We visited People’s Park in Chengdu soon after our arrival. It was a Saturday and it was packed. As we continued through the park, we heard something that could only be described as a Battle of the Bands….different types of music pumping loudly through questionable speakers. Then, I had a visual….and realized it wasn’t just a Battle of the Bands…it was a Dance Off at the Battle of the Bands! I hope this video conveys the auditory and visual delight of being in People’s Park, watching music of all genres move people of all ages….simultaneously.
Monthly Archives: August 2013
Welcome to Chengdu
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Herbal Pharmacy
We walked circles around the University hospital and University campus from the day we arrived in Chengdu.
On our first day, we geeked out in a Chinese pharmacy, confusing the herbalist behind the counter as we eagerly quizzed ourselves by trying to identify all the raw herbs we saw rather than trying to place an order.
We made our way through campus and found a music store which became home to several of the musicians in our group.
Oh, I cannot count how many pipas and erhus made their way back to Austin, TX!
On our walk, we saw some Chinese people in line which led to some yummy, spicy Sichuan french fries which reminded us that we were indeed in Sichuan country, home of the Sichuan pepper, huājiāo, and unfortunately the land of MSG.
spicy sichuan french fries
Next, we spotted a tuina (Chinese massage) studio that became our favorite place for a massage. One day, Melsa and I spent our lunch hour getting a foot massage for $6. Heaven.
The short cut through the uni to avoid traffic led us to the statue of Zhang Zhongjjing, the Father of Chinese Herbal Formulas, at the hospital where we gathered every morning before our hospital rounds.
Then, the neon KTV and Happy Days sign always meant we were almost to the hotel.
Ahhhh. Chengdu. Home sweet home.
Ordering Dumplings in Chengdu with Limited Language Skills
This entry was posted in Food on .After getting our room key at our new hotel in Chengdu, the first order of business was to locate dumplings. Locating dumplings were easier than ordering them! We tentatively entered a restaurant near the hotel where we were ushered upstairs. Thankfully, there were a few people in our group that spoke some Chinese. We managed to order some pork and veggie dumplings, and some side plates including peanuts and spicy tofu. We took pictures of the menu and tried to memorize the characters for tofu and pork. More importantly, we learned the words for dumplings, jiaozi and beer, píjiu.
Translation apps on the iPad.
Old school language tools.
Dumpling Palace
This restaurant, dubbed “Dumpling Palace”, quickly became one my favorites. It was our cafeteria since the hotel had no kitchen facilities. Thanks to translation apps, a library book with Chinese characters, and a little pamphlet from a software tutorial, every meal was a learning opportunity.
The sweetest server in Chengdu
The sweet young girl who was our server was always entertained by our attempts to order. After two weeks of ordering the same side plates and dumplings, she presented us with an English menu that she had translated for us. Oh, that was an exciting day to be eating at the Palace!
A little jiao zi and pi jiu with friends
Street Food in the Streets and Alleys (Hutongs) of Beijing
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The search for food in the street of Beijing
My first encounter with street food in China occurred after the perfect storm of jetlag, low blood sugar, achy feet, group dynamics, and an elusive Peking duck restaurant. Abandoning the search for the Beijing specialty, we started walking back to the hotel through the alleys (hutongs) with eyes wide open for some sustenance.
All of a sudden, we smelled something delicious as we passed by a long line of Chinese people. We jumped in line in spite of the fact that we had no idea what they were serving or how we were going to communicate when we reached the counter. Thankfully, a young woman in line who spoke English overheard our discussion and told us that it was “chinese bread”….”delicious”.
A sweet man in front of us ordered for us and helped us pay the correct amount of yuan. We sat down on a bench nearby, eating our delicious Chinese bread (that cost us only 1 yuan (~16¢) per steamed bun. Perhaps it wasn’t the most savory of all Chinese street food. It definitely would have been delicious in combination with some Peking duck. But it was definitely a great way to start our China adventure and introduction into food stalls and street food.
Chinese bread in Beijing
With our blood sugar levels elevated, we walked home and reflected on what a privotal night it had been. We had ignored all the warnings about street food. And we satiated. We had found a motto for the rest of our time in China. Follow the lines. It’s the safer way to eat street food and definitely the most delicious way to eat it. Occasionally, our peers would even follow suit.