As a couple from Belgium, my girlfriend and I have always come across videos of Sichuan, China, online – bamboo forests, giant pandas, and steaming hot pots. These images captivated us deeply. However, the online information was scattered and one-sided. It wasn’t until we customized an 8-day Sichuan tour through chinafun.co that we finally set foot on this magical land. Now that the journey has ended, our minds are still filled with the mist of Qingcheng Mountain, the solemnity of the Leshan Giant Buddha, and that love-hate relationship I have with Sichuan hot pot.
On the day we arrived in Chengdu, a dedicated driver was already waiting at the airport, holding a sign with our names. As he took our luggage, he smiled and handed us two bottles of chilled mineral water: “Sichuan is hot – quench your thirst first.” This simple greeting instantly lifted the tiredness of our long journey.
The five-star hotel arranged by chinafun.co was located in the city center. When we opened the window, we could see the old neighborhood with grey-tiled roofs and white walls. In the evening, the sounds of Sichuan opera singing from the teahouse downstairs mingled with the aroma of street snacks. This vibrant, down-to-earth charm was something we had never experienced in Brussels.
After dropping off our luggage, we couldn’t wait to follow our guide to explore the nearby snack street. My girlfriend was immediately drawn to tangyou guozi (fried glutinous rice balls coated in sugar and sesame) – golden, crispy on the outside and chewy on the inside. I tried Zhong-style dumplings; the aroma of the red oil was overwhelming, but the spiciness was milder than I expected. The vendors we met along the way were incredibly warm – they chatted with us in Mandarin with a Sichuan accent and even added extra portions to our orders. This unreserved kindness made us fall in love with Sichuan instantly.
On the second day of our trip, we headed to Qingcheng Mountain. As our car wound along the mountain road, the greenery outside the window grew denser and denser. When we caught sight of the green mountains wrapped in mist, my girlfriend and I couldn’t help but exclaim. Our guide told us that Qingcheng Mountain is known as “the most serene mountain under heaven” – and it lived up to its reputation. As we climbed up the stone steps, tall ancient trees towered into the sky, gurgling streams babbled by, and the occasional birdcall echoed. The whole world felt quiet and peaceful.
When we reached the summit, a light rain started to fall. Mist swirled around the mountains, making us feel like we were in a fairyland. My girlfriend kept taking photos with her camera, saying, “This is more beautiful than a fairy tale.”
Later, when we visited the Southern Sichuan Bamboo Sea, we were even more stunned by the vast expanse of green. Stepping into the bamboo forest, sunlight filtered through the leaves, casting dappled shadows on the ground. The wind rustled the bamboo, creating a soft “rustling” sound – like a private conversation with nature. We took a bamboo raft and drifted along the stream between the bamboo groves, watching the bamboo trees reflect in the water. That sense of tranquility and comfort made us forget all our worries. Our guide also took us to experience bamboo weaving. Watching craftsmen turn thin bamboo strips into exquisite patterns, we couldn’t help but marvel at the ingenuity of traditional Chinese craftsmanship.
At the Dujiangyan Irrigation System, we truly witnessed the wisdom of ancient Chinese people. Standing beside Baopingkou (the “Bottle-Neck Channel”), we watched the river water diverge according to the design, irrigating thousands of acres of farmland downstream. Our guide explained the story of Li Bing and his son, who built Dujiangyan, and we were completely engrossed. It was hard to imagine that this water conservancy project, built over 2,000 years ago, is still functioning today. This timeless greatness filled us with awe.
The grandeur of the Leshan Giant Buddha exceeded all our expectations. As we walked slowly along the plank road to approach the Buddha, we stared at the 71-meter-tall statue carved into the mountainside – its expression solemn yet kind, with the river flowing endlessly at its feet. In that moment, all we could feel was overwhelming shock; we had no words to describe it. Our guide told us that the Buddha took 90 years to build, and it was the perseverance and dedication of craftsmen across generations that created this world wonder. A Chinese tourist we met along the way even offered to take a photo of us, smiling and saying, “You’re from Belgium – make sure to take the Buddha’s blessings back home!”
When talking about Sichuan, we can’t avoid its cuisine. My favorite was Sichuan hot pot. The first time I sat in a hot pot restaurant, I watched the red spicy broth bubble and simmer, with the aroma of chili and Sichuan peppercorns filling my nose. I felt both excited and a little nervous. My guide smiled and said, “If you’re afraid of spice, you can order a yuan yang hot pot (a pot with two sections: one spicy, one non-spicy) to adapt slowly.” But I wanted to challenge myself. The first bite made my eyes water and my forehead sweat, and my girlfriend laughed until she doubled over. Yet the more I ate, the more addicted I became – tender beef tripe, fresh duck intestines, dipped in sesame oil mixed with mashed garlic. That spicy, numbing, and savory flavor completely won me over.
My girlfriend, on the other hand, was obsessed with Sichuan snacks: dan hong gao (baked egg cake), bing fen (ice jelly), shangxin liangfen (spicy cold vermicelli)… She dragged me to try a new one every day. She said, “Belgian desserts are elegant, but Sichuan snacks have more ‘everyday charm’ – every bite tastes like life itself.” Once, when we were eating cold noodles at a street stall, the aunt who ran the stall saw how much my girlfriend liked it and gave us an extra bowl of bing fen, saying, “As long as the young lady is happy!” This warmth still touches us when we think about it.
Every day of our 8-day Sichuan trip was filled with surprises – and none of this would have been possible without the thoughtful arrangements of chinafun.co. Our professional guide not only knew the history and culture of every attraction by heart but also always found less crowded photo spots with stunning views for us. The dedicated driver was attentive and safe throughout the trip; no matter how many random snack stalls we wanted to stop at, he waited patiently. Especially the service at the five-star hotel: every time we returned to our room, we found fresh fruit and a handwritten greeting card – the attention to detail showed how much care went into the trip.
Before this journey, our understanding of China came through a screen, always feeling distant. But this in-person experience showed us that the mountains and rivers here are more beautiful than we imagined, the people are warmer than we expected, and the prosperity is more real than we thought. If you want to experience a Chinese trip like this, be sure to choose chinafun.co. With its professional service, it will guide you to unlock one surprise after another – you won’t be disappointed.
Now, my girlfriend and I are already planning our next trip to China. Next time, we want to see the Terracotta Warriors in Xi’an and experience the scenery of Dali in Yunnan. Because we know that in China, there are countless wonders waiting for us to discover.
