by Le Concierge Orient
One week in
chengdu china
Chengdu is the capital of modern day Sichuan with a history that stretches from the 4th century BC. It was the capital of Liu Bei’s Shu Han kingdom after the Han empire dissolved into anarchy close to 2,000 years ago and has since progressed into one of China’s most important economic, financial, and cultural bastions. Chengdu’s long history has culminated into one of the country’s most diverse yet distinct cities, a melting pot of brilliant cultural and culinary influences from the famed Szechuan region.
Ancient City
A latter-day incarnation of the ancient state of Shu, the area surrounding Chengdu is brimming with historical importance. The Chengdu Plain has been fertile and cultivated for thousands of years since the warring period and the Dujiangyan, an ancient hydraulic engineering system constructed around 256 BC by the State of Qin as an irrigation and flood control project, is still in use today. Szechuan has been known as the “Land of Abundance” since then, a reputation that has endured to this day.
Culturally, Chengdu is accredited with many important developments. During the Han dynasty, the Chengdu economy, especially its brocade industry, prospered. Chengdu’s population reached 76,000 households, or about 354,000 people, making it one of the most populous cities during that ancient epoch. At around the same time, Chengdu’s literature and art also reached a high level, and famous literary masters like Sima Xiangru (poet and politician), Yang Xiong (philosopher and poet), and Wang Bao (poet) hailed from ancient Chengdu.
Over the Han period, the brocade produced in Chengdu became fashionable and was exported throughout China. Shuxiu’s (Shu is the name of ancient Szechuan) popularity endured into the modern day and is celebrated as one of China’s “Four Famous Brocades”, renowned for its resplendent colours, complex patterns, and durable texture. Chengdu is also the powerhouse for Sichuan opera, an ancient performance art that can be traced back to the pre-Qin period, reaching the peak of its popularity and development during the Tang-Song era.
Transition Period
Entering the tumultuous 20th century, the capital city of China was forced to move from Nanjing to Wuhan in 1937, and from Wuhan to Chengdu briefly in 1938, as the Kuomintang government under Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek retreated to Sichuan to escape from the invading Japanese forces. This shift of base brought to Sichuan business people, workers and academics who founded many of the industries and cultural institutions that continue to make Chengdu an important urban centre in China today.
Chengdu rose as a military centre for resistance during the war to counter the Japanese air invasions. During the Chinese Civil War, Chengdu was the last major city on the Chinese mainland held by the Kuomintang. The city still has many significant sites that bore the marks of war and offers incredibly rich and insightful military and war museum experiences for history buffs.
The Future
In 2019, Chengdu overtook Shenzhen, China’s fast-paced technology hub, as the best-performing Chinese economy. The city has surged in population over the last two decades, with a population of 21.5 million according to the 2020 census. Yet overcrowding seems to be quite a distant problem for Chengdu; within such a densely populated city it is common to see the ‘le-huo’ (zeal for life) characteristic of the city’s dwellers where friends meet frequently at the tea houses and folks stop for a game of chess any and everywhere. Szechuan people are widely known to be easy-going and friendly and life here is far from frenetic as compared to the other mega cities of China.
Top Chengdu Attractions
Panda Central
Located at the western edge of the Sichuan Basin and sitting right on the Chengdu Plain, Chengdu is literally a short ride away from the great mountains and natural sites of the region. It is the natural home of China’s furry diplomatic agents, and now the breeding centre for pandas in China, Chengdu is the very spot for panda adoration. The best places to see these adorable creatures moping around or lie in total inertia are the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding (Chengdu Panda Base), Dujiangyan Panda Valley (Panda Valley) and Dujiangyan Panda Base.
The Birthplace of Taoism
Mount Qingcheng, located 65 km from Chengdu in Sichuan or roughly 90 mins by road, is a lush, Unesco-listed mountain renowned as one of the primary birthplaces of Taoism. Tracts of dense evergreen forests, misty peaks, and ancient temples has added to its fame and it was the visual inspiration for the Kung Fu Panda series. The mountain is divided into two distinct areas, catering to different types of travellers. The Front Mountain (Qian Shan) is the cultural and historical epicentre with significant Taoist monasteries, shrines, steep stone stairs, and even a cable car in operation. The Back Mountain (Hou Shan) is known for its tranquil natural beauty, lush waterfalls, and offers serene hiking trails for nature lovers.
