Chengdu Summer Travel Guide July 2020 – Recommended Must-Stay Hotel: Ximu Shanju Hotel (Shaanxi Street Branch)

Hotpot, chuanchuan, boboji, braised kebabs, sweet water noodles... When it comes to Chengdu, there are so many delicious foods. Want to see what Chengdu has to offer? Follow me and let's draw the latest 2020 Chengdu food map together!

Near Taikoo Li

1. Southeast Asia in Taikoo Li – Ji Yu Thai Seafood Hotpot (Taikoo Li Branch)

Everyone knows the beauty of Thai hotpot. Even if your appetite is poor in summer, one sip of sour and spicy Tom Yum soup will instantly stimulate your taste buds.

Bay leaves and galangal are essential, with lime adding flavor. Most importantly, Ji Yu's Tom Yum broth is actually made by simmering shrimp heads!

Delicate shrimp paste, when boiled in the rolling Tom Yum broth, shrinks into small balls.

It wraps the freshness until it releases in your mouth.

The half-open "swan eggs" (a type of clam) await your taste of their deliciousness.

Abalone is extremely fresh, its skirt pulsing, locking in the taste of the sea.

Wow, I absolutely love their curry! In Thai cuisine, curry is my favorite. Thai curry, blended with coconut milk and various Thai spices, fully showcases its character. The rich and fragrant curry sauce intertwines with the fresh, slightly sticky crab meat, spreading deliciousness instantly on the tongue – mildly spicy with a hint of sweetness. The thick coconut milk sauce adds a touch of Southeast Asian allure. The chef at Ji Yu meticulously opens the crab for you.

Desserts are also very creative. After scooping out the coconut meat, the coconut becomes an adorable container filled with cute little glutinous rice balls, ready to burst out. The chewy texture of the rice balls perfectly combines with the beauty of the coconut, infused with its fragrance, making it especially enticing.

2. Grilling a Whole Plate of Oysters Non-Stop – Oyster Hero (Taikoo Li Branch)

There's actually a restaurant offering an oyster buffet! They clearly don't know my reputation as "Oyster Killer."

The owner of Oyster Hero is like a martial arts master living in seclusion, with extraordinary skill in selecting oysters.

Every detail is carefully considered to give diners the ultimate taste experience.

From ingredient selection to serving, the owner has his own set of standards. The oysters are perfectly tender and incredibly fresh! No fishy smell at all, no sand or grit, and wonderfully plump! Best of all, you can eat as many oysters as you want here! You heard that right! If you love oysters, don't miss this place!

Oysters about half the size of a palm are placed on a grill rack. After about seven to eight minutes, when tiny bubbles appear inside the shell, you add garlic sauce! Garlic chili sauce is the soul of grilled oysters. The restaurant's secret garlic chili sauce is the perfect finishing touch – mildly spicy, with the aroma of garlic bringing the oyster's freshness to life.

I also love the vermicelli scallops, also self-grilled. The freshness of the scallop meat and the vermicelli combine into a most delicious symphony.

Additionally, many grilled meats in the restaurant are self-service. At Oyster Hero, don't worry about calories; just eat to your heart's content!

3. Must-Have Awesome Kebabs – Dejin Braised Kebabs (Xiangshulin Branch)

Braised kebabs are always more fragrant than those grilled on an open rack. Since the air doesn't circulate, the flavor can only concentrate into the skewers.

One dish you must order at Dejin is the Clothesline Potato Shreds! I've never seen such entangled potato shreds – they are hung like clothes, super soft and chewy yet never breaking. The potato shreds' juice is slightly spicy, reminding me of eating spicy strips as a child.

The beef short ribs are extremely hearty, the honey-glazed pork ribs tender and juicy... Dejin, really awesome!

The giant Thai tiger prawns are skewered "clearly and plainly." The delicious flavor is locked inside the shell, and every bite of freshness enters my mouth.

Dejin's grilled chicken wings are awesome! Plump chicken wings are grilled until the fat drips, sizzling when served. The skin is slightly crispy with a hint of char, perfectly grilled! And the meat inside is wonderfully marinated!

Grilled馒头片 (steamed bun slices) are truly amazing. The moisture inside the bun is completely dried out, leaving only layers of flour fragrance. The crust is crispy and slightly golden, with a faint hint of milk aroma.

But don't order too many bun slices; Dejin's braised kebabs have many more delicious options.

Three Consecutive Explorations on Zhimin Road

4. Sitting by the roadside, reminiscing childhood – Malian Bianbian Malatang (Zhimin Road Branch)

The street market vibe at Malian Bianbian is especially appealing. Imagine sitting on the curb, with an old-fashioned aluminum pot bubbling and emitting the aroma of beef tallow. Chatting with a couple of friends, sitting on stools, eating skewers, and drinking to a carefree life – what a wonderful thing!

After being marinated with Malian Bianbian's unique recipe, the tender beef becomes exceptionally soft. Just a quick dip in the fragrant beef tallow broth and it's ready to eat. The secret dipping sauce, with its spicy broth aroma, creates the most wonderful taste stimulation for summer.

