Chengdu trip - Panda land!

I 😍❤️ Chengdu (成都）！

Have not posted for almost 2 months, cos I was away for a family trip to Seoul in June, and just returned on a trip with 3 buddies to Chengdu, China a few days ago.

Have not been to China since pre-Covid and this Chengdu trip inspired me to do a blog post from a Singaporean angle, and in the spirit of this blog, with an eye from the money and health perspectives :) Of cos will cover touristy, scenic, makan angles to satiate holiday-loving Sporeans in readers like U! 😉

25th Anniv trip - 5 day 4 nights trip to Chengdu with 3 buddies (V, Z and T) to commemorate 25th year of friendship! 🥰

July 2000 to July 2025 - 25 long years (and longer than we had known our own spouses😅) which is more than half of our lives! From single Uni students to working adults to marriage/parenthood and now to mid-life achievers! 😎

This blog post is a BIG shout out to my buddies, V, Z, T for the awesome journey that 4 of us enjoyed! 酸，甜，苦，辣，咸, U name it, we've been there, done that! So what better way to commemorate than this Chengdu trip (our longest trip to date!).

I shall divide this post into 4 segments and predominantly in photos: (1) 衣 (Clothing, and I extend to shopping); (2) 食 (Food and Drinks);

(3) 住 (Accomodation);

(4) 行 (Transport or travels).

Before I go further, just wanted to the context for the financial angle here, for e.g. (i) exchange rate of SGD1 = RMB5.6.

Note: SGD has been on a rising trajectory against RMB for the past 20 years, which I will highlight the pros and cons later

(1) 衣 (Clothing, and I extend to shopping)

For those who have never to/not been to China for some time, they have really developed rapidly and became so advanced that they are really a cashless society now!

Believe it or not, throughout my trip, I did not touch my wallet a single time, nor seen a single renminbi dollar note! And whoever is going China will definitely need to set up Wechat pay, Alipay, Changi Pay etc.! Saw even street buskers only take payments/donations via Wechat pay or Alipay! 😱 Looks like the spare Renminbi I changed is gonna sit idle in my wallet for some time to come 😅

Capitamall TianFu （凯德 天府）- Go China also support Capitaland malls!

Wife asked: "Go China also need to support Capitamall?" My reply: "Of cos! Bring friends to spend there, haha..."

Prices are pretty much the same in Capitamall, and the Mall was pretty quiet, dunno to be happy (as a shopper) or sad [as a unitholder of Capitaland China Trust (CLCT)]

Chengdu Tai Koo Li (成都太古里-首页) aka Chengdu's Orchard Road (all atas branded stuff, so nothing much for Mr MH to buy here, haha)

宽窄巷子 (Kuan Zhai Alley) - 1 of 3 https://you.ctrip.com/sight/chengdu104/63456.html

宽窄巷子 (Kuan Zhai Alley) - 2 of 3 (Ancient deco style Starbucks)

宽窄巷子 (Kuan Zhai Alley) - 3 of 3 (Good for souvenir shopping, food and pubs)

锦鲤古街 (Jin Li Ancient Streets) - 1 of 3 https://you.ctrip.com/sight/chengdu104/48862.html

锦鲤古街 (Jin Li Ancient Streets) - 2 of 3 Marvellous architecture of ancient streets just behind Zhu Ge Liang temple （武侯祠）

锦鲤古街 (Jin Li Ancient Streets) - 3 of 3 Good for buying decorations, souvenirs at competitive pricing

(2) 食 (Food and Drinks)

Ordering food at restaurants, food delivery, calling cab, buying tix, ordering food, everything is through your mobile phone!

大鸭梨 北京烤鸭 suggested by V! Delicious roasted peking duck that's not only crispier and more fragrant than Singapore but at RMB 300+ (about SGD53) for the whole duck and meal, that's 1/3 the price in Singapore! (https://you.ctrip.com/food/104/118702680.html)

V found this place, he said - 4 consecutive years of Micheline Bib Gourmand, and at very affordable pricing

Dunno if it's the 4 consecutive years of Michelin Bib Gourmand or we were really hungry, but its delicious and so cheap!

