Chengdu 成都

Sichuan Hotpot 四川火锅

Sìchuān huǒguō

A bubbling cauldron of chili-and-Sichuan-peppercorn broth for cooking meat, tofu and vegetables — numbing, fiery and social.

💡Ask for a mild or split pot if new to it; dip in the sesame-garlic oil.

Order this: 四川火锅

Mapo Tofu 麻婆豆腐

Mápó dòufu

Silken tofu in a spicy, numbing bean-paste sauce with minced beef — the definitive Sichuan dish.

💡Eat with plenty of plain rice to balance the heat.

Order this: 麻婆豆腐

Dan Dan Noodles 担担面

Dàndàn miàn

Thin noodles in a spicy, nutty chili-and-sesame sauce with crumbled pork, tossed before eating.

💡Order the small "snack" size to taste more dishes.

Order this: 担担面

Zhong Dumplings 钟水饺

Zhōng shuǐjiǎo

Pork dumplings bathed in a sweet-savory red chili-oil-and-garlic sauce.

💡A classic Chengdu street snack — not too spicy, very moreish.

Order this: 钟水饺

Spicy Rabbit Head 麻辣兔头

Málà tùtóu

A bold Chengdu specialty — rabbit head braised in numbing-spicy sauce, eaten with your hands.

💡For the adventurous; pair with a cold beer.

Order this: 麻辣兔头

Sìchuān Bówùyuàn

The largest museum in southwest China — Sichuan history, Zhang Daqian paintings, and rich Tibetan and Bashu culture.

💡Free with passport; near the Du Fu Thatched Cottage for a combined visit.

Search this: 四川博物院

Jīnshā Yízhǐ Bówùguǎn

Built over a 3,000-year-old Bronze-Age ritual site of the mysterious Shu kingdom — home of the gold “Sun and Immortal Birds”, a symbol of Chinese heritage.

💡Ticketed; the gold-foil sunbird and jade artefacts are unforgettable.

Search this: 金沙遗址博物馆

Chéngdū Bówùguǎn

A sleek museum on Tianfu Square covering Chengdu’s history, folk life and a famous shadow-puppet collection.

💡Free with booking; right on the central square, easy to combine with People’s Park.

Search this: 成都博物馆