Chengdu China Travel Guide and Travel Vlog | Americans Visit the Pandas by Train

This week we are visiting Chengdu, China. It is where the vibe slows down, the tea flows freely, and the pandas live their best, bamboo-filled lives. Chengdu: come for the pandas, stay for the peppers. If you've been here, let us know your impressions. Happy journeys, John and Bev

sorry to tell you that's not huahua 😢😭

Are there any sketchy people on the train like in NY? If so, I'll pass. LOL

like a documary love it

I’m so grateful for your tour videos in China, because it shows the world a different China than many people might perceive. During this time, almost all the news about China are negative. Thank you for telling the world from your personal experience that most Chinese people are friendly and helpful.

Not going to yunan ? What a pitty

Regrettably, my trip to China in 1995 did not include seeing Pandas. My seeing them in US zoos compares poorly to your experience. Looking forward to seeing your trip to Xian. That was a highlight of my trip. I'm curious to see how much more excavation they have done in the last 30 years.

The boys didn't want to go see the pandas?

❤

Pandas are my favorite animal.

❤❤❤

I am fascinated by your trip so far.

Thank you for all the joy and positivity!

The quality of the videos are great. Suggest you guys just spend a few minutes with a Chinese speaker on how to pronounce the names. A lot of the basic stuff is just like English - like SH is SH, CH is CH, A is A. Some of the stuff, like the Q, C, X, Zh, NG vs N need a little time to master.

What a beautiful place!! I love the way you refer to the boys as "our sons".

I visited in 2018, miss the pandas😂

If you have time, go visit JinSha (golden sand) museum where the locals lived 3000 years ago and left lots of relics. The site is inside the city and easily accessible by the metro.

please go to Suzhou苏州!!!

U did not visit DuJiangYan? That’s the famous water irrigation/ dam built about 2000 years ago and still in use today. Truly ingenious engineering. It effectively eliminated floods and ensure droughts don’t happen. Thus Chengdu region always had plentiful harvest, no floods compared to other parts of China, hence it is claimed, contributed to the laid back, slow lifestyle in Chengdu. After all, u can afford to be more laidback if life is easier … one of the more unique Chinese cities..

Another great video / experience.

Another wonderful video I really want to visit China someday.

What an awesome experience! That food all looks mouth watering, too. We've taken those same "shortcuts"! I'm particularly remembering one we did in Japan with our daughter that detoured us for what seemed like hours! —Judy & Kevin

Transportation in China in many cities are free for the elderly, not sure about Chengdu. Maybe show them your ID to give it a try

Is it true, senior over 60 do not need reservation and free? even for foreign senior? I was there last year but was told all ticket were booked, sold out.

Took more notes. lol. 🎉

This on my list! I plan on splurging and do the panda zoo keeper experience. I talked about this my last 2 years before retirement.I have to do this!

What a great trip you are having! China looks and sounds amazing. I was in Hong Kong in 1984. Would be fun to see the changes and experience more of China! We may copy your itinerary!!

Oh, how I love the pandas. Once I settle in Cambodia, China is on my list.Beware the shortcuts! I'm loving your videos . Thank you for showing us China. Happy Trails!

Really enjoying your China series. We've been to China many times (my Wife is Chinese and has family in Hangzhou) and it's good to see some positive about the beauty and friendliness. I have a question. I noticed you in this video paying with your phone on the bus. How have you managed payment in China? In the past it has been very difficult for foreigners to use Ali Pay or WeChat Pay. Were you able to link your American credit card to Ali Pay? Thanks

Thanks for sharing!

一起跳舞💃🕺加入他們一起跳舞😊

不错~在中国辣度分几种，最小的是广东辣（因为广东地区的人对辣接受度不高，气候，环境影响，吃辣会上火，让肠胃不好），然后是小辣，中辣，大辣。还有四川特有的麻辣：
‌麻辣 (málà): The Signature Flavor of Sichuan Cuisine‌

"Málà" (麻辣) is a fundamental and iconic flavor profile originating from Sichuan province in southwest China. It literally translates to ‌"numbing and spicy"‌ and describes a uniquely addictive sensation created by the combination of two key components:

‌麻 (Má) - Numbing/Tingling:‌ This comes primarily from ‌Sichuan peppercorns‌ (huājiāo). These are not true peppercorns but the husks of tiny berries from the prickly ash shrub. They contain a compound called hydroxy-alpha sanshool, which doesn't taste like chili heat, but rather creates a unique ‌tingling, buzzing, vibrating, or even slightly numbing sensation‌ on the lips and tongue. It's often described as "electrifying."

