Chengdu

Doorway at Dufu Cottage, Chengdu.

Tuesday, August 18, 1998

We are up early this morning, for our flight to Chengdu. The airport is chaotic as usual, but thanks to Richard and Jampa-la, we get to the right gate, on time, for the two and a half hour flight to Chengdu. There we are met by our local guide, Chao Hai Yen, who is very bright, always smiling and cheerful. From the drive in from the airport, Chengdu seems to be a city of light industry, and of fairly new, modern-style construction. A good Sichuan-style lunch (appropriate as Chengdu is the capital of Sichuan province).

Our afternoon sightseeing consists of the Dufu Cottage and the WuHou Temple, with a (shopping) stop at an embroidery factory in between; beautiful work, and priced accordingly. The sky is leaden grey, and the air is hot, humid and close; even some light rain in the afternoon does not relieve the weary heaviness. The Tibet Hotel, our resting place in Chengdu, is very nice, with rooms that are decorated in semi-Tibetan style. Our flight to Tibet tomorrow morning is very early, so we have an early dinner, and turn in early too. Embroidery Factory, Chengdu.

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