Chengdu Cooking Class with a Local Market Visit

Recommended by 100% of travelers

Badge of Excellence

Chengdu, China

Great choice

10+ bookings last month.

4 hours (approx.)
Group discounts
Mobile ticket
Offered in: English

Why travelers loved this

5.0

· Luciana_K ·

Jan 2026

The host Lance was very friendly and welcoming, explaining about the ingredients used in Sichuan cuisine. So interesting! Mrs. Li was also very welcoming and experienced. I had a superb experience learning about the techniques of preparing the dishes, expending my background about Sichuanese cuisine, as well as knowing such good people as Lance and Mrs. Li. Totally recommend!

· Marta_P ·

May 2025

A delightful time in an authentic traditional Chengdu market, followed by an amazing gastronomic experience. Jerry was just great full of knowledge and energy. The cooking kitchen was a top of the line setting for preparing the meals. The location was perfect an very easy to get to, using the subway. Highly recommend it!

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Overview

Expand your food knowledge and taste delicious Chengdu cuisine on this small-group or private foodie experience. Explore Liangjiaxiang market in Jinniu District with a guide and learn about local spices and ingredients. Then learn how to make multiple dishes in a cooking class. At the end of your class, you can eat the dishes you’ve prepared with beverages included too.

The ideal tour for foodies visiting Chengdu
Explore Liangjiaxiang market with a guide to teach you about the spices
Hassle-free tour—all food ingredients and meals are included
A chef will teach you new skills in a cooking class

Sample Menu

Main

more than 50 dishes available

Main

Vegan Friendly

What's Included

English speaking guide
Market tour
Food ingredients
Beverages/beer
Light refreshments
Food tasting
Lunch or dinner based on your class schedule
Recipes

Gratuities

Meeting and Pickup

Meeting point

163-11 Yi Huan Lu Bei San Duan, Jin Niu Qu, Cheng Du Shi, Si Chuan Sheng, China, 610051
Your guide will meet you at Liang Jia Xiang Metro Stop Exit D, Line 6 （梁家巷地铁站D口，6号线.). The morning class meeting time is 9am, afternoon class is 2pm, evening class is 5pm.

End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

What To Expect

Chilli Cool's Kitchen

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Not wheelchair accessible
Near public transportation
Infant seats available
Minimum age is 5 years
Vegetarian option is available, please advise at time of booking if required

Passport name, number, expiry and country is required at time of booking for all participants
Operates in all weather conditions, please dress appropriately
Please advise any specific dietary requirements at time of booking
Please wear comfortable walking shoes
This tour/activity will have a maximum of 15 travelers

Supplied by

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

Traveler Photos

Gallery picture 1 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 2 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 3 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 4 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 5 (from a traveler's review)

Featured review

G_K

This activity was truly the highlight of our entire trip. We spent a wonderful afternoon starting with a visit to the local market with the lovely Litchichi, who guided us through the stalls and introduced us to fruits we had never tasted before. We then met Chef Jerry, who taught us how to prepare dumplings, stir-fried vegetables with pork, and century eggs. His professionalism and teaching style were truly captivating. We were able to enjoy the dishes we had cooked while chatting with Jerry and Litchichi. This experience will remain unforgettable, and we highly recommend it to anyone visiting Chengdu.

Reviews

5.0

based on 488 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

We perform checks on reviews

Outstanding hospitality, excellent guide!

Edwin_C, Apr 2026

Lance was an incredible guide! He took us through the market, answered all our food questions, and led us to a fantastic cooking class. He also let us store our luggage in the cooking classroom early so we didn’t have to carry it around the market. Highly recommend!

Absolutely worth it

Sophie_J, Apr 2026

Had an absolutely amazing time, Lance was a fantastic guide and so knowledgeable about everything in the market. Cooking time was great too, the food turned out incredible! Absolutely recommend.

Response from Host, Apr 2026

Dear Guest, Thank you for exploring the local market and Sichuan stir-fry with us! We hope you enjoyed discovering authentic ingredients and learning fiery wok skills. Share your market finds and dishes with @ChilliCoolChina - we can't wait to see them! It was wonderful having you with us, and we'd be delighted to see you again in future workshops. Best regards, Lance Chilli Cool Team

Spending time with Jerry...

