Chengdu Local Specialties

Chengdu is called “Land of abundance” with rich products. One of China's four big famous brocade Shu Brocade and one of China's four big famous embroidery Shu embroidery is your good choice to buy as souvenir or gift for friends; Porcelain, bamboo weaving make people eye-opening. Silver handicrafts are beautiful and artistic; Qingcheng mountain silk rug is delicate and exquisite, and there are tapestries, carpets for you to choose. And people, who love to taste delicious food, don't forget to buy authentic thick broad-bean sauce of Pixian County.

 

Shu Brocade is a kind of silk fabric, which has more than 2000 years' history. There are many styles of it. As the modern textile industry develops the production of Chengdu Shu Brocade shrinks day after day. Now there is only one factory that is Chengdu Shu Brocade Factory. The main Shu brocade goods here are the facing of the quilt, the materials of clothes and a lot of decorative brocade.

 

Shu Brocade is a kind of silk goods; it is very soft and colorful. It has many kinds and is very durable. Recently, new achievements have been made by the newly established Shu Brocade Academy on the application of modern techniques in the traditional handcrafts .Their product is sure that another prosperous period or classic elegance in color and concinnity in quality It is sure that another prosperous period for Shu Brocade is coming soon.
 

Materials used to make Chengdu lacquer wares are various. Except those ordinary types such as wood and paper, plastic ones and flax bodiless ones are also can be found in this city. Beautiful model and ingenious technology make this ware as a good collection. The surface of the lacquer is transparent like water and is bright like the mirror.
 

 
 

Modern lacquer techniques have kept with tradition, while at the same time, making great innovations. The innovations are especially unique in terms of carving and filling with colors, colored drawings, the embossed lacquers. These lacquers are not only used in daily life, things such as plates, jars, boxes, pots, bowls, tea sets, drinking vessels and sets, but also used as furnishings, such as vases, folding screens, desk screens and wall screens. Carving flowers and filling colors are the main technological features of Chengdu Lacquer Wares. And also, there are some new technologies such as hazy flowers, hidden flowers and portraying. All of these make the lacquer wares more colorful.

Shu Embroidery

Shu embroidery is a traditional craft of Sichuan Province. It enjoyed good fame way back in the Han Dynasty and reached its heyday in the Song Dynasty.

It features fine, smooth needlework, simple elegant colors, graceful easy lines and the traditional Chinese paintings' style. Some summarized the style of Shu Embroidery as "stringent and fine stitches, light and elegant colors, beautiful and smooth lines, Chinese ink and wash flavors".



In the Han Dynasty (206 BC-220 AD), Shu embroidery was already famous. The central government even designated an office in this area for its administration. During the Sui and Tang dynasties (581-907), the increasing trade on the Silk Road, a relatively peaceful society, and large demand of silk products provided advanced conditions for the rapid development of the Shu embroidery industry.

Shu embroidery experienced its peak development in the Song Dynasty (960-1279), ranking first in both production and excellence. In the mid-Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), many professional workshops and artisans engaged in Shu embroidery welled up. After the founding of the People's Republic of China, Shu embroidery factories were set up and the craft entered a new phase of development, using innovative techniques and a larger variety of forms.



In September 2006, the double-sided embroidery “Two Fish" by Chinese embroidery master Hao Shuping was awarded the UNESCO Seal of Excellence for Handicraft Products in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.
 

Bamboo plays a very important role in Chengdu culture. It is the favorite food for Panda. And in Chinese culture, it also used to refer the good quality of a gifted scholar.

 

So this kind of works is unique in Chengdu. The Bamboo works are on the surface of the porcelain. The porcelains are the main stuffs, and people use very thin and soft bamboo to make this kind of crafts. Traditionally, they can be made as vases, coffee sets, tea sets and bowls. Also, they can be made as jewelry boxes, writing materials, pen containers and bamboo trays, etc.
 

Sichuan has a plenty of water and good water quality, which provides a unique condition for the appearance of many good and famous liquor in Sichuan. Sichuan brewing has a history of more than 2000 years, generations of craftsmen used their own wisdom and understanding produced a lot of good liquors with dense local characteristics. With long history, exquisite technique and unique bouquet, these famous liquors of Sichuan enjoys a good reputation since ancient times.



Among numerous famous Sichuan liquor, the most famous is the "five golden flowers", they are: Wuliangye (liquid made from five grains), Luzhou Old Cellar, Mianzhu Jiannanchun, Quanxing Daqu (hard liquor made with such yeast), Ancient Linlang Liquor.

Jasmine Tea

Chengdu people love to drink tea, especially Jasmine Tea. It has kept the rich aroma of tea, and full of fresh and lovely scent of jasmine flower, which taste mellow and fragrant after you drink it. There are several main brands of Jasmine Tea in Chengdu: Sanhua (Three Flowers), Bitan snow and Xufu jasmine tea, their quality is better. And the price will change on the basis of different brands and types, you can go to the supermarket to buy it.

 

Pixian County thick broad-bean sauce which enjoys a good reputation of Sichuan cuisine is produced in Pixian County in Sichuan province. Pixian County is located in the middle of the Chengdu plain and with advantage of Dujiangyan irrigation, it is rich in rice, wheat, rapeseed, Lima bean (vicia faba), etc. The Lima bean here are of good quality, the thick broad-bean sauce take it as the main raw material which soy sauce is oily red, halves of bean is crisp, and have heavy spicy flavor, sweet and delicious. It not only can be used as a flavoring, also can eat with rice.