Winter in Chengdu: A Unique Charm, a Paradise for Foodies and Fun-Seekers

Winter is the season that stirs emotions the most. Thoughts are still lingering in autumn, when in an instant, winter arrives.

Chengdu's winter seems to be immersed in a slow-paced life, where the scenery is even more enchanting.

My first impression of winter in Chengdu was a world of green and blue, where it feels colder indoors than outdoors.

Now, my feeling of Chengdu's winter is a world full of colors, an Impressionist painting that captivates the eye; a poetic spiritual world, an adventure in a culinary fantasy.

"Chengdu is worth remembering. Its elegance, its laid-back attitude, its simplicity, and its unique local flavor leave an unforgettable impression on those who experience it."

I think everyone who has visited Chengdu feels a lingering reluctance to leave.

The leisurely flow of the Fu River, the hustle and bustle of Chunxi Road, the casual teahouses on the streets, and the lively farmhouses in the suburbs—

all come together like a vivid, sound-filled painting, like a mellow, long-lasting vintage wine, soaking into everyone who visits Chengdu.

And Chengdu's cuisine adds the most intense flavor to this memory.

Within this intensity, there is also a warmth that stirs the heart: hotpot, chuanchuan, Sichuan spicy hot pot, and other snacks, along with the soft lights of street-side shops, linger long in the hearts of many Chengdu visitors.

Day 1: Yuan Gong (Tazishan Park) → Jiaoliao Hotel

Day 2: Taiziling Ski Resort

Day 3: Melon Skewers (Tianfu Square) → Bieyuanli Tavern (Kuanzhai Alley)

With nothing much to do on the weekend, I planned a food and travel adventure with friends, enjoying the beautiful scenery while indulging in the taste sensations of great food. I got up very early this morning, packed up, and met up with my friends. But we didn't head straight to eat; instead, we first went somewhere to have some fun, and then set off for our ultimate food destination. My friends suggested visiting Tazishan Park, which is not far away. Action speaks louder than words, so we took the bus there.

When we arrived, we found quite a lot of people there—after all, it was the weekend, and many parents brought their children out to play, do activities, and bask in the sun.

Located on the gentle hills in the eastern part of Chengdu, Tazishan Park covers a vast area with lush woods and a tranquil environment. Nestled by the hill and near water, the plants are arranged according to the terrain, verdant and rich, with birdsong and flowers year-round.

The main building in the park is the Jiutian Tower, named after a line from the famous poem "Ascending the Sanhua Tower in Jin City" by the Immortal Poet Li Bai: "Now I come to climb and look far, as if on a tour of the Ninth Heaven." Seen from a distance, Jiutian Tower looks like a pagoda; up close, it seems like a building. Its novel and unique design makes it a magnificent landmark garden landscape of Chengdu. Climbing Jiutian Tower, one takes in the beautiful scenery of Chengdu at a glance, feeling refreshed and delighted.

The park also features the Bird's Song Forest, which gathers nearly 150 species of birds from around the world, totaling about 5,000. Among them, more than 20 are under national first- or second-class protection. The Bird's Song Forest emphasizes bird science education and highlights bird performances, which are both entertaining and educational for children.

In addition, it's a great place for people to play, relax, fish, have fun, climb the tower to enjoy the view, have picnics, and sip tea.

Lawns, lakes, pavilions, paths—full of rustic mountain charm, making it the perfect place to bring children to run wild. Moreover, Tazishan Park is the main venue for the annual Chengdu Lantern Festival!

It's really a nice place with everything for leisure and entertainment. Before we knew it, we had spent over three hours there, and it was past 4 p.m. No wonder I felt a bit hungry—playing out does make you hungry faster! Next, we set off for our final destination: Yuan Gong on Chunxi Road, which is super popular. I had heard colleagues talk about it for a long time, and finally got the chance to try it out. I checked the map; it wasn't far, so we took a bus there.

The restaurant is on Xuedao Street near Chunxi Road, quite close to the city center—a quiet spot in the midst of the hustle and bustle. The decoration is very down-to-earth, with a overall style of Chinese vintage, elegantly furnished.

From the lobby, we turned into the dining area, which is very spacious with many private rooms, decorated with flowers in clusters, giving a unique charm.

After finding our seats, we started feasting. The first dishes I want to recommend are these—super delicious and tasty.

Braised Whole Fish with Black Bean Sauce: The fish is silver carp; it has quite a few bones, so be careful when eating. The flesh is very delicate and flavorful, incredibly tasty—smooth and tender, irresistible.

