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Travelers flock to 'Best of the World' destination

Tourists visit Jinli, a traditional lane in Chengdu, which is home to teahouses, bars, restaurants and shops. [Photo provided to China Daily]

Renowned cuisine, culture and history bring in more visitors, Zhuan Ti reports.

Chengdu, a city with 3,000 years of history in western China, is attracting an increasing number of foreign visitors with its giant pandas and unique historical and cultural charm.

Canadian-born Jordan Porter, 30, has lived in Chengdu for six years. He was smitten by the city when he traveled to China to learn about Chinese culture while he was doing university studies in Canada.

After he graduated, he returned to Chengdu for further studies and stayed on, marrying a local woman. What attracted him to the city was the traditional Chinese culture, delicious food and beautiful scenery, he said.

Chengdu has a great many cultural relics and access to a large number of tourist attractions in every direction.

The Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding in the city’s north, a popular tourist attraction, is a world-renowned giant panda protection, research and breeding center.

The Jinsha Site Museum in the city’s west preserves one of the 21st century’s most significant archaeological discoveries on the original site.

The Dujiangyan Irrigation System, built in 256 B.C. during the Warring States Period (475-221 B.C.), is the world’s oldest still-functioning damless irrigation system. It is close to Mount Qingcheng, an important center of Taoism. It is northwest of Chengdu, 24.8 miles away from the city center.

The Shrine of Marquis Wu, a mustsee for history lovers, was built in 223 to celebrate the wisdom of Zhuge Liang (181-234), prime minister of the Shu Kingdom. The Thatched Cottage of Du Fu, the home of the famous Tang Dynasty (618-907) poet, is also a popular destination for cultural enthusiasts. The two sites are located in central Chengdu.

“If you want to go further, you can drive several hours to areas around Chengdu, where you can learn about the Tibetan and Qiang cultures and enjoy bright sunshine, fresh air and beautiful scenery,” Porter said.

Porter said he has a special love for the local food. In his spare time he often rides his bicycle around the city to explore different kinds of food.

He even quit his job and started to organize Chengdu food tours two years ago. The tours immerse visitors in the culture of Chengdu through authentic local dishes, traditional tea or spirits and tourist sites.

Chengdu is well-known for its distinctive cuisine and has been designated by UNESCO as the first City of Gastronomy in Asia.

When German Chancellor Angela Merkel visited Chengdu during her seventh official visit to China in 2014, she learned how to cook kung pao chicken, and former British prime minister David Cameron tried hot pot in Chengdu during his visit to China at the end of 2013.

Because of its attractive food and culture, Chengdu was recently selected as one of 21 “Best of the World” destinations for 2017 by National Geographic Traveler , a magazine published by the National Geographic Society in the United States.

Chengdu is China’s only city on the list.

“The top 21 best destinations were selected for people around the globe,” said George Stone, editor-in-chief of National Geographic Traveler, adding that the list offers a good reference for people to make their journeys more interesting and impressive.

Chengdu is the world’s second fastest-growing destination for international visitors, according to the 2016 MasterCard Global Destinations Cities Index.

The city received about 2.4 million overseas visitors in the first 10 months of 2016, an increase of 16.9 percent year-on-year. The number was forecast to reach 2.7 million for the whole year, according to the local tourism bureau.

Chengdu is growing into a worldclass shopping destination.

The city adopted a tax rebate policy on Jan. 1 of 2016. Under the policy, overseas visitors can receive a rebate of 11 percent on consumer goods bought at designated stores in Chengdu provided they buy more than 500 yuan ($73) worth of goods in the same store on the same day.

By September, visitors from 19 countries and regions had benefited from the tax rebate service, according to the Chengdu Commission of Commerce.

Chengdu adopted a 72-hour visa-free policy in 2013, allowing passengers from 51 countries to spend three days in the city if they have valid third-country visas and onward flight tickets.

It was one of the first cities in western China to adopt both policies.

Chengdu expects to receive 8.5 million overseas travelers a year by 2025, accounting for 2.8 percent of the total number of travelers to the city.

A panda munches bamboo in the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding in the northern part of the city. [Photo provided to China Daily]