Nearly 10 years ago, I spent roughly one month based in Chengdu, the capital of China's Sichuan province. And while I am sure many things have changed in Sichuan since the time I was there (especially in the wake of the devastating 2008 earthquake that struck the region), many of the region's prime attractions have probably remained the same. Hence, here is my list of the top 10 things to do when visiting Sichuan:

  1. Eat hotpot. Sichuan is famous for its spicy cuisine like Kung Pao Chicken, but the province's real specialty is hotpot - a much spicier Chinese version of fondue. You will find restaurants serving various kinds of hotpot all over Sichuan. However and if you are exceptionally hungry or in a hurry to eat, hotpot may not be your best choice for a meal as it can easily take a few hours to cook and eat through all of the many options you have to throw in the hotpot. Also be warned: Some hotpot restaurants will put what appears to be small pepercorns in their hotpot and trust me when I say that you do not want to mistakenly bite into one of these by mistake! Sichuan Hot pot
  2. Visit a traditional teahouse. Besides the many restaurants serving hotpot, Sichuan is also famous for its teahouses. In fact, teahouses are to the Sichuanese as cafes are to the French and pubs are to the English. However and unlike at French cafes or English pubs, expect to see plenty of games of chess and mahjong as well as local experts who, using a set of tuning and insertion tools, will offer you a unique service: Ear cleaning! Sichuan Tea House
  3. See a Sichuan Opera Performance. Many traditional tea houses at night will also offer Sichuan opera performances which are best described as being a combination cabaret, comedy and puppet show that will also include a bit of music as well as opera thrown in. Sichuan Opera Performance
  4. Drop by the Panda Research Base. Sichuan is the home of China's giant Pandas and just outside of Chengdu is the Panda Research Base - the largest Panda breeding facility in the world and home to some 60 Pandas. Unlike at most zoos, especially those in the West that have Pandas, you will be able to view Pandas up close and personal. However, be sure to visit early in the morning when the Pandas will typically be the most active. Panda Research Base

    Baby Panda with visitors

  5. Visit the Leshan Grand Buddha. Located in Leshan a few hours from Chengdu, the Unesco World Hertitage listed Leshan Grand Buddha is a giant 71 meter (230 feet) high Buddha that was carved into cliff above a river. Its now the world's largest Buddha and best viewed from a boat on the river.
     Leshan Grand Buddha

  6. Stay in a monastery at Emei Shan National Park. Approximately 150 miles from Chengdu, Mount Emei is a 3,099 meter (10,167 feet) sacred Buddhist mountain that is dotted with over 100 temples and monasteries offering accommodations. Be aware though that given its altitude, Emei Shan along with the numerous monasteries that offer accommodations on the mountain can be particularly cold - especially during winter time. The mountain is also home to many monkeys - who are also very tame and can be very aggressive when it comes to obtaining food from tourists.
     Emei Shan National Park

    Emei Shan Sea of Clouds

  7. Hike Qingcheng Shan. An easy day trip outside of Chengdu, Mount Qingcheng is a sacred Taoist mountain dotted with temples and scenic pathways. Unlike Mount Emei, Mount Qingcheng is snow free year round and it's a much easier hike. Visitors who don't feel like hiking though can also opt to be carried up the mountain in a sedan chair carried by two porters.

    Qingcheng Shan

  8. Marvel at the Dujiangyan irrigation system. Another day trip from Chengdu and a marvel of Chinese engineering ingenuity, the Dujiangyan irrigation system is an Unesco World Heritage site that was built roughly 2,200 years ago to tame a river notorious for flash floods and to provide irrigation for the surrounding farmland. Even today it still stands as an engineering marvel. The 2200 years old Dujiangyan irrigation system
  9. Explore the Jiuzhaigou Nature Reserve. Nearly 500 kilometers from Chengdu, the Jiuzhaigou Nature Reserve is another Unesco World Heritage Site that contains three spectacular valleys that are the home of Giant Pandas. The nature reserve is also known for its scenic lakes, waterfalls, forests and mountains. Jiuzhaigou Nature Reserve
  10. Pay your respects at Beichuan. Almost completely destroyed by the 2008 earthquake and landslide, Beichuan is now a memorial city to those who died in the disaster. Tourists can visit viewing platforms above the city to see both the damage and pay their respects to the victims of the devastating earthquake. Beichuan memorial

I should add that the above top 10 list of things to see and do in Sichuan is really only the tip of the iceberg as Sichuan easily ranks as one of the most beautiful and interesting regions of China.


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