Keep the Beautiful in Mind, Put the Delicious in Belly: A Chengdu Travelogue
Most people who come to Chengdu are here to enjoy the food, as the city's reputation as a culinary capital resounds worldwide. Kuanzhai Alley, Jinli, Wuhou Shrine, Du Fu Thatched Cottage, and more are all must-visit spots, with Kuanzhai Alley probably being the most famous, since it's known as 'Chengdu's living room.'
Several crooked long alleys, crisscrossing, outline the essence of half of old Chengdu.
Street snacks, steam from stoves, loudly hawking vendors, and bustling travelers. Walking along, the three main alleys and dozens of narrow side alleys are filled with the most authentic worldly life.
Strolling through the antique Kuanzhai Alley, I moved through the sea of people. On both sides of the street, all kinds of specialty snacks and foods dazzled me: sugar-oil fruit, stinky tofu, ice cream, and more. Unfortunately, my stomach wasn't big enough to hold them all, so I'll have to come back next time to try the rest.
Suddenly, a tightly closed door made me stop. I looked up at the plaque above, and the two characters on it made me deeply realize the profoundness of Chinese culture and how much I still have to learn.
'鹪(jiāo)鹩(liáo)'—at first glance, I really didn't know how to read these two characters. Next to it, an introduction said it seemed to be a hotel. Since I didn't have a place to stay yet, I decided to take a look inside.
When the door opened, the long corridor before me deeply captivated my gaze.
'A winding path leads to a secluded spot, a meditation room deep amidst flowers and trees. Mountain light delights the birds' nature, and the pool's reflection clears the mind.' Although it's not a meditation room, it's even better. Although there are no high mountains or ponds, there are flowers, trees, water, and birds—quite poetic.
After stepping in and experiencing everything about Jiaoliao, I instantly decided to stay here. Staying brought even more surprises; it truly felt like a hidden retreat in the midst of a bustling city.
This hotel is small, with only 10 rooms. But even though it's small, each room is nearly 100 square meters. The entire hotel has excellent privacy, with attentive butler service that can arrange everything big and small. One unique feature is a small window called the butler service window—convenient for when you need something discreet, like takeout or room supplies, all placed inside, ensuring complete privacy, just like at home. You don't have to worry about outside noise and can enjoy your own space peacefully.
Service aside, the hotel's hardware facilities are also very good. The entire room's décor layout gives a very comfortable feel, with a classic Chinese cultural style that I really like.
Later, the butler told me the hotel is centered on Zhuangzi culture. Everywhere in the hotel, there's an atmosphere of Zhuangzi's philosophy, along with many antique items and artifacts, creating a rich cultural ambiance.
Although I only stayed for one short day, I deeply felt Jiaoliao's charm. The hotel is small yet refined, leisurely and comfortable. Its environment, atmosphere, service, and everything else left a lasting impression. If I visit Chengdu again, I'll surely come back to experience the charm of Jiaoliao again.
Since I was staying in Kuanzhai Alley, of course I had to fully explore it, even though I only stayed one day. Kuanzhai Alley is an ancient street that inherits Chengdu's history and culture, but now it has become more commercialized, crowded with tourists from all over.
Compared to other pedestrian streets, Kuanzhai Alley has neat, wide bluestone paths all the way, exuding a leisurely atmosphere. Slowing down, the old Chengdu street life unfolds before you. In the foggy, cold weather of late November, there were still many visitors. The street buzzed with voices mingled with relaxed conversations from all over the world. The walls and doorways, full of ancient charm, had green branches spilling over, with unknown flowers blooming wantonly, faintly stirring the passersby in the night.
Kuan Alley has a Chengdu Lifestyle Experience Hall where you can feel the folk customs. Zhai Alley is a refined lifestyle area themed with Western cuisine, light meals, coffee, art leisure, health living, and specialty cultural shops—catering to all kinds of people. The Starbucks here is also very unique, fully blending into the alley; it's my personal favorite Starbucks so far.
