Latest Comments

• • August 21, 2012
  • Basi de Hen! Chengdu's Five-Star Toilets
    

    @miya: qunguang guangchang IS chicony

• • June 22, 2012
  • Chengdu Big Love Music Festival: First impressions
    

    Yeah, there are official and unofficial parking lots around the venue. We parked in one close to the main entrance, a really bumpy dirt lot, and it was RMB25 for an SUV. Don't know how much they'd charge a motorbike but I'd reckon less.

• • March 6, 2012
  • Chengdu double decker: Second layer, BRT to be added to Second Ring Road
    

    Play nice, folks.

• • April 12, 2011
  • "I Stopped Buying Clothes!": If the shoe fits, wear it. But it probably won't.
    

    @noondog (comment moderated): Please refrain from making unnecessarily inflammatory comments, thank you.

• • April 6, 2011
  • "I Stopped Buying Clothes!": If the shoe fits, wear it. But it probably won't.
    

    Well, let's not forget that the article was written in the pre-H&M, C&A, zara, mango, etc. days. Possibly uniqlo as well. I can't remember exactly. Anyway, it's definitely getting easier to get larger sizes than it was before. But are they what you want, the quality you want, and the price you want? Jury's still out on that one. Better to make my own and stock up when I go abroad.

Latest Forum Posts

• • August 21, 2012
    
  • Forums > Travel Sichuan > Chongqing
    

    I'm probably going to have to go to Chongqing now for the express purpose of satisfying my curiosity as to whether or not the statement that Chongqing has a good restaurant is credible.

• • August 21, 2012
    
  • Forums > Travel Sichuan > Chongqing
    

    I'm probably going to have to go to Chongqing now for the express purpose of satisfying my curiosity as to whether or not the statement that Chongqing has a good restaurant is credible.

• • August 1, 2012
    
  • Forums > Living in Chengdu > Learning the local lingo
    

    I'd say stick with it; any knowledge you have of Chinese of any sort will help when you arrive. Pretty much everyone here can understand Mandarin and most people with basic education can speak it as well (although they might prefer to speak dialect). There aren't very many formal resources for learning Sichuanese, especially for people who aren't native Mandarin speakers, but you'll probably pick up some phrases anyway just by living here. And if you speak Mandarin it'll just be a matter of adjusting your listening to be able to understand the dialect.

    I knew a guy who did the entire Pimsleur Mandarin before he arrived and although he wasn't fluent or anything by then, I was really impressed by his pronunciation and general grasp of the language. I think it really helps with listening and pronunciation because of all the repetition but it is a bit lacking in vocabulary (but once you have basics down it's easy enough to pick up new vocabulary on your own).

• • July 31, 2012
    
  • Forums > Living in Chengdu > Getting around the city
    

    There's info on e-bikes here: http://www.gochengdoo.com/[...]

• • June 24, 2012
    
  • Forums > Living in Chengdu > A market like Beijing's Silk Market in Chengdu?
    

    Hi anita l., yes, go to Lotus Market/Hehuachi for all of the above.

    The fabric is in a section of the market to the east of Renmin Bei Lu, on the second floor of a building not far from a China Post (not a very specific description, I know, but if you get there and ask around for 布料 somebody should point you in the right direction). There are buttons and zippers and trim and other sewing supplies downstairs.

    The yarn and knitting supplies are on a small street just west of Renmin Bei Lu, between First Ring Road and the train station. It's really cheap compared to yarn in western countries, and also cheap compared to the yarn for sale in one-off shops in Chengdu, but some sellers will only sell wholesale. They also have basic needles, hooks, etc. Lots of cashmere, mink, wool, synthetics — selection of summery fibers is not as good. There are also a couple of more upscale yarn shops in town, one called Pecore on the second floor of the SM Mall and another in a shop just to the northeast of that same mall called Beauty Wool. My favorite place to buy yarn and knitting supplies now is Taobao because the selection is so much greater, but there's always a slight "you never know quite what you're going to get" aspect since you can't touch the yarn or anything — you just have to read the descriptions and reviews carefully.

    Here's some more info:
    http://www.gochengdoo.com/[...]

    http://www.gochengdoo.com/[...] (Scroll down to No. 3)

    Finally, there are a handful of us knitters in town who occasionally meet up for knitting sessions ... if you'd like to join please PM me!

Latest Reviews

• • jane_v
    March 20, 2010
    
  • Chengdu > Le Sud
    南方法国餐厅

    Nice food, extremely reasonably priced, intimate atmosphere. The only drawback is that the menu is rather limited in its selection; but as it rotates every month or so, it's not too bad. Definitely a go-to place if you're looking for something other than Chinese food.

• • jane_v
    October 8, 2009
    
  • Chengdu > Sichuan Museum
    四川博物院

    This museum is one of the best in Chengdu. Reminiscent of the Shanghai Museum in content and layout, it gives a good overview of the region's history and traditional culture by way of thousands upon thousands of amazingly intact artifacts, some of which are thousands of years old. Upper floors feature artifacts used by some of the province's minority ethnic groups, including Tibetans, Yi, Qiang, and Hui. Well worth a visit whether you live here or are traveling through.

• • jane_v
    October 8, 2009
    
  • Chengdu > Gallery 82
    捌贰艺术空间

    A pretty cool little space, as far as Chengdu's galleries go. The exhibits always feature work I've not seen elsewhere, unlike many of Chengdu's incestuous exhibitions, and usually, the photography on display are solid and revolve around a concrete theme. And it's very cool when they have outdoor exhibits. But it's pretty far out of the way, and viewing will only take a few minutes for most people.

• • jane_v
    October 8, 2009
    
  • Chengdu > Du Fu's Cottage
    杜甫草堂博物馆

    I went to Dufu's when I had first moved to Chengdu. All I have to say is, I'm glad I didn't pay the 60RMB entrance fee! Especially if you have no knowledge of Dufu, classical Chinese literature, etc., you probably won't find much of particular interest here. The grounds are fairly nice but all the structures are obviously new reconstructions, with a handful of manuscripts and other artifacts on display. Finally, Dufu spent only several years of his life in Chengdu so I'm not even sure what the big fuss is about.

• • jane_v
    July 15, 2009
    
  • Chengdu > Lan Town
    蓝堂

    A cozy corner near Sichuan University's east gate serving all sorts of teas as well as a more limited selection of coffee and sweet summertime drinks and snacks. Energetic, friendly owner will make you feel at home and talk to you no matter what language/s you do or don't speak. Clean, bright, and quiet during the daytime makes it an ideal place for 'net surfing or studying. Recently started bar service means it's a calmer nighttime respite from the thumping BABI II complex.

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