Relaxation in Chengdu I: Chengdu Overview

If you are bored with your work, if you are stressed, where do you want to go? What will you do? Come on, we will talk about a leisurely city to you in the article.

                                                       Chapter One


            Chengdu—Leisure Beyond your Imagination

Chengdu is the capital of Sichuan Province which is located in the southeast of the Sichuan basin, and known as the "Heavenly State". It’s magnificent and modern with age-old colorful traditions of both religious and civil significance for the past 2,500 years in Chinese history.

Chunxi Road

Moreover, Chengdu is depicted in a poem as "Chengdu Landscape, as if endowed by the Ninth Heaven, is shared in the creations of many a master artist." --It’s also known as the hibiscus city or the brocade city as with the coming of the spring, peach blossoms abound on the plain and rape-seed flowers tinge the landscape golden while the wafting cooking smoke curls up from the farm huts amidst bamboo groves. All this makes the city and its suburbs truly poetic.

Besides, benefiting from Dujiangyan Irrigation Project which was constructed in 256 B.C., Sichuan Province is reputed as "Tian Fu Zhi Guo", literally a place richly endowed with natural resources. Chengdu, as the capital, is extremely productive. 

--General information about Chengdu as above has mentioned and the following will show you the real way to experience the real Chengdu and as you get close to it, the relax lifestyle of Chengdu people will beyond your imagination. 

If you wander on the streets of Chengdu, you’ll find all the city is filled with the atmosphere of leisure: people are gathering by the street sides, gossiping around the table and playing Mahjong. Old people are playing chess or cards with little children playing games by their sides. Times just pass by in these kinds of harmonious. Their cozy life style will let you forget all the things except eager to be one of them to enjoy those exciting activities. 

                                                        Relaxation in Chengdu

Sichuan Opera Mask

The best way to get a good feel for Chengdu is to find a spot in the shade at a teahouse and relax. Teahouses and the local cuisine vie for the top spot as the defining characteristic of Chengdu. There are few places in China where traditional teahouses can still be found—this is the place to sit back, order a cup of tea and forget about your troubles. Mahjong, a domino-tape game, is played everywhere. The click-clack of the mahjong pieces being shuffled fill the air with the whistles from songbirds that old men carry in bamboo cages. 

As it is known to all, Sichuan opera with the Chengdu brand as representative is one of the principal genres of regional drama. It is particularly famous for its sense of humor and its unique skills in "Changing one's countenance". --In some teahouses you can enjoy your tea with a live performance of Sichuan opera or acrobatics while getting a head massage or your ears cleaned with long metal picks. 

                                                         Food Feast in Chengdu

Sichuan hot pot

Sichuan Cuisine wins universal praise for its hotness, sourness and numbness it produces, which are rare in other regional cuisines. All of these together sum up the unique flavor of Chuan Cuisine, which enjoys a good reputation as a cuisine that is "one dish with one flavor and one hundred dishes with one hundred flavors".

An outstanding facet of Sichuan dishes is the delicate use of pepper or chili. The ingredients used are great in variety, including poultry, pork, beef, fish, vegetables and tofu. If you travel to Chengdu, then you can eat Sichuan dishes at every corner of the city. The most famous dishes are Sichuan hot pot, slices of kidney, chicken breast, beef tripe, goose intestines, spring onion, soy bean sprouts, mushrooms, duck and sea cucumber are the usual meats used in the dish. 

                                                     Sight-seeing in Chengdu

With Chengdu’s profound historical and cultural background, it features historic places of interest such as the Thatched Cottage of Du Fu, Martial Marquis Memorial Temple and Wenshu Monastery, etc. Natural beauty abounds in surrounding areas such as in the Jiuzhaigou Scenic Area and Huanglong Valley (Yellow Dragon Valley). The natural habitat of giant pandas, Chengdu Panda Breeding and Research Center, supports the world's only giant panda breeding and research base.

In addition, what can’t be missed when coming to Chengdu is a visit to see the pandas.--Sichuan Province is the home of these celebrated creatures. These are only an estimated 500-1000pandas left in the wild and most of them live in northwestern Sichuan.

Being the hometown of Giant Pandas, Chengdu is where the Panda Breeding and Research Center is located. There visitors can see the cuddly giant pandas, and learn about giant pandas through displays of panda habitats, pictures and breeding and conservation efforts.

                                                   Chengdu on the Wheels

Jinli Street

Built on flat ground, Chengdu can easily be explored on foot or by bicycle. It has almost a southern aspect, with colorful old streets lined by scores of small restaurants and walkways that remain crowded until late with traders, buyers, and people out for a stroll. 

Nowadays, more and more people choose to experience Chengdu in the way of cycling as it is so convenient for them to take a glimpse of Chengdu and get close to the lifestyle of Chengdu people. If they see something interesting, they can easily park the bike by the road then take part in the activities of local people. 

