China - Chengdu, Fruit Vendor at the Entrance to Kuanzhai Alley

Now these guys were interesting.  We were told not to buy anything from them, because the red fruit has been dyed and the blueberries come from suspect sources.  Nevertheless they looked very appealing.  And the scale they use to charge customers by weight could well have been in use a thousand years ago; I tried to get a closeup pic of one while it was being used but couldn't quite manage it, especially since I didn't buy anything from him or the several others we saw in the plaza.

What is equally intriguing to me was the method of carrying those trays around...something else that was probably in place a thousand years ago.

And evidently what they're doing is illegal, because once in a while a police officer would step over during a transaction and stop everything.  These vendors were very wary of the officers, and took pains to keep their distance.

China - Dairy Queen in Chengdu

What self-respecting tourist trap would go without a Dairy Queen?  Saw these in all of the larger cities we visited.  And the dipped cones - a go-to favorite for the wife and I - come in a lot more flavors than we see in the U.S.

China - Chengdu, Branches at the Entrance to Kuanzhai Alley

Another sight to see at the entrance into the Kuanzhai Alley.  Rustic, lamp, branch pattern...this one ticks three of my favorite boxes.

China - Chengdu, Signage at Entrance of Kuanzhai Alley

Closeup of some signage, which can be seen in a broader view in the post of a few days ago (Aug 8th).  There are lots of keepers that can be classified as "rustic" since there are so many old - even ancient - structures in China.

China - Chengdu, Women in Period Costume

Even some who are not performers dress up in period clothing, which they rent, much as they do at the Renaissance Festival here in Texas.  We saw this in several locations, both in eastern and western China.

China - Chengdu, Street Performer

Much as they do in Europe, performers who pose as historical figures are around with a collection plate.  This guy was amenable to having his picture taken even though I didn't put anything in the hat...

China - Chengdu, Our Awesome Tour Guide

...and here is our first tour guide, who was every bit as earnest as he appears in this pic.  After getting our baggage at the airport the night before, he offered to help me with my baggage but I brushed him off thinking he looked a rough character.  This was before I knew what his role in the coming days would be.  As it turns out, he was a terrific fellow, very friendly and considerate of our needs.  He traveled with us for most of our journeys through western China, and accompanied his tour-guide chatter with singing and even recitation of poetry.  We observed throughout the trip that poets are highly venerated there, in the present day as well as ancient times.

Another shot of our friend below.  We learned to keep a sharp eye out for that blue stuffed bear wherever we went, as many of the places we visited were crowded:

China - Chengdu, Vendor Booths at the Entrance to Kuanzhai Alley

A frame that captures the entire line of vendor booths.  Note the policeman on the left.  There was one of those at every entrance and exit to this venue, watching the comings and goings of everyone very carefully.  There is no out-of-line behavior, thievery, or any of that kind of crap in the tourist areas of mainland China.

Standing where these booths are looking across the plaza yields this view:

China - Chengdu, Entrance to Kuanzhai Alley (Wide and Narrow Alleys)

Our very first activity in Chengdu was to visit this place, an ancient portion of the city that's been converted into quite the tourist spot.  In this picture the pavement looks wet, but it is not...just very, very clean.  Another shot below that features more of the vendor booths one encounters on the way in:

China - Chengdu, Odd Bathtub

Something else I like to capture on a trip is anything unique, unusual or different...at least from our perspective.  This is a case in point.  Who has ever seen a bathtub with the drain in the middle?

The lodgings booked for us on this trip were fairly upscale, even five-star in some places.  Even so, because of the currency exchange rate, a top-tier hotel room in China cost little more than an urban Hampton in the States.

Another of these tubs from later in the trip: