Chengdu
Visitors come to Chengdu for the pandas and stay for the laid-back, small town-ish atmosphere and unexpected cultural experiences. Here, cuisine boasting a complex mix of sweet, spicy and savoury flavours from all corners of the Middle Kingdom come together in bounty. With ancient roots in Taoism and Buddhism, teahouses and temples and can be found dotted alongside sleek skyscrapers throughout this peaceful city.