How could a fun place lack food? Speaking of food, I really don't know where to start—there's so much. Rabbit head? Rabbit meat? Chicken leg? Stinky tofu? Hot and sour noodles? Turtle jelly? So many things, I ate until I could barely walk.
As a representative of Chengdu's slow life, Kuanzhai Alley has a laid-back attitude of smiling at the world. Kuanzhai Alley is a must-visit in Chengdu, letting you escape the city life full of fame and fortune. Spend a lazy afternoon here with family and friends, feeling time stand still.
The fairy tale world after growing up is the rustling sound of snow falling from treetops and the crunching of footsteps in the snow. Experience the joy of skiing in the most beautiful season.
I had always wanted to find a place to ski, so I started looking for nearby ski resorts: Xiling Snow Mountain? Emeishan Ski Resort? Zhegu Mountain? Or Jiuding Mountain Taiziling Ski Resort? In the end, due to its relatively complete services and ski facilities, I chose Jiuding Mountain Taiziling Ski Resort.
Address: Taiziling Ski Resort is located on the 213 National Highway from Aba Wenchuan County to Mao County, on Qinglongping inside Jiuding Mountain Scenic Area (turn right at Tongzi Tunnel and go up the mountain for 25 km), 180 km from downtown Chengdu. The ski resort is at an altitude of 2,750 meters, with 3,310 meters of ski runs.
We drove there, taking about 3 hours to reach the ski resort directly.
After arriving at Jiuding Mountain, we stayed at Hemingzhuang Holiday Hotel, located on the 2nd and 3rd floors of the Taiziling Ski Resort's ski equipment hall. It has 71 rooms of various types, all decorated with wooden sauna boards, heated, with floor-to-ceiling windows offering panoramic views of the snow scenery. The design is unique, the décor fresh, with a strong Qiang ethnic flavor.
Of course, the food is also carefully selected—pure, natural, pollution-free, and locally characteristic green ingredients, such as highland yak meat, lamb, wild vegetables, and highland wild mushrooms.
The panoramic restaurant provides convenient, quick, hygienic, and nutritious dishes with Tibetan and Qiang flavors. At the same time, large floor-to-ceiling windows allow you to enjoy the sunshine and snow views of Jiuding Mountain while dining.
Ski gear: Be sure to bring sunglasses and ski goggles (the altitude has strong UV), a hat, gloves (otherwise your hands will hurt from digging in the snow), and socks (wearing an extra pair keeps you warm).
From the beginner slope to the intermediate one, I had a great time skiing, though my butt hurt a bit. I might have irritated the ski patrol a little (I fell many times and needed rescue). I fell so much I lost my memory, and laughed so hard my chest hurt. Driven by my obsession with skiing, I'll return to Taiziling next year.
By the time we returned, it was evening, so we took the chance to enjoy Wenchuan's nightscape. The car played gentle, touching songs. Looking out the window, the rushing water crashed against the new bridge.
Passing through New Wenchuan, the night scenery was very, very beautiful—bright lights, dazzling, beautiful, quiet, and gentle.
I hope the people here live in peace, happiness, and joy.
Here, winter is the right time, and skiing is the right thing.
I believe everyone has a fondness for ancient towns and has their own favorite. Last time I visited Huanglongxi was a year ago, in summer. back then, my companions all wore sandals, so I didn't join them in the water—a bit of a regret.
(Insert a summer picture)
Huanglongxi Ancient Town feels like the largest ancient town I've ever visited. But it seems there are fewer people in winter than in summer. Today the weather was good, sunny. My best friend and I planned to go to Huanglongxi for a stroll. Huanglongxi Ancient Town is a classic blend of man-made and ancient relics. Entering the town, you see flagstone paths and streams flanked by faux-ancient buildings,
But that doesn't diminish the poetic imagery of small bridges, flowing water, and houses. The scene is picturesque, beautiful and intoxicating. At the entrance, there's a large tripod with a fountain spraying water, and the sunlight makes it sparkle with colors. Following the stream downstream, you come to an arched bridge you can walk on.
