The Urban Palette

Chengdu's skyline rests mute amongst the heavy gray humid air, while the emerald explosion of plants and trees cherishing warmer weather fills the air with a respiratory haze. The 18 hour sleeper train from Xi'an had slipped through the remaining khaki colored landscape unbeknownst to its heavy lidded passengers. We had overnight shed the gray brown palette of dry winter, replacing it with the lush tones of a sub-tropical city.

Despite the city's gray muteness upon arrival, we ventured forth eager to explore the green alley ways of this humid place. Open air markets and porcelain basins filled with fish and squirming eels litter the windy urban infrastructure while darkly shaded back porches hum with mid day games of mahjong lit by dangling light bulbs.

The city, like its palette, is more subdued. A tropical lull. A familiar southern slowness perhaps encouraged by the mild weather. And it is a pace we can appreciate, as we crunch on horse beans while lounging in our hostels water filled back garden.