March 28th 2025, Chengdu, China

After two long days at the national park, I took the day to chill. In the morning, I hit the gym and had a solid workout. In the afternoon, I got cupping again and a traditional Chinese massage. The massage was... interesting. The lady rubbed my muscles in ways I hadn't experienced before. It wasn't very intense, but she managed to hit the right spots. Traditional Chinese massage often includes moxibustion, a practice where dried mugwort is burned near the skin to promote healing and circulation. The heat from the burning mugwort (called moxa) is believed to stimulate the flow of qi and blood. Afterward, she advised me not to drink cold beverages, as Chinese medicine teaches that cold can slow circulation and interfere with the body's ability to heal by constricting blood vessels and stagnating qi. After the massage, I felt both alert and relaxed—maybe my nervous system got a boost. That evening, I celebrated Shabbat at Chabad of Chengdu. I originally went to the address listed on Google Maps, which turned out to be 30 minutes outside the city—and completely wrong. Luckily, an Israeli guy I met at my hostel, Tair, sent me the correct location. I was the last one to arrive due to the fiasco, but the atmosphere was intimate, with only about 25 people. I met Inbar, an Israeli woman who moved to Chengdu to study Chinese medicine. The rabbi was super warm and energetic, similar to Mendy. It was refreshing to be at a smaller Shabbat table rather than a massive one for travelers. A lot of the Israelis there were either trying to start businesses or had already settled in Chengdu. One of the most interesting people I met was Ezra Haleva, a 25-year-old who had worked at Microsoft, quit his job, and was now trying to build software in Chengdu. He was easily one of the funniest guys I've ever met. It was amazing connecting with so many cool and different people. The food was solid, too. After Shabbat, I went out briefly with Ezra, Tair, and another guy. Then I checked into my accommodation for the night: Tang Yue Life Spa. It's open 24/7, and you can actually stay overnight there. I did a midnight sauna and jacuzzi before trying to sleep. I assumed there would be a dedicated sleeping area, but nope—it was every man for himself. You just had to find a spot on the ground. I managed to claim a nice corner, but there were at least 500 people staying the night. I slept as well as you possibly can when you're on the floor, surrounded by hundreds of strangers. It was definitely a super unique experience.