Isabella_P, Feb 2026

Spending time with Jerry was the highlight of our time in Chengdu. Getting around the local market while chatting about traditions, ingredients, why this, why that. Then we learned to cook several recipes and ate our dishes afterwards with some cold beer! Jerry went beyond his way to make us feel home and answer to our curiosities. It's a must do experience when in Chengdu, we wouldn't have grasped as much about the local culture without it!

Response from Host, Feb 2026

Dear Guest, Thank you for joining our Traditional Sichuan Stir-Fry Class! We hope you had a wonderful time at the market and learning heritage recipes. Tag @ChilliCoolChina in your cooking stories - we love seeing your progress! It was a pleasure having you with us, and we'd love to see you again in future sessions. Best, Lance Chilli Cool Team

The host Lance was very...

Luciana_K, Jan 2026

Response from Host, Jan 2026

Dear Guest, Thank you for participating in our Local Ingredients Stir-Fry Experience! We hope you enjoyed discovering fresh produce and learning authentic techniques. Share your market-to-table journey with @ChilliCoolChina! It was wonderful having you with us, and we'd be thrilled to see you again in future workshops. Warm regards, Lance Chilli Cool Team

This was my second time...

Mikolaj_I, Nov 2025

This was my second time visting Chilli Cool kitchen since I was there during the Mahjong class as well. I booked the full option with BaoZi cooking and would recommend everyone goes for that as well. Lance was very nice, showed me around the local market and patiently answered all of my many questions. The cooking was very fun and seemed really authentic as the chef really knew what she was doing. I would strongly recommend to go as hungry as possible, especially when booking the 5-meal option since there is a lot of food to be consumed after the cooking is done :)

Response from Host, Nov 2025

Dear Guest, Thank you for joining our Interactive Stir-Fry Workshop! We hope you had a great time exploring the market and learning hands-on cooking skills. Tag @ChilliCoolChina in your food photos! It was a pleasure having you with us, and we'd love to see you again in future sessions. Warmly, Lance Chilli Cool Team

Best cooking class I've ever done!

Steven_H, Nov 2025

This was truly one of the best tours I've ever been on my whole life! Firstly, Im a solo traveler and sometimes finding tours for just one person can be a little difficult because most companies need at least two people for to be financially feasible to operate the tour. This was the first time I was able to find a company that was willing to just take me solo. Lance, the tour guide as well as English translator, was really fantastic and it was great having a one-on-one conversation with him where I got a much deeper insight into life within China for a normal person. The tour starts with an hour walking through one of chengdu's wet markets where I got to try different types of fruits and we picked up some fresh vegetables for the class. We then had an hour of relaxing and chatting with tea. Then we had about an hour and a half of cooking where we made five dishes, mapo tofu, stir fried pork, stir fried cabbage, cucumber salad, and a delicious eggplant dish. You cook with an older Chinese woman who definitely has years of experience while Lance translates what she says for you. It's a very interesting experience that was truly once in a lifetime. The food itself was very good, although I guess depending on how good or bad of a cook you are that could change. I would highly recommend this cooking class to anyone in Chengdu! Besides the fact that you get to make some very good food, you also get to experience a less touristy side of the city and you'll have a great tour guide in Lance!

Response from Host, Nov 2025

Dear Guest, Thank you for joining our Fresh Ingredient Stir-Fry Journey! We hope you had an amazing time selecting produce and mastering wok techniques. Tag @ChilliCoolChina - we'd love to see your dishes! It was a pleasure having you with us, and we'd love to see you again in future sessions. Happy cooking! Lance Chilli Cool Team

Unforgettable and highly recommended activity

G_K, Nov 2025

Response from Host, Nov 2025

Dear Guest, Thank you for joining our Seasonal Market Stir-Fry Tour! We hope you had a fantastic time selecting fresh ingredients and learning proper wok techniques. Tag @ChilliCoolChina - we might share your dishes! It was a pleasure having you with us, and we'd love to see you again in future workshops. Happy cooking!

Best experience in...

