Jinli Street and Wuhou Temple

October 7, 2011China 20117-11, Chengdu, china, flower, food, garden, historic, ice cream, ice ream, jinli street, joni, peking duck, subway, temple Gallery

Japanese Food in China

We head to a Japanese chain restaurant. This is beef ramen.

Beef teriyaki kabobs. I have had teriyaki meats many times in the USA… this one really rocked my world. Authentic teriyaki is less sweet, more salty, potent. It coated the beef and transformed its flavor into a whole new experience for me.

I really enjoyed eating at this place… I hear there is one in NYC.

This dish is a skillet of beef and rice, topped with corn. The beef hits the table raw, being cooked by the heat of the skillet. I need to mix it around to cook it evenly. On the side are a broth for adding to the dish, pickles, and a teriyaki syrup. The hot flavorful beef and the heartiness of the rice made this a powerful dish compared to steak I have had in the past. The rice just soaked up the sauces and beef flavor and it melded into one, with the corn nibs offering a touch of different texture. I would love to eat this again in the US.

We stop at this 7-11 for some snacks.

Californian wine. Actually this is 7-11 brand wine we also have in the USA for $4/bottle. Priced at just under $11 here.

I bought this Nestle Mochi ice cream. It was very good!

Joni bought a product that has its roots in Rochester.

Chengdu Subway

Saving on cash, we start taking advantage of the new Chengdu subway, which finished construction last fall. Just one line, it luckily stretches from my hotel to Jing’s computer shop, to some nice neighborhoods with good eateries.

Communist countries put a lot of grandeur into their public transportation projects it subways have always been a showcase for “government for the people produces results for the people.” Many cities throughout Russia have subway systems far superior (in looks, at least) than to the cities that house them.

The Chengdu subway is clean, simplified, with plenty of digital screens, bright lights, and high security (if you consider teenagers with x-ray machines and metal detectors to be high security). Bags go through the x-ray just like any airport, and people walk through the metal detector. My camera set off the detector every time. No one cared. I guess I don’t fit the profile, I guess.

Jinli Neighborhood and the Temple

With Jing working, Joni and I set out to explore the old neighborhood of Chengdu.
Half of the property is shopping and food. The other half is a temple (Wuhou) and garden. Joni was all for the historical part. Excellent. I’ve been here before – maybe twice or more – but I still see unique sites every time I go.

The temple, centuries old, serves as both a museum and a place of worship.

The temple garden had some of the most unique bonsai.

Grain storage

This courtyard was filled with red ribbons and bronze locks. Couples come here and lock a ribbon to the chains, around the courtyard. The locks and ribbons say cheesy things like “eternal love”.

The courtyard is surrounded by gardens of this flower, the same color as the ribbons.

Peking Duck

We meet up with Jing for some Peking duck!!!

Chicken breast covered in oil and some green condiment. Not bad, but I’m not a fan of cold chicken

What a beautiful sight… the roasted duck with its crispy skin is a result of the high fat content melting between the skin and muscle and turning the baking into a frying.