@ Valerie, I agree it can be a little bit of a strain when you first arrive. and I imagine where you are feels out of it depending what you’re used to.
For accessibility I’d suggest:
if you haven’t already got a travel card, I’d get one. I found taxis can sometimes be harder to get out of downtown.
You must know the metro already, to go north? you can easily transfer to many buses east or west at nijiaqiao or sichuan gymnasium.
use baidu to find routes from where you are. if you’re not sure how to type the names of places just move the arrows around on this link:
if you have a smartphone there’s a app for that too.
interactions:
Like moving to any new town maybe try common interests, there enough in Chengdu now to support most circles, off the top of my head there’s tennis – or any sport, photography, hiking, whiskey, coffee!, writing, DJ’ing, caving, I’m sure the list goes on plenty. or ask on here for people who are interested in something you like.
I’d also say acquire the taste for hotpot, it’s socially crippling to not be able to share 🙂
If you’re interested in getting out of town to do some pretty easy hiking, PM me, you’d be welcome to join our small group.