Chengdu
Local Services Chengdu 4 min read
Hotpot for the uninitiated
How to order, what to dip, and the magic phrase that turns down the heat without losing the flavor.
What it is
A simmering pot of chili-and-Sichuan-pepper broth at your table; you cook raw ingredients in it yourself. It's the dish that defines Chengdu.
How to order
- Ask for a yuanyang (鸳鸯) split pot — half spicy, half mild — so everyone's happy
- Pick your ingredients from the counter: beef tripe, lotus root, mushrooms, tofu skin
- The dipping bowl is sesame oil + garlic + cilantro, not soy sauce
Heat control
- wei la (微辣) — mild
- bu la (不辣) — not spicy (the mild side of your split pot)
- Cold plum juice (酸梅汤) is your fire extinguisher
Where
Yulin neighborhood has the most authentic, least touristy spots. Expect to wait at peak hours.
Locals' Tip
Order a 'yuanyang' split pot — half spicy, half mild broth — so everyone at the table leaves happy.
Locals' Crowd