In the morning, your guide will meet you at the hotel. Throughout the day, travel like a local using public transport. The first stop will be for a refreshing cup of tea in the People’s Park, a great place for people watching. There is the opportunity to chat with the locals and learn to play mahjong, the favourite game of Sichuan residents. Witness the elder generation dancing and singing karaoke, practicing tai chi, calligraphy, cleaning ears, playing badminton and all sorts of other activities.

Next, visit a local agricultural market full of fresh meat, vegetables, fruit and spices. For lunch, sit and relax over one of Chengdu’s most famous meals – hotpot. These sociable restaurants are extremely popular and have a vibrant atmosphere. The guide will show you how to cook the meat and vegetables in the boiling pot of spicy broth set in the middle of the table.

After lunch, visit Wide and Narrow Alley, which actually consists of three ancient parallel alleyways with 45 courtyards. Wide and Narrow Alley is one of Chengdu’s historical and cultural reserves and showcases beautiful traditional teahouses and distinctive inns. There are also many boutique hotels, pubs, cafes and shops in this area.

Finally, one of the funniest things to do in Chengdu is to enjoy the Sichuan Opera which highlights the dramatic art of ‘face-changing’. Giving a whole new meaning to the term ‘two-faced’ this involves the performers changing their face masks many times at lightening speed. It is used to reveal changes in the characters’ feelings and requires great skills from the actors.