Longmen Hanging Meat: A special little brother helps cut the meat, arranging it on a plate. The meat is crispy, tender, and delicious, with a perfect coating of flour and deep-fried. I couldn't stop eating one piece after another.

Yuan Gong Sliced Chicken: The chicken slices mostly have some skin attached, with scallion slices added. The taste is refreshing, drizzled with secret chili oil—just the right level of spiciness.

Yuan Gong Signature Rabbit: A combination of double-pepper rabbit and clams. The flavor is exceptionally fresh, with a numbing and spicy taste that's perfect with rice. Generous portions—my absolute favorite.

After eating and drinking our fill, it was time to go home. With the day's adventures over, it was time to return to dreamland and savor those endless delicious flavors again.

Ten years pass like a night rain, the world of rivers and lakes is chaotic.

What remains unchanged are the narrow and wide alleys; what changes is the human heart. We are never quite satisfied with this bustling world. After experiencing the finest beauty, we glance around—there is also tranquility amidst the noise. Right in the middle of Kuanzhai Alley stands the Jiaoliao Hotel.

In the noisy crowd, we gently pushed open this door full of stories. While waiting for the butler to open it, the old door itself became a sight we couldn't help but admire. The gate is made of red bean wood, untouched by any restoration, preserving its original appearance. Painted in the middle are traditional Chinese door gods. The left door god holds a peony, and the right holds a wine vessel—together implying promotion and rank. It is said that this design is meant to wish guests staying at Jiaoliao a flourishing career and steady promotion, leading us back to the most natural state of life.

Pushing the door open, we saw a very long corridor. On both sides, the gray-tiled walls stood in stark contrast to the reinforced concrete skyscrapers. For those of us tired of the fast-paced city life, the gray tiles seemed to soothe our constantly tense nerves, making us want to touch and get close.

As we walked down the corridor, birds on both sides hopped up and down, unusually active because of our arrival, chirping incessantly. Though we couldn't understand their language, we could feel a warm welcome from their calls.

Changing scenes, we officially entered the accommodation area. The Jiaoliao Hotel is quite large; we walked through, admiring the beauty of the hotel. It has four floors, with guest rooms and an open-air tea terrace. Each floor has its unique scenery—views change with every step, making us stop to admire.

Upon entering our room, we saw the overall color scheme was light, natural wood tones, without any other color embellishments.

From the bed to the wardrobe, window frames, tables, and chairs—all made of smooth, polished parasol wood, used directly. The facilities are very complete, even more perfectly matched than what I have at home. This lifestyle close to nature is exactly what we need.

We also noticed that every room has orchids, surrounded by bamboo. Looking closely, we could see that some of the relief carvings feature chrysanthemums, creating a very elegant atmosphere. Coupled with the dim yellow lighting, the whole room feels very warm. In the details, understated luxury is displayed.

The hotel's amenities are truly high-end, all matching five-star hotel standards, providing us with an ultimate stay experience. The mattress, Kohler bathroom fixtures, and smart toilet—everything is perfect, offering us the best enjoyment. As I ran my fingers over every part of the room, I felt the owner's dedication, and my heart was moved.

The guest room also has a SPA room—such thoughtful care that we really appreciated. After a tiring day out, we could lie in the SPA room, enjoy the masseur's service, relax our muscles and bones, and indulge in long-lost comfort.

At Jiaoliao, nestled among hills, forests, stone, and bamboo, we savor the Zen-like elegance and fully enjoy the delight of freedom—poetic dwelling. The bustling Kuanzhai is crowded with people every day. Outside the long streets of flowing crowds, amidst the tranquility within the prosperity, Jiaoliao quietly watches the coming and going of people.

Yesterday we tasted Yuan Gong, strolled on Chunxi Road, and enjoyed divine service at Jiaoliao Hotel. Waking up today, I felt fantastic—indeed, eating, drinking, and having fun is the best way to relax body and mind. Winter has arrived as promised, with a chill in the cold wind, but it still couldn't stop us from moving forward. Today we decided to visit the famous Taiziling Ski Resort to experience the unique charm of snow and ice.

Jiuding Mountain Taiziling Ski Resort is located along National Highway 213 from Wenchuan County to Mao County in Aba Prefecture, Sichuan Province, at Qinglong Dam in the Jiuding Mountain Scenic Area. It's 180 kilometers from Chengdu, about a three-and-a-half-hour drive.

