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The culinary traditions of Qingcheng Mountain share similarities with those of Dujiangyan and Chengdu, with a rich variety of Sichuan snacks and dishes featuring a heavy emphasis on oil and spice. However, in this mountainous region, nestled within an ancient city, you can savor rare delicacies like free-range Tujia chicken and locally cured bacon. Ginkgo-stewed chicken and Luoji chicken, made with premium chicken, are signature dishes of Qingcheng Mountain.
If you're heading to the front of Qingcheng Mountain, the area just outside the mountain gate is lined with unique restaurants. If you're heading to the back of Qingcheng Mountain, the village on the mountain offers a convenient stopover, featuring a variety of dining options and entertainment options. Restaurants often serve Qingcheng Mountain home-style dishes, but prices are a bit pricey, typically 15-30 yuan for vegetarian dishes and 30 yuan or more for meat dishes. Negotiate accordingly. There are also plenty of snack stalls, though cheaper and less delicious, offering a good way to replenish your energy for the hike ahead. Furthermore, at the foot of the back of the mountain, Tai'an Ancient Town offers endless delicious food, perfect for enjoying the scenery while dining by the river.
This is a specialty of Qingcheng Mountain and a staple dish enjoyed seasonally. Ginkgo nuts are abundant in the area, and the traditional method involves removing the hard outer shells and then stewing the pale yellow cores with free-range chicken. The resulting chicken soup is white and tender, and the fragrant, soft, and glutinous ginkgo nuts make it a particularly nourishing and nourishing dish. This dish can be found in nearly every restaurant in Qingcheng Mountain, from fine dining establishments to small farmhouses in the mountains. However, it's quite expensive, generally costing 80-150 yuan.
Cured meat is a popular traditional cured meat in Sichuan, but the Qingcheng Mountain cured meat is arguably the best. Local farmhouses use their own pigs to make it, typically curing it around the winter solstice and making it available around the Spring Festival. It's typically aged for two to three years, with the longest being around five years—the flavor deepens with age, and there's no need to worry about expiration dates.
This dish can be found in local restaurants, especially in the farmhouses behind the mountains, and can be prepared in a variety of ways, including steaming, stir-frying, and stewing. The best version is the twice-cooked bacon. It requires no special ingredients; simply stir-frying garlic shoots or carrots with sliced bacon in the pan creates a delicious dish. The lean meat is chewy, the fat is not greasy, and the saltiness is just right, making it a perfect match for rice.
Recommended place to try it: Zhoujiaping Farmhouse in Hongyan Village (follow the winding road behind Qingcheng Mountain, pass Tai'an Ancient Town, and walk about two kilometers up the mountain)
This specialty of Mount Qingcheng offers a wide variety of ingredients, including fresh cucumbers, cowpeas, red chili peppers, radishes, cabbage, and ginger. Properly pickled and seasoned, it boasts a refreshingly sour and fragrant flavor, with a fruity aroma tinged by the various sour notes. The sourness is balanced by sweetness, and a hint of spiciness permeates the palate, making it particularly delicious. It's often served with rice, and is particularly appetizing and refreshing in the summer. It can be found in Taoist meals at Shangqing Palace.
Luoji chicken originated during the Guangxu reign of the Qing Dynasty, and has been around for over a century. It's now so famous that you'll encounter various varieties of "Luoji" along the way to Qingcheng Mountain in Dujiangyan. Of course, the most authentic version is found at the Luo Family Courtyard at the foot of Qingcheng Mountain. Luoji chicken boasts crispy, non-greasy skin and a smooth, tender texture. Enjoy it with a spicy sauce or just the chicken itself—it's incredibly delicious!
This restaurant may seem unassuming, its ambiance somewhat spartan, but it's constantly visited by diners drawn by its reputation. For a 30-year-old establishment, the food is a true emotional experience. The owner is a friendly and talkative person, personally preparing bowls of fermented glutinous rice (laozao). He also offers fermented glutinous rice flour and glutinous rice cakes, made with the finest glutinous rice and topped with crispy sesame seeds, brown sugar, and soybean flour. The rich, sweet flavor is truly a delight.
Address: Changkou, Qingchengshan Town, Dujiangyan City (next to the statue of Medicine King Sun Simiao)
Contact: 13980469915
Opening hours: 8:00-18:00
Transportation: Take Dujiangyan Bus No. 102, get off at Qingcheng Health Center Station, and walk 300 meters north.
Reference price: 9 yuan per person
Luoji Chicken, located at the foot of Mount Qingcheng, is renowned locally. Their white-cut chicken, ginkgo-stewed chicken, and green pepper chicken are all must-try dishes. They claim to use free-range chickens raised in the mountains, making them not only healthy but also exceptionally delicious. However, the prices are considerably higher than other restaurants.
Address: Opposite Neusoft Software Park, Qingchengshan Town, Dujiangyan City (near Qingcheng Front Mountain)
Contact: 028-87220788
Transportation: Take the Dujiangyan No. 102 air-conditioned bus and get off at Qingshan Road Station. Go south to the intersection, turn right, and walk 300 meters to the destination.
Reference price: 70 yuan per person
This renowned, time-honored establishment in Qingcheng Mountain, despite its remote location, attracts countless foodies simply for the authentic blood curd—made with fresh pig blood, it's sour, spicy, fragrant, and tender. The generous portions and affordable prices are a bonus. Other popular dishes include braised eel with cucumber, fish fillet with green Sichuan peppercorns, cold meat, and duck intestines, all worth trying. However, the popular boiled blood dish often sells out and may not be available in the evening, so be sure to order it early.
Address: Shagou River Bridge, Zhongxing Town, Dujiangyan City
Contact: 028-87211859
Transportation: Take Dujiangyan Bus No. 101A (or 101, 102) and get off at Dujiangyan No. 1 Middle School Station. Walk 600 meters northeast along the Middle Ring Road and you will find it on the north side of the road.
Reference price: 12 yuan per person
This restaurant is a bit of a no-frills eatery, with a less-than-perfect ambiance. However, the classic flavors are consistently good, making it a local favorite. Recommended dishes include cold chicken, fish-flavored eggplant, green pepper and spareribs, Maoxuewang (Chinese maohua), and stir-fried wild mushrooms.
Address: No. 18, Dongyue Street, Daguan Town, Dujiangyan City, Chengdu
Transportation: Take Dujiangyan No. 102 bus to Daguan Town Government Station, walk 400 meters south and turn left onto Dongyue Street.