Dayi aka: 大邑

The locals I’ve met say most of the good stuff to see in Dayi is actually outside of town (like the amazing Daoist temple maybe 20 minutes’ drive away), but the food in this town is an attraction all in itself. The tang yuan (汤圆) is classic, just the right amount of gooey and warm for breakfast. The hundun (混沌) is also worth investing an appetite in – the extra-hot lajiao (辣椒) will leave you with just enough tastebuds to add some extra broth and have a good drink of it afterward. I found the spicy rabbit head 麻辣兔头) tasty but too much head to deal with in one sitting; your best meal, by far, in Dayi will be shaokao (烧烤) after 8 or 9 o’clock at night. A sort of relaxed street-side barbecue meal, locals can tell you which places are the your best bets for delicious late-night eats. Don’t worry about how clean it is – almost all the clientele are locals, so the shopkeepers rely on reputation.