7AM : Start the day at Culture Park with Chengdu’s early-risers. Observe or join in a session of tai chi, badminton, or gentle aerobics at this much-loved green space, the site of the city’s annual spring flower festival.

9AM: Feast on some dumplings at Chunyang Guan Yuxiang Paigu Noodles, which serves up some of the tastiest versions in the city. The pork-stuffed chaoshou here are boiled, not fried, and served in chilli oil or a thin, clear broth.

10AM : Head to the Sino-Ocean Taikoo Li shopping complex and visit I.T on the first floor, one of China’s most sophisticated multi-brand concept stores. Browse beautiful threads by local designers such as Chocoolate and Izzue, as well as by Asian stars including Japanese streetwear labels Jouetie and Murua, and Korean sensation Stylenanda.

NOON : Experience Chengdu’s renowned “fly restaurant” culture at Mingting, one of the best examples of this form of traditional Sichuanese diner and an ideal establishment to get a taste of why Chengdu was made Unesco’s second ever City of Gastronomy.

3PM : Enjoy a snack from Yan Taipo Guokui. The toasted pita-like breads filled with meat, vegetables or noodles and a large helping of spicy chilli oil served at this unassuming hole-in-the-wall near Wenshu Monastery are a delicious must.

4PM : Go for a deep dive into the city’s fascinating history at Chengdu Museum, which takes visitors from Chengdu’s earliest settlers up to the modern day via exquisite artefacts and displays on everything from Sichuan food culture to shadow puppets.

6PM Wind down with a foot massage at Mixun Spa, a serene wellness centre housed within the walls of a Qing Dynasty courtyard. The spa’s treatments are informed by a blend of ancient Chinese practices and state-of-the-art Western therapies.

7PM : Dress for dinner at The Hall, Louis Vuitton’s first restaurant in China. Indulge in some elevated fine dining next to Louis Vuitton’s flagship store. The French dishes, prepared by an international star chef with the freshest ingredients, have a piquant local twist.

9PM : Slip into the new-wave cocktail den Bar π to rub shoulders with some of the residents who give Chengdu its cultural cachet. Enjoy a range of creative concoctions such as nitro cold brew rum and cactus juice, and baijiu-based Sichuan spins on Negronis and other classics.

MIDNIGHT Party till dawn at Play House, a 2,000-person capacity club housed in a converted theatre that has hosted star spinners such as Armin Van Buuren, Diplo and DJ Snake. This is where Chengdu’s young, dynamic crowd come to let off steam, with parties regularly running until 6am.