Thousand-layer tripe is always a must-have for hotpot. After seven up and eight down dips in the broth, the barbs on the tripe absorb all the soup, plus that irresistible crunch!

Although you can choose your own dipping sauce, the classic combination is dry powder plus original broth: one spoon of peanuts, one spoon of chili, topped with a layer of boiling original broth. Remember, the amount of original broth matters – too much makes it bland, too little won't mix well. Strip the skewered food into the prepared dipping bowl, and you'll never get tired of eating it.

Even the dipping dishes at Malian Bianbian are retro to the core. Using the common enamel dishes from the 1990s as small dipping bowls instantly transports you back to that summer in high school: the youth, the old chipped enamel dishes, and that pot of never-stopping steam from the beef tallow broth...

5. The Spiciest Eaters Travel Through Chengdu – Chengdu Eater (Zhimin Road Branch)

Chengdu Eater's bunch skewers are the most alluring. Each skewer, with its different flavors, threads together a hundred tastes of life, and each has its own wonderful name.

As the name "Chengdu Eater" suggests, they have their own specialties. The strikingly red chilies on the grilled fish fillets symbolize prosperity and good fortune. The generous amount of chilies and scallions create a visually stunning scene. The spiciness of the chilies perfectly covers any fishy smell. The delicate fish flesh can be broken apart with the tongue; every fiber is so tender and wonderful.

Bare Tofu Shrimp lives up to its name. Every shrimp shell is cleanly peeled, soaked in bubbling, oil-slicked red chili oil. Just lift the skewer, and the smooth shrimp meat, wrapped in spicy oil, enters your mouth, bouncing on your tongue.

Even their sweet and sour spare ribs have a special technique: they choose "lip-bone" ribs that fall off the bone with a gentle suck. The incredibly flavorful sweet and sour ribs instantly bring you back to childhood. The thick, dark sauce is a favorite of the uncles; the ribs are glazed with sugar, full of sweetness, with a subtle hint of vinegar. Mixed with rice, it's the most wonderful taste from the depths of childhood memory.

6. A Fisherman's Bountiful Table – Yufu Yuzi (Zhimin Road Branch)

Yufu Yuzi's fish is the most unique. Large pickle jars are filled with fragrant pickled vegetables. Dried chilies and hanging garlic give a rustic farmhouse feel. Weathered brick walls, long benches, bamboo chairs... At this moment, I feel like I'm visiting an ordinary Sichuan farmhouse, where every soup and dish is a heartfelt gift from the host...

Yufu Yuzi is different from ordinary fish hotpot. At the entrance, a transparent fish tank displays a variety of fresh fish. The fish is sliced to order, ensuring great texture.

The so-called "fortune comes with the stone" refers to cooking the delicious fish in a stone pot.

Fresh fish is deboned and sliced into thin pieces. The bottom of the stone pot is covered with cobblestones, then the piping hot broth is poured in, and the fish slices are cooked by the heat of the broth. Since it doesn't boil directly, the fish slices are extra tender. The traditionally fermented sour vegetable soup entices our taste buds in the air – crisp, tender, and tangy. The freshness of the fish slowly melts in the mouth like pudding, never dry. Combined with the broth, a warmth slides down the throat and into the stomach, creating a unique and refreshing experience.

What could be more pleasant than a bowl of ice jelly after hotpot? That delicious ice jelly spreads coolness in the mouth, instantly dissolving the heat of the hotpot, leaving only a refreshing chill.

Yufu Yuzi truly delivers a heart-stopping Sichuan-Chongqing flavor!

Recommended Must-Stay Hotel in Chengdu

Chengdu Ximu Shanju Hotel (Shaanxi Street Branch) – near Tianfu Square, Kuanzhai Alley, and People's Park.

Chengdu Ximu Shanju Hotel is located at No. 130 Shaanxi Street, southwest of Tianfu Square, in the city center. It's about 930 meters from Metro Lines 1 and 2, about 327 meters from People's Park, about 350 meters from the popular Heming Old Teahouse (inside People's Park), about 290 meters from the Trotter Noodle Street, about 1.3 km from Kuanzhai Alley, about 1.8 km from Wuhou Shrine and Jinli, about 1.6 km from Chunxi Road, and about 2.5 km from Taikoo Li. The location is excellent with convenient transportation. Around the hotel there are educational institutions, key schools, high-end commercial areas, and office buildings: the Provincial Education Department, Human Resources and Social Security Department, Public Security Department, Shishi High School, City Center, Renhe Spring, etc., all within walking distance. The hotel has 94 guest rooms of various types. On the hotel grounds sits a provincial-level key cultural relic – the Shaanxi Guild Hall, built during the Kangxi reign of the Qing Dynasty, with a door plaque inscribed by Mr. Yu Youren. The 300-year-old rustic architecture and modern fashion complement each other, full of the charm of ancient Shu culture, letting you sleep embraced by a classical Chinese garden courtyard. It offers quiet in the midst of noise, elegant and refined, loved by family travelers and business people. The bedding, bathroom products, and high-end toiletries in the guest rooms are all customized by the group, ensuring quality. The entire hotel is equipped with central air conditioning and 100M fiber Wi-Fi to meet your needs for online work and surfing. On the first floor, there is a simple Eastern-style buffet restaurant offering breakfast, afternoon tea, and authentic home-style Sichuan cuisine. The leisure business self-service area and reading area provide a variety of drinks and fruits for guests to enjoy free of charge. The second-floor meeting room and multimedia cinema hall allow you to watch imported foreign blockbusters and enjoy an explosive audio-visual experience without going to the cinema.

