To truly understand the heartbeat of Chengdu's music scene, you have to head to Yulin...

This neighborhood is the definition of 'anyi': that perfectly chill, comfortable lifestyle we hold so dear. In the middle of these leafy streets sits the legendary Little Bar, founded by Tang Lei in the late nineties. I spent my afternoon tucked away in a corner there, flipping through an old zine about the early punk scene while the summer light filtered through the trees outside. It’s a tiny spot, but it’s the spiritual cradle of China’s indie rock scene, and you can still feel the echoes of every guitar string ever snapped in that room.

Even with all the flashing lights of the main stage and the infinite possibilities of the metaverse, we need these physical anchors. Advice for my fellow dreamers: find those small, quiet spaces where the floorboards creak and the history is thick. Digital avatars are fun, but nothing replaces the raw, acoustic energy of a room that remembers where it came from. It keeps your soul grounded while your head is in the clouds!