Chengdu: Private Market Tour, Hotpot, and Opera Experience｜China

Begin your evening with a pickup from your hotel in Chengdu and head to a traditional wet market. Explore the bustling stalls, where vendors shout, vegetables are still covered in morning or late-afternoon dew, and the air smells of Sichuan pepper and fresh herbs.

See Sichuan peppercorns, dozens of chili varieties, fresh produce, meat and poultry, hotpot ingredients, and herbs and spices. Learn how Chengdu's market culture reflects the city's famous "slow life" and point out ingredients you'll soon see in your hotpot.

Next, head to a local hotpot restaurant (not a tourist chain — a real Chengdu favorite). Here, you'll experience the city's most iconic meal. Enjoy a bubbling, fiery red oil broth infused with chilies and Sichuan peppercorns, a non-spicy side for vegetables or those who need a break from heat, a selection of classic hotpot ingredients, and a personal mix of sesame oil, garlic, cilantro, and vinegar (the perfect cooling dip).

Your guide will show you how to cook each ingredient (tripe only needs a few seconds!) and share hotpot etiquette. Vegetarian option available – please notify at least 3 days in advance.

After dinner, walk or take a short drive to a Sichuan Opera teahouse for a spectacular evening performance. Your ticket includes a seat and a cup of tea (the traditional way to enjoy opera in Chengdu).

See face-changing, fire-spitting, hand shadow puppetry, and traditional comedy and acrobatics. The performance lasts approximately 1 hour. You'll have time to take photos, sip your tea, and soak in the atmosphere of a traditional Chengdu opera house.

After the show, your guide will take you back to your hotel.