What attracts so many visitors is not only its huge popularity but also the strong technical support behind it. It is said that the ski resort is equipped with pure imported ELAN ski equipment that has supported Taiziling ski competitions many times, as well as various professional ski gear from HEAD, BURTON, and NORDICA, attracting many professionals to show off their skills. Truly the largest, most beautiful, and most professional ski resort in Southwest China.

Upon arriving at the ski resort, the first thing was to buy tickets at the main entrance, then rent ski gear—boots, skis, poles, and other equipment. There were so many people today that we queued for a long time—an indication of the resort's immense popularity.

We finally got to ski—it was fun, but for a group of beginners, we kept falling. Two hours of skiing was our limit, and there were too many people packed on the beginner slope, which was just a short distance from the entrance.

When skiing under the sun, it was both hot and sunny, with particularly strong UV rays. At such times, be sure to apply sunscreen, wear sunglasses, and don't wear too much—just dress comfortably. For beginners, it's advisable to hire an instructor; otherwise, you'll fall hard.

When skiing, always wear gloves and sunglasses; if going on intermediate slopes, a helmet is mandatory. Double skis are the best choice for beginners, and the skis can be adjusted according to boot size. Once properly equipped, enter the ski area.

There are also many places to eat in the scenic area—hotpot, soup pots, etc., with good flavors, great color, aroma, and taste—truly delicious. Outside our dining hall, there was a sunroom made of glass where we could take photos, drink tea, relax, and enjoy the sunshine while taking in the scenery—very nice!

Actually, the scenery of Jiuding Mountain is quite beautiful, and Taiziling Ski Resort is the most professional ski resort in Sichuan that we've visited so far, with beginner, intermediate, and advanced slopes offering various gradients for skiers to choose from. The ski resort is at an altitude of about 2,500 meters, similar to Wolong, so altitude sickness is basically not a concern. The resort has 2.5 kilometers of ski runs.

Relying on the unique natural terrain of the Jiuding Mountain Scenic Area, high altitude, and rich vegetation, the resort has fresh air with a high concentration of negative oxygen ions. No severe cold in winter, no extreme heat in summer, with pleasant weather—a rare natural eco-tourism resort around Chengdu, perfect for skiing and relaxation.

Waking up this morning, I suddenly wanted to visit Tianfu Square. After discussing with my friends, we decided to go. Today we took the subway; the bus was too crowded. I don't know how long we rode, but it felt relatively close.

When we arrived, there were many people—indeed, on weekends, everyone goes out to relax.

Tianfu Square is undoubtedly the political and cultural center of Chengdu, a landmark among landmarks, like Tiananmen in Beijing.

The Sun Bird sculpture stands at the center of Tianfu Square, which is the interchange of Metro Line 1 and Line 2, as well as the upcoming Line 18—the central node of Chengdu's southeast, northwest, and southwest transportation arteries.

It is one of the most popular check-in spots for out-of-town visitors to Chengdu, always bustling with people. What impressed me most was the strong patriotic atmosphere here on the eve of National Day this year, which deeply moved me.

But the biggest highlights of Tianfu Square are:

1. The architectural beauty of the square itself: a Tai Chi diagram flanked by building pillars shaped like the character "乡" on both sides. This Tai Chi scenery must be photographed from above to be perfectly presented.

2. The historical significance of the square: It has always been an important landmark around the Imperial City, and now it's the economic and cultural center of Chengdu.

3. Transportation hub: You can transfer to the subway here, and there are exhibition halls all around. Convenient transportation—if you meet here for the first time, you're sure to find each other.

After visiting Tianfu Square, it was time for lunch. Today we unanimously decided to eat at Melon Skewers. Although it's on East Jinfangyuan Road, transportation is convenient, so it wouldn't take too long to go back and forth.

When we got off the bus, we saw a quaintly decorated shop that looked quite stylish.

The main color was red, with wooden tables and stools, giving a comfortable feeling. The space was spacious, with clear functional areas, making it convenient for customers to get food and dine.

The most noteworthy thing is their dishes—super delicious.

Spicy Beef: Tender beef marinated for a long time, flavorful with numbing and spicy taste. When served, sprinkle with chopped scallions and dried chili flakes—even better.

Brown Sugar Glutinous Rice Cake: A must for dessert lovers, soft and sticky, smooth and chewy. Take a bite, rice and sesame flavors dance in the mouth—very tasty!

