Taste of Chengdu

In New York, tourism center opens with food, opera

The opening ceremony of Chengdu Tourism Center (New York) kicked off at New Legend in Manhattan on Tuesday with Sichuan food and opera, detailed presentations of Chengdu’s famous tourist attractions and its iconic panda — providing a glimpse of the city from a variety of angles.

“Subnational, grass-roots-level collaboration may prevail upon the leaders of China and the US to collaborate better than they have been, because the people of both countries are fascinated by each other’s history and culture and want to get closer to each other,” said David Paterson, former New York governor, who attended the event.

Paterson said he visited Chengdu, capital of Southwest China’s Sichuan province, in 2013 and 2014.

“Chengdu is a fascinating city. It seems to have a spirit of culture, intellectualism, art and the kind of sophisticated lifestyle you might see right here in SOHO, Manhattan.”

Jeannie Yip, director of the experience center and president of CG Group Management Consulting on Wall Street, said: “Chengdu is becoming a national center city in China; national center city means you have to have international exposure.”

Yip said New York is one of the most international cities, and Chengdu is also an immigrant city like New York.

“There are many similarities the two cities share. Chengdu is doing business with New York, especially through travel and tourism,” Yip said.

She said she hoped the center can help New Yorkers learn more about Chengdu, not only just through pandas, but through food, culture and the arts — and eventually get to know the Chinese city by going there in person.

Fox News anchor Kelly Wright, who also attended the ceremony, said: “We need more collaborations between the two cities. New York City is always an open environment that opens to people from different cultures and nations.

“Having this affiliation with Chengdu is extremely important because it goes to the core and the heart of how to build a better relationship between our two nations,” Wright said.

Huang He, a professor at Yeshiva University, said: “It’s crucial to promote China at the sub-national level because China is very big and diverse — each city has its own culture, history and characteristics.

“We should not only promote China as a whole — but also different cities — with their various features to Americans to provide them with a better understanding of Chinese culture.”

The event was hosted by the Chengdu Tourism Bureau, Chengdu Culture and Tourism Group, Wall Street CG Group and New Legend restaurant.