Dancing Through Chengdu

What do you do when you love to dance, you’re studying abroad in Chengdu, China and you stumble across a giant panda sculpture?

You make a dance video of course!

In Fall 2016, five study abroad students found themselves with a love for dancing in a country with a love for pandas. Upon discovering a giant panda sculpture the students decided to film a short dance video which landed them on the @Chengdu_China Instagram page and they were featured in a local magazine.

The giant panda sculpture can be found climbing the building of the Chengdu International Finance Square shopping mall. American artist, Lawrence Argent, built the statue which is made out of steel and weighs 13 tons.

Here’s a look at the students’ dance video. You can learn more about their experiences abroad in Chengdu below the video.

What is it like to study abroad in Chengdu, China?

Here is what a few of these students had to say about their time in Chengdu.

Rachel Mussell, 20, Carthage College in Kenosha, Wisconsin

1. During your time in Chengdu, where have you been? Where do you like most?

I have been to many places in Chengdu. I have been to People’s Park, Global Center, Raffles City, Jinli Street, Wide and Narrow Alley, and many coffee shops. Out of all these places, I think I like either People’s Park or Charu, a cool, hidden café near 西南民族大学. Both of these places are great places to either relax with friends or do some homework.

2.What’s your impression of Chengdu?

Chengdu is a very laid back city. The people are genuine and the food is delicious. There are always new places you can go to explore or to eat. I also really enjoy seeing different minorities while walking around the city. This all has made life in Chengdu very interesting and exciting.

These last four months in Chengdu have easily been some of the best months of my life. I know that’s a big thing to say, but it’s true. The people I have met here are amazing, and I have seen and done things I never could’ve imagined. I cannot wait to come back to Chengdu for many more adventures.

3. Could you please share an exciting story from your time in Chengdu?

Wow. There are so many great things that have happened this semester. I think it’s pretty impressive that my friends and I have found our ” favorite hangout spots” and our favorite restaurants. In such a big foreign city, I would say that’s a great accomplishment. But for just one story, I would also have to say Thanksgiving. We made such a wide variety of foods and every dish turned out delicious. It was a great first Thanksgiving away from home.

Angela Day, 21, Miami University in Oxford, Ohio

1. During your time in Chengdu, where have you been? Where do you like most?

I’ve been to a lot of famous places, such as Wide and Narrow Alley, Jinli Street, People’s Park, Sichuan Opera, Wangjiang Park, Wenshu Monastery, the Global Center, etc. My favorite place to go is Wangjiang Park. It is very peaceful and beautiful, and I love looking at the bamboo forest.

2. What’s your impression of Chengdu?

I think Chengdu is a very laid back, calm city with lots of history and culture. I really enjoy the fact that the city has retained so much of its traditions and culture while also growing as a modern metropolis. I also think the mixing of so many different minority cultures in one area is amazing and made my stay here more colorful and interesting.

I sincerely love Chengdu. I have been to quite a few cities in China, but Chengdu felt like home for me. The people here are so friendly, and the atmosphere of the city is calm and welcoming. I’m sad that I have to leave soon, and I can’t wait to come back!

3. Could you please share an exciting story from your time in Chengdu?

There have been a few interesting things that have happened in Chengdu, but I think my favorite memory is trying to make American Thanksgiving food for our classmates and Chinese friends. We had to improvise a lot because we didn’t have the same tools or ingredients, but it was so much fun! I’d never eaten rabbit for Thanksgiving before I came to Chengdu….

Kaylee Baumbach, 20, Miami University in Oxford, OH

1. During your time in Chengdu, where have you been? Where do you like most?

Since being in Chengdu, I have been to People’s Park, Raffles City, Chunxi Road, Wide and Narrow Alley, quite a few coffee shops, and a variety of other interesting places. My favorite is People’s Park because it’s such a calming place to walk around, and the scenery is stunning.

2. What’s your impression of Chengdu?

Chengdu is a place that’s always full of adventures! There’s so much to explore here that I feel like even if you lived here for years there would still be new things to go see. The people here are also very welcoming, and the city itself has a very relaxed atmosphere.

Out of all of the places I’ve been in China, Chengdu has been my favorite. The past couple of months I’ve spent here are some of the best ones of my life so far, not only because of a fantastic city but also because of the wonderful people I’ve met. Chengdu is full of opportunities, and every day here holds something new.

3. Could you please share an exciting story from your time in Chengdu?

One of my favorite times in Chengdu was when there was a cultural festival and singing competition hosted by our university. It was very interesting to learn about the different cultures from people who had grown up in the places they were representing. Watching our friends sing was amazing too! They’re so talented!

Want to learn more about studying abroad in China?
Check out our Chengdu study abroad program on our website.