Chengdu Travelogue: Already Missing It Before I've Left

Chengdu is not a place that erodes one's willpower; on the contrary, it makes you feel vibrant. The only reason to sink is that you can't resist the city's untethered imagination. Its beauty lies in its innocence. The men, women, old and young here all have a fatal, charming sense of relaxation. They never doubt the meaning of life; they are doers—if they want to play mahjong, they play mahjong; if they love eating small chili peppers, they eat them. People in Sichuan have a certain spirit—one of tranquility, fearlessness, and living their beloved small lives with neither arrogance nor humility. I wouldn't say I like Chengdu; rather, I like the lively, mundane atmosphere of Chengdu.

Chengdu locals love good food, and Chengdu is also the capital of cuisine! The best feelings in life are surely hidden in one's travels. Others' journeys have sweetness, sourness, and all tastes of life, but my journey has only one flavor: the aroma of food. So I came to Chengdu, this city brimming with gourmet food everywhere!

Yuan Gong, Yuan Gong—fate leading to tribute. The red plaque with gold characters instantly struck my heart. The moon-white poetic lines on the ground also touched on the theme of "fate." It seems I truly have a destiny with this restaurant.

The ceiling of Yuan Gong is covered with fiery red flowers, feeling especially creative, and my mood unconsciously began to lift.

This restaurant is located on another street behind Chunxi Road near Qingshi Bridge. The location is a bit off the beaten path. Compared to the dazzling neon lights of Chunxi Road, it feels somewhat detached from worldly hustle—and I love this untethered-from-mundane world.

The restaurant's environment is quite spacious. Each table has its own separate booth, with ample distance, suitable for small gatherings. It doesn't feel crowded at all—I simply love this atmosphere!

Nowadays, restaurant decor is also very stylish. This one is no exception—the lighting tones, whether in private rooms or hall booths, are well-designed!

The dishes here are authentic Zigong-style Sichuan cuisine, and the flavors are excellent. The environment feels very homey. The red flowers and umbrellas used as decorations give a very festive and warm feeling. This atmosphere suddenly brought a wave of warmth to my heart—perhaps this is the taste of home.

The service staff are quite good—truly warm and attentive. They respond immediately when called. Although our seat was a bit out of the way, we could always call a server without any trouble. They treat guests with genuine kindness and friendliness. From entry to exit, there is dedicated guidance—this is something I consider a good point.

Now about the dishes: What impressed me most is the Yuan Gong Signature Clam and Rabbit. The green and red peppers highlight the tenderness and deliciousness of the rabbit meat. The clams also look appetizing with their glossy color. One bite—tender, slightly numbing, with a moderate spiciness—instantly makes the taste buds dance. As the saying goes, "once the golden wind and jade dew meet, they surpass countless scenes in the world!"

Longmen Hanging Meat: A dedicated young man helped cut the meat and arrange it on a plate. It had a crispy texture, and the outer batter was fried perfectly. Even if you eat a lot, it doesn't feel greasy. This is also one of their signature dishes, quite distinctive.

Old Duck Soup left a deep impression. It wasn't heavy on MSG or chicken essence, with a clear, slightly sweet fragrance that perfectly relieved dryness. One sip made me feel relaxed in body and mind—so comfortable and delicious.

Another dish, Yuan Gong Sliced Chicken with Chili Sauce, was definitely the best of the whole meal. The flavor was excellent, with lotus root slices underneath. The red chili oil was very aromatic, and when mixed together with the chicken, it was simply heavenly. My friend and I couldn't stop praising this dish—it was truly well-made!

Soybean-Scented Whole Fish: The fish was very large, topped with plenty of fermented black beans and minced meat. Even without eating the fish, the condiments alone could go with several bowls of rice. The fish meat was exceptionally tender and not at all fishy.

Fate brings us together from a thousand miles away—meeting at Yuan Gong. An authentic Sichuan restaurant that keeps surprising you!

In Chengdu, a city known for its leisurely lifestyle, there are many bars of all sizes. But one like this, surrounded by greenery, lit by neon lights, and abundant in various alcohols and snacks—Chengdu only has Bie Yuan Li.

The cat girl exclusive to the bar adds a touch of mystery to their nights, making people look forward to the evening with a bit more anticipation.

I heard that to give customers a better experience, they even hired the company that designed the lighting for the Bird's Nest Stadium to design their lighting effects. I can only secretly exclaim—what a big production! The boss is really generous!

When the lights inside the bar turn on, the whole place becomes a colorful neon world. Under the interplay of light and shadow, various colored lights shine like stars in the sky, brilliant in the bar. Looking at the scene, I couldn't help but marvel—indeed, the boss's decision was right; the customer's experience is the greatest affirmation.

