Live Your Best Lives
The mountain is the city, the city is the mountain. The mountains are high and the roads are bumpy. What a beautiful city Chongqing is.
My first impression of Chongqing is its mountainous landscape. Be careful using Baidu Maps in Chongqing, haha, you get the idea.
My second impression is its fiery spiciness: the fiery hot pot, the fiery beauties, and the fiery hospitality of the Chongqing people.
My third impression is its slow pace. At midnight, leisurely enjoying hot pot and roadside barbecue is quite the experience.
During the few days I have been in Chongqing, it has been cloudy and sunny.
When the fog covers half of the river, and
when the sun shines on the old streets where people play chess and drink tea,
this city has its charming side.
transportation:
When traveling domestically, transportation needs no special introduction. If high-speed rail is available, take it first.
If not, check air tickets in advance.
stay:
Chongqing is broadly divided into the following areas:
Yuzhong District: The city center, within walking distance of attractions such as Hongyadong, Jiefangbei, the Yangtze River Cableway, and the Eighteen Ladders (currently being demolished).
Jiangbei District: The northern part of the city, close to Chongqing North Railway Station
. Shapingba District: Close to Ciqikou Ancient Town and Zhazidong.
Jiulongpo District: Chongqing South Railway Station, Sichuan Fine Arts Institute (Huangjueping Residential Area), and Jiaotong Teahouse.
Nan'an District: Nanshan Yikeshu Observation Deck, Nanshan Botanical Garden, etc.
▽All the accommodations for this trip were booked in advance on Airbnb. The area chosen was Yuzhong District, which is very convenient in all aspects.
Here are some places I want to visit in Chongqing:
play:
The Yangtze River Cableway connects Yuzhong District and Nan'an District. It's used not only by tourists but also by locals. Of course, the subway is more economical and time-efficient than the other options, haha, but it's still worth a ride. We chose to ride it at night because the lines during the day were just too long.
●One-way ticket is 20 yuan/person, round-trip ticket is 30 yuan/person, opening hours are 7:30-22:30. It is very convenient to buy tickets while queuing on site, without having to book online in advance.
There are two boarding stations for the cable car:
Xinhua Road Cable Car Station: Take Metro Line 1 or 6 and get off at Xiaoshizi Station. Exit 5A or 5B is the Xinhua Road Cable Car Station (optional for traveling from the city center to Nanshan Observation Deck).
Shangxinjie Cable Car Station: (for traveling from Nanshan Observation Deck back to the city center)
●I stayed at Jiaochangkou subway station. After dinner, I took a walk and visited Jiefangbei, Hongyadong, and Qiansimen Bridge. These attractions were crowded with people. I personally think you don’t need to spend too much time on them, just stroll around.
△ Hongyadong is so crowded that I really can’t stand to visit it anymore hahahaha
△ I want to have a good meal with you and talk about my hot, cold, sour and sweet life.
●Hong Kong has Victoria Peak, Taipei has Elephant Mountain, and every city has a mountain where you can view the entire city at night. Chongqing’s is called Nanshan Yikeshu.
Transportation: Take the cable car or subway across the river and get off at Shangxinjie Station. From there, you can take a taxi or bus up the mountain, which is about six kilometers. We went at night. Because there were so many people watching the night view and we were worried about traffic on the mountain, we took a motorcycle tout at the subway entrance. It cost about 30 yuan for two people. Chongqing can still be a bit damp and cold in February. The sound of a speeding motorcycle, accompanied by the whistling wind beside us, was both moving and unforgettable.
●Ticket: 20 yuan/person
△Here, this is the foggy night view of Chongqing!
An article in National Geographic magazine described Xiahao Old Street as "another world": There are two kinds of people in this world: the original inhabitants of Xiahao, who preserve the old Chongqing lifestyle; and the young people who run teahouses in Xiahao, adding a touch of color to the declining area. On this trip to Chongqing, I wanted to see the Eighteen Ladders, but they were already being demolished. So, I quickly went to Xiahao Old Street. The original residents had largely vacated the area, but standing in the empty alleys, I could still feel the former prosperity.
