The Kempinski Hotel is arguably Chengdu’s most luxurious hotel. Business travelers will find it is conveniently located next to the new IT sector of Chengdu and a short, direct taxi ride south of Tianfu Square. The hotel offers every amenity one would expect of a 5-star hotel, and even includes a German ’beer garden’ and an airline ticketing office. The most interesting aspect of the hotel has to be the Filipino house band which performs on weekends. The attractive women wear traditional school girl outfits and sing covers of famous classic tunes from Pink Floyd to Simon and Garfunkel. It is truly one of the stranger acts one will ever witness in their entire lifetime.

Directions: The Kempinski is located in the very south end of the city on Renmin Nanlu. It is close to the airport expressway. Show the taxi driver the address in Chinese or Pinyin and he will know where it is.

Close to the city center, Qing Shi Qiao market offers an unusual mixture of goods. The middle of Xinkai Jie is home to a two-story art market featuring a variety of wood, stone, and porcelain crafts and sculpture, calligraphy and landscape paintings, jade stamps, and Buddha figures. There are a number of flower shops along Xinkai Jie, including some which sell cacti. Once you turn left onto Nanfu Jie you will reach another row of small tree, lawnmower, and garden shops followed by a jampacked, flower market at the end of the street. Take a stroll through the winding alleys of the flower market for a breathe of fresh air and momentary escape from the urban landscape. 

The pet and pet supply shops are easily the most curious part of the street. Five or ten years ago these pets were likely purchased to be...well...eaten. But times have changed in China, and having a pet is one of China's newest and most popular trends. Puppies, kittens, hamsters, rabbits, gerbils, turtles, and a wide assortment of fish are available. However, the condition of the pet shops will probably not remind you of home. Visitors to the street will probably never see so many home aquarium shops in one confined place in their entire life. One shop even sells purebred huskies, but they aren't cheap.

In a nutshell, the Qing Shi Qiao market exudes a rather strange vibe when compared with other Chengdu locales. If you have an hour to spare, give it a shot, and you might end up with a souvenir or photo opportunity you had not expected.

Directions: With Mao's statue and Tianfu Square at your back, head south on Renmin Lu. You will soon turn left onto Xinguanghua Jie and then bear right onto Jinxing Lu. Xinkai Jie will soon appear on your right side. The walk should be less than 15 minutes from Tianfu Square.

Those who like to sleep with the utmost comfort and don’t mind splurging a but should make a reservation at the Jinjiang hotel. Rooms start at 880 RMB/night, executive rooms from 1680 RMB/night, and the presidential suite is only 50000 RMB/night. The hotel has perfect downtown location both on the river and on Renmin Nanlu. The hotel has a European, Japanese, and Korean restaurant. There are also six beautiful conference/dining rooms. Broadband internet and DVD players are just a few of the amenities in the rooms. Don’t get stuck in the hotel ultra-cushy atmosphere though, be sure to get out and see Chengdu.

Directions: The Jinjiang Hotel is south of Tianfu Square on Renmin Nanlu. Walk south on Renmin Lu and you can’t miss the hotel on your right side, the last building before you cross the river.  

Babi Club is currently the hottest club in town. Young Chinese and foreigners alike come here to wear their sunglasses at night. Patrons do their best impression of dress styles as seen in MTV’s raciest videos. DJs mix beats from around the world from decades past and present. The kids could hardly care though as the dance floor is packed until the sun comes up. There are actually two separate sections of the club that try to play contrasting styles of music. There is no admission fee, but beers are Y30 and mixed drinks start at Y40, so drink before you come. Private tables are available as well.

Fashion and Mix Clubs are right next door to Babi within the very same building. These spots fill up on weekends and play music similar enough to Babi. Drinks are a tad cheaper at these two than at Babi.

Babi Club is on the south 2nd ring road, west of Renmin Nanlu. Since you’ll be headed there after the buses have shut down, just hop in a taxi, and say "Babi", the driver should know where to go. The clubs are across the 2nd ring road and a bit to the west from the Yulin Life Plaza (Yulin Shenghuo Guangchang, 玉林生活广场).

For more than 10 years, Little Bar has been a stronghold of the Yulin neighborhood. The interior is dimly lit and the walls are covered with post-modern art in all shapes and sizes. The bar attracts a more mature crowd when compared with other local hangouts. Professionals, artisans, and foreigners frequent the bar with their friends to discuss current trends and events and forget the day’s hardships. Everyone is a friend at Little Bar. Thankfully patrons are also able listen to soft beats played at a very agreeable volume. The Beatles, Lee ’Scratch’ Perry, and the Theivory Corporation are just a few of the tasteful musical selections put on by the staff. Chinese beers are Y10-15 while imported beers range from Y20-30. Bottles of red and white wine along with a full selection of liquor are available for Y15-40 per drink. A few snacks are available, but there is no real kictchen. Weekends often feature live bands from around Asia, so keep an eye out for advertisements around town.

Directions/Address: 55 Yulin Xilu (55 West Yulin St.), take a bus or taxi south on Renmin Nanlu. As soon as you pass the Sichuan sports arena after crossing the south 1st ring road, make a right on East Yulin St. Follow the street a few blocks and eventually you will arrive at Little Bar on the right-hand side. 

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.