Liu Yang

#random characters #casual tone

**Travel Journal: Chengdu, China**  
*Day 3 – 10/15/2025*

Okay, so I’m in Chengdu. Like, *actually* in Chengdu. Not just some blurry photo on Instagram. It’s real. And it’s weirdly calm. I mean, I expected chaos, but this city is like a sleepy giant. Everyone moves at their own pace, and the air smells like spicy food and maybe a little bit of bamboo.

I started my day with breakfast at a local market. They have these tiny steamed buns filled with pork and pickled vegetables. I ate three. Then I wandered into a tea house. The guy behind the counter was like, “You want jasmine? Or oolong? Or maybe something more... *adventurous*?” I went with jasmine. It was good. Very smooth. I think I sipped it for an hour. That’s how you know you’re in China — even your tea has a personality.

In the afternoon, I went to the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding. Let me tell you, pandas are not what I expected. They’re not just cute; they’re *slow*. Like, *really* slow. One was eating a bamboo stick so slowly that I started wondering if it was meditating. Another one was rolling around in the mud. I took a photo. It’s going to be my new profile picture. My dog would hate it, but whatever.

Later, I tried some Sichuan hot pot. The broth was spicy enough to make my eyes water, but I kept eating. I think I’m a masochist. Or maybe I just really like noodles. Either way, it was delicious. The waiter kept bringing me more chili oil, and I kept saying “no, no, no,” but then I’d take a bite and be like, “*Yes.*”

At night, I walked through the Jinli Ancient Street. It’s like a mix between a mall and a festival. There were lanterns everywhere, and people selling everything from dumplings to fake designer bags. I bought a panda keychain. It’s probably not real, but I don’t care. It’s cute.

So far, Chengdu is chill, tasty, and full of adorable animals. I didn’t expect to fall in love with a city that smells like chili and bamboo, but here we are. I think I’ll stay a few more days. Maybe I’ll learn to speak Mandarin. Or maybe I’ll just keep eating spicy food and pretending I understand everything.

#randomcharacters #casualtone #chengdu #traveljournal #chinesetrip #pandasarethebest