Live Your Best Lives
Some say there are only two kinds of people in the world: those who have been to Chongqing and those who want to go. So, let me guess: where did you go when you first arrived in Chongqing, the "punk world"?
"Crazy Stone" went to Jiefangbei and played a chasing game across time and space in the mother city where the old and the new are intertwined.
"Passing by Your World" went to Eling No. 2 Factory and started an ordinary romantic love story in the once prosperous banknote printing factory.
"Better Days" went to Zhongshan 4th Road, the most beautiful street in Chongqing, and looked back on the ups and downs of the mountain city's past and present.
Above: @Luo Yunxi
The picture below is @Tingzi's Pandora
What draws you here is probably the unruly, underworld spirit of this mountain city. Embrace the fairytale spirit of Spirited Away on the Qiansimen Bridge. Experience a low-altitude flight on the light rail, gazing out over the intertwined roots of yellow poplar trees and the intimate connection between humble dwellings and skyscrapers. Delicious hot pot hidden in the deepest alleys—this is how most people perceive Chongqing.
Photo @SuperLynn
But Chongqing's charm goes far beyond this! Long overshadowed by its "internet celebrity" appeal, its other side is slowly being forgotten! From the magical to the awe-inspiring, in Chongqing, we experienced a unique "interweaving of time and space." One moment, we were traversing the maze-like 8D city, and the next, we were immersed in the natural healing of the mountains.
Above: @Luo Yunxi
Around this city, there are 80,000 square kilometers of rolling mountains, where karst rocks sway and bloom, southern grasslands are full of cattle and sheep, rivers flow through, and stone carving art adds a touch of color to this place.
It might be hard to imagine that these vastly different landscapes all come from the same place—the mountain city of Chongqing. So, today, let's take a look at what hidden gems lie deep within this mountain city.
Nestled in the southeastern heart of Chongqing, Wulong, a discreet and secluded area boasts lush forests and clear streams. Nestled amidst towering mountains, the "World Karst Ecological Museum" offers a truly unparalleled experience, showcasing the wonders of nature.
The three beaded natural bridges located here are the largest natural bridge group on Earth and a natural masterpiece that bridge experts are fascinated by.
The movie "Transformers 4" was a high-profile filming location here. Director Zhang Yimou, on his first visit, decided to continue its legend. What is this magical place? Only you can tell for yourself if you see it with your own eyes!
Picture @Photo.net
As the only outdoor filming location of "Curse of the Golden Flower", the "Tianfu Official Inn" in the movie is stunning as soon as it appears!
The original appearance of the post station along the ancient Tea-Horse Road is completely preserved here, standing out among the mountains and forests, becoming the protagonist of this landscape scroll!
As its name suggests, the mountain exudes an ethereal aura, encompassing 330,000 mu of forest and 100,000 mu of grassland. Nestled amidst a rare sea of snow in southern China, the lush greenery and tranquil beauty of Fairy Mountain earns it the nickname "Little Switzerland of the East."
Vast pine forests, vast grasslands, free herds of horses and sheep, and beautiful roads with few people, any shot can be a blockbuster. Of course, this is also the first choice for young couples to take wedding photos, and it is the "most comfortable" holiday resort in the hearts of Chongqing people.
Many people don’t know that Wulong’s “Furong Cave”, the United States’ “Mammoth Cave” and France’s “Crams Cave” are known as the “Three Major Caves in the World”.
This splendid underground art palace, also China's only World Heritage cave, quietly reveals a rich landscape composed of more than 70 types of secondary chemical sediments. Nestled beside the Furong River, it is the most dazzling pearl in the karst mountain.
Wulong boasts not only diverse landscapes and local customs, but also a wealth of delicious cuisine. Bowls of mutton, bracken cakes with fried bacon, and Huangjing tea-scented chicken—all these authentic flavors from the dense mountain forests are concentrated within Wulong's reach, enough to keep you coming back for more!
Recommended route [Classic Chongqing · Bayu Mountain City]
Take an in-depth tour of Wulong with two consecutive nights, leaving enough time to savor the mountain town. Not only can you see the panoramic view of Wulong, but you can also check in at the famous Bayu Mountain - Jinfo Mountain, a karst tribute, and explore the Chongqing Forest from a different perspective.
Less than 2 hours' drive from Chongqing's main urban area, there is a place called "Dafeng Dazu" with fertile soil, rich products, few natural disasters and sufficient mineral resources. Such a Feng Shui treasure land is of course hidden.
Photo @Cheer up Chris
“It would be a pity to miss this place that is comparable to Dunhuang.”
This place nurtured the magnificent art of cliff carvings. You guessed it! The Dazu Rock Carvings, one of the "Eight Great Grottoes of the World," are a prominent example of grotto art dating from the 9th to the 13th centuries. They were first quietly created a thousand years ago during the late Tang Dynasty.
