Sichuan Cuisine Museum is located in Pixian Ancient Town, the western suburb of Chengdu. Pixian was an important commercial town on the Southern Silk Road, with a long history of over 3000 years. The museum of Sichuan Cuisine is so far the only cuisine museum in the world. It introduces not only the Sichuan Cuisine culture, but also the local wines, teas, architecture, Sichuan opera and so forth, with around 6000 exhibits. Covering an area of 2.7 hectares, the building of Sichuan Cuisine Museum is of typical West Sichuan dwelling house and looks like a distinctive classical garden of China. The museum is mainly divided into six parts: the collection hall, the demonstration and interactive hall, the tea house, the temple of Kitchen King, the exhibition hall of Sichuan cuisine food materials and the processing tools hall.
Therefore, if you are a foodie or addicted to Sichuan foods, why not have a trip to Chengdu to visit the museum and learn to cook Sichuan dishes. Families with kids are also encouraged to visit Sichuan Cuisine Museum, as they are many kid-friendly activities, cooking class and also something to learn.
What to See and Do in Sichuan Cuisine Museum
The Collection Hall
It occupies 12,000 square meters, and displays more than 3000 diet household utensils of Sichuan cuisine dating back to the Warring Period (475BC - 221BC). They are various kinds of rice cookers, bowls, drinking vessels, tea sets, etc and made of bronze, dentale, ceramics, porcelain, iron, wood, bamboo, etc. Besides, visitors can also find ancient books, manuscripts, pictures of Sicahun cuisine in the museum.
The Exhibition Hall of Sichuan Cuisine Food Materials
Visitors can see and get the knowledge of a wealth of food materials and ingredients. The highlight of Sichuan Cuisine Museum is the Pixian Douban (black bean source), which is known as the “soul of Sichuan Cuisine”. Here, people still use the traditional method to make douban, which was created in Qing Dynasty and has been used for over 300 years.
The Temple of Kitchen King
It is to worship the Kitchen King of China, part of Sichuan folklore culture. Sichuan people love delicious food and are devoted to making the best foods. That’s why Sichuan Cuisine has been one of the most important and popular cuisines in China.
The Food Street The food street is of traditional Sichuan street style, and lined up with West Sichuan traditional dwellings and many time-honored Sichuan Cuisine restaurants, where visitors can taste authentic Sichuan dishes and see how they are cooked.
The Processing Tools of Sichuan Cuisine Hall
A lot of antiques of food processing tools are on display. Visitors can also experience the traditional craftsmanship of making these tools.
The Demonstration and Interactive Hall
It is the most important room of Chengdu Sichuan Cuisine Museum. The expects show fine slicing techniques, the cooking skills and the whole process on stage, which are the essence of Sichuan Cuisine culture. Visitors are encouraged to take part in the different kinds of activities and cooking class, to experience the traditional cooking methods, to learn the Sichuan table manners, and to cook yourself the classic Sichuan dishes, such as Mapo beancurd, Kung Pao Chicken, and the creative dishes like panda dumpling.
Tea House
Sichuan Cuisine culture is not only about the foods, but also the wines, the entertainment and the tea. There are fine teas in different seasons. Here visitors can have a cup of tea and enjoy the laid-back atmosphere.
How to Get to Sichuan Cuisine Museum
From Chengdu Jinsha Bus Station: take city bus No.305, get off at Pixian Country North Gate Station, where transfer to bus No.363 and finally get to the Ancient Town.
From Chengdu Chadianzi Bus Station: take Chengdu-Dujiangyan bus, get off at Pixian Country North Gate Station, and transfer to bus No.363 and get to the Ancient Town eventually.