Joel's Chengdu Adventure: Pandas, Hotpot, and Cultural Wonders
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British traveler Joel Friend revisits Chengdu, China, for another adventure. He visits the Panda Valley to observe giant pandas and learns about their conservation status and reintroduction program. Joel also checks out the red pandas and explores scenic spots in downtown Chengdu, enjoying traditional Chinese ethnic music. Next, he heads to the Jinsha Site Museum to delve into the ancient culture and history of the Shu people. Finally, Joel experiences Chengdu's daily life at Jinli Street, where he tries sugar painting, ear cleaning, and even robot-made coffee. Despite his previous unsuccessful attempt, Joel successfully enjoys Chengdu hotpot this time, sampling various dishes such as duck tongues and pig brains. To wrap up his trip, he visits a shopping mall and spots giant panda statues on the rooftops. Chengdu's relaxed lifestyle and panda culture leave a lasting impression on Joel.
Head to the Chengdu Panda Base to see the pandas
Watch from 0:18Learn about the pandas at Panda Valley, including Chenglang, the historically lightest newborn panda (weighing only one-third of an iPhone). Afterward, visit the red pandas.
Panda baby
A panda mother and her cub
The Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding is not only home to the world's largest population of captive giant pandas but also a place of miracles. Here, a baby panda like "Chenglang," who was born weighing only 42.8 grams—far below the average birth weight of 80-200 grams—was successfully nurtured into a healthy individual through advanced scientific conservation methods. Using incubators, specialized formula feeding, and other cutting-edge technologies, the base overcame the challenges posed by her extremely low birth weight, showcasing humanity's remarkable achievements in wildlife conservation. The base boasts world-leading breeding technologies for giant pandas, including health management, disease prevention, and genetic resource preservation. By the end of 2023, the number of captive giant pandas at the base reached 244, and it also protects and breeds other endangered species such as red pandas, making it the global hub for the largest captive population of red pandas, with over 160 individuals. Visiting here allows you to observe these adorable national treasures up close while learning about their stories and the hard work behind their conservation.
Experience Chinese folk music at The Yanhua Pool Museum
Watch from 3:35The Yanhua Pool Museum, a hidden treasure located at No. 54, Da Dong Street, Chongyang Town, Chongzhou City, Chengdu, is an excellent spot for viewing ginkgo leaves.
Visit the Jinsha Site Museum and explore the ancient Shu civilization
Watch from 5:17The Jinsha Site Museum is a site-specific museum built on the location of the Jinsha Site, an important archaeological discovery from the ancient Shu civilization. It is also a thematic museum that showcases the ancient Shu culture of the Sichuan region during the Shang and Zhou dynasties. The Jinsha Site is the ruins of the capital city of the ancient Shu Kingdom, which was the center of civilization in the upper reaches of the Yangtze River from the 12th to the 7th century BCE (approximately 3,200 to 2,990 years ago).
Visit Jinli Ancient Street and experience ear cleaning
Watch from 7:20Jinli is one of Chengdu's historical and cultural districts, once referred to as Chengdu's version of the "Along the River During the Qingming Festival" painting. It is a charming street for experiencing Three Kingdoms culture and Chengdu's local customs.
Sugar painting is an art form that uses sugar to create shapes. It started as a court art during the Ming and Qing dynasties in China and later became a traditional craft loved by everyone. To make sugar paintings, maltose or cane sugar is heated until it melts, and then artists quickly draw patterns on a smooth stone slab. Once the sugar cools, it hardens quickly and forms the final shape.
Ear cleaning is a traditional ear care technique that originated in China and has a history of over a thousand years. It’s not just about digging out earwax—it’s a mix of ear cleaning, acupressure massage, and wellness therapy for a full experience. Modern ear cleaning shops even have 3D visualization tools so you can see inside your ear canal clearly, making it safer and more reassuring.
Experience Hakka culture in Luodai Ancient Town
Watch from 10:15Luodai Ancient Town, located in Longquanyi District of Chengdu, is one of the best-preserved Hakka ancient towns in China. It boasts a long history and unique Hakka culture, with ancient streets, historic buildings, and a rich variety of folk cultural activities within the town.
The Hakka people are an ethnic group in China with unique culture and language, originating from Central Plains. They migrated southward multiple times due to wars and famines. Known for their diligence and resilience, they are famous for round earthen buildings and have preserved rich traditions like mountain songs, lion dances, and distinctive culinary habits.
Hakka Tulou
Visit Wangjiang Tower Park in Chengdu
Watch from 13:16Wangjiang Tower Park is a famous cultural park located on the south bank of the Jinjiang River in Chengdu. It is renowned for its classical gardens, historic buildings, and rich cultural heritage. The iconic Wangjiang Tower offers stunning views of the surrounding area and is dedicated to the memory of Xue Tao, a famous female poet from the Tang Dynasty.
Tackle hot pot
Watch from 14:14Joel tried hot pot again after his last attempt in Chongqing.
