The Joy of Independent Travel: Savoring the Endless Charm of the Land of Abundance
For me, one of the most important purposes of travel is to relax. If you set out with a heavy heart and end up gaining a heart full of lightness, then this trip will be a meaningful one. Traveling with people around you makes it even more interesting. Life doesn't necessarily have to be a spontaneous trip, but you must always be ready to leave at a moment's notice.
No. 1 The Carefree Residence in Kuanzhai Alley
Most people who come to Chengdu are here to enjoy the food; the city is famous worldwide as the capital of gastronomy. Kuanzhai Alley, Jinli, Wuhou Shrine, Du Fu Thatched Cottage, etc., are all must-visit spots. The most famous is probably Kuanzhai Alley, known as the "Chengdu Living Room."
A few crooked long alleys, intersecting horizontally and vertically, outline the essence of half of old Chengdu. Small snacks, the breath of stoves, vendors shouting loudly, and bustling passersby. Walking along, the three main alleys and dozens of narrow side alleys are filled with the purest worldly hustle and bustle.
Walking in the antique Kuanzhai Alley, strolling through the sea of people, the various specialty snacks and delicacies on both sides are dazzling: fried sugar oil balls, stinky tofu, ice cream, etc. Unfortunately, my stomach wasn't big enough to hold them all, so I'll have to leave some for next time.
Suddenly, a tightly closed door in front of me made me stop. I looked up at the plaque and saw two characters that made me deeply realize the profoundness of Chinese culture and how much I still have to learn. "Jiao (jiǎo) Liao (liáo)" – at first glance, I really didn't know how to pronounce them. Seeing the introduction nearby, it seemed to be a hotel. Since I hadn't found accommodation yet, I decided to go in and have a look.
When the door opened, the long corridor in front of me deeply caught my attention. "A winding path leads to a secluded spot, and a meditation room is deep among flowers and trees. Mountain light pleases the birds' nature, and the pool's shadow clears the heart." Though it's not a meditation room, it feels even more so. Though there are no high mountains or water pools, there are flowers, trees, water, and birds, creating a very poetic atmosphere.
After entering and experiencing everything about Jiaoliao, I immediately decided to stay. After settling in, it brought me even more surprises. It truly felt like a carefree residence hidden in the bustling city. This hotel is small, with only 10 rooms, but each room is nearly 100 square meters. Moreover, the entire hotel has excellent privacy, with attentive butler service that can help arrange everything big and small. One unique feature is a small window called the butler service window; when inconvenient, small items like takeout or room supplies can be placed inside, ensuring complete privacy. It feels just like home, without worrying about the noise outside, allowing you to enjoy your own space peacefully.
Service is one thing, but the hotel's hardware facilities are also excellent. The decoration and layout of the room give a very comfortable feeling, and the overall style is a traditional Chinese old-culture style, which I really like. Later, the butler introduced that the hotel is built around the culture of Zhuangzi. Everywhere in the hotel there is an atmosphere of Zhuangzi's philosophy, along with many antiques and old objects, creating a strong cultural ambiance.
Although I only stayed for a short day, I deeply felt the charm of Jiaoliao. The hotel is small but refined, carefree and comfortable. The environment, atmosphere, service, and everything else left a deep impression. If I come to Chengdu again, I will surely return to experience the charm of Jiaoliao.
Since I was staying in Kuanzhai Alley, of course I had to take a good stroll. 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 is paved with neat, wide blue stone slabs, exuding a leisurely atmosphere. Slowing down, the old Chengdu street life unfolds before your eyes. In the foggy late November weather, the wind was chilly, but there were still many tourists, the street buzzing with relaxed conversations in various languages. The ancient-style walls and doorways, and the green branches stretching over the walls with unknown flowers blooming wantonly, flickered dimly in the night, enticing passersby.
Kuan Alley has a Chengdu Life Experience Hall where you can feel the folk customs. Zhai Alley is a fine living area themed with Western dining, light meals, coffee, art leisure, health living halls, and specialty cultural shops, catering to all kinds of people. The Starbucks here is also very distinctive, fully integrated into the alley, and so far it's my favorite Starbucks.
How can a fun place lack food? Speaking of food, I really don't know where to start – there are so many. Rabbit head? Rabbit meat? Chicken legs? Stinky tofu? Hot and sour noodles? Turtle jelly? So many, I ate until I had to hold the wall to walk.
Kuanzhai Alley, as a representative of Chengdu's slow life, embodies a carefree attitude of laughing at the world. A must-visit when in Chengdu, it allows you to escape the city life obsessed with fame and wealth, and spend the entire afternoon idly with family and friends, feeling time stand still.
I had always wanted to find a place to ski, so I started to pay attention to nearby ski resorts: Xiling Snow Mountain? Emeishan Ski Resort? Zhegu Mountain? Or Jiuding Mountain Taiziling Ski Resort? Finally, due to its relatively complete services and skiing facilities, I chose Jiuding Mountain Taiziling Ski Resort.
Address: Taiziling Ski Resort is located next to National Highway 213 from Wenchuan to Maoxian in Aba, Sichuan, on Qinglongping (25 km up the mountain after turning right at Tongzi Tunnel) within the Jiuding Mountain Scenic Area, 180 km from Chengdu. The resort is at an altitude of 2,750 meters and has 3,310 meters of ski runs.
