Three Days in Chengdu: Tea Houses, Hotpot & Pandas

Chengdu moves at its own pace. In a country where cities often feel like they’re racing toward the future, Chengdu insists on taking its time — and invites you to do the same.

Day 1: Tea Culture

My first stop was Heming Tea House in People’s Park. For 20 yuan, you get a covered gaiwan of jasmine tea, a bamboo chair, and permission to sit as long as you like. Around me, locals played mahjong, had their ears cleaned by wandering artisans, and simply watched the world go by.

Day 2: The Panda Base

The Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding is best visited early — both to avoid crowds and because pandas are most active in the morning. Watching a juvenile panda tumble from a tree platform is worth any amount of early rising.

Day 3: Hotpot

No visit to Chengdu is complete without hotpot. I chose a local spot in Yulin, away from the tourist areas. The numbing heat of Sichuan peppercorns, the rich broth, the ritual of cooking each ingredient at just the right moment — it’s an experience that engages every sense.

Chengdu taught me that the best travel isn’t about checking items off a list. It’s about slowing down enough to notice what makes a place unique.