Our hotel was located in Chengdu’s old town, right down the street from Wenshu Temple. Originally built during the Tang Dynasty (618-690 AD), it is the largest and best-preserved Buddhist temple in the city. Among its most precious relics are a Burmese jade Buddha and the skull of a Tang Dynasty monk. The temple also […]
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Chen’s Mapo Doufu, a Chengdu Institution
Chengdu is deep in the heart of Sichuan province, which is known the world over for its spicy cuisine. The Sichuan pepper is different from regular black pepper in that it has anesthetizing properties and a pink hue. One of the most popular dishes to utilize this pepper is 马坡豆腐 (mapo doufu), soft squares of […]
Visiting a Panda Park in Chengdu, China
We have just returned from Chengdu where we got up close and personal with China’s national treasure, the giant panda, at the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding. The park is beautifully designed, with groves of bamboo and clever barriers that make it feel as though you are witnessing these rare animals in the […]
Why is There a Catholic Ming Dynasty Tomb in Shanghai?
The other day I returned to Painter Street to pick up my finished pieces (which turned out great!) On the way, my taxi drove past something that piqued my interest so I returned today to investigate. It turned out to be the tomb of a Ming Dynasty official, replete with a stone gate and statue-lined spirit path leading up to […]
An Architecture Tour of Shanghai’s Former French Concession
Today I joined a walking tour of the former French Concession neighborhood, arguably one of the prettiest areas of the city. I was surprised to learn that although French rule prevailed, very few French people actually lived in the district. The population mostly consisted of Brits, Americans, White Russians and Chinese. Yet Shanghai became known […]