Among the many activities Charlie was excited to share with me, the Sichuan Opera always seemed to be at the top of the list. It therefore seemed fitting that I would attend a performance on my last night in China.
I had decided to stay at Sim's Cozy Guest House my last two nights as I had gotten to know the place well while arranging my onward transportation. Sim was the personable kind of owner who you'd see walking around all the time. I booked the opera show through the travel desk, and headed off in a shuttle with a group of fellow hostelers.
It turned out to be a Chinese variety show. Performers took turns dancing, singing, using puppets, playing instruments, performing a comedy skit (complete with English subtitles), doing acrobatics, fire breathing, and face changing.
The face changing was part of the finale. People in traditional costumes danced around, flicking their heads up/down or back/forth in an instant, changing the thin painted masks over their face. They did it so quickly, and so frequently, you were left amazed at how they could control the masks so skillfully.
Dave is the Founder and Editor in Chief of Go Backpacking and Feastio. He's been to 66 countries and lived in Colombia and Peru. Read the full story of how he became a travel blogger.
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Geme
Monday 21st of November 2011
I read somewhere Mr Sim the owner of Sim's Cozy Garden Guest House have sold off the GH. Is he still there running the place?
Dave
Tuesday 22nd of November 2011
I don't know. I haven't been there since March 2008.
Dave
Wednesday 25th of August 2010
Yeah, Sim's is a great place to stay in Chengdu, though I mainly used them to help with travel arrangements to Tibet (which fell through) and ultimately Nepal.
Aaron
Tuesday 24th of August 2010
I really loved what is now called Sim's Cozy Garden Guest House (they've moved since you were there Dave). Sim himself was so incredibly helpful, providing me with up-to-the-minute advice as to how I could feasibly get to Western Sichuan (as the roads had been closed to foreigners). I also did their opera tour, though we went to a different show that seemed to incorporate many of the same elements (minus the English subtitles). The face changing was pretty awesome!
Stu
Wednesday 16th of April 2008
Sichuan is to me the best of the "4" traditional cooking regions. :)
(people often argue over 4 or 8 master regions... however you do it, sichuan is always near the top!)
i looooooooove szechuan chicken
Dave
Thursday 17th of April 2008
Pork dumplings will never taste so good. Sigh!
Stu
Wednesday 16th of April 2008
Sichuan is to me the best of the "4" traditional cooking regions. :)
(people often argue over 4 or 8 master regions... however you do it, sichuan is always near the top!)
i looooooooove szechuan chicken
Dave
Thursday 17th of April 2008
Pork dumplings will never taste so good. Sigh!