On December 14, 2023, a total of 9 outstanding colleagues and employees from Chiswear, led by CEO Wally, boarded a flight to Chengdu, embarking on an exciting four-day, three-night journey.
As we all know, Chengdu is renowned as the “Land of Abundance” and is one of China’s earliest historical and cultural cities, the birthplace of ancient Shu civilization. It earned its name from an ancient saying by King Tai of Zhou: “One year to gather, two years to form a city, three years to become Chengdu.”
Upon landing, we indulged in the renowned local cuisine at Tao De Clay Pot restaurant and then proceeded to explore the popular tourist spot, “Kuanzhai Alley“. This area is filled with various shops, including those showcasing the latest iterations of Wuliangye, as well as stores offering exquisite golden nanmu artworks and furniture. We also had the chance to enjoy face-changing performances at a tea house and live singing at a quaint pub. The roadside ginkgo trees were in full bloom, adding to the picturesque scenery.
If you were to ask where in China you’d find the most pandas, there’s no need to ponder – it’s undoubtedly our panda kingdom in Sichuan.
The following morning, we eagerly visited the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, where we learned about the evolution and distribution of pandas and had the opportunity to witness these adorable creatures eating and sleeping in trees up close.
Later, we took a taxi to explore Chengdu’s best-preserved Buddhist temple, creating a serene atmosphere that allowed us to find inner peace.
Chengdu is not only home to our national treasure, the panda, but it’s also the place where the Sanxingdui Ruins and the Jinsha Civilization were first discovered. Historical records confirm that the Jinsha Civilization is an extension of the Sanxingdui Ruins, dating back over 3,000 years.
On the third day, we visited the Sichuan Museum, a national first-class museum with over 350,000 exhibits, including more than 70,000 precious artifacts.
Upon entering, we encountered a Sanxingdui figurine used for worship, followed by the museum’s centerpiece – the Niu Shou Er Bronze Lei (an ancient vessel for serving wine) – and a collection of various weapons.
Our guide shared fascinating stories, such as the etiquette observed during battles in the Spring and Autumn period, emphasizing politeness and rules like “avoid harming the same person twice” and “do not harm elderly people with white hair, and do not pursue enemies beyond 50 paces.”
In the afternoon, we visited the Temple of Marquis Wu, the final resting place of Liu Bei and Zhuge Liang. The temple houses 41 statues, ranging from 1.7 to 3 meters in height, honoring the loyal ministers of the Shu Kingdom.
While three days were not enough to fully grasp the profound history of Chengdu, the experience left us with a deep cultural confidence and pride. We hope that more friends, both domestic and international, will come to understand Chinese culture and history.
Post time: Dec-20-2023