Chengdu

The city and province are known for the conservation and protection of pandas. Various initiatives are encouraged and promoted. This means that the theme of pandas pops up in all kinds of murals, such as on utility boxes in the street.⏬

Utility boxes and other infrastructure in the streets are often painted with historic city views and scenes from everyday life in centuries past. Educational purposes are very likely at the origin of this approach.⏬

Utility boxes and other infrastructure in the streets are often painted with historic city views and scenes from everyday life in centuries past. Educational purposes are very likely at the origin of this approach.⏬

Utility boxes and other infrastructure in the streets are often painted with historic city views and scenes from everyday life in centuries past. Educational purposes are very likely at the origin of this approach.⏬

Utility boxes and other infrastructure in the streets are often painted with historic city views and scenes from everyday life in centuries past. Educational purposes are very likely at the origin of this approach.⏬

Utility boxes and other infrastructure in the streets are often painted with historic city views and scenes from everyday life in centuries past. Educational purposes are very likely at the origin of this approach.⏬

Utility boxes and other infrastructure in the streets are often painted with historic city views and scenes from everyday life in centuries past. Educational purposes are very likely at the origin of this approach.⏬

Utility boxes and other infrastructure in the streets are often painted with historic city views and scenes from everyday life in centuries past. Educational purposes are very likely at the origin of this approach.⏬

Utility boxes and other infrastructure in the streets are often painted with historic city views and scenes from everyday life in centuries past. Educational purposes are very likely at the origin of this approach.⏬

These utility boxes are painted with landscapes and city views. Contemporary buildings and parks are the object of these paintings.⏬

These utility boxes are painted with landscapes and city views. Contemporary buildings and parks are the object of these paintings.⏬

These utility boxes are painted with landscapes and city views. Contemporary buildings and parks are the object of these paintings.⏬

These utility boxes are painted with landscapes and city views. Contemporary buildings and parks are the object of these paintings.⏬

A special painting on this utility box: a swimming panda. This painting is apparently meant to make it clear that pandas are good swimmers.⏬

The image on this utility box is that of a temple complex in the city. This temple is the "first Taoist temple" in the west of the province.⏬

This telephone cabinet is painted on one side with a floral motif.⏬

Utility boxes in the street are painted with landscapes and city views. Classical Chinese houses are included in the paintings. This was done to beautify the cityscape, but apparently they are also places to store bicycles.⏬

Utility boxes in the street are painted with landscapes and city views. Classical Chinese houses are included in the paintings. This was done to beautify the cityscape, but apparently they are also places to store bicycles.⏬

Utility boxes in the street are painted with landscapes and city views. Classical Chinese houses are included in the paintings. This was done to beautify the cityscape, but apparently they are also places to store bicycles.⏬

Advertisement spot in the street for a stay on a beach.⏬

This electricity box is painted with relics that were found during the archaeological excavations of the Sanxingdui culture. This culture is known for its extraordinary and enigmatic bronze objects, including large masks.⏬

This painting on an electricity box depicts a traditional washhouse from centuries ago. It shows a woman washing clothes and a man pouring water into a vessel. It reflects the city's effort to integrate local history into everyday urban life.⏬

This large electricity cabin is painted with a city view on one side and a landscape on the other. Classical art styles are contained in this painting, which better integrates the whole into the theme for the street: local history and daily life.⏬

This large electricity cabin is painted on both sides with city views that refer to life in earlier times. Classical art styles are contained in this painting, which better integrates the whole into the theme for the street: local history and contemporary daily life.⏬

This electricity box is painted with a scene of a local craft. A shoemaker at work is depicted here.⏬

The walls of this electrical box are painted with household scenes. The woman is washing clothes while the man pours water into a barrel.⏬

This painting shows a view of a fenced house. In the foreground, the skin of an animal is stretched to dry.⏬

Two cabins are embellished with city scenes from times gone by. The street scenes focus on crafts that were practiced in the street. The style has a classical Chinese feel, which fits in well with the theme in the street: integrating local history with contemporary life.⏬

Two cabins are embellished with city scenes from times gone by. The street scenes focus on crafts that were practiced in the street. The style has a classical Chinese feel, which fits in well with the theme in the street: integrating local history with contemporary life.⏬

The painting on the cabin shows a bowl of herbal soup or tonic, accompanied by a ginseng root and green leaf. What rises from the bowl does raise questions. Such murals are part of the broader effort to beautify urban infrastructure through culturally meaningful public art.⏬

This cabin is painted with nuts and plants that produce nuts. Nuts are an important component in Chinese cuisine, but also in Chinese medicine.⏬

This cabin is painted with nuts and flower seeds. These are important ingredients in Chinese cuisine, but also in Chinese medicine.⏬

The painting depicts a colorful collection of Sichuanese snacks and treats — including dumplings, layered pastries, red dates, chestnuts and sausages — executed in a soft, illustrative style. It is part of Chengdu's effort to celebrate its rich food culture via public art on urban infrastructure.⏬

The painting depicts a colorful collection of Sichuanese snacks and treats — including dumplings, layered pastries, red dates, chestnuts and sausages — executed in a soft, illustrative style. It is part of Chengdu's effort to celebrate its rich food culture via public art on urban infrastructure.⏬

The electricity cabin is decorated with a scene of a traditional tea vendor, sitting by his cart with pots and bowls, ready to serve tea. Executed in a charming, minimalist style, it showcases the rich tea culture and nostalgic street life.⏬

Several jugs and pitchers related to the extensive tea culture in the city are depicted on this cabin. The simplicity in the style makes the work all the more striking.⏬

These utility boxes are painted with classic Chinese landscapes and city views.⏬

These utility boxes are painted with classic Chinese landscapes and city views.⏬

These utility boxes are painted with classic Chinese landscapes and city views.⏬

Drawings of scenes from everyday life adorn the fence around this residential area.⏬

Murals from the building complex of Dujiangyan reservoir that stand out for their bright colors. This complex is located on the east side of the Minjiang River.⏬

Murals from the building complex of Dujiangyan reservoir that stand out for their bright colors. This complex is located on the east side of the Minjiang River.⏬

Murals from the building complex of Dujiangyan reservoir that stand out for their bright colors. This complex is located on the east side of the Minjiang River.⏬

Painted on a wall in a restaurant, this mural depicts food preparation.⏬

This mural combines two techniques: on one hand there is the drawing or photo, on the other hand there is the stone or concrete structure of the people in the foreground.⏬