Picture: A tourist village near the Wenshu Yuan Temple.
Besides being a big and booming town, Chengdu has lots to offer in terms of historical sites. For a good mix of traditonal but refurbished Chinese architecture, combined with shopping, go visit the Wenshu Yuan neighbourhood. It has a still active monastery and dozens of souvenir shops as well as restaurants as tea houses. For traditional teahouses and a nice park setting I recommend a visit to the Cultural Park next to another shopping street called Qintai road (where the Wen Jun Mansion Hotel and many hot pot restaurants are located). Du Fu's park, a memorial to China's most famous poet from the Tang Dynasty, offers traditional Chinese architecture in a lush park setting. Among our favorite temples is the Qingyang Daoist temple and monastery situated in Cultural Park. The monastery is still active and one can see Daoist monks with their beards, long hair and hats. We feasted at a delightful vegetarian restaurant in the temple. And last but not least we visited Wuhou Ci, a shrine to a minister from the Three Kingdoms period. The vast complex of shrines, gardens and a mausoleum is particularly recommendable for its architecturally stunning courtyards, overflowing bonsai garden and traditional structures. Right next to Wuhou Ci is Jin Li street where Chinese traditional snacks and souvenirs could be had after a visit to the temple. If you want to try the "three bombs" and see and eat candy art, this is the place.
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Picture: Du Fu's thatched cottage park in Chengdu.
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