Day 19: Bamboo Groves of Chengdu and the Art of Pouring Tea 🇨🇳🐼 March 10, 2026 After the monumental antiquity of Xi'an, our route took us southwest to Sichuan province. The city of Chengdu welcomed us with a completely different rhythm — much softer, more humid, and relaxed. The morning began at the famous Giant Panda Breeding Research Base. Watching these unbothered creatures lazily chewing bamboo in the light morning mist is a special kind of meditation. No fuss, just complete peace and contemplation. But the most vivid and unexpected impression awaited me in the afternoon when I went to People's Park (Renmin Park). It is the true heart of local life. I wandered into an old open-air teahouse — hundreds of people sitting in woven bamboo chairs, clacking mahjong tiles, and chatting unhurriedly. As soon as I sat at a table, a real performance began. A local master approached me with a traditional copper teapot that had an incredibly long, almost meter-long thin spout. Noticing my genuine interest, he decided to improvise a little: gracefully and swiftly spinning the teapot around himself, he poured boiling water into my tiny cup from arm's length, without spilling a single drop! It looked less like service and more like a honed martial arts move, requiring incredible coordination and a precise eye. I couldn't help but applaud, and the master replied with a wide smile and a slight, respectful bow. It's amazing how in this city, the most ordinary rituals turn into living, breathing art.