Chengdu - Post Report Question and Answers
What do you wish you had known about this particular city/country before moving there?
I actually don't wish I'd known because it would have scared me, but we expected our move to Chengdu to be relatively smooth, since we lived in Shanghai 20 years ago, but China has changed so much! We used to chat with the waitress to order at the restaurant... now you just scan the menu (all in Chinese, with tiny pictures that all look the same) and try to order! Thankfully, people are nice and will help you. Also, my first winter, I wasn't prepared for the cold... Now I am! Everything is hard, in the beginning, but it's worth it! - Aug 2026
Just how bad the air quality could be and last. Chengdu is a bit different from other Chinese cities as it is in a basin and the limited air flow keeps the pollution stagnating. - Aug 2017
The bad air quality and horrible traffic and general craziness can make going outside intimidating sometimes, so your apartment becomes very important. When I arrived here, I tried harder to make it feel like home inside. - May 2016