Photo @Cheer up Chris
Wei Junjing, then the governor of Changzhou, oversaw the Beishan Stone Carvings, safeguarding this area. During the Southern Song Dynasty, the eminent monk Zhao Zhifeng designed and constructed the Dazu Baoding Mountain Stone Carvings, where treasures of stone carving art, such as the Yuanjue Cave, the Thousand-Armed Guanyin, and the Reclining Buddha, are all inscribed in the Baoding Big Buddha Bay.
Leading the five mountains of Dazu, Baoding Mountain, Beishan Mountain, Nanshan Mountain, Shimen Mountain and Shizhuan Mountain, it has become the last monument in the history of human cave art!
From the secular to the religious, the Dazu Rock Carvings vividly reflect the daily social life of the late Tang Dynasty and the Northern and Southern Song Dynasties, and fully demonstrate the harmonious coexistence of Buddhism, Taoism and Confucianism during this period.
When you come here, the most important thing you cannot miss is the "treasure of Baoding Mountain", the Thousand-Armed Guanyin. With its magnificent momentum, complex and varied hand shapes, and exquisite carving skills, it is a well-deserved treasure of world stone carving art.
Recommended itinerary [World Heritage in Chongqing]
Hiking through the mountain city, climbing hills and ridges, connecting two of the city's most popular check-in spots, this is a must-see for first-time visitors to Chongqing. Don't miss this World Heritage tour, featuring both stunning scenery and cultural heritage, and a first look at the culture of the ancient city of Southwest Wharf.
Pengshui, Xiushan, Youyang, Qianjiang, and the Wujiang River system intersect, and Chongqing, Hubei, Hunan, and Guizhou are adjacent. This is the only concentrated and contiguous area in Chongqing with a concentration of ethnic minorities, mainly the Miao and Tujia peoples, and is also the most charming part of southeastern Chongqing.
"Money" Gongtan, treasure comes
Wu Guanzhong's painting "Wujiang Town" captures the Wujiang River landscape and the riverside town. Its auction price of 10.92 million yuan has brought Gongtan Ancient Town back into the public eye.
Since ancient times, this place has been a passenger and cargo transfer station for Sichuan (Chongqing), Guizhou, Hunan, and Hubei. People come and go at the water wharf, and ships on the Wujiang River never stop. Goods gather here, and wealth naturally flows in. The people named it "Qian Gongtan", which is well-deserved.
Photo @Cheer up Chris
"A Thousand Miles of Wujiang River, a Hundred Miles of Art Gallery"
Nestled along the Wujiang River, Gongtan Ancient Town boasts a history spanning 1,800 years. Bluestone paths rise along the hills, and scattered stilt houses welcome visitors from all directions. Fire-proof walls, quadrangle courtyards, and a variety of Ming and Qing dynasty architecture stand out against the backdrop of the landscape. Visitors have traveled through millennia just to witness this picturesque scenery.
"One foot in three provinces"
When the road to Shu is near, spring breezes blow in from several places, bringing rain from Guizhou and sweeping in clouds from the sky of Chu.
Located at the junction of Chongqing, Guizhou, and Hunan, it serves as the "Gateway to Southeast Chongqing." Hong'an Ancient Town, just across the river from the border town of Chadong, is considerably quieter.
A foot in three provinces, a line connecting the two banks. This small town, with its mottled ancient buildings and the former site of Liu and Deng's army, speaks of the heroic spirit that connects the three provinces. It brings together not only the people of the three provinces, but also the mission of close integration among them.
During the Liberation War, Liu Bei and Deng Xiaoping's army advanced into the southwest, with Hong'an being their first stop. Today, many traces of the revolutionary movement can be found here, including the "Towards the Southwest" monument, the Liu Bei and Deng Xiaoping Memorial Square, and the Fuxing Bank, all quietly recounting the town's revolutionary history and past.
"Mysterious scenery of the hillside by the Wujiang River"
This is the world's largest Miao architectural complex - Chiyou Jiuli City, which integrates history, culture and leisure. Stilt houses, watchtowers, ancient city walls, and ancient and mysterious characteristic Miao architecture can all be found here, recreating the historical style of the "Jiuli City".
We'll walk through the city gates, step inside the tribal towers, peek inside the Jiuli tribe, and gaze back at the ancient city of Chiyou. At night, when the lights come on, Jiuli City takes on a whole new look, a truly breathtaking sight unlike any seen during the day!
Recommended route [Classic Chongqing · Southeast Chongqing]
From mountains to canyons, from ancient villages to border towns, a line connects the Wuling Mountains, unveiling the mystery of the ethnic groups in southeastern Chongqing.
In Chongqing, the mountains and the city seamlessly connect, and a little digging reveals surprises. The spirit of the underworld, the atmosphere of everyday life, and the boundless grandeur of the mountains and fields are all gathered here. This year, this treasure city is likely to be a permanent place to stay!