Must-Visit Attractions in Chongzhou

1. Qimu Baiju

It is a paradise in the Land of Abundance. The Qing Dynasty buildings in western Sichuan, like a well-made-up princess, stand aloof from the hustle and bustle – not coquettish, not vulgar, waiting for you. The wooden structure emits a faint fragrance; distant mountain springs gurgle; enjoy mountain delicacies and wild vegetables. The rustic charm of the mountain dwellers is all here. Come and savor her beauty, stop and gaze, and feel your heart relax.

2. Daoming Town Bamboo Art

Observing bamboo art in Daoming Town, you realize the extraordinary charm of Daoming bamboo weaving. You see the craftsman's hands flying up and down with bamboo strips, which obediently take various shapes. DIY sachets are extremely interesting – every stitch tells a story of longing. I made one too, learning how to sew an autumn orchid as a pendant to express my deep feelings. You can also check out the guesthouses here. Green mountains reside in "Bamboo Lane." Houses made of bamboo lean like covers. Inside Bamboo Lane, the path is deep. Living here, you feel the elegance of ancient literati, embodying form and meaning, and reflecting the aloofness of green bamboo. Living in Bamboo Lane, hearing birdsong, you wash away worldly dust and return to nature.

3. Sanlang Longhai Tourism Resort

Red pandas are animals I really like. I hurried to Sanlang Longhai Tourism Resort. Here, red pandas coexist harmoniously with nature. With their round, chubby bodies, they live carefree lives. After eating and drinking, they hold their bellies and lazily lie aside. Their small eyes sparkle, and their dark circles are even bigger than mine!

4. Jiezi Ancient Town

Nestled under Mount Fengqi, Jiezi Ancient Town has stood tall through wind and rain for a thousand years. The blue stone paths tell countless tales; the alleys hide so much wine fragrance. Under the night sky, its flower market lights are as bright as day. I wonder if there was ever a dusk after the moon rose above the willows where a scholar turned back and found his beloved waiting where the lantern light was dim.

5. Kang Road & Guangyan Zen Temple

Kang Road was once a pilgrimage path to the mountain, damaged by a natural earthquake. Rebuilt, it now has a completely new appearance. Strolling through the forest, listening to the whispers of flowers and birds, taking in all the beautiful scenery along the way, you arrive at the ancient temple – Guangyan Zen Temple. The meditation room is deep with flowers and trees; the winding path leads to a secluded spot. Entering this Zen temple cleanses the soul, making it bright as a mirror.

6. Xiyun Painting Academy

The name of this academy is my favorite: "Shu juan yi he qiong, ying liu fu dai kong" (rolling clouds and endless flow, winding stream and empty sky) – this is the origin of the name "Xiyun" (stream and cloud). It houses many famous paintings and has profound cultural heritage. Although it stands out alone, it possesses a calm magnanimity – "Piao piao he suo si, tian di yi sha ou" (What am I like, drifting? A single gull between heaven and earth). Suddenly I really want to get to know the owner of this academy.

7. Qingcheng Horse Riding

Mount Qingcheng exudes a transcendent atmosphere, giving a sense of "the great Tao does nothing." While being in harmony with Tao, it also follows the trend of heaven and earth. Qingcheng Horse Riding embodies the courage to confront a horse, a beauty of strength and passion, full of tension and vigor. It also symbolizes the mutual balance between humans and nature.

8. Yuantong Ancient Town

Head to Yuantong Ancient Town, watch the river flow by, and think about the historical river that has surged through this city for 1,600 years. Once bustling with activity, Yuantong was Chengdu's Riverside Scene at Qingming Festival. The convergence of three rivers created the prosperity of Huijiang Yuantong. But now, time flows away like this; the alleys may still retain traces of that past prosperity.

9. Haoyun Aviation Club

Experience "speed and passion" at Haoyun Aviation Club. Gliding, something I never dared to dream of, came true in a flash. Taking off is just an instant; soon you embrace the blue sky and fall in love with its inclusiveness. The plane is very stable; looking down at the earth, you realize how beautiful the land beneath your feet is.

10. Yanhua Pool Museum

Visiting Chongzhou for the first time, you are captured by such gentle and lingering beauty. Every frame inside Yanhua Pool Museum is like an ancient painting; entering the painting is like becoming an immortal in it. The ink-wash wonders of the Tang and Song dynasties enter your eyes piece by piece, forming the myriad beautiful colors of Yanhua Pool. I just want to stay here, drink a cup of pipa tea, and listen to the rain beating against the window.