Computer City extends the entire way between Kehua Beilu (科华北路）and Renmin Nanlu (人民南路）on the south 1st ring road (南一环路). At either end of the street there are large electronics department stores selling absolutely anything having to do with computers, cameras, and cell phones. All along the street in between the large department stores are smaller shops which specialize in different aspects of electronics. The Shu Ma (数码） department store listed below is just one of these mega-stores, but all of them are very similar to each other.

Shu Ma department store is six floors jampacked with electronics. Intense competition makes it a good place to shop around for good deals on all kinds of electronics. Don’t hesitate to walk back and forth between merchants selling the same item and in your whiniest voice say, "But that guy over there just gave me this [lower] price..." The listed price is never the final price. The first two floors have computers, laptops, hard drives, and cell phones. The 3rd floor features cameras, while the 4th floor is the best place in town to shop for cheap DVDs. A word of advice to those with children: unlike video stores back home, there is no separate section for adult videos.

Directions: Shu Ma Guang Chang (数码广场） is located at the junction of the south 1st ring road and Renmin Nanlu. It is on the southeast corner and it is impossible to miss the throngs of people constantly streaming in and out. It takes about 30 minutes to walk straight down Renmin Lu from Tianfu Square and arrive at the electronics super store.

If you need a quick break from the spicy Chengdu diet, stop in at Sumo Sushi Bar, literally steps away from Tianfu Square. The bar itself features a convenient sushi conveyor belt while tables are also available. A variety of sushi dishes cost Y5, Y8, Y10 or Y15 depending on the contents of the roll. True sushi aficionados may not be too impressed, as the chefs are Chinese, not Japanese. Still, those who enjoy sushi once in a while should be satisfied by the wide selection of simple rolls. There are over 30 types of rolls to choose from, but none are too fancy. Sake is available at Y20 for a small pitcher; be sure to drink it while it’s still warm. If you aren’t in the mood for sushi, ask for a menu of traditional Japanese dishes that is in Chinese and English. The fried dumplings are excellent, especially the sauce that comes with them. A full meal with a few drinks will cost about Y40-60 per person.

Directions: With Mao’s statue at your back, walk south on Renmin Lu. Very soon you will turn left on Lihua Jie. The restaurant’s red sign is immediately on your right. Walk up the stairs to Sumo Sushi, which shares its space with Kyoto Japanese restaurant. The sushi bar is on the right when you walk in the entrance.     

The laidback, liberal atmosphere at Hemp House makes it a great destination to relax with friends. Two floors are filled with cushy couches, arcade games, and a pool table. The music is an enjoyable mix of reggae, modern and progressive rock, and new wave. China’s most popular beer, Tsingtao (Qingdao), is available for Y10 (560 ml) along with Qingdao Blacks for Y15.  A full bar is also affordable with mixed drinks ranging from Y15-20. Chat up the bartender, A Qiao, if she is not too busy. Her English is fair, but most importantly she is a free-spirit, always smiles, and wants everyone to enjoy themselves. On weekends there is often live music including notable Chinese rock and reggae musicians or local Chengdu hip-hop battles. On random weeknights or quiet afternoons locals like to bring their own instruments or pick up any of the percussion instruments lying around Hemp House’s small stage. Impressive jam sessions have been known to stir up.

Hemp House is less than 2 kilometers east of Tianfu Square, located at the intersection of Tianxianqiao and Dongdajie. If you take a taxi or ask someone for directions, just say or write down "Dong Men Da Qiao" (东门大桥）. The bar is on the south side of Dongdajie. Go up 2 flights of escalators and Hemp House is on the 3rd floor.

For international students looking for a different, and less expensive, opportunity to study Chinese language and culture, Yangzhou University beckons. Campuses are spread throughout town with a total enrollment of 35,000 students.  Other popular realms of study include the culinary school, martial arts, traditional Chinese medicine, and many others. Foreign students studying here come from an impressively diverse set of locations including Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and East Asia. Another option for foreigners is the opportunity to teach English at one of the campuses .

For more information contact Lily Young at [email protected]

Don't rush, think carefully for a minute before you just go ahead and assume what you will find at cell phone street. Ready? OK.... it's cell phones. Foreign students, English teachers, and businessmen alike all need cell phones. Bring a Chinese friend to help you sort out the phone and contract details and head for Tidujie. In the department store on the south side of the street competition between companies is so intense that prices for new cell phones are as low as possible. If these prices don't satisfy you, you can buy 2nd hand phones on the north side of the street. Remember to bargain here.

Directions: Walk east along Renmindonglu from Tianfu Square and you will soon make a left on Shunchengjie. Pass the Dynasty Hotel and then make a right onto Tidujie. 

Those seeking a taste of a true Chinese club should check out Kakadu, however you probably won’t stay long. The lack of air conditioning is not aided by the fact that at least three waitresses breath down your neck harassing you to order expensive drinks. Beers cost Y25-30, but you can purchase 6 for Y80, or 12 for Y120. The staff will bring the beers all at once, and they won’t be very cold either. Liquor is equally pricey. The reportoire of blaring Chinese techno re-mixes only seems to last about an hour, before you start hearing the same songs again, or at least the same samples. Once you are sufficiently drenched in your own sweat, don’t hesitate to leave, the scene stays the same as the night drags on.

Kakadu Club is on the south 1st ring road on the south side of the street. It is number 16 on the ring road’s 3rd section.