I have been planning a trip to the mainland for some years now and speak a moderate amount of putonghua; the city of my dreams (and the surrounding countryside) appears to be in Chengdu. I love everything there is to love about Sichuan's culture, and it seems fitting that my first trip to the mainland should be to Chengdu. Is Chengdu a good first city for a foreigner to visit? If not, what could give me a similar enough experience as a first timer that would be more beginner friendly? Xiexie! #local source