● Transportation: Take the subway across the river and get off at Shangxinjie Station. It’s a short walk to the street. Xiahao Old Street is small, so an hour is enough to stroll around it.
●To go to Eling No. 2 Factory, you will get off at Liziba Subway Station. Yes, it is the nationally famous Liziba Station where the subway passes through a building.
●Transportation: After getting off the bus at Liziba, the navigation showed that it was very close, so we chose to walk. We walked around for a few times but couldn’t find it. It turned out that the mountain city was really not suitable for navigation software. We cried. Finally, we took a taxi and found out that it was halfway up the mountain.
Eling Factory No. 2, formerly Chongqing Printing Factory No. 2, was once a color printing giant in Southwest China's printing industry. In the past two years, the old factory has undergone a major renovation, infusing it with new cultural formats. While retaining the original character of the standalone buildings, these old buildings have also incorporated modern design and artistic flair. They are now a creative park.
△A creative park cannot be considered complete without cats.
● Sichuan Fine Arts Institute has several campuses. We went to Huangjueping Community, where there is a graffiti street at the entrance, which is also very famous. It is good to take a look when passing by. (Internet picture)
●Transportation: To get to Sichuan Fine Arts Institute, take the subway to Yangjiaping Station, then transfer to a bus and arrive in a few stops. It is very convenient.
●The flowers at Sichuan Fine Arts Institute are in full bloom. The afternoon light is so soft, shining through the flowers and you on the sports field are all so beautiful.
When I was researching my travel plans for Chongqing, I was particularly interested in the Jiaotong Teahouse. Sichuan and Chongqing are known for their slow-paced lifestyle, where people enjoy drinking tea and playing chess. Jiaotong Teahouse is the best-preserved old teahouse in Chongqing. It's a great place for capturing culturally significant moments, and its growing popularity has attracted many photographers.
●Transportation: It is right next to Sichuan Fine Arts Institute and can be reached on foot using the navigation.
●Consumption: A bowl of tea costs 4 yuan, and a large bag of melon seeds or peanuts costs 10 yuan.
Without needing much embellishment, the Jiaotong Teahouse possesses its own unique charm and allure. Every day, people come and go, meeting and saying goodbye here. They leave nothing behind, yet they also leave behind much.
●In addition to landmark photography spots, Chongqing also has some niche spots suitable for photography enthusiasts to visit, such as the Qiezixi Timber Distribution Terminal.
●Transportation: As can be seen from the picture of the scenic spot posted above, Qiezixi is located in the south of Chongqing, quite far from the city center. According to Baidu Maps, you can take Line 2 and get off at Liujiaba. It is recommended to take a taxi. The navigation location was not very accurate, so we found it by asking locals along the way.
●There is no entrance fee. This place is just a sawmill. It is estimated that more and more people go here to take pictures. Local managers now prohibit photography. The main reason is that there is a risk of wood slipping and easily causing accidents.
△We had just been shooting for ten minutes when we were discovered by the staff and chased away. /(ㄒoㄒ)/~~ Two other photographers were also chased away.
Hotpot is a must-try when visiting Chongqing,
even though I used to hate the smell of hotpot.
However, Chongqing hotpot is actually quite addictive.
The aroma of hotpot permeates every corner of this city,
just like the slow pace of life here, it's irresistible.
Where to eat: Dengmangzi Hotpot, Little Swan Hotpot, Peijie Hotpot, Chongqing Qinma Hotpot
There are thousands of Chongqing hotpot restaurants, and you don't have to stick to one. It doesn't matter whether it is a chain or not. A single store or an inconspicuous roadside store may surprise you. What's particularly amazing is that after eating Chongqing hotpot, your clothes and hair rarely smell.
We ate Dengmangzi for no reason, just because it was close to where we lived and we were too lazy to walk too far.
Deng Mangzi: The Luzu Temple restaurant is located in the basement, and there's always a long line at dinner time. You'd grab a number, go home for a nap, and then come back two hours later. Haha, we ate there after 11 p.m.
The authentic Chongqing hotpot is a "nine-square grid" hotpot, the main features of which are chili peppers, Sichuan peppercorns and old beef tallow, and it is basically all spicy.
