On Sunday, 20th February, when I went to Tianfu Square I had no idea about why there were police and military men swarming all over the place with menacing sniffer dogs. And the policemen in China look tough and mean business, you wouldn’t want to mess with them. The next day I read about the...

Sweet potato vendors are also quite popular. Having this hot, steaming snack in freezing weather is a great feeling. And for me, a vegetarian, there is nothing better than this.

These are mobile food vendors who can be found around practically every corner. They make some delicious noodles and snacks.

A market just outside the monastery sports dry fruits like dates, raisins, walnuts and longan.

There is a popular teahouse inside the monastery, which serves varieties of green tea and a few snacks. Appeared to be quite a favorite among visitors.

I had just quit my job to come to China and learn Chinese. My mind was an amalgam of worry at the prospect of not having a steady salary for the next few months and happiness as well at being free from the shackles of a job for the time being. Seeing these prayer tags...

There was this special display of Buddha statues with offerings, set out in one of the courtyards.

These huge iron caskets contain a mound of ash. People light a bunch of incense sticks, pray and stick them inside.

Wenshu Yuan is a temple complex, with multiple courtyards and prayer houses. This is one of them. Feel the incense?

The very Indian sounding Manjushri Monastery (named after one of the Boddhisattvas) was my first site of visit here in Chengdu. Locally known as Wenshu Yuan, this is a pretty place, if you ignore the high commercialization outside. Once inside the temple premises, it’s calm and peaceful.