Old courtyards
Restored houses.
pzhui — CC BY 3.0 · AlexHe34 — CC BY-SA 3.0 · landagent — CC BY-SA 3.0 · JianEn Yu — CC BY 2.0 · Aaron Zhu — CC BY-SA 3.0 · ping lin — CC BY-SA 3.0 · xiquinhosilva — CC BY 2.0 · ping lin — CC BY-SA 3.0
A historic quarter in central Chengdu made up of three old parallel lanes, Wide Alley, Narrow Alley and Well Alley, with the traditional houses and courtyards between them; under the Qing it was home to the soldiers of the Eight Banners and their families. In 2007–2008 more than fifty traditional houses were restored with their courtyards, timber gates and grey walls, and the quarter opened to visitors in June 2008, becoming one of the city's best-known sights. Today the lanes are full of traditional teahouses, cafés, restaurants and shops selling crafts and Sichuan snacks; visitors love sitting in the courtyards to try Chengdu's tea culture, and People's Park is a short walk away. Wandering is free and possible all day; it's calmer in the morning and livelier in the evening. Many snacks contain pork, so ask about ingredients; the nearest metro station is Kuanzhai Alleys.
Restored houses.
Chengdu's tea culture.
Spicy.
Shaocheng quarter, central Chengdu
People's ParkChengdu's first public park, opened in 1911 as Shaocheng Park in the quarter the13 minutes walk4.6
Chengdu Huangcheng MosqueThe largest mosque in Sichuan, in central Chengdu near Tianfu Square; its name m18 minutes walk4.8
Chengdu MuseumThe city museum in the heart of Chengdu, on the west side of the great Tianfu Sq18 minutes walk4.8
Sichuan MuseumThe provincial museum of Sichuan and one of the largest in southwest China, foun20 minutes walk4.1Three old parallel lanes, Wide, Narrow and Well Alley, once home to Eight Banners soldiers under the Qing; restored and opened to visitors in 2008, and free to enter.