The area around Wenshu Monastery in the northern part of the old city is one of the most liveable and least touristy of Chengdu's historic neighbourhoods. Vegetarian restaurants cluster around the temple gates, selling Buddhist cooking that ranges from basic monk fare to surprisingly sophisticated fare made from tofu and gluten shaped into convincing imitations of meat dishes. The surrounding lanes have antique shops, tea dealers, and traditional cake shops. The monastery's teahouse is the city's best for an afternoon.