The dipping sauce for Chongqing hotpot is different from that in the north. It is not sesame paste, but sesame oil and minced garlic. The taste is simply great. If you are afraid of spicy food, you can add some vinegar!
The hotpot is almost over when the oil dip turns red. That's when the spiciness reaches its peak, and my tongue goes numb. My stomach was burning the night I finished eating!
Chongqing hotpot must-try dishes: Chongqing's crispy pork is my favorite, and they also have must-haves like sliced pork, croaker, tripe, duck intestines (goose intestines), brain flower, etc. Unfortunately, since we're just two people, we can't order too much. For vegetarians, I ordered the recommended dried tribute vegetables, which were crispy and delicious, and my favorite rice cakes. I didn't dare to eat the leafy greens at the end because they absorbed too much spice!
Chongqing Xiaomian is a place with restaurants all over the country.
Chongqing people usually eat
this popular Huashi Pea Noodles for breakfast. I just stopped by when I was passing by
. The shop is not big. I ordered two bowls of Pea Noodles with Soy Sauce.
The peas were sticky and I like the texture of the noodles. The noodles
are very chewy and the flavor is even better at the end.
The standard Weiyi soy milk that comes with the noodles
is a good helper to relieve the spiciness.
Haoyoulai Hot and Sour Noodles is a chain store
that has been recommended online, so I tried this
small street shop. It costs
7 yuan a
bowl and the line is always long.
You just buy it and squat on the street to eat
it. It's very down-to-earth, hahahaha
Oil tea is one of Chongqing's specialty snacks.
Chili peppers are served with rice paste and fried crispy granules.
I can't get used to it. The rice paste is very salty and dry.
The sweet rice wine and egg rolls in the set meal are delicious.
Preserved Egg and Oil Tea Set, 25 yuan/portion: Includes one serving of oil tea, four egg rolls, and one soft-boiled preserved egg. Add the sashimi to the rice paste and mix well.
△Classic oil tea set meal, 25 yuan/serving: includes a serving of oil tea, four egg rolls, and sweet rice wine.
The shop is small and has the feeling of a small restaurant. The
owner is very friendly. I sat down and chatted for a while
and found out that his shop is also a well-known old shop.
I ordered the signature pickled cabbage rice noodles and three-flavor jelly.
Hidden away in an office building, this is
a low-key pub. On
my first day in Chongqing,
I excitedly went to dinner,
only to find it closed. Feeling
quite disheartened in the Chongqing evening breeze in February,
I called the owner and made a reservation by the window.
The pub is small, with only a few tables and chairs on the first floor
, so reservations are essential. At lunchtime, people started waiting for a table. Their home
-brewed wines of various flavors and homemade dishes
did not disappoint.
△ Various homemade fruit wines, with lovely names and tastes, such as "Remembering Jiangnan", "Drunk in the Breeze", "Sleepless Worry", "Old Friend Comes", "Little Peach Garden", etc., all can be taken away.
We chose five homemade brews: peach blossom, mandarin orange, black grape, plum, and grapefruit. While the mandarin orange has a higher alcohol content and isn't suitable for women, the others were all delicious and tasty.
△ "Tomato Beef Brisket Assorted Hot Pot" The beef brisket is very generous, and there are also luncheon meat, potatoes, and enoki mushrooms. The overall taste is good and the beef is very tender. A little greasy.
△ "Plum Spare Ribs" appetizer, the sour and sweet spare ribs are delicious and go well with wine.
△"Cold-mixed pig ears and bean curd sheets" is another dish to go with wine. The spicy taste is in line with the enthusiasm of the people in the mountain city. It is delicious.
△"Fresh Chili Oil with Preserved Eggs" The chili oil is particularly fragrant, oily but not greasy, and tastes good when mixed with preserved eggs. Even the green chilies are delicious.
At the cliff edge of Shazhong Road,
I patted your head.
The wind ate the moon. I drank the third glass of wine
sip by sip. I said I would follow you. Today, tomorrow , we can never finish drinking the wine of the mountain city. Go up , go up to the height of a six-story building. Be a cat that can't speak. Go down , go down to the height of six stories. How I wish I could be on the road every day and every night. You took off the slowest watch in the world. It's like tomorrow today. It's like tomorrow today.