Cultural Alleys
Kuanzhai Alley (Wide & Narrow Alleys) is a landmark historical and cultural district located in downtown Chengdu, popular with tourists looking for an immersive cultural initiation in the old city. Dating back to the Qing Dynasty, Kuanzhai Alley is famous for its preserved ancient Siheyuan (courtyard houses), many of which have been reinvented as modern, upscale cafes, hotels and boutiques. This is also the spot for some Szechuan opera performances, particularly the ‘face-changing’ act the regional genre is famous for.
Chengdu Cuisine
Chengdu is widely considered to be the pulsating heart of Sichuan cuisine and here there are many restaurants specialising in the fiery mala genre the region is famous for. From classical dishes to mouth-watering hot pots, Chengdu is truly a gastronomy hotspot renowned for its bold, yet sometimes surprising flavours. Beyond the tried and tested Szechuan flavours, Chengdu is also famous for its unusual street delicacies like rabbit heads, pig’s brains and duck tongues, that are probably more suited for adventurous gourmands.
Shang Palace (Shangri-La Chengdu)
Shang Palace in Chengdu is the signature Chinese restaurant of Shangri-La Chengdu renowned for its elegant and spacious interiors, with floor-to-ceiling windows offering stunning views of the Jinjiang River Bridge at night, and the reinvented Szechuan classics on its menu, created through the culinary team’s masterful blend of classic techniques with innovative presentations.
Yue Hin (Niccolo Chengdu)
Yue Hin specialises in traditional Cantonese and classic Sichuan cuisines. The chic interior featuring clean lines, accent chairs and decorative slats provides an elegant setting for enjoying a traditional Chinese meal crafted using the freshest seasonal ingredients. The extensive menu here offers a good spectrum of well-loved Cantonese and Szechuan classics, combining the best of both worlds.
Top Chengdu Hotels
Six Senses Qingcheng Mountain
Six Senses Qing Cheng Mountain is a serene resort in China located right at the picturesque gateway to the Unesco Natural Heritage site of Dujiangyan, an ancient irrigation system dating back over 2000 years. Drawing on regional architecture and landscaping, this Six Senses, the only installation in China so far, has adopted a heavy dose of traditional architectural accents and amalgamated it with the brand’s very clean, very minimalistic stylistics, resulting in a fabulous hideaway comprising lush landscaping, cloistered courtyard houses with ornate tiled roofs, gently flowing streams and swathes of eco farms promulgating sustainable sensibilities. Having recently celebrated its 10th anniversary, a cluster of renovated Hot Spring Suites were unveiled, featuring sunken stone tubs in the courtyard, elevating a stay here with the restorative pleasures of a thermal soak. A cluster of restaurants here offers Chinese, Continental and even Thai cuisine along with a classic tea house, a moon bar and a snack shack, all using ingredients grown in the resort’s own farm, complemented by locally sourced seasonal produce from nearby farming communities. Such lush aesthetics working in tandem with the clean mountain air definitely makes Six Senses Qing Cheng Mountain a welcome respite from bustling Chengdu.
Niccolo Chengdu
Niccolo is the upmarket brand of HK-based Wharf Hotels with a growing presence in the Greater China region. Niccolo Chengdu, which debuted in 2015, is the brand’s first property and sets the Niccolo design DNA in tandem with its very look and feel. Located in the heart of the bustling Chun Xi Road business district, it occupies the first 25 floors of Tower 3 at the International Finance Square (IFS). The 230-room property offers spacious, luxurious guestrooms and suites from 40 to 200 sqm in size. The mood board is palpably inspired by the artistic and fashionable, with flamboyant art pieces inhabiting the interiors. The rooms are, however, a notch more subdued, featuring natural textiles and leathers in subtle earth tones. These are comfortable and sophisticated dens in Chengdu, with pleasing palettes and expansive windows that flood the space with light and inspired city views. Three restaurants and a watering hole aid guests with their exploration of Szechuan (and international) gastronomy in Chengdu – Yue Hin specialises in traditional Cantonese and classic Sichuan cuisines, Niccolo Kitchen showcases both Asian and Western cuisine, while The Tea Lounge serves an exquisite array of sweet and savoury delicacies, alongside a fine selection of international and vintage teas. The Bar is the spot for classic libations and delicious snacks, with Steak Frites, a modern twist to the traditional French Bistro, located within.