--If you’re bored with your work, come to play mahjong games over cups of tea with Chengdu people;
--If you’re stressed, come to Chengdu to let the optimistic Chengdu people to give you happy mood;
--Are you ready to relax yourself in the coziest Chengdu city?

Memory of Shanghai VIII: Shanghai French Concession

Remembered as the famous ladies of old shanghai, shanghai french concession is one of the impressive memories of Chinese. What was it and what is it now? We will talk about it in the chapter.

                                                       Chapter Eight


                                       Paris of the East --Shanghai French Concession

The French Concession was the earliest, biggest and most prosperous Concession in Shanghai. It’s also known as French town which was a former foreign concession in Shanghai during the period of 1849 to 1946.

Shanghai French Concession is in old-Shanghai romance with the convenience of downtown living which stretching from Yanan Lu (road) in the north, Zhaojiabang Lu in the south, Huashan Lu in the west and Xizang Nan Lu to the east. With its peaceful, picturesque, tree-lined streets, this area retains an air of the "Paris of the East". At the same time, many of the small backstreets still have a very local feel. 

                                 Yesterday of Shanghai French Concession

The history of the French Concession is the history of foreign involvement in modern China. After the Chinese loss of the Opium Wars in 1842, Shanghai, among other cities, were forced to open themselves as international “ports of call.”

Old Shanghai

In the mid 19th century after the first Opium War, Shanghai became a large center for foreign trade and in 1849 the French Consul to China, Charles de Montigny signed an agreement with a senior local official to create a French Concession for French businessmen and traders to live. Over the next hundred years the area became home to many nationalities such as British, American, Russian and Chinese. 

Like the International Settlement, The French Settlement had its own code of laws and enforcement and was a de facto sovereign nation. Entrance by local Chinese was strictly limited to the affluent and influential and, in fact, many Chinese leftist artists and intellectuals made the French Concession their home. Nevertheless, the French ran their own municipal counsel and named all the streets after French generals, martyred soldiers, and other famous personalities. 

In the 1930s, Shanghai and the French Concession were at the height of their glamour and also decadence. Then it was also well known as center for brothels, gambling, and opium. During the second world war in 1943, a deal was made with the Chinese government to give control back to China along with French concessions in other Chinese cities, ending all French control in China. 

The occupation by western culture has given the area a wonderful mixture of both European and Chinese architecture. It may cause surprise to see old large European buildings in the middle of China's biggest city. 

                                    Today of Shanghai French Concession

Besides its historical and religious factors, today the area is still the most graceful part of Shanghai and a fantastic place for spending leisure time-- the most rewarding district for walks and bike rides. You can spend hours wandering the narrow alleyways, dining and one of the million cafes or restaurants, or browsing through the endless art galleries and photographic studios.

Today of Shanghai French Concession

Actually, the French Concession today is one of the most popular places in Shanghai to visit. Especially popular with Shanghai's middle and upper class residents, a wealth of cafes, restaurants and shops will have you wandering the area for an entire day with ease. The most famous and wealthy area in the French Concession is Xintiandi, which is known for its Shanghai architecture, its art galleries, designer boutiques, cafes and eateries. The large choice of pubs and clubs at night will provide an entertaining time for all. 

Characterized by an intriguing mix of low-rise, architectural styles dating from the colonial-era, this area boasts quaint boutiques and galleries, an endless supply of stylish bars and restaurants, plus easy access to metro stations and Huaihai Lu, ' the hub of Shanghai' s shopping scene. To the south-west of the area are Xujiahui's mega-shopping and leisure malls. All these factors combine to make Xuhui and Luwan, the two areas proper that make up the French Concession, an extremely desirable, world-class lifestyle package.

                                    Sites in Shanghai French Concession

1. Site of the 1st national congress of the CCP: On 23 July 1921 the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) was founded in this French Concession building, propelling this unassuming shikumen block into one of Chinese communism's holiest shrines.

Sun Yat-sen drew up plans for a modern unified China and Mao Zedong helped to found the Chinese Communist Party. The site of the First National Congress of CPC is at east side of Xintiandi, Xingye Lu.

There is plenty of Marxist spin in the museum commentary, just in case you had forgotten that Shanghai is actually part of the world's largest communist country. There's not all that much to see here, but historians will appreciate the site as a defining moment in modern Chinese history.

Sun Yat-sen's Former Residence

2. Sun Yat-sen's Former Residence: at 7 Xiangshan Rd. The house was the Shanghai residence of Sun Yat-sen and his wife Soong Ching-ling from 1918-1937. It’s now a museum which tells the story of the revolutionary father of China's republic. 

3. Zhou Enlai's Former Residence: at 73 Sinan Rd, Luwan District. It was the former Shanghai Office of the Delegation of the Communist Party in China from June 1946. It is now a museum telling the story of the Communist revolution in China and particularly Shanghai. 

--Are you ready to walking or cycling in Shanghai French Concession now? This “Paris of the East” is waiting for your discovery!

