Chengdu's Coolest Neighborhood: Eastern Suburb Memory

Eastern Suburb Memory (东郊记忆 / Dongjiao Memory) is one of the coolest spots in Chengdu. In my opinion, it’s a must-visit, especially if you’re into places that blend the old with the modern and trendy.

What used to be an industrial zone—the state-owned Hongguang Electronic Tube Factory—is now a revitalized space packed with art, music, food, and shopping.

The old factory chimneys, pipelines, vintage propaganda slogans, and preserved industrial buildings are still there, giving the place a nostalgic, retro China feel.

These days though, they’re paired with trendy cafes, lifestyle shops, live music venues, digital art museums, and neon-lit bars, creating a perfect mix of old-school charm and new-school creativity.

This is one of those areas where you can feel the city’s transformation, turning what could’ve been a forgotten industrial site into a buzzing hub of culture and leisure. There’s always something to do whether you’re here during the day or at night.

By day, you’ll see locals lounging on the lawns, hanging with friends, enjoying tea/dessert, exploring art exhibitions, and maybe even waiting in line for a concert to start. By night, the whole area transforms, glowing in neon hues of pink, purple, and orange, giving it a retro-futuristic vibe that’s perfect for photos.

The whole area is super cool and energetic—everything I love about a walkable neighborhood! Needless to say, this ended up being one of my favorite areas of Chengdu!

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Things To Do At Chengdu’s Eastern Suburb Memory

Eastern Suburb Memory is divided into several themed areas, including Gourmet Alley, Celebrity Street, Chengdu Stage, Performing Arts Center, Melody Street, Bar Factory, and Star Workshop.

Don’t worry too much about keeping track of the area names—they’re all in Chinese anyway.

Shopping

Eastern Suburb Memory Street Art - Chengdu China

Out of all the types of establishments, restaurants and shops are most plentiful in Eastern Suburb Memory.

Expect to find one-of-a-kind stores! Even the panda-themed souvenirs here are different from what you’ll see elsewhere in Chengdu, with everything feeling much more thoughtfully curated.

You don’t get the feeling that everything on sale is mass-produced, which makes for a much more fun shopping experience.

I really enjoyed walking through the various stationery shops and general gift shops.

We bought a couple of unique items to bring home as souvenirs at Melooo and ended up buying a couple of pastries/buns at Shan Bakery. Highly recommend, they were delicious!

Shan Bakery - Eastern Suburb Memory District - Chengdu China

Central Avenue in the Music Park is another highlight, lined with shops offering unique and creative music-related items. You’ll spot ceramic instruments, erhus, hand drums, DJ gear, high-end audio systems, and even classical music records.

Dining/Drinking

When it comes to food, you’ll want to head straight to Gourmet Alley in Eastern Suburb Memory. You’ll be spoiled for choice with options!

From classic Sichuan hot pot restaurants to casual Western-style burger joints, Japanese curry shops, yakitori restaurants, and trendy brunch or bistro spots, we’re sure you’ll find something that suits your tastebuds.

If you’re interested in hotpot, I spotted two unique ones: Da Miao Hot Pot (features a face-changing show during your meal) and another camping-themed hot pot restaurant that honestly felt a little bit like Disneyland inside.

Da Miao Hot Pot - Eastern Suburb Memory District - Chengdu China - 4

Sichuan Hot Pot - Eastern Suburb Memory District - Chengdu China

For evening drinks, head to Erma! This bar / tarvern looks so fun (and gives off Blade Runner energy). They have drinks and food — one of the must-try’s is the beef noodle soup!

Along the way, you’ll pass by a couple of trendy third-wave coffee shops and tea/dessert shops serving up traditional treats like red bean soup with tongyuan, taro coconut sago, black sesame soup, etc.

Miracle Coffee - Eastern Suburb Memory District - Chengdu China

Unfortunately, we didn’t get a chance to eat here because we had other dinner plans we couldn’t ruin our appetites for—but if you’ve got the time and hunger, this is the perfect place to explore Chengdu’s growing food scene.

And speaking of dinner plans, this brings me to one of the best dining highlights of Eastern Suburb Memory: Shuyanfu!

Shuyanfu Dinner Show

If you’re looking for an unforgettable dining experience, Shuyanfu combines an 8-course ancient Chinese-style banquet with an immersive cultural performance. It combines food, art, and culture in a way that feels both ancient and modern.

Words really don’t do this royal banquet experience justice; you just need to experience it for yourself!

It’s one of Chengdu’s most popular attractions (for people in the know), and the Eastern Suburb Memory setting makes it even more special.

You’ll be seated in a grand hall with seats surrounding the stage on all sides, where performers take the stage on a three-story setup. Every act—from elegant dances to dramatic scenes—tells a story of ancient Sichuan culture. As with most Mainland China shows, expect LOTS of great costuming.

It was still fun to watch even as someone who barely understands Mandarin! There’s enough dancing, acting, and lip-syncing to still enjoy the show despite not understanding the language.

After each performance, your private server (also in costume!) delivers the next dish. By the end of the 1.5-hour experience, you’ll have sampled more than 8 courses, which doesn’t even include the appetizers and desserts that sit prettily at your table from the start.

My favorite part? Feeling like absolute royalty as the servers brought us dish after dish with the best service, all while the actors enchanted us with their artistry.

Shuyanfu Dinner Show Set Menu - Chengdu China

Shuyanfu Dinner Show Menu - Chengdu China

The menu changes seasonally, so what’s pictured here is from their autumn menu. You can check out the entire menu of what we ate here.

After experiencing it for ourselves, we recommend arriving at least 15 minutes early to check in, use the restrooms, settle in, enjoy the welcoming appetizers, and explore the space before the show begins.

The plum wine, included with your ticket, is a highlight—each person gets their own bottle, and it’s sweet, fragrant, and the perfect complement to the meal.

You can opt for standard seats (498 RMB | $68 USD) or VIP seats (598 RMB | $82 USD). If I could do it all over again, I’d book earlier to snag VIP seats or standard seats in the second row! We were seated in the third row since we had booked just 2 days ahead of time.

You can book advance tickets on Trip.com here. Book early because it’s a full house at almost every show!

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👉 Pro Tip: If you love dressing up, go for the hanfu costume add-on. You can even get the package with costumes + your own private photographer! You need to reserve your time slot, but essentially you’ll just show up about 1.5 hours before dinner starts to get dressed up, dolled up, and photographed right before dinner starts.

ARTE Museum

Opened in 2023, this digital art gallery is the first of its kind in China by ARTE MUSEUM. Covering 5,000 square meters, it’s all about “Eternal Nature,” with immersive exhibits created using over 100 projectors and cutting-edge technology.

Think larger-than-life visuals that make you feel like you’ve stepped into another dimension.

We’ve seen this same museum in the USA (in Las Vegas), but the one in Chengdu is nearly one-third the cost for admission. That’s quite affordable for this type of experience!

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Check out all the outdoor art

Chengdu Wall - Eastern Suburb Memory District - Chengdu China - 5

During your visit, you’ll get to enjoy all kinds of cool outdoor artwork at Eastern Suburb Memory. There are sculptures placed everywhere, so even if you’re not interested in shopping, you’ll still have something to look at.

Find the famous “Chengdu” brick wall for that perfect photo opportunity. People love this wall, so expect there to be an orderly line when you visit.

The wall reflects the city’s modern identity while paying homage to its cultural roots—totally worth the stop.