Spicy food, overcast skies, and a leisurely existence best describe life in Chengdu. Chengdu’s famous hotpot restaurants will leave you breathing fire, while street vendors on every corner sell spicy “Shao Kao”. Ask anyone in China about Chengdu and they will immediately rave about ’Chuan Cai’, or Sichuan cuisine. The only question they will then ask you is, “Ni pa chi la ma?”, which means, “Are you afraid of eating spicy food?”

The best of China in a 45-minute video.