Memory of Shanghai VI: Nightlife in Shanghai

As a major financial center in the world, the nightlife in Shanghai is both notable and notorious. Besides walking on the Nanjing Road, there are many wonderful enjoyments at Shanghai's night. We will talk about the nightlife in Shanghai in this chapter.

                                                          Chapter Six

           Paris of the East—Nightlife in Shanghai

The nightlife in Shanghai is both notable and notorious. The "Paris of the East" is the bustling capitalist center of China's booming economy and the nightlife of the city offers every level of enjoyment from the sophisticated to the seamy. Shanghai is the most exciting city in China, and the nightlife in Shanghai shines as brightly as its skyline. 

Shanghai has been a city vigorous in colorful night life since 1930’s. At that time night life was upper-class people's privilege. Only the rich merchants and officials can go to night clubs to enjoy night life. Lots of rickshaws were waiting outside the clubs. Once performances in the clubs ended the owners of the rickshaws began to rush to their goals - the rich people who just ended their night activities. 

However, today almost every young adult can enjoy night life with their friends or lovers in bars, parks or cinemas and so on.--Because in the day, most Shanghainese lead a somewhat dull and conventional way of life, they rush to all kinds of innovative parties in the night. In a word, night life has become an indispensable part to people who live in Shanghai. Generally speaking, night life in Shanghai is rich, gentle and elegant.

The ways to enjoying nightlife in Shanghai are variable. Follow my steps of introduction to showing you wonderful enjoyments at Shanghai’s night.

1. Walking along the Bund: leisure & great sight-seeing

The Bund

Finish off the night with a walk along Shanghai's world-famous Bund area. Thousands of people come down to the river area to marvel at the European style architecture and contrast it with the spectacular views of the ultra-modern Pudong area across the river, which rises like a glowing neon science fiction cityscape. --Looking across the Huangpu River to the Oriental Pearl TV Tower and Jinmao Tower is a magical sight and a night-time Huangpu River cruise presents a wonderful opportunity to appreciate the night life on the Bund.

2. Taste Shanghai Snacks: delicious & mouth-watering

Shanghai snacks

No matter what type of cuisine you're in the mood for, there's undoubtedly a restaurant that caters your taste in Shanghai. Being the largest city in China, Shanghai obviously has much to offer in terms of Chinese cuisine. Anything from Cantonese cooking to Sichuan cuisine to local Shanghainese delicacies can be found just around the corner of any street in Shanghai. They are also incredibly cheap eats.

3. Shopping at Nanjing Road & Xintiandi: modern & one-stop 

Xiantiandi

Start a great night in Shanghai by visiting the fantastic Nanjing Shopping Street. The energy of the bustling pedestrian-only street wakes up the senses. There are over 600 shops with great deals all around. The charm and glamour of Nanjing Road at night will be your ideal place to experience metropolitan and world-class fashion.

Another ideal shopping area is the Xintiandi. In Xitiandi you will find it is a commercial center as well as an attractive spot. When you walk into Xintiandi, you will get the taste both of Shanghai in the 1920 and the sonic modern lifestyle of urbanites of the 21st century. In here, you can not only appreciate Shanghai architecture, the nightlife of Shanghai citizens also lies in its lanes.

4. High Passions in Shanghai Night bars

Babyface

Bars play an important role in night life in Shanghai. Looking to dance the night away? Shanghai has you covered. Enjoy bar hopping in Shanghai. The city has hundreds of bars, pubs, discos and nightclubs. 

Check out Babyface on Huai Hai Rd. or Park 97 and Guandi in the middle of Fu Xing Park. These are all considered top notch nightclubs in Shanghai. The music is better than you will find anywhere else in Shanghai; everything is played from old school hip-hop to contemporary remixes to local favorites.

If you're looking for a place that's a feast for the eyes, check out Bar Rouge on the bund. This is hands down the most up-scale bar in Shanghai. Located on the 7th floor of Bund 18, it has one of the most spectacular views of the Huang Pu River.

5. Old entertainment ways of Shanghai Shine in new forms

The leisure and recreational activities in Shanghai feature rich content and new forms. There are not only traditional activities with the Town God's Temple as the center such as the Town God Fair and Lantern Fair, but also recreational activities with the combination of Chinese and Western styles such as Flower Drum Opera, circus show and horse racing.

Circus Show

There are not only modern Karaoke, dance halls, bars and so on, but also elegant bowling, tennis, golf, fitness and entertainment centers and so on. There are not only ceramic bars, painting bars, weaving bars, toy bars and other highly participatory featured bars, but also all kinds of art galleries. As for operas, dance, music, acrobatics and films, they are the most important leisure and recreational activities for Shanghai people and tourists.

All these varied ways of entertainment can be find and enjoy at Shanghai’s night. Choose your own ways and no doubt you can spend wonderful nightlife in Shanghai. 

--Have you ever thought to experience the Shanghai nightlife when you plan to Shanghai? Have you ever known where to see the real nightlife in Shanghai? Have you ever got touch with the old and modern Shanghai at the same time? Just plan for a night wander in Shanghai as above recommended now!