The Du Fu Thatched Cottage grounds in Chengdu include a park and museum. The complex was reconstructed in honor of Du Fu (712-770), one of China’s greatest poets. It is said that Du Fu moved to Chengdu to escape the turbulence of war. There, he built a thatched hut near the picturesque Huanhua Creek and lived there for four years, writing more than 200 poems during the period. After extensive renovations over the past centuries, today Du Fu’s Thatched Cottage doesn’t really bear any resemblance to the original. However, strolling around the cottage and appreciating its elegance and the surrounding scenery, visitors find it a wonderful spot to spend an afternoon and pay tribute to Du Fu. In total, the bard left over 1,000 poems to the future generations.

Another well-known story from Chengdu’s history concerns the romance between the famous writer Sima Xiangru (179-118 BC) and Zhuo Wenjun, a beautiful and clever widow. Wenjun fell in love with Sima Xiangru’s literary talent, won him over and eloped with him against the wishes of her family. They moved to Chengdu and made a living running a liquor store on Qintai Street.

Today’s Qintai Street is no longer the small alley paved with blue stones it once was. But a one-kilometer-long brick carving by the road offers visitors some clues to the customs and traditions of the Han Dynasty over 2,000 years ago. The carvings display many ancient rituals, including those related to banquets, singing, dancing and hunting.

History doesn’t stop in the past; it is made every single day. Today, Chengdu continues to produce famous alumni, particularly in the entertainment industry. Chengdu natives Li Yuchun, Zhang Liangying and Zhang Jie, for instance, are among the best-selling pop singers in China. Who knows, maybe Chengdu residents will be telling their stories for another 2,000 years to come.