Savoring Chengdu and its spicy form of gossip

Eating, playing and gossiping are at the heart of life in Chengdu China vacation deals.

“If you don’t experience these three things, you have not been to Chengdu,” says Meng Dan, a travel guide.

Combining two or more of the three is even better. Some examples include eating while indulging in a foot massage, looking at art or listening to poetry. Gossip goes down especially well if served with zhuyeqing, a green tea, and snacks like peanuts and melon seeds. The gossip in Chengdu is often as spicy as the food.

The locals penchant for gossip has led to the saying that people cannot spend their youth in Sichuan but it’s a great place in your senior years.

Famous Chinese writer Yu Qiuyu attributes slow and comfortable pace to its history and geography.

“The city is guarded by lines of mountains and has never suffered a great famine or war,” Yu writes in “Cultural Odyssey.” “This has given the people a sense of safety, resulting in a good sense of humor among locals.”

Chengdu locals are proud of being the “home of the panda” and they agree there is some truth to what Yu says. But they are also quick to point out that their city is changing and becoming more open to outside influences, especially Weste culture.

This newfound sense of adventure and creativity can be seen in the food top China tours.

“The latest trend is bangbangji, boiled chicken marinated in spicy sauce with cheesecake, and serving hotpot with ice-cream,” a Chengdu foodie says.

On this three-day trip, travel guide Meng was asked to create an itinerary based around playful eating and drinking. In short, I wanted to feel like a Chengdu native.

Kuanzhai Lane

The old lane was built in the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) and is a great destination to experience eating, playing and gossiping. Well, you will need to understand a little Mandarin to catch the gossip.

The buildings here combine north and south style architecture. The Chinese-style four-sided enclosed courtyard home, or siheyuan, originated in northe China. The siheyuan in the lane feature a southe Chinese style garden, incorporating a fish pond and brick carvings.

The best time to visit is when the sun is setting as the whole lane fades to a monochrome.

The old lane is fringed with food stalls selling xiaochi, or small snacks. Portions are small so don’t be shy about trying a variety of different items.

Try the sweet and spicy zhongshuijiao, which looks like northe style dumplings. They contain minced pork and are dipped in a shiny red oil that is made from sugar, chili and spices.

Flavorful, aromatic and slightly chewy dandanmian is another highlight popular China tours. These noodles are coated with a spicy sauce made from Sichuan pepper, minced pork, scallions and peanut butter. Liangfen is a translucent rice noodle drenched in a spicy sauce.

For those who can’t handle so much spicy fare, try the sweet and smooth sanheni, literally three different pastes. Glutinous rice, black sesame and walnut are ground and fried with lard until it creates a mash like texture. Vendors here sprinkle it with some crushed peanuts to add texture and aroma. You can also try tangyouguozi. These deep-fried glutinous rice balls are coated with sesame and brown sugar glaze. The crunchy exterior mixes well with the smooth, soft filling.

As for beverages, try liangcha, a sweet and slightly bitter drink made from local herbs.

Jiuyitang, an elegant teahouse at the coer of the lane, is a good source to catch the latest gossip.

Intricately graved classical Chinese fuiture, waitresses wearing ancient costumes and lines of red oil-paper umbrellas hanging from the ceiling make it feel like the Qing Dynasty.

The best seat is hidden inside, opposite a stage where Sichuan Opera is performed.

Many people go to drink tea while they read newspapers or gossip.

Many old residents in the area have been moved out since the city govement hopes to tu the lane into a leisure center. But some residents are said to be the descendants of nobles.

tags：travel to China

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