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One of the things that makes Chengdu a place with unique atmosphere is tea. Teahouses of any kind, big or small, can be spotted virtually at every step. People spend whole days drinking tea, chatting and playing card... Comparing to other big Chinese cities life in Chengdu is somehow slower and more peaceful.

I've met this gentleman in the street near the Dragon Town Hostel where I lived during my recent trip to the Southern China. The whole surrounding of the hostel changed a lot, comparing to what I remember from my last visit four years ago - most of the old, Ming-dynasty buildings have been torn down and small streets have lost a lot of their traditional charm. A great pity, especially that new buildings have not much in common with the traditional Sichuan architecture style. According to what locals told me, their style is more of Shanxi province.

The tradition perishes... yet this gentleman sits there and enjoys his tea... Some things cannot be uprooted though.