Chengdu 2
Chills don't simply blast the taste buds, they stimulate them as well,
Chengdu is a city of simplicity and sophistication. Place of abundance, people who have time, no wonder it becomes a center of modern poetry and modern art scene in the Southwest.
I met a sculptor in Chengdu Huayuan, a small art gallery hidden in old town yet a famous venue for modern art exhibits.
After have met many entreprenant modern artists in China, modern art starts becoming more disputable to me.
Talking to Mr. Shi certain restored my faith in Chinese modern artists: who are not sitting between two chairs of the old and the new, the foreign and the local, but comfortably settle in the middle, rooted in local culture, incorporating traditional elements, free from choices of material, creating a new form of expression.
When you walk into a Sichuan house, or walk around the entire city, sweeps of the distinguished ma la flavor will easily make you crave for more Sichuan food. My pleasant modern art exhibit visit also restored my confidence in fusion food.
Dining here is certainly not only a gastronomic experience--the setting with a Japanese twist glazed the Chengdu local fondue: hotpot, into something less social, but certainly has a more exclusive and even romantic appeal.
Some may question the authenticity of such fusion food. But as I was told, it is never a concern here in Sichuan. Searching for variations and find dining experience is Chengdu locals' insatiable pursuit; Sichuan cooking has the tradition of encouraging innovation to meet that need.
Certain tourist programs are so obligatory in travel itinerary that it feels like a must, then it feels less attemptive, like the Sichuan opera show, but once you are there, you will understand why you can't miss it. This is certainly one of these moments!
It is easy for today's well-traveled audience to suppose the secret behind changing face and spitting fire in Sichuan opera, but it is hard not to be impressed.
Puppet show is always my favorite. Every time I cant help gawping at the performer and wondering how someone can inject life into a wooden dummy and turn it into a person of character, this case, a vivid beauty of character that easily won the heart of all, effortlessly...
As xiuxian as it is, Chengdu is a vibrant modern city after all, 5 minutes walk in Chunxi road, the center of the city, you will feel charged with an extra doze of energy, 15mins walking around all shopping malls and sale signs will raise your heartbeat, 50mins later, loaded with your harvested shopping bags and more faith in the city in process, you will probably find Chengdu's urban marketing slogan "a city once you come, you will find it hard to leave" makes very much sense.
But for Chengdu locals who work hard for it, a temporary leave is almost necessary. I learned a new phrase called 5/2 people here addressing for local weekenders. Some of them simply drive to villages around the city and spend two nights at farmers house, and some others lives more regularly 5 days in the city and 2 days in the suburbs.
