As you enter you are greeted with long walkways shaded by glades of towering bamboo on either side. We went early in the morning at around 8.30, to catch the pandas during their feeding time. Apparently, they eat only in the morning.

Last weekend I visited the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding. A little away from the city, it’s one of the most famous places in the world where you can see giant pandas, including the rare red types.

After Kuangzai I went to have some of my favorite cold noodles. These are the most common ingredients in cold noodles. Clockwise from above, MSG, vinegar, something similar to soy sauce, salt, chopped green spring onions, soy sauce, stir fried onion bits, chopped red chillies and a red chilli sauce. Spicyyy!! And extremely delicious!

This man was smoking an amazingly long pipe. On the right is a closer look at his wares.

Much like the guards of London, this guy was standing stock still surrounded by people clicking his photo. But London wins, because after a few minutes he “came alive,” jabbering something in Chinese.

I also visited another reconstructed ancient town named Kuangzai Xiangzi and I liked this much more than Jinli Jie. The streets here were filled with shops, food and drink just like Jinli but this place had a far better feel to it. This woman was selling popular “shou kou” or small snacks. Some are steamed,...

In an age where trees are felled regularly and nature receives the worst treatment at our hands, this was a heartwarming sight once I learnt the reason. I asked my Chinese friend why these trees were wrapped with cloth. She said it was to protect them from the harsh cold of the winter and they...

Last weekend I went to Chunxi Lu, which is supposed to be THE place to visit for shopping. A Chengdu tourist brochure that I have says that “if New York has Times Square, Chengdu has Chunxi Lu.” I wandered through the glitzy malls that sold high-priced brands and some of the other shops that had...

Another favorite pastime here. Drinking tea. And I don’t mean the milky, sugary tea that we Indians are used to. This is green, flowery tea. Yi bei cha (one glass of tea) costs 10 RMB (Rs 50 $1.5). Half the price of a coffee I pay in a Barista or Coffee Day back home. Continuously...

It’s not just Tai Chi that moves the Chinese. Slow dancing to loud but catchy Chinese songs are a rage here. Every morning, from 9.00 am to 10.30, when I am in class, I am treated to some lovely music coming from across the road as women dance to the tunes in a huge square....