Places in Chengdu - Part 1

Actually, I wanted to drag this post until I finish my exam. FYI, my exam is just next friday !! Stress stress .... But still I feel like updating at least one post to kill my laziness of studying the wait of my readers. =P

Here we go ... (continuing from previous post - Journey to Chengdu)

Although the main highlight of the trip is not Chengdu itself, we still spent 2 days in Chengdu visiting some of the famous places in the town. Personally, I don't really think it is a must-go places, only if you have extra time. Plus, I am NOT a good China historian, so I don't think I am able to introduce the following places good as I am busy in taking pictures rather than listening to the history and I seriously have trouble with the China chinese's slang.

Anyway, less talking more pictures.

On 2nd day after arrival, we were brought to this Ancient City which I think it is already been modernised, so I don't feel attracted.

The main entrance into the city

Typical traditional chinese back garden. An old grandpa is doing his washing.

Own made tofu

This is what they use to make the tofu

A "mobile" shoe polisher. He don't station there as he'll walk around looking for potential business

This tree has aged for more than 100 years old

He's looking serious in selling his food but ....

When the crowds want to take a picture with him, he'll pose it for you. LOL ... even that you did not buy from him.

Then, we went to this place, where the story of the famous scholar, "Zhu Ge Liang" is told.

read as "Wu Hou Chi"

Then, just nearby to "Wu Hou Chi" or rather it is just next to it, a place where a lot of Chengdu people would go during weekends.

"Ming Li"

Inside there, there are many tea houses where you can past time which is the local's favourite activity, local delicacies and even some of the local cultures souveniors you can find here too.

Tea

one of my favourite shots. love it?

gigantic chinese brush

And look what interesting thing that I found..

Look like a normal chines joss stick but when you burn it,

you'll see god .. LOL -.-

Anyway, we also visited this temple where the main attraction is this goat ...

Spot what is so special about this goat?

There's a story behind this but yet again, I choose to snap rather than listen. But I do know what is so special about this goat. It is actually a goat look-like but it is actually consist of the 12 chinese zodiac animals. A little bit of history which I manage to find over the internet.

Yuhuang Palace

The old palace was built under the reign of Emperor Daoguang (CE 1820-1850) during the Qing Dynasty (Emperor Daoguang was the sixth Qing Emperor), but the dilapidated building was later pulled down. Rebuilt in 1995, the new palace is a basement structure. The palace is dedicated to Emperor Yuhuang upstairs and to Emperor Sanguan downstairs. Of subordinate rank are dedications to Emperor Ziwei (upstairs) and Emperor Zhenwu (downstairs). On the grounds of the new palace also stand two bronze goats, 90cm long and 60cm high, one of which is the mythical looking single-horned goat-animal referred to above with a mouse's ears, an ox's nose, a tiger's claws, a rabbit's mouth, a dragon's horns, a snake's tail, a horse's face, a goat's beard, a monkey's neck, a chicken's eyes, a dog's belly and a pig's thighs. It is thus intended to symbolize the reincarnation of the twelve zodiac animals.

It was said that this strange bronze creature belonged to the Jingmei Pavilion in Kaifeng in Henan Province during the Song Dynasty. In the ninth year of the reign of Emperor Daoguang, another goat was sent by Zhangkeshi (in Chengdu), who invited Chenwenbin and Gutiren (in Yunnan) to share in the gift to the emperor. - Source from ChinaTravel.com

Thus, this famous bronze goat is located in a famous Taoist temple.

As some of you may know, the symbol for Taoist is the Eight Trigrams (八卦)

Their kungfu steps are mainly based on this shape of the symbol

Student of Taoist learning Tai Chi

hehe .. one of the master Taoist who caught me taking photo of him covers his face

another old master Taoist who are more than willing to pose for me

Nevertheless, we also visited this "Kuan Zhai" Alley which mean Alley of Narrow and Wide because there's 2 alley, 1 narrow and 1 wide. *duh* So, I don't really know what's the real history of it except that it is a westernize bar & pub place.

and I love the Starbucks shop in chinese style.

Apparently, Starbucks Coffee has managed to attract tourists like us because I am not the only one who capture this unique starbucks but I have friends who went to other places in China like Guangzhou also took a picture of the Starbucks. LOL.

I decided to break this post into 2 to avoid photo flood.

Next; Places in Chengdu - Part 2. 

Stay tuned !! ^_^