1 Day Chengdu Cooking Class & Local Life Experience

Instead of discovering ‘superficial’ Chengdu in tourist attractions, consider this 1 day Chengdu cooking tour and become a Chengduer temporarily to find its charm in Sichuan Cuisine and the street corners of old communities.

► Morning: Trace the past and present of Sichuan Cuisine and cook it yourself!
At around 08:30, your private guide and driver will pick you up from your self-booked hotel and escort you on an hour’s ride to the Sichuan Cuisine Museum. Let’s discover why Sichuan Cuisine, prevailing in its capital Chengdu, is the foremost of China’s eight major culinary traditions! 

First, your guide will accompany you to probe into the history of Sichuan cuisine through artifacts like cooking utensils, food containers, and dining utensils from 2,500 years ago to now. Among the treasures stands a 300-year-old pickling jar, with its value estimated at over USD 58,000! Outside the hall is a lush courtyard, where you’ll see the production of fermented broad bean paste. Just as Parmesan cheese is essential to Italian dishes, this bean paste defines the soul of Sichuan cuisine, known for its acceptable spiciness and subtly sweet aftertaste. Before rows upon rows of large vats, you can experience the rich aroma and try turning the pastes with a long wooden pestle, ensuring even exposure to sunlight for optimal fermentation. Nearby, a food street beckons you to sample some traditional snacks like glutinous rice cake, crispy flatbread, and flavorful wontons. The menu changes seasonally and thoughtfully includes non-spicy options for international visitors.

Next, it’s your turn to shine! Get ready for a cooking class where a professional chef will guide you in preparing three classic Sichuan dishes, such as Mapo Tofu, Kung Pao Chicken, and Panda-shaped Red Bean Buns. You’ll master important techniques like how to keep the tofu tender without falling apart, knead dough effectively, and the timing for adding ingredients. Once completed, enjoy your creations for lunch, alongside refreshments, wine, beverages, and tea specially provided by us. To cap off the experience, you’ll receive a ‘Junior Chef Certificate’ issued by the museum, along with secret recipes to recreate these dishes at home. 

► Afternoon: Local Life Experience at Xiaojiahe Community
In the afternoon, you’ll enjoy a private transfer by your guide and driver back to downtown and head to the Xiaojiahe Community for its unspoiled urban spirit. Here, the tranquil river harmonizes with the energetic streets, alive with locals casually strolling and going about their daily activities. Noticeably, eateries dominate the scene; despite their basic dining conditions, they have won the hearts of loyal patrons for decades thanks to the mouthwatering taste. People would even like to gather on plastic chairs and queue for dozens of meters for a bowl of noodles, with a slightly raised plastic stool as their ‘tables’. Because food transcends mere sustenance and weaves itself into everyday life.

Later, let’s step into a teahouse, sipping a cup of lidded-bowl tea on relaxing bamboo chairs. A typical Chengdu afternoon often starts with a game of mahjong tiles, like crowds around you. For this aging community, it is a mental exercise and social engagement rather than gambling, which can effectively alleviate their aloneness and expand friend circles as their children have lived in other cities far away or even abroad. While playing, they would also exchange thoughts on household affairs and healthy preservation. Why not stand aside and watch for a while? 

During urbanization, Chengdu has also attracted residents of Tibetan areas in western Sichuan Province for better education, healthcare, and job opportunities, and Xiaojiahe Community is one of their settlements. We’ll then walk north to explore a Tibetan market. Beyond common souvenirs like jewelry and ethnic costumes, browse through household items like ladles and carved wooden bowls. As you pass shops selling sacred Buddhist scroll paintings, perhaps glimpse artisans using fine tips to depict the patterns on Buddha statue’s clothing. Next to the market, international brands like Walmart and Starbucks can also be found, unveiling an interesting cultural contrast. 

After that, your private Chengdu day tour will come to an end, and your guide and the driver will escort you back to your hotel. Alternatively, stay longer for a self-guided exploration if you enjoy the atmosphere here. Watch square dancing in Tibetan style at dusk or grab a drink at one of the cafes before return by yourself.

If you’d like to add more stops, such as People’s Park or Wide and Narrow Alleys, feel free to share your travel inspirations with our travel consultants, and we can customize a trip for you!