Aviah_M, Nov 2025

Best experience in Chengdu. Came away really feeling like I learned about life and cooking in Sichuan. Would absolutely recommend!

Response from Host, Nov 2025

Dear Guest, Thank you for participating in our Authentic Sichuan Stir-Fry Adventure! We hope you enjoyed the market atmosphere and learning traditional recipes. Share your wok skills with @ChilliCoolChina - you might inspire others to join! It was wonderful having you with us, and we'd be delighted to see you again in future sessions. With best wishes, Lance Chilli Cool Team

Lance and chef Lei were...

Nic_T, Sep 2025

Lance and chef Lei were wonderful hosts and very accommodating of vegetarian diets. I would highly recommend for anyone wanting to learn Sichuan dishes or just have a fun time.

Response from Host, Sep 2025

Authentic and memorable experience.

Marta_P, May 2025

Response from Host, Sep 2025

Hi Guest, Thank you for joining us at Chilli Cool today! We hope you enjoyed learning the secrets of Sichuan flavors as much as we loved teaching them. Remember: if you need any help recreating the recipes, just reply to this email – we’re always here to help! Keep cooking and spicing! Best, Lance & the Chilli Cool Team

Come for the pandas, stay for the food!

S_T, May 2025

From start to finish this cooking class experience was amazing! Each member of the team, Jerry who picked me up, Lance who took us through the market to help understand the foundations of local cuisine & translated in the kitchen, Chef Li who helped us cook and combine ingredients to make all the flavours pop, were thoughtful, kind, and funny. People come to Chengdu for the pandas - but this class is not to be missed!

Response from Host, Sep 2025

Jerry provided a...

David_D, May 2025

Jerry provided a wonderful experience. Great experience for anyone looking to learn more about Sichuanese cuisine or enjoy local Chengdu culture.

Response from Host, Sep 2025

Dear Guest, Thank you for joining our Market Tour & Stir-Fry Workshop! We hope you had a fantastic time choosing fresh produce and learning authentic Sichuan techniques. Tag @ChilliCoolChina in your cooking videos - we might feature you on our page! It was a pleasure having you with us, and we'd love to see you again in future sessions. Warmly, Lance Chilli Cool Team

Sichuan Spice Chilli Cooking

Carl_B, May 2025

Unique cultural experience as you get to see and feel the local market with the cooking class following afterwards. Jerry (the awesome host/guide) was able to communicate effectively and is very knowledgeable of the ingredients used in the dishes you will cook.

Response from Host, Sep 2025

Highly recommend doing this

Brian_M, Apr 2025

Was a great experience. The market was clean and interesting even though we have seen many markets. Lance our guide was fun and helpful. The class facilities were nice and clean. Class itself great and the food was excellent.

Response from Host, Sep 2025

Dear Guest, Thank you for participating in our Local Market and Sichuan Stir-Fry Experience! We hope you enjoyed immersing yourself in the vibrant flavors and learning proper wok control. Share your spicy creations with @ChilliCoolChina using #SichuanHeat! It was wonderful having you with us, and we'd be thrilled to see you again in future classes. Happy cooking! Lance Chilli Cool Team

Learned a lot about...

Justin_A, Mar 2025

I learned a lot about Sichuan food. Got to try making things like mapo tofu which I love but have never tried to cook myself before. The market visit was very interesting, although my inability to recognise most of the vegetables was slightly embarrassing :) The host was a lot of fun. Definitely recommend if you are in Chengdu and have any kind of interest in food!

Response from Host, Sep 2025

Dear Guest, Thank you for experiencing our Complete Stir-Fry Journey! We hope you enjoyed the market tour and learning traditional Sichuan cooking methods. Share your experience with @ChilliCoolChina using #ChilliCoolClass! It was wonderful having you with us, and we'd be thrilled to see you again in future workshops. Sincerely, Lance Chilli Cool Team

Friendly, Warm Cooking and Food-shopping experience

Richard_J, Feb 2025

This was a wonderfully engineered shopping and cooking tour. Learned so much, although I don't think anyone is going to be hiring me as a Chinese Chef. It was eye-opening to learn about all the ingredients and cooking methods, and my guide was so good and kind. Thank you.

