Locals enjoy their morning sipping a cup of tea in People's Park. Wang Xiwei / Asia News Photo

Day 1: Downtown pleasures

The moment you arrive in the city, you'll be surrounded by teahouses.

One of the best places to enjoy a cup is People's Park, where there is a traditional-style open-air teahouse. Take it easy and follow the locals. Get seated in the bamboo chairs and start with a jasmine tea.

Meantime, enjoy the tea-pouring show. Performers pour steaming water from a pot with a meter-long spout. Or treat yourself with an ear-cleaning service by the masters seen only in Sichuan's teahouses.

Then just relax and chat, play cards, or join in the mahjong games.

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The restaurant Dumpling Zhong is next to the teahouse, offering genuine Chengdu snacks.

Order a set of special delicacies for around 30 yuan ($5), and you'll have more than 10 dishes including dumplings, wonton soup, cold dishes and desserts.

The park is also home to a monument commemorating the events that triggered the 1911 Revolution that changed the country dramatically.

The Shrine of the Marquis Wu, a must-see for history lovers, was built in AD 223 to celebrate the wisdom of Zhuge Liang (AD 181-234), prime minister of the Shu Kingdom.

Jinsha Museum, located in western Chengdu, preserves one of the 21st century's most significant archaeological discoveries on the original site. A gold mask and the Sun and Immortal Bird are representative items among the gold and jade articles, which date back about 3,000 years.

Restaurant Hong Xing, not too far from the museum, is a local favorite that offers renewed versions of classic dishes of the Sichuan cuisine.

Then, head to Broad and Narrow Alleys for a walk. The alleys are traces of old Chengdu that have survived the city's expansion and large-scale construction. Once home to Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) Emperor Kangxi's aristocratic soldiers from northern China, the alleys offer rare samples of northern courtyard houses found in southern areas. You'll also find stores, bars, restaurants, teahouses and even hotels.

Immerse yourself in the hot and spicy world at Damiao Hotpot, or treat your eyes and stomach with Chengdu-styled architecture and dishes at Chengdu Impression. Both host lively and humorous Sichuan Opera shows.

Watch closely: The actor's made-up red face can change to a white one in the second he's talking to you.

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