the hands of a skilled performer, they move with such fluidity and grace that the puppet and puppeteer seem to become one. Watching the puppet mimic human emotions and actions with such precision was unforgettable.

To end the night, we grabbed a quick bite at 钟水饺, the same restaurant as the night before, and treated ourselves to another pancake from a street vendor.