Live Like a Chengdu Local—for a Day, a Year, or a Decade?

How long does it take for a foreigner setting foot in Chengdu to become part of the city? Does it take a day to appreciate its fascination, a year to fall in love with its lifestyle, or a decade to build a life?

With the question in mind, Romain Boubert, an international student from France at Sichuan University, ventured into the neighborhoods of Chengdu in search of answers. His footprints have woven together slices of life across different times and spaces into a panoramic tapestry of what it means to “live like a Chengdu local”.

In People’s Park, Romain met some tourists from France, who were making a brief stop in Chengdu under the 144-hour visa-free transit policy. Seated in bamboo chairs at Heming Teahouse and amidst the lively bustle of the matchmaking corner, they widened their eyes. “How can such a tiny park hold so many different kinds of life?” they marveled. The adorable giant pandas had already become the most endearing icon of Chengdu in their hearts. A single day’s encounter, though fleeting, is more than enough to sow a seed in their minds—“we will come back”.

In Sichuan Symphony Orchestra, music flows in the air. Many foreign musicians here may have been in Chengdu for merely a year or two, yet they have fallen deeply in love with the city. “This is a city where art and life have no boundaries,” a musician shared. The vibrant lifestyle outside the concert hall and the melodies on stage give them reasons to stay—it is not only a job but also a way of life.

At Chengdu University’s College of Chinese & ASEAN Arts and Sichuan University, international students from Malaysia, Indonesia, and elsewhere are in sync with the youthful pulse of the city. They marvel at Chengdu’s diverse cuisine and convenient transportation, and they are optimistic about the countless possibilities for growth here. For them, the word “future” is inseparably linked with Chengdu.

Stepping into the Tongzilin international community, one will sense an apparently different feeling of time. A teacher from the UK has lived in Chengdu for a decade, over which what began as curiosity has now grown into familiarity. He now describes himself as a “Chengdu local”. Another resident, a German volunteer who has been serving for his living community for several years, pursued further studies at Sichuan University after graduating from Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich. He is now dedicated to serving as an envoy for cultural exchanges between China and Germany. They not only relish the comfort and convenience of life here but also requite the city that has offered them a sense of belonging as volunteers in the community or bridges between cultures.

From the tea aroma in People’s Park to the melody of Sichuan Symphony Orchestra and then to the everyday life in the community, Romain’s journey reveals an answer: Whether one becomes a “Chengdu local” has never been measured by the length of time one stays.
Chengdu’s magic lies in its consistent ability to embrace every newcomer in exactly the right way. Whether a visitor catching a brief glimpse of the city, a young person ready to make their mark, or someone who has found a home here, all can discover their own pace and place in this city.
Living like a Chengdu local is a proactive choice and a natural embrace. It asks neither where you come from nor when you will leave. Instead, at the moment you raise your cup for a sip of tea, pause to listen to music, or stroll in the shade of trees, it simply whispers to you: How about making this your home?

Source: HomeinChengdu