The Joy of Free Travel: Savoring the Endless Charm of the Leisure Capital
For me, a very important purpose of traveling is to relax. If you set out with a heavy heart but end up gaining a full sense of lightness, then that trip will be a meaningful journey. Traveling with someone by your side makes it even more enjoyable. Life doesn’t have to be a trip taken on a whim, but you must always be ready to go at a moment’s notice.
No 1 The Leisurely Retreat in Kuanzhai Alley
Most people who come to Chengdu come to enjoy its food—the title of “Food Capital” resounds worldwide. Kuanzhai Alley, Jinli, Wuhou Shrine, Du Fu Thatched Cottage—these are all must-visit spots. The most famous one is probably Kuanzhai Alley, known as the “Living Room of Chengdu.”
A few crooked, long alleys, crisscrossing, outline the essence of half of old Chengdu.
Snacks, the steam from stoves, loudly shouting vendors, bustling travelers and passersby. Walking along, three main alleys and dozens of narrower side alleys are filled with the purest worldly atmosphere.
Strolling through the ancient and charming Kuanzhai Alley, moving through the sea of people, the streets are lined with a dazzling array of specialty snacks: sugar-oiled glutinous rice balls, stinky tofu, ice cream, and more. Unfortunately, my stomach isn’t big enough to hold all those snacks—I’ll have to save some for next time.
Suddenly, a tightly closed door caught my eye and made me stop. I looked up at the plaque above. The two characters on it made me deeply realize the vastness of Chinese culture and how much I still have to learn.
“鹪（jiao）鹩（liao）” At first glance, I really didn’t know how to read these two characters. Seeing a nearby sign that said it was a hotel, and since I hadn’t found a place to stay yet, I decided to take a look inside.
When the door opened, the long corridor in front of me deeply captivated my gaze.
“A winding path leads to a secluded spot, where meditation rooms are hidden amid flowers and trees. Mountain light delights the birds, and the pool’s reflection clears the mind.” Although it’s not a meditation room, it surpasses one. Though there are no high mountains or pools, there are flowers, trees, water, and birds, creating a highly poetic atmosphere.
After stepping inside and experiencing everything about Jiaoliao, I immediately decided to stay here. After settling in, I was greeted with even more pleasant surprises—it truly felt like a hidden, leisurely retreat in the midst of a bustling city.
This hotel is small, with only 10 rooms. But despite its size, each room is nearly 100 square meters, and the entire hotel offers excellent privacy. There’s a personal butler service that can arrange everything from big to small matters. A unique feature of the rooms is a small window called the butler service window. For things you’d rather not handle directly—like takeout or room supplies—you can place them inside, ensuring complete privacy. It feels just like home, without worrying about outside noise, allowing you to relax and enjoy your own space.
Service is one aspect; the hotel’s hardware facilities are also very impressive. The entire room’s layout and decoration give a very comfortable feeling, with a classic Chinese traditional style that suits my taste.
Later, the butler told me that the hotel is centered around Zhuangzi’s philosophy. Every corner of the hotel carries this cultural atmosphere, with many old objects and antiques, giving it a rich cultural vibe.
Although I only stayed for one short day, I deeply felt the charm of Jiaoliao. The hotel is small yet refined, leisurely and comfortable. Its environment, atmosphere, service—all aspects left a deep impression. If I visit Chengdu again, I’m sure I’ll come back to experience the charm of Jiaoliao once more.
Since I was staying in Kuanzhai Alley, I naturally wanted to explore it thoroughly, even if only for one day. Kuanzhai Alley is an ancient street that inherits Chengdu’s history and culture, but nowadays it has become more commercialized, packed with tourists from all over.
Compared to other pedestrian streets, Kuanzhai Alley boasts neat, wide, bluestone-paved roads with a leisurely vibe. Slowing down, the everyday life of old Chengdu unfolds before you. In the misty late November weather, the cold wind was biting, yet there were still plenty of visitors. The street buzzed with lively chatter in various languages from all over the world. The ancient, timeworn walls and gateways, with green branches spilling over the top, bore unknown flowers that swayed faintly in the night, teasing passersby.
Wide Alley features the Chengdu Life Experience Hall, where you can immerse yourself in local folk customs. Narrow Alley is an area of refined living, featuring Western cuisine, light meals, coffee, art and leisure, health lifestyle shops, and specialty cultural boutiques—catering to all kinds of people. The Starbucks here is particularly unique, perfectly blending into the alley. It’s also my personal favorite Starbucks so far.
How could a fun place lack food? When it comes to food, I don’t even know where to start—there’s so much. Rabbit heads? Rabbit meat? Chicken legs? 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-paced life, Kuanzhai Alley embodies a relaxed attitude of laughing at the world. When you visit Chengdu, you absolutely must go to Kuanzhai Alley. It lets you escape the urban life full of fame and fortune, spend a leisurely afternoon with family and friends, and feel time stand still.
I had always wanted to find a place to ski, so I started paying attention to nearby ski resorts. Xiling Snow Mountain? Emei Mountain Ski Resort? Zhegu Mountain? Or Jiuding Mountain Taiziling Ski Resort? In the end, I chose Jiuding Mountain Taiziling Ski Resort because of its relatively complete services and skiing facilities.
Address: Taiziling Ski Resort is located along National Highway 213 from Wenchuan to Mao County in Aba Prefecture, Sichuan, at Qinglongping on Jiuding Mountain Scenic Area (25 kilometers up the mountain after turning right at the Tongzhong Tunnel). It is 180 kilometers from Chengdu. The ski area is at an altitude of 2,750 meters and features 3,310 meters of ski slopes.
