Memorable visit to Sichuan 23 years ago

I still recall those memorable days of my life in 1998 when I won a scholarship to China, under the United Nations Development Program, which gave me the opportunity to go to the Asia-Pacific Bio-Gas Research and Training Centre at Renmin Nan Lu in Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan province. It was my first visit to China for study. At the time, I had known about China only through books, magazines, and radio and television programs.

The flight took off from Katunayake and landed at Bangkok airport. I walked around for almost three hours in the airport. The next flight was from Bangkok to Chengdu via Kunming. It reached Chengdu after two hours. At the Chengdu airport, I heard several officials speaking enthusiastically about my Sri Lankan nationality. I felt like I was among relatives and friends.

I realized that the genuine diplomatic relations between the two countries from the past were the main reason for that. A distinguished looking person in casual wear came in a car with a young girl to accompany me. He was so friendly and polite. Next morning, I was surprised to see him sitting in the CEO's chair. Later I learned that the girl was his daughter who was studying in a university.

At the opening ceremony on the following day, the chairperson gave us a brief description of China, Sichuan province and its people. After that, his deputy explained our program. The participants of different countries from Asia, Europe, Africa and Latin America introduced themselves in the afternoon. We participated in a number of lectures on biogas production and followed practical sessions on a wide range of usage and utility of biogas in many places of Sichuan province during the program. Within that period, we had the opportunity to visit various places in the province, which was a source of inspiration and delight to all of us and still memorable.

After daily scholastic activities and training sessions, we were able to spend our leisure time freely. I walked along the streets of Chengdu with my friends every evening. I really liked the sincere smiles and friendly, polite conversations of many of the Chinese people we met. The main roads were lined with department stores, streets food and beverage outlets. Chengdu cuisine is one of the eight cuisines popular in Sichuan because of its delicious spiciness. Each dish is flavorful with hot spicy and aromatic nutmeg, pepper and garlic. Kung pao chicken is a classic Sichuan dish, cooked by mixing roasted peanuts, red chilies, pepper, chopped leeks with cubes of chicken.

Sometimes whole families and young couples walked along the roads. The majority of adults focused on exercising and playing cards on the sidewalks nearby. It was a wonderful way to spend the evening. Spending a little time in front of the musicians was a great relaxation for the mind. It was very nice to visit teahouses located inside the People's Park Qingyang district. Sitting in a bamboo chair, sipping a hot cup of tea was an ideal way for observing how Chinese enjoy their life leisurely in Chengdu. In front of the statue of Chairman Mao Zedong in the center of the city a beautiful and colorful flowers were displayed. Municipal workers start their duties at dawn. We saw many people diligently engaged in their hard work, which always seemed to be their slogan.