Jinli

Jinli — 'Brocade Lane' — was reconstructed in 2004 on the grounds adjacent to the Wuhou Shrine, which is itself one of the most-visited heritage sites in Sichuan. The Wuhou Shrine commemorates Zhuge Liang, the strategist and chancellor of the Shu Han kingdom in the Three Kingdoms period (220–280 AD), a figure who occupies an unusual position in Chinese cultural memory — widely regarded as the model of loyal and brilliant civilian service to the state. The shrine complex includes his memorial hall, the tomb of Liu Bei (the Shu Han emperor), and extensive garden plantings.

Jinli itself is a reconstruction in Qing-dynasty commercial street style — tile-roofed buildings, red lanterns, carved wooden facades — built to provide a commercial zone adjacent to the shrine. It works on its own terms as a food and souvenir destination without pretending to be genuinely historic. The concentration of Sichuan street food makes it a reasonable orientation point for visitors unfamiliar with Chengdu's snack culture: nearly every significant category is represented within a few hundred metres.

The shadow puppet theatre at the far end of the lane performs in traditional Sichuan style; the short performances (30–40 minutes) run several times daily and represent one of the better cultural supplements to the food and shopping experience.

The Wuhou district surrounding the lane has a more relaxed residential character than the commercial core. Several independent teahouses and low-key restaurants operate in the surrounding streets, offering the same food at lower prices in calmer settings.