The main street is paved with flagstones, lined with stilted buildings with upturned eaves. Shops sell food, clothing, handicrafts, and various odds and ends—you can window-shop. The second-floor houses near the inner street are used as residences, while those near the river are for business. After walking one street, you see another alley. Underfoot, smooth bluestone roads, pitch-black shiny door panels, and antique signs exude strong ancient charm.
Getting hungry, I looked for food. Last time, I couldn't eat 'One Noodle' because it was too crowded. This time, arriving early meant fewer people, so I went in for a bowl. The noodles were 20 RMB per bowl—a bit pricey, I thought. They came quickly; the noodles were quite thick, like pulled noodles. After mixing, each strand was flavorful, with some beef tripe and beef added. The broth was traditional Sichuan seasoning—spicy and numbing. Finishing the meal with a sip of soup was perfect.
In between, I ate many snacks, mostly grilled items—all quite tasty. The shop staff didn't pressure you to buy; they'd say 'You can just look if you don't want to buy,' and some even offered free samples. We ate and drank, walking for about an hour.
Along the way, countless shops and ancient buildings. Starting from the dragon head spouting water, walk straight to the end, turn left, and you'll see the dragon tail marking the end. The dragon tail view is a magnificent river, with a bridge in the distance. There are many boats in the river; in summer, there are even more exciting things.
In this quaint, ancient-style town, with small bridges and flowing water by homes, there's no noisy pushy sales—only happy people.
A Chinese restaurant on Xuedao Street, Chunxi Road, with booming business—the taste couldn't be bad. Its storefront is very conspicuous, easy to spot.
The interior décor combines traditional Chinese carved beams and pillars with industrial steampunk style—complementing each other nicely. The restaurant is large, each table has separate private compartments, giving a high-end feel. Service is warm and attentive; they greet you upon entry, respond promptly, and serve food quickly.
Their clay pot fish is a must-order—the fish is freshly killed and cooked, making it tender, flavorful, and bouncy, with excellent texture. It's a huge fish; the first bite amazed me—the rich fermented soybean flavor stimulated my taste buds. The thick sauce over rice is very satisfying.
Longmen hanging meat: The name piqued my curiosity. When it came, it looked like an oversized crispy pork strip. The waiter said auspicious words when cutting it. The outside was fried crispy, truly crispy outside and tender inside. The meat filling was generous—even with high pork prices, the restaurant didn't skimp.
Yuangu Signature Rabbit: I didn't expect clams in it. The rabbit meat was deboned, so basically no gnawing needed. The meat was very tender and flavorful; the clams were clean, no sand, very fresh. Spicy and numbing—a great dish with rice.
I heard you can see many pretty girls and handsome guys here—and that's exactly why we came. Adjacent to Daci Temple, Taikoo Li is not only a blend of fast fun and slow life, but also a collision of tradition and fashion. Fast and slow, new and old, stand together in the city's busiest center, reflecting the city's inclusive spirit.
Here, you'll find fashionably dressed beautiful people, various internet celebrities, as well as locals in casual wear walking their dogs. Everyone goes their own way, and I take my photos—it's like two different worlds. Chengdu's Taikoo Li is a popular online check-in spot and a major commercial center with many international brands.
Taikoo Li is ideally located in downtown Chengdu, with very wide pedestrian streets. From afar, you can see a giant panda climbing on the roof of a Taikoo Li mall.
Many brand stores gather in the Taikoo Li area; most international luxury brands can be found there. Big-name brands abound, with luxury stores everywhere. Even many world brands—the only domestic first-line brands are proud to open flagship stores in Taikoo Li.
There are many young people here, so it feels more fashionable. In the central plaza, there are sometimes performances and events. There's also a specialty food street with very local food. If you go to Chengdu, Taikoo Li is a must-visit.