Shangri-La Chengdu
Something needs to be said about the sense of familiarity one gets with the Shangri-La brand – always centrally located, always comfortably furnished and always unsurprising decor-wise, with just one or two exceptions with the recently launched 2.0 versions. In this respect, Shangri-La Chengdu is conveniently located in the downtown area of Chengdu, with the pleasing view of Jinjiang River peeking through from the ample window walls of the rooms. Jinjiang River, Anshun Bridge and Hejiang Pavilion form the quintessential old Szechuan vista and all these landmarks are within a 10-minute walk from Shangri-La Chengdu. Fortuitously but not one bit coincidental, the International Financial Center and Tai Koo Li business district are also within walking distance. The hotel soars 36 floors with 593 spacious and modern rooms and suites. There are three restaurants that provide a decent range of dining options under one roof. Café Z is the buffet restaurant with an à la carte menu, while Shang Palace offers authentic Sichuan cuisine, helmed by seasoned chef Zhang Muqin. Like the other Shangri-La hotels all across China, afternoon tea is still a popular ritual at the Lobby Lounge, as it comes with an enchanting view of the river. Additionally, the Health Club is equipped with an outdoor tennis centre, private yoga rooms and a 25-metre indoor heated lap pool, offering leisure options few hotels can match in Chengdu.
W Chengdu
True to its hip brand manifesto, W Chengdu is located in the pulsating Gaoxin district, the city’s thriving southern economic, tech, and financial hub marked by skyscrapers, shopping malls and business centres. Step into the lobby and one is greeted by a towering cascade of lights and forms designed to react in real-time to human movement by internationally renowned design outfit teamLab. Bursts of colours and exuberance are encountered throughout the property, from the check-in counter to the 287 rooms and suites that open to urban city views. The mood here is more subtle than the usual chromatism ignited by the other W properties across the country, and it’s anyone’s guess if Chengdu’s reputation as the “Panda Headquarter” might have held sway over the property’s rather whimsical design directive. There are three restaurants and watering holes to indulge guests’ palates here. Southeast Asian and Sichuan spices await at Zing while The Living Room morphs from a comfortable tea room by day to a hard-hitting watering hole by night. See and be seen at Spark while one gets lost in the euphoric beats of emerging local artists and reputable DJs. Guests can also indulge in Away Spa, featuring rejuvenating treatments using French skincare line Biologique Recherche.
Mumian Hotel Chengdu
Mumian Hotels is a boutique lifestyle hotel brand that is now part of The Unbound Collection by Hyatt. Mumian Chengdu is located at the intersection between Shuangqing Road and Shuanggui Road, a mere 5-minute walking distance to Shuangqiao Metro Station, with easy access to attractions like Chunxi Road, Taikoo Li, IFS, Jiu Yan Qiao, Wenshu Monastery and Panda Base. Spacious and inviting, the property’s 198 sumptuously appointed guest rooms (from 45 to 200 sqm) are designed by Cheng Chung Design (CCD HK China) and draws inspiration from Chengdu’s traditional architecture and reflects a classical manor cloistered in an elegant, contemporary shell. There are two distinct interior design styles here: one that embraces the vintage spirit of the city with reimagined classical details, and the juxtaposing other bathed in chic modern aesthetics and functionality. There is a well-equipped gym and a Chinese restaurant that offers an array of dishes drawn from regional staples.
Canopy by Hilton Chengdu
Located in Chengdu’s Qing Yang District, directly facing Tianfu Square, Canopy Chengdu offers guests convenient access to the city’s cultural and historical attractions, within walking distance to the Chengdu Museum and People’s Park. As the first Canopy by Hilton property in the Asia-Pacific region, the hotel embodies the brand’s premium lifestyle positioning with a lobby decked with distinctly attractive design accents inspired by Chengdu’s imperial and scholastic past, blending traditional elements like blue brickwork and Szechuan opera motifs. The 149 guest rooms, including suites with panoramic city views, are infused with both local and contemporary touches to create comfortable and interesting spaces to inhabit. Dining options include T.C Café and The Canopy Lounge, where guests can enjoy local and international flavours with creative cocktails. There is also a 24-hour fitness centre with a boxing ring, and a Canopy Transfer Lounge that offers luggage storage, showers, and changing facilities for guests coming and going.
