When Lutz Pluemer retired and left Germany for China in 2018, his colleagues joked, "Don't get lost." Never did he expect to find a home in Chengdu, Sichuan province, a city that would redefine his understanding of progress and belonging.
The 74-year-old international dean at Southwest Jiaotong University describes the Sichuan capital — named one of China's happiest cities for 17 consecutive years by Oriental Outlook magazine — as vibrant, welcoming and endlessly surprising.
"The people here embody a rare balance: fiercely hardworking, yet always making time for life's joys, whether sharing hot pot with colleagues or strolling through People's Park," he says.
Pluemer's favorite place is Taikoo Li Chengdu, a leading shopping and lifestyle hub where the ancient Daci Temple stands alongside international luxury boutiques.
He often orders a cappuccino at the Temple House hotel while his Chinese colleague drinks tea. There, Buddhist monks in traditional robes walk past, followed by hip young influencers livestreaming on the latest Xiaomi smartphones.
"This episode, where centuries come together effortlessly — that's Chengdu for me," Pluemer says.
What equally impresses him is the 100-kilometer Chengdu Ring Greenway, a green belt built alongside the Fourth Ring Road for bicycles, joggers and selfie-takers.
"I've cycled its entire length multiple times, and each journey reveals new marvels," he says, praising Chengdu's visionary spirit in building green mobility infrastructure.
The 100-km greenway is part of the Tianfu Greenway system, a network planned to be one of the world's longest of its kind, stretching 16,930 kilometers by 2035.
Don Benton, an American who also calls Chengdu home, cherishes something else: the city's unique culture — and mostly, its people.
The 65-year-old arrived in 2007 to build and manage an aircraft precision bearing plant. There were many options across China, he recalls, but Chengdu stood out particularly for its innovative people and rich culture, which set it apart from other cities.
"People here like to have fun but work hard when necessary, and always find better ways of doing things," he says.
After years in Chengdu, Benton says what touches him most is the kindness of its people. "Most people are kind, considerate and caring, always willing to help without expecting anything in return," he says.
That kindness was on full display during a hospital visit earlier this year.
On Jan 11, struck by severe back pain that left him barely able to walk, Benton was rushed to West China Hospital of Sichuan University by a friend of his Chinese wife's family — a man he had never met — who even arranged for a wheelchair to be waiting at the hospital.
Thanks to professional and attentive care from doctors and staff, he soon recovered and was discharged within 12 days.
