Here is a list of the recommended items you'd bring back home for your family and friends when leaving Chengdu, including local food specialties and art wares.
Fruits
Chengdu boasts a variety of orchard produces of geographic identifications thanks to its favorable natural conditions and diligent cultivation, and fresh fruits with local flavors will be a good choice for gifts.
1.Strawberry
Winter strawberry is one of the special products in the Shuangliu District in southern Chengdu, known for its tenderness and balanced sweetness and sourness.
2.Blueberry
The blueberry produced around the Anren Town in Dayi County in western Chengdu is highly popular for its good quality and exquisite texture.
3.Kiwi Fruit
Pujiang County in southwestern Chengdu is recognized as the best suitable area for the cultivation of kiwi fruits, and also one of the world's three yellow kiwi fruits production bases. The kiwi fruit produced from here is good in taste and rich in nutrition.
4.Mandarin Orange
Pujiang County is also a production base of mandarin orange. Local mandarin orange has the name "Chun Jian", literally meaning "See You after Spring Festival", as it has the best time after the Spring Festival.
Art wares
5.Shu Brocade & Shu Embroidery
Brocade produced in Chengdu, the economic and art center of Sichuan (Shu), is one of the most popular souvenirs among tourists, as it is quintessentially Chinese and has high artistic value. The Shu brocade style is one of the four famous brocade styles in China. Shu Embroidery is used in decorating quilt covers, pillowcases, and parts of clothing, shoes, and a host of other articles, such as tapestries.
6.Bamboo Weaving Handmade Products
Bamboo weaving is a traditional handicraft from Daoming Town in Chongzhou City in western Chengdu, with a history of more than 300 years. The split bamboo strips are delicately woven into a wide variety of handwork items, which can be found in many antique markets or ancient towns around Chengdu.
7.Qiongyao Porcelain Ware
With a history of about 1, 500 years, Qiongyao ceramic kiln in Mingyue Town of Pujiang County is one of the oldest ceramic kilns in Sichuan. All the porcelain handiwork items produced there show exquisite craftsmanship and unique beauty.
8.Chengdu Silver Handicrafts
The beautiful artifacts made from fine silver filigrees have a history of some 1,700 years. The products are exquisitely designed and beautifully crafted.
9.Giant Panda-themed Souvenirs
Chengdu is the hometown of giant pandas. Giant panda products range from postcards, key-ring trinkets, T-shirts, stuffed toys, slippers, hairpins, mobile phone and iPad cases, teacups to beautiful embroidery.
Processed Foods
Don't forget to bring home some flavorings for Sichuan cuisine, such as the Pixian Chili Broad Bean Paste and Hot Pot condiments. You could buy all these at local supermarkets, groceries and farm produce markets.
10.Chengdu Hotpot Seasonings
Hotpot Seasonings might be the first choice when we think of what to buy in Chengdu. A well-rounded traveler never misses hotpot in Chengdu. If you are a fan of it, or your friends are spicy food lovers, then hotpot seasonings are a good choice for a gift.
You can buy vacuum-packed hotpot seasonings in popular hotpot restaurants, or supermarkets.
11.Pixian Chili Broad Bean Paste
As one of the most important ingredients in many famous Sichuan dishes such as the Twice-cooked Pork and Mapo Tofu, the chili paste is reputed as the "Soul of Sichuan Cuisine" and its production process was listed as a national-level intangible cultural heritage.
12.Wenjiang Soy Sauce
Wenjiang soy sauce has a history of more than 250 years. The condiment features bright color and fine aroma.
13.Tea
Tea plantation and drinking originated in China, and Sichuan is one of China's earliest regions to plant and drink tea. Green tea and jasmine tea are the two typical kinds in Sichuan. The Zhuyeqing (green tea) from Mount Emei, Ganlu (green tea) from Mount Mengding, green tea from Mt. Qingcheng and Black Tea from Qionglai city are very popular at home and abroad.
