Chengdu, in the country's southwest basin ， is one of the most leisurely and carefree cities in China. It was founded in 3rd century BC, when the Qin conquered all of China within two centuries. Chengdu flourished in the Han Dynasty and picked up its name of ‘brocade city' as it grew rich because of the thriving silk brocade industry. Also known as the land of abundance, Chengdu boasts its pleasant climate and plentiful products.

The Dujiangyan Irrigation, 45km north of Chengdu , is an ancient technological wonder of China . For more than 2,250 years of irrigation, it has not only benefited the local people but also made the ancient Shu state a famed ‘land of abundance'. This system still plays an indispensable function in irrigation and continues to provide pleasure and happiness for the people. Besides, Dujiangyan has survived the earthquake, which really deserves a visit.

Sanxingdui Museum is a modern theme museum which is 40 kilometers to the north of Chengdu . And Sanxingdui is the name of an archaeological site in China , now believed to be the site of an ancient Chinese city. The previously unknown Bronze Age culture was re-discovered in 1987 when archaeologists excavated remarkable artifacts, that radiocarbon dating dated as being from the 12th-11th centuries BCE. Leaving behind nothing in the historical record, not even in myth, the unknown culture that produced these artifacts is now known as the Sanxingdui Culture.

A big draw of Chengdu is the delicious Sichuan Cuisine and local snacks. You will have a chance to taste Hot Pot in Sichuan Style tonight. Sichuan is famous for its spicy food, and one of its delicacies is the hot pot. It's where you have a pot of spicy broth boiling in front of you and you choose which ever food to cook. The Sichuan hot pot is a bubbling cauldron of extremely hot oil and water. Dip all kinds of food including meats, vegetables and tofu into the pot. It's a very social meal. People sit around to enjoy it and make a long evening out of it. As the saying goes, 'When in Rome , do as the Romans do', your trip of Chengdu will be completed with the traditional spicy hot pot.

After dinner, Sichuan Opera is optional. The opera is staged in a tea house so during the show you can have tea and snacks while enjoying the music, opera (like the scene from the Romance of the Three Kingdoms ), some solo music, a bit of comedy, acrobatics, shadow puppets, and the face changing as well as fire spitting. You will find that the part with the mask changers is really cool. They change their masks so fast that you could hardly be sure that it really did change.