5 Reasons Why You Should Visit Chengdu – a City of Varied Attractions

The endearing giant pandas are loved across the globe, whilst being regarded as a Chinese national treasure. In Chengdu, you will have plenty of opportunities to observe these iconic creatures. In their wild environment, these pandas are native to the dense bamboo forests located at a high elevation in the central mountains of China. Nevertheless, you can also now observe them at close quarters at several reserves. At these sanctuaries, you may view the pandas as they eat, play, climb and sleep which will be a delightful experience for the whole family.

The city of Chengdu is also renowned as a wonderful place for food lovers as you will be able to savour genuine Sichuan cuisine here. This kind of cuisine is famed for its spiciness and flavour. If you enjoy spicy dishes, you may take the opportunity to try out various specialities; these include kung pao chicken (chicken with hot pepper and peanuts), mapo tofu (fried tofu with chilli, minced meat and Sichuan peppercorns) and the irresistible hotpot. You will also be able to try out a variety of snacks at Chengdu's food courts, like kebabs, barbecued food, fried potatoes, tofu, pineapple rice, dandan noodles, and so on.

Chengdu inherits a rich cultural legacy with many aspects that will capture the interest of the culture lover. Sichuan opera which you can experience in this city is regarded as one of China's significant forms of drama. You are likely to be entranced if you choose to experience a Sichuan opera performance on your visit to Chengdu. Buddhist traditions would be another important aspect of the city's cultural heritage. You will also be able to plan an excursion to attractions like the Leshan Giant Buddha which is considered to be the world's tallest and largest stone sculpture of Buddha.

The overall atmosphere and lifestyle in Chengdu could be described as 'slow living'. In other words, Chengdu residents take it easy, enjoying their leisure and an unhurried pace of life. The locals spend a lot of time drinking tea, playing mah-jong, chatting and generally basking in the outdoors. The Chengdu People's Park is a popular leisure venue for residents who can be seen engaging in various laidback activities here. An accommodation choice to consider from where you could easily visit this park would be Citadines South Chengdu which offers pleasingly located serviced apartments in Chengdu.

The environs around Chengdu will also be an appealing environment for those who appreciate the beauty of pristine nature. You will have the opportunity to plan a trip to the picturesque Qingcheng Mountain which is also called Green City Mountain due to its lofty peaks swathed in thick forest resembling the battlements of a city. From Chengdu, you can also journey to other parts of the country be it to visit the limpid and serene lakes at Jiuzhaigou or the calcified pools as well as the resident monkeys at Huang Long.