功夫茶 at 鹤鸣 茶社 - One of the key attractions in Chengdu!

功夫茶 at 鹤鸣 茶社

Snacks at 鹤鸣 茶社

马旺子成都 recommended by T's friend. Another Michelin Star restaurant! The whole meal (not all the dishes were here) costs us less than SGD80 for 4 of us! Where to find in Singapore? 😅 马旺子 (锦江) – Chengdu - a MICHELIN Guide Restaurant

Hotel international buffet breakfast - with live station and changing menu everyday. Guess how much?? SGD10 per day! 😂

渝少侠 火锅 - Our Most expensive meal of the trip!

Our Most expensive meal of the trip, guess how much???

Our Most expensive meal of the trip! RMB455 for 4 pax = SGD82, eat until vomit 🤤

Ordered BBQ 串串 dinner via Alipay to our hotel room. Food was delivered by rider to hotel lobby, then delivered by robot to our 35th floor hotel room doorstep!

(3) 住 (Accommodation)

For accommodation, we booked a 3-bedroom apartment hotel for 4 of us at SGD1600+ (including breakfast) for 4 nights.

SGD$400 per night for a 150sqm room (bigger than any 5-room/Exec HDB flat), comes with kitchen, washer, dryer, 3 bathrooms in a 5-star hotel, how to find in Singapore? 🤣 Enjoy the photos!

Grand Parcvue Hotel, linked to a mall next door

Dining area with kitchen in backdrop (washing machine, dryer, freezer, fridge, stove, oven)

Huge living room for 4 of us!

Panaroma view from our hotel room, did I mention our room was on 35th floor (highest floor is 39th)!

Sunset view from the living room of our hotel room

Enjoying some quiet time in the huge living room

Indoor heated pool of hotel - Too bad we didnt have time to enjoy it!

Hotel's own children indoor playground/toys room

(4) 行 (Transport or travels)

Transport in Chengdu was really cheap as V highlighted. Less than SGD5 for the most expensive ride (in Premier BYD luxury car) via didi app, which would easily cost SGD20 or more in Singapore!

Entrance tix to attractions were generally SGD10 or less, even for the Chengdu Panda Base (a must visit to Chengdu!), I wonder what SGD10 can net us for any Singapore attractions?

Enjoy the photos/videos of the attractions!

成都大熊猫繁育研究基地 Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda (more than 200 pandas here in the largest Panda base in China, no wonder Chengdu is Panda land!). According to our guide, the pandas all have names and take turns to be on shift to welcome visitors!

青城山 Qing Cheng Mountain. We were so lucky, was raining the whole morning on our 1.5hrs drive to the mountain, but rain cleared as we reached and air was so fresh and cool for climbing!

杜甫草堂 Du Fu Thatched Cottage. Du Fu the great poet's house, so huge, definitely more like a mansion than a thatched cottage! haha

都江堰 Du Jiang Yan Irrigation system (AAAAA China tourist attraction). According to our guide, this is the reason why Sichuan and Chengdu won't flood and won't lack water for the past 2000+ years!

武侯祠 also known as Zhu Ge Liang temple, a must visit for 三国演义 history buff like me!

诸葛亮 与 刘备

三义庙，praying to Liu Bei, Guan Yu and Zhang Fei the 3 sworn brothers

Can you tell who is who? (L to R: Zhang Fei, Liu Bei, Guan Yu)

Liu Bei, the Shu Emperor (Eldest Brother)

Guan Yu (Second Brother)

Zhang Fei (Third Brother)

Ok, didnt expect to write till 1.30am. A rather long post, but more of a photos blog on our Chengdu attractions and trip!

As always, I'm grateful for T's planning of itinerary and liaising with agent/driver, thankful for Z's antics and laughter to entertain us and appreciate V's food recommendations and tips for the trip! Looking forward to more to come as 4 of us progress to the next 25 years together! 🥰

To our financial literacy;

Mr MoneyandHealth (Mr MH) ;)