Living Life as the Locals in Chengdu

Living Life as the
Locals in Chengdu

Immerse yourself in the vibrant local life of Chengdu. Travel on public
transport, play Mahjong in the park, cook your own hotpot for
lunch and witness the changing faces of Sichuan Opera.

WHY THIS TOUR?

Chengdu is the capital of southwestern Sichuan province and is best known for its most famed residents – the Giant Pandas. It is a very happy place and has been voted as China’s happiest city for many years. Maybe that is something to do with the food, as Chengdu is a UNESCO City of Gastronomy.

This was awarded in recognition of the city’s outstanding and delicious cuisine. Brimming with history, the city is said to have been founded by the Qin Dynasty in the 3rd century BC, and throughout history it has remained a great city and a major administrative centre. Today, with many green parks and spaces, it has a reputation as a laidback destination that emphasises culture and relaxation.

TRAIL ITINERARY

Living Life as the Locals in Chengdu

09:00 - 17:00

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.

After enjoying the Sichuan Opera, the driver will take you back to the hotel.

THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW

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INCLUSIONS

  • A full-day tour with a professional English-speaking guide. Other languages are on request and may be subject to supplementary charges
  • Transportation by public transport in Chengdu.
  • All entrance fees for visits as mentioned in the description.
  • All applicable taxes and service charges
  • Hotpot lunch at a local restaurant is included (food only)

EXCLUSIONS

  • Personal expenses such as meals, drinks, tips and gratuities, shopping, portage fees and optional tours, unless otherwise stated
  • Hotel accommodation in the destination of commencement.
  • Compulsory Christmas, country-specific festival and/or New Year dinner at included hotels
  • Single supplement charges for single travelers, where applicable
  • Any airline tickets, visa fees, additional transportation cost from and to the general meeting point
  • Supplements for transfers for customers arriving or departing from any airport or resorts located outside the general pick-up and drop-off locations
  • Hotel expenses of a personal nature, should an overnight be included: this includes mini-bar consumption, laundry, room service, any telephone or other communication cost not mentioned in the program
  • Travel insurance coverage for customers (highly recommendable)

GOOD TO KNOW

  • This tour is operated on full private basis with English-speaking guide. Other languages are on request / subject to availability and supplementary charges may apply
  • This tour is operated by using public transportation only. Clients may be expecting to walk between public transportation stops and visited sites for short distances. Where needed, transportation by taxi may be included, depending on the operation of this tour
  • Return transfers for this excursion apply only / are inclusive for customers staying inside downtown Chengdu. Transfers outside these areas, including any accommodation outside this area such as the Panda Research Centre, Qingcheng Shan District, the Dujiangyan District, any cruise and ferry terminal and Chengdu International Airport are excluded. Supplements apply for customers who want to join this excursion outside one of these regions.
  • We regret to inform you that most of the museums in China are closed all day on Mondays and public holidays; wherever possible, we will try to offer alternative visits for touring options on this day.
  • Customers are advised that during the Lunar Festival celebrations (celebration of Chinese New Year), excursions and tours may be subject to supplementary charges and/or may see longer waiting times than normal.
  • We will do all possible to comply with any dietary requirements during this excursion; it may not always be possible to confirm your wishes in advance based on the choice of local restaurant.
  • We regret to inform you that this excursion is not suitable for wheelchair users.
  • We will always make the effort to confirm the exact pick-up time upon reservation. For any operational issues in which are not able to confirm the exact pick-up time in advance, we reserve the right to inform you the day before the departure of the tour.
  • Please note pick-up and drop-off services may not be confirmed for customers staying at private residences, apartment complexes, or other non-registered tourism accommodations. Customers may be asked to meet at a nearby hotel for pick-up and drop off.
  • Natural elements of any kind have a destructive effect on electronic equipment. It is the customer’s own responsibility to ensure that any camera, mobile telephone or other device is properly wrapped and protected against these elements. We cannot be held responsible in any way for negligence and/or not following suggestions for any damage related to this.
  • Please ensure that you bring sunglasses, a hat /cap and sunblock with a high SPF factor when traveling with us on this tour – even when it is cloudy, the sun’s rays are still very powerful.
  • We reserve the right to make necessary changes to the excursion in case of unfavourable weather conditions or situations where we are forced to make alterations to guarantee the safety of our guests.
  • The protection of the country’s flora and fauna is of immense importance for us. We will not pursue any activities for guests that are not in line with our animal, wildlife and environment protection principles.
  • It is the responsibility of the customer to provide us with the correct hotel information, should pick-up and drop-off services be included in the package. Any changes in accommodation outside 24 hours will be handled accordingly: changes within 24 hours may be on request.
  • In the event of no-show or change of accommodation without prior consent and confirmation from us within 24 hours may result in the applicable cancellation charges as outlined in the terms and conditions.

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