Since this is a bar, alcohol is a must. They have an enormous selection: foreign liquor, cocktails, mixed drinks, pure imported bottled beer—everything you can think of. There are even many kinds of alcohol I can't name, making my eyes dizzy. Anyway, as long as you want to drink it, you can basically find it here!

Not only that, but even the vessels for food are carefully selected by the owner—Jingdezhen blue-and-white porcelain, elegant and beautiful, very appealing.

Although there are many alcoholic beverages, it seems that what I love is not the strong, intense kind. Long Island Iced Tea looks clear and mild like black tea, but it has the rich, mellow fragrance of liquor. With added lemon juice and cola, Long Island Iced Tea tastes sweet, similar to lemon iced tea, so it's always popular among girls. A friend who knows a lot about alcohol told me this drink is "a wolf in sheep's clothing" in the cocktail world—high alcohol content, so those who can't handle it shouldn't overindulge.

There's also a cocktail called The Metropolitan. It's no exaggeration to say it's one of the most popular cocktails in the world. To this day, it has remained popular for over thirty years. With its lower alcohol content, sweet and sour taste, and rich fruit flavor, it won me over and became my favorite.

If you happen to order a bartender's special at Bie Yuan Li, congratulations—you'll enjoy a super pleasing cocktail show. After mixing, the cocktail slowly "breathes" mist from the rim of the glass, creating a very artistic atmosphere. As you savor it, the deeper the contact between your tongue and the cocktail, the more wonderful its taste becomes.

I must recommend this Chinese-style cocktail—Ancient Qiang Straw Grain Wine. Using a wheat straw as a straw for rice wine—this is the first time I've seen it. The rice wine is sweet and rich, smooth and soft on the palate. Drinking a small bottle in winter makes the whole body feel warm.

Don't think you can only drink here—this place is also a hidden Sichuan restaurant. The taste and portion sizes rival outside Sichuan restaurants. Dan Dan Noodles, Zhong Dumplings, and childhood-flavored fermented glutinous rice with brown sugar can all be found here!

Their signature grilled fish is a popular item in the store. The fish is grilled until deeply flavored, crispy outside and tender inside. A few bites will surely make you a fan.

After reading so much, if you're curious, you should go experience it yourself!

From the entrance of Kuanzhai Alley to the Jiao Liao is only about 200 meters, but it's easy to spend half an hour walking. Stalls of snacks one after another, various gold and silver utensils—if your mind wavers a bit, you'll get lost in some sight or sound.

Your eyes take in the black bricks and grey tiles, ancient trees and long streets. Your ears are filled with the tinkling sounds of bronze and silver craftsmen and the calls of shop owners outside. Your nose is teased by the aromas of sugar-oil fruits and egg cakes. It takes a lot of willpower to break free from all this.

Full of worldly hustle and bustle. Walking through it once is like doing a somersault in the worldly attachments—sight, hearing, smell, taste, touch, mind—all fully satisfied.

Right in the middle of Kuanzhai Alley, the Jiao Liao is an exception to this century-old lane. Its tightly closed double doors and the bronze lock that seems permanently fastened declare a philosophy of hiding in a small courtyard, self-contained.

I truly understood what it means to be a "city forest"! Go out—bustling and crowded; enter—quietly guarding your heart. In the midst of prosperity and comfort, set aside a pure land, with hidden luxury and spiritual charm.

And indeed it is: once the heavy bronze lock—eight ounces—falls, it separates the gazes of passing tourists and keeps out the three-hundred-year hustle of the alley's boisterous world.

The wind can pass through the courtyard, and birds can perch on the eaves. But the noise outside cannot enter even a bit. This is Jiao Liao—finding peace amid the clamor.

The all-paulownia wood construction is a meeting of traditional aesthetics and modern techniques, natural yet stable. Long-term exposure to the faint woody scent helps with sleep, calms the spirit, and soothes the body.

The hotel's architectural style also combines movement and stillness. "Movement" is embodied in the details throughout the hotel's interior decor. Birds come into view from the entrance corridor onward, continuing to the bird-shaped decorations in the rooms, echoing the hotel's name—Jiao Liao.

"Stillness" lies in the black-brick-and-grey-tile replica quadrangle courtyard. Every plant and tree is exquisitely arranged; every bamboo and mat shows elegant charm. Each room has its own poetic name, as if full of life and vividness!

Inside the rooms, most decorations are made of natural wood, fresh and clean. The facilities are complete: King Koil customized mattresses, Kohler bathroom fixtures, TOTO smart toilets... Various drinks, snacks, fruits, tea, etc., are all provided. The overall feeling is very warm and comfortable. There is also an open-air balcony where you can look out at Kuanzhai Alley in the morning—being detached yet involved in the world: this is the life I desire. And if you want to relax your tired body, they also offer professional spa services.

Breakfast is especially lovely. Upon check-in, the butler will ask about dining time and taste preferences—very thoughtful. You can choose between Chinese or Western breakfast, with a side of fruits, dried nuts, and various pastries, delivered to your room! Full of love.