We drove there, about a 3-hour drive directly to the ski resort. After arriving at Jiuding Mountain, we stayed at the Hemingzhuang Holiday Hotel, located on the 2nd-3rd floors of the Taiziling Ski Resort's ski equipment hall. It has 71 guest rooms, all decorated with wooden sauna boards, with heating, and floor-to-ceiling windows providing a broad view of the snow scenery. The design is unique and has a strong Qiang ethnic flavor.
Of course, the food is also carefully selected, using pure, natural, pollution-free green ingredients with local characteristics, such as highland yak meat, lamb, wild vegetables, alpine wild mushrooms, etc. The viewing restaurant provides convenient, quick, hygienic, and nutritious meals with unique Tibetan and Qiang flavors. At the same time, large floor-to-ceiling windows allow you to enjoy the sunny snow scenery of Jiuding Mountain while dining.
Ski equipment: Be sure to bring sunglasses and ski goggles (ultraviolet radiation is strong at high altitudes), a hat, gloves (otherwise your hands will hurt from digging in the snow), and socks (wearing an extra pair of socks keeps you warm).
Transitioning from beginner to intermediate, I had a lot of fun skiing, but my butt hurt a bit, and the ski patrol might have been annoyed (I needed help multiple times after falling). I fell so much I lost my memory, and laughed until my chest hurt. With my obsession with skiing, I'll be back at Taiziling next year.
We returned just in time for the evening, and caught the night view of Wenchuan. In the car, gentle and touching songs played. Looking out the window, the rushing water crashed against the new bridge. Passing through New Wenchuan, the night scenery was beautiful, with bright lights that were dazzling, beautiful, quiet, and gentle. I hope the people here are peaceful, happy, and blessed.
Here, winter is the perfect time, and skiing is the perfect activity.
I believe everyone has a fondness for ancient towns and has their favorite one. The last time I went to Huanglongxi was a year ago, in summer. At that time, my companions were wearing sandals, so I didn't go into the water with them, which was a bit regretful.
Here's a picture from summer:
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. The weather was nice today, sunny, so my best friend and I decided to visit Huanglongxi. Huanglongxi is a classic blend of man-made and ancient ruins. Entering the town, you see stone paths and streams lined with antique buildings, but that doesn't diminish the poetic atmosphere of small bridges, flowing water, and houses. The scene is picturesque and intoxicating. At the entrance, there's a large tripod with a fountain spraying over it, sunlight shining, colorful and bright. Following the stream downstream, you come to an arched bridge where you can take a stroll.
Its main street is paved with stone slabs, flanked by two-story stilted buildings with upturned eaves. The shops sell food, clothing, handicrafts, and various odds and ends. You can browse quickly. The houses on the second floor near the inner street are used as residences, while those near the river are used for business. After walking through one street, you come to another alley. Underfoot are smooth black stone paths, dark shiny door panels, and antique shop signs full of old charm.
Feeling hungry, I looked for food. Last time I didn't get to eat "One Noodle" because it was too crowded. This time we came early, so there weren't many people. We went in and ordered a bowl. The noodle was 20 yuan per bowl, a bit expensive, I thought. It came quickly; the noodles were quite thick, like pulled noodles. After mixing, each strand seemed full of flavor, with some beef tripe and beef. The soup base was traditional Sichuan spices, both spicy and numbing. After finishing the noodles, a mouthful of soup was perfect.
In between, we ate a lot of snacks, mostly grilled foods, all quite tasty. The shop assistants didn't pull you in to buy; they'd say you could just look even if you don't buy, and some would even offer free samples. We ate and drank for about an hour, passing countless shops and ancient buildings. Starting from the dragon head fountain, we walked all the way to the end, turned left, and saw the dragon's tail, which marked the end. The dragon tail view is a magnificent river, with a bridge in the distance that looks quite spectacular. There are many boats in the river. In summer, there are even more exciting things.
In this ancient and charming town, with small bridges, flowing water, and houses, there is no noisy hustle and bustle 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 combination of fast play and slow life but also a collision of tradition and fashion. Fast and slow, new and old, standing together in the most bustling center of the city, reflecting the city's inclusive spirit.
Here, there are both fashionably dressed beauties and handsome guys, various internet celebrities and anti-celebrities, as well as locals walking dogs in casual wear. Everyone goes their own way, some walking, some taking photos, as if in two different worlds. Chengdu Taikoo Li is a local internet-famous spot and a major commercial center full of international brands.
Taikoo Li has an excellent location, in the center of Chengdu. The pedestrian street is very wide. From a distance, you can see a giant panda climbing on the roof of a shopping mall in Taikoo Li. The Taikoo Li business district gathers many brand stores. Most international famous brands can be found here. Luxury brands are everywhere, and even many world brands are proud to open flagship stores in Taikoo Li. There are many young people here, so it feels more fashionable. In the central square, there are performances and activities, and there is also a special food street with very local food. If you go to Chengdu, Taikoo Li is a must-visit.
Bravely accept invitations from the whole world. I float, with myself, without any reason. A path of growth for young people, many transformative travel experiences, just to find my own spiritual journey. Even if alone, I treasure the scenery along the way.