Response from Host, Sep 2025

Dear Guest, Thank you for exploring Sichuan stir-fry culture with us! We hope you enjoyed the market visit and learning this culinary tradition. Share your experience with @ChilliCoolChina using #ChilliCoolWok! It was wonderful having you with us, and we'd be delighted to see you again in future classes. Sincerely, Lance Chilli Cool Team

Great experience! 10/10

Jakari_H, Jan 2025

This was a very immersive experience, and one that you may not find on your own. We had the unique opportunity to walk around a local Chengdu area with the guide, who was very good at explaining the history behind the location and its significance. I thoroughly enjoyed the cooking experience too, and eating it afterwards was even more rewarding. I feel much more comfortable making Chinese-style dishes in the future. And the guide, Jerry, was amazing! So knowledgeable, kind, and resourceful. I would definitely recommend this tour to any travelers that may be interested.

Response from Host, Sep 2025

Dear Guest, Thank you for joining our Authentic Sichuan Stir-Fry Workshop! We hope you had a wonderful time at the market and learning traditional methods. Tag @ChilliCoolChina in your cooking videos! It was a pleasure having you with us, and we'd love to see you again in future classes. Best regards, Lance Chilli Cool Team

5 dishes and market walk

Rebecca_S, Dec 2024

Really interesting walk around a tucked away local wet market and cooking together in the beautiful and homely kitchen space. Really recommend- you’ll learn so much!

Response from Host, Sep 2025

A wonderful day!

Marni_R, Nov 2024

Jerry and Lance were kind, knowledgeable and kept the experience so fun for our group. We learned a lot and had a wonderful time doing it. Highly recommend!

Response from Host, Sep 2025

Top notch experience!

Curt_O, Nov 2024

This cooking and dining experience, with local food market tour, was delightful and incredibly entertaining. We learned to cook three dishes and enjoyed a remarkable meal. The journey around the food market was educational and we sampled food along the way as well. Too notch in every way!

Response from Host, Sep 2025

An unforgettable taste and experience of Chengdu

MALVIKA_B, Sep 2024

A most memorable experience in Chengdu and one that we definitely recommend to anyone who can spare some time to learn more about the local culture and cuisine of the region - we met our guide Lance by the subway and after a warm greeting and introductions, he expertly navigated us through the spice and vegetables markets of the city, picking some local ingredients and sweets for us along the way and making way to their kitchen space, all the while telling us more about the local way of living. The cooking class itself was expertly organized - most of the ingredients were already laid out, the chef (and Lance as our translator) guided us step by step from chopping up vegetables, heating the wok and the oil and starting the fast yet delicate cooking process. We chose to cook 3 dishes - stir fry cabbage, Kung pao chicken and mapo tofu. Each dish expertly taught to us, with knowledge shared about the specific process and tips to adjust the flavor, resulting in three delicious dishes that closely resembled what the chef prepared simultaneously with us. Lastly, we joined Lance in eating the meals we had just prepared with an additional serving of dumplings. Overall, an amazing experience and we truly appreciate Lance and Chilli Cool for customizing the experience to our needs (including vegetarian friendly options), the great conversations and a memorable taste of Chengdu and the Sichuan food. Thank you!

Response from Host, Sep 2025

Great experience!

Paulina_r, Sep 2024

Great class - both enjoyable and educative. I genuinely recommend it to anyone looking to learn more about Sichuan cuisine. Very accommodating as well (I’m vegetarian!).

Response from Host, Sep 2025

Learn from Chengdu’s Celebrity Chef

Antonio_B, Jul 2024

A truly fun and educational cooking experience. Lance is an excellent guide and translator which opens the door to great interaction with Lee the Celebrity Chef. She is masterful and so eager to share her skills and knowledge. The setting is beautiful and comfortable, and the market place tour amazing. The whole experience adds up to a great time and good eats. I’m already looking forward to my next visit !

Response from Host, Sep 2025

Market visit and spicy cooking

Lukas_B, Jul 2024

The cooking class didn't only revolve around the cooking itself which was great but started with a market visit, buying groceries and spices and then heading towards the kitchen. It was a great day experience and the side talks about local life made it really memorable for me.

