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