Living here is truly carefree and comfortable, enjoying this beautiful scenery all to yourself, experiencing the joy of leisure!

Taiziling Ski Resort is located in Jiuding Mountain Scenic Area, Mao County, about 180 kilometers from Chengdu. It takes about 3.5 hours to drive from Chengdu to the ski resort. The highest altitude is 2,971 meters, the lowest 2,733 meters, with a drop of 238 meters. Most people do not experience altitude sickness, so you can play with peace of mind. The total length of the ski trails is 2.5 kilometers, making it the longest ski resort in southern China.

Taiziling Ski Resort has relatively professional ski trails, with 3 advanced trails, 3 intermediate trails, and 3 beginner trails. Whether you are skiing for the first time or a professional with all the skills, you can find fun here.

Jiuding Mountain Scenic Area has a beautiful natural environment with clear mountains and lush waters, rich in vegetation. It is a multi-functional scenic area integrating outdoor camping, tourism, sports, and leisure. The negative oxygen ion concentration in the area is extremely high, with PM2.5 consistently below 10. During the snow season, 70% of the time has sunny good weather, making it a city of sunshine and a kingdom of snowscapes.

The trails are naturally winding and undulating, called "dream trails" by ski enthusiasts. There are many trails for you to choose from—plenty of options and full of surprises—providing a wonderful stage for beginners and experts alike to have fun and show off their skills.

Skiing is really tiring, and the ultraviolet rays are very strong. After a while, you'll be sweating profusely and feel exhausted. Be sure to hydrate and rest properly. During breaks, you can look at the blue sky, take photos, and admire others' cool moves—it's also very enjoyable. The weather is good, the sunlight shines on the snow, and the reflected light is very dazzling, so it's best to bring sunglasses in your gear.

To go to the advanced trails, you must take the cable car, and you must wear a helmet on the cable car. So if you plan to go to the advanced trails, remember to rent a helmet.

Sitting on the cable car, with white snow beneath your feet and the sun above, and skiers whizzing by below, I was especially worried about dropping my gear or phone—it was really thrilling.

After about ten minutes on the cable car, you reach the starting point of the advanced trail. As soon as I stepped off the cable car, my legs went weak. The first slope was at least 40 degrees.

Truly "high places are too cold"—there were fewer people on the advanced trail. Very few skied with two planks; most were excellent riders with their own snowboards. They slid down in a few seconds and disappeared almost instantly.

If you get hungry, you can buy some food. There is a place to eat inside the ski area, but you can also bring your own—bring some rice or a self-heating hot pot, which is quite nice. The hotpot in the hotel tastes good, no worse than outside. A big pot of red, oily but not greasy—enjoying the spicy kick of hotpot while viewing the snow scenery—that's a real treat.

From the moment you set foot in Jiuding Mountain, you will experience a natural realm far from noise, poetic and picturesque, harmonious between heaven and humanity, ancient and tranquil. And at Taiziling Ski Resort, you can have a joyful, intimate holiday with family and friends—why not!

Chengdu Du Fu Thatched Cottage is located on the banks of the Huanhua Brook west of Chengdu city. It is a must-visit for tourists coming to Chengdu.

Du Fu Thatched Cottage, as the name suggests, is Du Fu's former residence. But although the thatched cottage scenic area is grand and luxurious, Du Fu's actual residence is only a very small part of the attraction—a few small, shabby thatched huts. The large-scale constructions were built by later generations to commemorate Du Fu.

After entering the thatched cottage, you will encounter many forks in the road, with signposts guiding directions to various spots. Going further in, a quaint little alley comes into view: vermilion walls on both sides, with round tiles bearing carved beast faces on the roof. The mossy spots on the tiles indicate the alley has been around for some time. The bluestone slabs underfoot have been worn dark and black, with cracks.

Passing through the alley, a winding stream appears, lined with green bamboos and towering ancient trees—a truly poetic scene.

Before we knew it, we arrived at a place resembling a thatched cottage. Yes, this is Du Fu's former residence! There are small paths on both sides, and a bamboo fence encloses a small garden.

The roof does not have modern building materials, but it's no longer the hut Du Fu lived in back then. Here, I just wanted to stand in front of the house and feel the eternal verse: "If I could get tens of thousands of spacious mansions to shelter all the world's poor scholars with cheerful faces!" I saw the mud on the walls peeling, revealing large areas of bamboo strips forming the frame. The wooden threshold looked so fragile that one step could crush it.

Walking in the thatched cottage, the air is filled with the breath of history and rich poetic charm, making me sink into it, reluctant to leave for a long time...

What I miss is the scenery of Chengdu; what I miss is the food of Chengdu; what I miss is still the lively, mundane atmosphere of Chengdu...