Chengdu Local Culture

Sichuan Opera

Sichuan Opera, the major kind of local drama, has a long history. Chengdu was where it originated and flourished. The Sichuan Opera repertoire has a wide range of subjects. The comedy in particular, is well-known among the public. With exquisite performance and plentiful styled movements, especially the trick performance, it has become a favorite of both domestic and foreign audiences. The soliloquy and vocal music of Sichuan Opera take the local pronunciation of Chengdu.

Sichuan Opera has a large repertoire. Representative items include Tales of White Snake, Red Clouds, Good Men from Sichuan, etc.

In addition, talking and singing quyi, comedies, stage plays, Peking Opera, music and dancing in Chengdu are also making continuous development.

Acrobatic

Chengdu is one of the places in China where acrobatic art is well developed. The acrobatic troupe in Chengdu has not only inherited a fine traditional repertoire but has also developed many new acrobatic gymnastics, contributing a lot to the advancement of the art. They take advantage of group performance to integrate dance, drama and gymnastics, showing beauty, simplicity, bravery and wisdom. As a result, the Chengdu acrobatics occupies a very important position in China's acrobatics area. In 1981, the municipal acrobatic troupe took the lead in performing abroad.

Puppet and Shadow Shows

Puppet shows in Chengdu has a long history. After its development in the Song, Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties, it was very popular after 1911. Shadow shows spread to Sichuan from north China. During the Republic of China (1912-1949), the lantern shadow show to the accompaniment of gong and drum music developed into one of the distinguished folk dramatic arts. After the founding of the People's Republic of China, a professional puppet and shadow theater was established in Chengdu. With its repertoire topping 100, the theater is frequented by children and teenagers. In the 1980s, Chengdu began to export its puppet and shadow shows.

Chengdu Tea Culture

The custom of drinking tea in Sichuan originated in the early Qin Dynasty (221-207 BC). It is an important part of the ancient Sichuan culture. The low table and bamboo chairs peculiar to Chengdu and the three-piece tea set (including the bowl, lid and tray) from a unique tea culture. Tea houses are scattered across the cities and country of the province. Sitting in a tea house, you may not only taste different kinds of tea but also enjoy story-telling or other art performances to appreciate the local custom.

Food Culture

The Sichuan Basin boasts a temperate climate and rich resources. Since ancient times, it has been known as the "Land of Plenty". Sichuan food, as one of the four noted schools of Chinese cuisine, has a history of some 1,000 years. Today, it boasts over 3,000 varieties of dishes. The hot and spicy food in particular is the best known. Over the course of development, various new dishes and snacks have emerged. In Chengdu alone, there are some 200 sorts of snacks with unique flavor. In recent years, hot-pot dishes witch originated in Chongqing have also found a good market in Chengdu.

Handicrafts

Sichuan embroidery, one of the four noted schools of embroidery in China, has a history of more than 2,000 years. The embroidery is the product of pure handwork with superb craftsmanship. They are in a great variety. The double-faced embroidery such as Carps and Lotus and Panda Playing with Bamboo have been well received by collectors. What's more, other local products, including brocade, porcelain, articles made of bamboo, lacquerware, and gold and silver products, are ideal for tourists as souvenirs.

Xinjin Dragon Boat Race

Xinjin is a place of rivers and lakes. The Nanhe River in the south of Xinjin City is wide and suitable for water activities. Tradition has it that dragon boat race in Xinjin on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month dates back to the Tang Dynasty. It became well-known during the Qing Dynasty. On that day, dozens of colorfully decorated boats were anchored in order on both sides of the river. After firecrackers, they rushed towards the destination under the deafening sound of gongs and drums. The boats, about 16 m long often go against the current, therefore, the competition is quite intense Catching ducks has been an interesting part of the repertoire at the dragon boat racing fair since the Qing Dynasty.