‌辣 (Là) - Spicy/Hot:‌ This comes from ‌chili peppers‌ (usually dried, fresh, or in paste/oil form). This provides the familiar burning heat associated with spicy food. Common chilies used include facing heaven peppers (cháo tiān jiāo), er jing tiao peppers, or various chili bean pastes (dòubàn jiàng).

‌The Málà Experience:‌

‌Combined Sensation:‌ The magic of málà lies in the ‌interplay‌ of these two distinct sensations. The heat from the chilies (là) is ‌countered‌ and ‌enhanced‌ by the numbing/tingling sensation (má) from the Sichuan peppercorns.
‌Not Just Heat:‌ Unlike pure chili heat, málà is more complex. The numbing (má) doesn't eliminate the heat (là), but it alters the perception, creating a unique, almost vibrating, full-mouth experience that can be incredibly addictive.
‌Layered Flavor:‌ While known for its boldness, good málà dishes aren't just about heat and numbness. They often have underlying savory (xiān), salty, and sometimes slightly sweet or aromatic notes from other ingredients like garlic, ginger, star anise, fennel seeds, and fermented bean pastes.

I love Bev's poetic introductions now. My husband and I are planning an Asia trip this coming winter and would appreciate any recommendations you might have. Not sure if China would be too cold that time of year.

…’I am excited about seeing a creature eat more than I do..’. lol. Thanks for sharing, cannot wait for ur next adventure to xian! 🎉🤩😍

The pandas are so adorable, Can’t get enough out of your video. 😂. I heard ChengDo is a chill and laid back city with many local fun activities like changing face, ear picking, people having tea time at a giant tea house in the parks etc. They also have one of the biggest malls in the world. ChongQing and ChengDo is definitely an awesome itinerary.

Thank you for sharing your panda adventure with us. Both the red pandas and the white pandas are adorable and fascinating. Blessings on your travels!

I loved this video. Everyone was so warm and welcoming. I would love to visit!

Chengdu is the city where I studied in University in late 1980's. Our english teachers were exchange students from Goshen College Indiana state of USA. I still have vivid memories of those young boys and girls. They were very tall and big, I was so impressed. That's my first impressions of American, I thought all Americans were tall and big😀. China and US relationship was in its honeymoon period at that time.
On weekend nights we went to english corner to speak english with tourists from Europ and north America. My english was improved a lot since. English corner was at a river bank under the bridge which is within walking distance to Jingjiang Hotel where American consulate had offices there. Also I remember there's a tea house at the english corner side where I had a lot of leisure and chill time drinking flower tea and shewing sunflower seeds. Unfornitely that tea house was not there anymore when I returned to Chengdu last year. Time flies, nearly forty years passes, I am approaching retirement age. Now I am watching John and Bev's retirement travel vlogs, these vedioes restart my old and beatiful memories. Thanks guys for sharing your beatiful experiences.👍

You missed a highly recommend place, Dujiangyan, an ancient irrigation system, originally constructed around 256 BC and still in use today. It's around 60km from Chengdu via Metro.

Very cool. Would love as you go places and restaurants to try and get good video or pictures of signage. I often stop video and trying and write down places. You are an inspiration and want to get to those places. Thank you for sharing

Great video. We visited Chengdu over 20 years ago when our two daughters were 8 & 10, and we absolutely adored the panda place. We were actually able to hold young pandas in our laps and give them bamboo shoots and watch them eat. They were so gentle and cuddly, like little teddy bears, but they were only really interested in eating to be honest 😊 We have some prized photos and memories from that trip. The other memory is food, oh my….the noodles, the hot pot, the spicy veggie dishes. We also went to the city of Leshan nearby to see the Big Buddha carved into the side of a cliff. It’s worth a trip if you have time. We’re from Canada and we didn’t see many other foreigners when we were there, but we were treated very well and never felt unsafe. It’s a great place to visit a truly unique experience.

Thanks for the video. I’m curious about your itinerary. Are you using a travel guide to find cities and towns most people have never heard of before?

Another great video Bev and John! How lovely to see the pandas. Can't wait for the next instalment!

This is such a fun trip! I’m thinking I may just copy your itinerary! I went to Japan a few times last year but now China is on my mind! Thanks!

They are so adorable! We love to get up early when we're traveling to beat the crowds. The experience is much better. Thanks for sharing.

How fun to see the pandas! We also try to use public transportation as much as possible. It is cheaper and a good way to interact with the locals. Safe travels!

I'm so happy that I see Americans open heart and soul and go traveling to different countries 🙏

So cute ❤❤ I saw the panda babies one time years ago in Toronto, wish we can see them again.