We drove there, taking about 3 hours to reach the resort directly.
After arriving at Jiuding Mountain, we stayed at the Hemingzhuang Holiday Hotel, located on the 2nd and 3rd floors of the Taiziling Ski Resort ski gear hall. It has 71 rooms of various types, all decorated with wooden sauna panels, equipped with heating, and featuring floor-to-ceiling windows that offer an unobstructed view of the snowy scenery. The design is unique, the decoration innovative, and it has a strong Qiang ethnic flavor.
Of course, the food is also carefully selected—natural, pollution-free, and local green ingredients such as plateau yak meat, lamb, wild vegetables, and high-mountain wild mushrooms. The scenic restaurant provides convenient, hygienic, nutritious, and uniquely flavored Tibetan-Qiang cuisine. At the same time, the 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 (due to strong UV rays at high altitudes), a hat, gloves (otherwise, digging your hands in the snow can be quite painful), and extra socks (wearing an extra pair is good for warmth).
Transitioning from beginner to intermediate slopes, I had a great time skiing—though my butt was a bit sore, and I might have been somewhat disliked by the ski patrol (I needed rescue multiple times). I fell so much I lost memory, and laughed until my chest hurt. Driven by my obsession with skiing, I’ll be back to Taiziling next year.
We returned at night, taking the chance to admire the night scenery of Wenchuan. The car played gentle, touching songs. Looking out the window, the turbulent river rushed against the new bridge.
Passing through the new Wenchuan, all along the way, the night view was beautiful—bright lights dazzling and soothing.
I hope the people here enjoy peace, happiness, and well-being.
Here, winter is the perfect time, and skiing is the perfect activity.
I believe everyone has a fondness for ancient towns. Everyone has a favorite ancient town. Last time I visited Huanglongxi was a year ago, in the summer. Because my companions were all wearing sandals, I didn’t join them in playing in the water—it was a bit regrettable.
(Throwing in a summer picture)
Huanglongxi Ancient Town feels like the largest ancient town I’ve ever visited. But I think there are fewer people in winter than in summer. The weather today was nice, sunny and bright. My best friend and I decided to explore Huanglongxi. Huanglongxi is a classic blend of artificial construction and ancient ruins. Entering the town, you see flagstone paths and small streams flanked by faux-antique buildings.
Yet it doesn’t diminish the poetic charm of small bridges and flowing water. The scene is picturesque, beautiful enough to make you swoon. At the entrance, there’s a large tripod with a fountain spraying water; with abundant sunlight, it sparkles with rainbow colors. Following the stream downstream, we came to an arched bridge and climbed up to take a look.
Its main street is paved with flagstones, flanked by stilted buildings with upturned eaves. The shops sell food, clothing, handicrafts, and miscellaneous items—you can glance as you pass. The upper floors, near the inner streets, serve as residences, while those by the river are used for business. Passing one street, you come to another lane. The smooth bluestone road underfoot, the jet-black glossy doors, the antique signboards—all exude a strong ancient flavor.
Getting hungry, we looked for food. Last time, I didn’t get to try the “one-strand noodles” because it was too crowded. This time, we arrived early and there weren’t many people. We went in and ordered a bowl. The noodles were 20 yuan per bowl—a bit pricey, I thought. They came up quickly. The noodles were quite thick, almost like pulled noodles, and when mixed, each strand was full of flavor, with bits of beef tripe and beef. The broth was made with traditional Sichuan seasonings—spicy and numbing. After finishing the noodles, a sip of the broth was perfect.
In between, we ate many snacks, mostly grilled items, all pretty tasty. The shop staff didn’t try to pull you in to buy; they’d say, “You don’t have to buy, just take a look.” Some even offered free samples. We ate and drank as we walked for over an hour.
Along the way, there were countless shops and ancient buildings. Starting from the dragon head fountain, we walked to the end, turned left, and saw the dragon tail—that was the end. The dragon tail overlooks a grand river, with a spectacular bridge in the distance. There were many boats on the river. In summer, it’s even more exciting.
In this ancient, charming town, with small bridges and flowing water homes, there is no noisy hustle of forced sales—only happy people.
I heard you can see many beautiful girls and handsome guys here. Yes, that’s exactly why we came. Taikoo Li, adjacent to Daci Temple, is not only a blend of fast play and slow living but also a collision of tradition and fashion. Fast and slow, new and old, stand together in the city’s most bustling center, reflecting the city’s inclusive spirit.
Here, you see fashionably dressed beauties and handsome men, various internet celebrities and online influencers, as well as locals in casual clothes walking their dogs. Everyone goes their own way—you walk, I take photos—as if in two different worlds. Chengdu Taikoo Li is a popular check-in spot for influencers and a major commercial center with international luxury brands.
Taikoo Li’s location is excellent, in the heart of Chengdu. The pedestrian streets are particularly wide. In the distance, on top of one of Taikoo Li’s malls, there’s a giant panda climbing the wall.
Taikoo Li gathers many brand-name shopping malls. Most international luxury brands can be found here. With a concentration of big names, high-end stores are everywhere. Many world brands, even some exclusive to China’s first-tier cities, are proud to open flagship stores here.
There are especially many young people here, so it feels more fashionable. In the central square, there are performances and activities. There’s also a distinctive food street where you can eat very local cuisine. If you go to Chengdu, Taikoo Li is a must-visit.
Bravely accepting the invitation of the world, I float—by myself, with no reason. This is a path of growth for young people, a series of transformative travel experiences, only to find my own inner journey. Even if alone, I cherish the scenery along the way.
