Chengdu: A City of Art

Chengdu is not only represented for its cuisine. It is the art and culture that makes this city more addictive. The city is a shining metropolis which satisfies the yearning for dreams. Full of romance from artists and creations, you will come across the surprises of life’s beauty, fashion, and art.

For those who have never been to Chengdu, they will imagine like this; an inland city away from pressure. Comfortable and rich, life is slow and silent. They are right. But the young men living in this city are eager to get rid of these old tags. Instead of discussing the cuisine, tea houses and beautiful girls, they prefer to analyze the living aesthetics and art fashion. Nowadays, the Chinese city culture is falling into two extremes----reviving of an international metropolis like Shanghai or a dream land like Dali. However Chengdu found the balance between the two extremes. The land of abundance though, because of Dujiangyan, a city of art and culture now, has become the common sense of Chengdu city.

Newland of Art

Blue Roof Art Center & Eastern Suburb Memory

The Blue Roof Art Center, located in San Sheng Town in the eastern suburb, was named after a studio with a blue roof which was established by Zhou Chunya and other artists in the suburb of Chengdu. After that, more artists like Luo Fahui, He Duoling joined in and the studio with blue roof quickly developed into a community of artists and continued to develop. Due to this, the Chengdu Government established an art center and named as Blue Roof Art Center.

Different from the creation material coming from street life 20 years ago, the artists now prefer to live and work in the Blue Roof Art Center in the suburb. But what is similar with 20 years ago is that the art community still lives with the things that are of interest by the general public. The San Sheng Town in the eastern suburb of Chengdu is considered to be one of the best vacation destinations by the residence for its beautiful scenery. Drinking tea, watching Lotus and farm tour is the main activity here. The existence of the Blue Roof Art Center doesn’t make people feel irreconcilable. There are several studios here and its attraction for young artists is continuing. It is considered to be the base of the local art and dreams. There are also academic exchanges, preservation, salons, and book prints here.

The Li Xiaofeng Studio is located near the Blue Roof and is a Loft structure. Li is one of the Cenozoic Blue Roof artists who came back China from Netherland and moved his studio far away from Beijing 798 to Blue Roof. He thought that Blue Roof was a brand co-created by elder and Cenozoic artists and developed into a valuable art community which gives Chengdu the art atmosphere. “The art circle in Chengdu is not very big and carries its own distinctive city character. We feel relax here when we making art.”

About 10 kilometers away from Blue Roof there is an art center themed as music drama and photograph called Eastern Suburb Memory. The Eastern Suburb Memory was original a state run red light electronic tube factory full of industries and creation. The workshop was turned into a cinema. The hydrogen tank was transformed into an audition space. The chimney and boiler became a music bar and the old office building became hotel. The nostalgic meet fashion here and turned out to be the lab of musicians and playwright.

The Architecture and Space Design

West Village & iBox creative space

Chengdu is becoming the lab for the architecture and space designers. The world famous architecture web Archdaily has an arch map which marks the contemporary design works of the world architects. No doubt Chengdu will be a highlight.

If you spend half day in the West Village of Chengdu, there are lot of things you can do here. You can drink a cup of coffee in the coffee shop, and then head to play football. After that you can visit the exhibitions there for remaining time.

The West Village is shaped like the letter “C.” It combines with the traditional elements of western Sichuan like yards, black bricks, bamboo grove and patio with a modern function. It is more akin to a life community of culture creation and courtyard life-style which makes West Village an experimental work. The designer of West Village is Liu Jiakun who began his career in the architectural industry by designed the studio for artists Luo Zhongli and He Duoling 20 years ago. After that, a series of studio designs and museum designs laid the foundation for Liu to become one of the top architects in China. The relatively relax creative environment in Chengdu makes it possible for him possible to further explore the art here, combining the local elements to the essence of Contemporary Art. We can’t say whether it is the nourishment of art work like West Village or the art work like West Village that re-define the art and culture atmosphere in Chengdu.

There is another piece of architecture in Chengdu named iBox creative space, which is considered to be a “weirdo.” This building is made out of several containers and it is the first creative container building in Asia. Now it is a place filled with cafés, creative studios, and galleries. The colorful containers cross together and create a unique scenic spot. Chengdu people like fashionable things and iBox expresses the city character in a proper way.

The Hidden Bars

Yulin

When tourists come to Yulin, they always thought it is an old street full of traditional snacks and dishes. The truth is that if you go deeper you will discover a hidden culture and art circle that existed long before.

The Little Bar, White Night, Music House, etc. are the famous bars in Yunlin. They have all have different a character style and set the foundation for the bar culture in Yulin.

The most difficult part about understanding Yulin is its complexity and diverse mixture. It collects the big culture and art of Chengdu as well as the little citizen life. To some extent, Yulin is the most distinctive way to express the character of Chengdu.

The Book Stores

Fang suo commune & Yanjiyou

In the past, the tea culture reflect more of the cozy life of Chengdu but now the atmosphere of art and culture are common to all the residents of Chengdu.

An abundance of Bookstores and Café shops, as well as hand made and DIY stores. Also, the culture salon has gone deep into the daily life of Chengdu people. Many drink while reading books which has become a lifestyle for more and more Chengdu people.

Fang Suo is the most famous bookstore in Chengdu. Not only does Fang Suo sell books but also cloth, art work, coffee, and plants as well. The mixture of the exhibition space and sharing space made it became the huge treasure underground in Taikoo Li with an understated entrance. When you go inside you feel like entering a mystery book palace.

The designer of Fang Suo, Mr. Zhu Zhikang was focused on the original statement of the architecture materials. The slow and leisurely feel of Chengdu style has transformed from tea house to modern bookstore.

The Creation

Taikoo Li & Zaidi-workshop

Taikoo Li has its reputation for the brands. It is a perfect place for shopping. However what makes it popular is the experience of art and culture presented by the melting of modern and ancient architecture style making the history meet the commercialization.

Chengdu is not city which is satisfied with the international brands. The customers full of curiosity are also looking for other kinds of stores such as Zaidi-workshop which is a hidden creative workshop providing people with the joy of handmade. There are more stores like making ceramics or DIY succulents.

New Cuisine

“Chiguo” restaurant & Xiaotongxiang

Dining is the most important cultural aspect in Chengdu. The Sichuan food is famous for its variety, now it has done some promotion to the dining environment.

There is a restaurant in Chongdeli which only provides 36 seats and without menus. The dishes there are change according to the seasons. You can find traditional Sichuan cuisine here such as Sliced Beef and Ox Tongue in Chili Sauce, Mapo Tofu, etc. instead of innovation, this restaurant is focused on repeat clientele. Therefore the meaning of “Chiguo” means “already tasted.”

If you want to avoid the crowds in China Lane there are other choices on Kuixinglou Street or Xiaotongxiang. The popular restaurants may not be good looking but they all have recognizable names. Although Starbucks is all over the city, there are independent cafés hidden in some old streets, each of them has its own story. Zakka is one of those independent cafés and you can find old objects decorations everywhere with the wooden chairs and desks. It is a perfect place to spend a cozy day.

From Sichuan cuisine to green tea as well as coffee, Chengdu has already combined taste with memories, melted coffee with life and integrated design and cuisine.