A Spicy Sensation

In December 2013， British PrimeMinister David Cameron visited China again after three years away. During his three-day stay in the country， he chose Chengdu as his final destination， a decision made partially due to Chengdu’s increasing importance – it has become a gateway to the young vast markets of western China. But this may not be the only reason. Before the trip， in an interview with British media， Cameron revealed that he expected to eat hot pot in Chengdu. The prime minister’s wish was fulfilled when he enjoyed a hot pot dinner at a famous local restaurant. The menu included beef， cilantro meatballs and several vegetable dishes such as tofu， potato slices， and assorted mushrooms.

Located in western China， Chengdu is the capital of Sichuan Province. Although January is not the traditional travel peak for the city， visiting during the off-season affords tourists better chances to explore deeper and more easily. The city is known for its leisure， affordable cost of living， and a slow pace of life. The town is overflowing with delicious food and interesting places and it hopes to “inspire every tourist to stay.”

Two attractions visited by Cameron should also be on the list of every firsttime visitor to Chengdu： Du Fu Thatched Cottage Park and Jinli Street. Located in western Chengdu， Du Fu Thatched Cottage Park was inhabited by immortal

Tang-Dynasty poet Du Fu （712-770） when he was exiled to Chengdu. Jinli was once Chengdu’s major commercial thoroughfare， and it now covers an area of 30，000 square meters after reconstruction. Teahouses， theaters， craft workshops， and stalls of Sichuan specialties line the street. Most importantly， almost every kind of local snack can be found there， which cements its status as a tourist favorite.

Kuanxiangzi Alley and Zhaixiangzi Alley， two well-preserved alleys of the Qing Dynasty （1644-1911）， and bustling pedestrian street Chunxi Road are also worth visiting. If tourists want to experience livelier Chengdu， teahouses across the city are ready to welcome them. Visitors can easily witness the preferred local pastime in teahouses： mahjong. Of course， hot pot is likely the city’s greatest claim to fame. The restaurant that Cameron visited now offers the “Cameron Combo，” which includes every dish that the PM ordered.