I don't like hot pot as a rule of thumb however the OP is in Chengdu.

OP is going to try hot pot, shouldn't it be Sichuan Mala Hot Pot? It's eye watering, sweat inducing, a must try once kind of thing, isn't it?

When we were in Sichuan, we were starved and only thing open was a hole in a wall Sichuan Mala Hot Pot, it was 40 degrees hot outside and the hot pot looked like something that the devil will hesitate to eat. Once we tried, it was incredible flavor without burning heat. An underlying fiery taste which was just fantastic. Made the outside heat seem not so hot.

Instead of trying franchised Northern or Shanghai hot pot, OP should try the local hot pot.