Response from Host, Sep 2025

A must do in Chengdu

katrine_J, Jul 2024

A must do in Chengdu - seeing the local market and cooking a sichuan meal was a really amazing expierence. The guide Jerry gave us so many fun and joyful moments. Thank you for a great day!

Response from Host, Sep 2025

Worth the Wait in Every Sense

David_A, Jul 2024

It took a while to get this book, but I truly loved everything about this tour. Jerry was great and personable. I loved going around a real Chinese market learning how the local people pick and choose their food. I even got to try my hand at making dumplings (I was very good 2 out of 10 times). From there we went to the kitchen where I met Auntie Lee (Chef Lee). She was wonderful and with Jerry translating I was able to make a good mapu tofu and an excellent twice cooked pork and pretty darn nice cucumber salad. I couldn't recommend this tour enough and I hope more people give it a try.

Response from Host, Sep 2025

Dear Guest, Thank you for participating in our Hands-On Stir-Fry Making! We hope you enjoyed choosing ingredients and learning complete cooking processes. Share your culinary creations with @ChilliCoolChina! It was wonderful having you with us, and we'd be thrilled to see you again in future sessions. Warm wishes, Lance Chilli Cool Team

Amazing spice market and cookiong experience

Dave_H, Jun 2024

The spice market was amazing. We even got to try our hands at making our own chaoshou dumplings. Went to a Baiju shop to sample various types nad purchased some to bring home for friends to try. The cooking class was eqully awesome. Our guide Lance was great. He interacted with us the whole time he was translating directions from our instructor. Very enjoyable experience.

Response from Host, Sep 2025

Dear Guest, Thank you for experiencing our Local Market and Stir-Fry Culture! We hope you enjoyed the authentic market experience and learning valuable cooking skills. Share your photos with @ChilliCoolChina! It was wonderful having you with us, and we'd be delighted to see you again in future workshops. Sincerely, Lance Chilli Cool Team

Amazing Experience

Nicholas_H, Jun 2024

We did the afternoon cooking class & market tour with Chili Cool China during our few days in Chengdu and LOVED it!! It was a great way to learn more about the food we had been eating, Sichuan culture, and to meet new people. Our guide, Lance, was awesome! He spoke great English and was super friendly and welcoming. He answered all of our questions, cooking/food related or otherwise. If you’re thinking about this, we’d highly recommend that you give it a try! You’ll be shocked by the delicious Sichuan food you’ll make :)

Response from Host, Sep 2025

Dear Guest, Thank you for joining our Market Discovery and Stir-Fry Making! We hope you had a wonderful time selecting ingredients and learning authentic techniques. Tag @ChilliCoolChina in your cooking journey! It was a pleasure having you with us, and we'd love to see you again in future classes. Happy cooking! Lance Chilli Cool Team

See and taste authentic China!

Catherine_M, May 2024

Lance was a fantastic guide around the market. He answered all our questions about the food on display. We were expertly shown how to make some wontons and had an go ourselves (although mine were a bit rough and ready!) and practiced some basic Chinese phrases. We worked with our experienced chef to make some authentic Szechuan chinese dishes. We learned some useful techniques which we can use in our kitchen at home. The food we cooked was some of the best food we had eaten in China. I would highly recommend this cooking experience.

Response from Host, Sep 2025

Brilliant Experience

Charlotte_W, May 2024

We loved this cooking experience and it was a highlight of our time in Chengdu! We were met promptly outside the metro station, taken to a local market where we did some food shopping (paid by our guide Lance), tried making dumplings at a market stall and had a go at ordering food in Chinese. We then had some snacks and tea at the kitchen before getting stuck in making three dishes which were a pork dish, tofu dish and salad. We enjoyed the cooking and settled down to eat together and critique our dishes. The Chilli Cool team were so friendly, spoke excellent English and their kitchen was beautifully clean and hygenic. They also went above and beyond helping us to buy some spices as souvenirs and helped with some Chinese medicine which we really appreciated! 100% recommend this experience to anyone who is looking to do something a bit different :-)