Spicy Hot Pot Noodles: Spicy and numbing. When you encounter a bowl of these hot pot noodles, forget your image and just gobble them down! The texture—I guarantee that whenever I crave hot pot noodles, I'll come here!

Sliced Tripe in Spicy Sauce: Tripe and bean sprouts together taste great. The tripe shreds are thin and bouncy, with just the right amount of numbing and spiciness mingling in your mouth.

There are also various meat and vegetable skewers in the fridge for you to choose from. Action is better than hesitation—start eating now!

This place is a paradise for skewer lovers—tender meat and delicious flavors, so good you can't stop.

As the saying goes, "Walk after meals, live to ninety-nine." So after eating, we should take a stroll and then start the evening's fun mode.

The best place for an after-dinner walk is undoubtedly Kuanzhai Alley. It not only displays the various lifestyles of old and new Chengdu but also represents the slow pace of life of Chengdu people, perfectly matching the comfortable state of "one step prosperity, one step tranquility."

My friend and I walked hand in hand, as if we had cut out a slice of leisurely time. Smelling the scent of time, unhurriedly, we followed the wide and narrow alleys, strolling leisurely and slowly.

Treading on the soft time, we stepped into the alley. The leisure and slowness here make people mistakenly think that time has forgotten to pass, and the story is still happening yesterday.

Clean blue bricks and dark tiles, old-style wooden doors and windows, horse-tethering stones by old walls, old teahouses under the eaves, lush sycamore trees—these ancient, clear images seem to be separated from the city's noise by a soundproof wall, with worldly dust already filtered away. The thousand-year-old dream of old Shu, in a turn or a glimpse, lightly falls on the threshold of memory, stunning for an instant.

Time is soft and warm. Tourists from north and south come face-to-face, then brush past each other, like flowing water, shallow waves, laughter and chatter. Original residents, quaint inns, exquisite doorheads, towering ancient trees, lidded-bowl teahouses, copper-ringed wooden doors, bluestone water vats, and vines and trailing flowers slanting down from green walls... all constitute its unique elements of attraction and Chengdu vocabulary, presenting a modern person's memory of a city.

Walking in Kuanzhai Alley, the sun is gentle, flowers are blooming, and the dazzling array of window displays keeps the eyes busy. We walk here and there, looking around. Zen-style little shops with exquisite tea sets and fragrant tea; fashionable restaurants with dancing fountains and blurred light and shadow; soft, exquisite shop windows with Jiangnan-style cloth garments and small fans;

At the deep alley corners, there are young people lying down getting ear cleaning or setting up stalls for portraits; classical and elegant inns with singing voices and red lanterns... Here, time is slow, life is idle, and the pace of walking naturally becomes especially light and slow.

Chengdu locals, tired from a day's work, also bring their families and stroll among the alleys now—old and young, men and women, in small groups, walking, looking, talking, laughing, eating... The dreamlike, leisurely nightlife begins here...

After visiting Kuanzhai, dusk was approaching. We arrived at our last stop of the day—Bieyuanli Tavern. Walking into this place, we were drawn by its unique charm. Entering the hall, looking up, we met the colorful, shifting lights.

At Bieyuanli, your eyes are always filled with stars. This magical moving light, where the lights move and the light shifts, gives an excellent visual experience.

The indoor plants are all fresh and full of vitality, filling the room with a romantic atmosphere, like a utopia for young people. Two-story loft plus an open-air garden lets you fall into the gentle night, making your tense nerves slowly stir. Booths and private rooms fully satisfy your desire for a good chat—perfect for friend gatherings.

The tenderness of Bieyuanli is hidden in its thoughtful decorations: flowers on the tables, dazzling lights, a full wall of wine storage, a complete set of Jingdezhen blue-and-white porcelain tableware, and a Chinese-style eaves... a fusion of culture and trend, overturning the common perception of a tavern. I felt like I was attending a splendid art exhibition.

Here, we not only encountered various delicious flavors but also felt a different kind of dazzling charm.

Long Island Iced Tea: Boys who are attached to alcoholic intoxication must not miss the classic Long Island Iced Tea. This most story-filled strong cocktail has explosive power and a strong aftertaste. It seems light, but it's a "heart arsonist."

Doujiu Osmanthus: Coming to Bieyuanli Music Tavern, how could we not have competitive drinking games? I first chose the Doujiu Osmanthus. Its light color is stunningly beautiful. The floral fragrance of osmanthus wine is very prominent. A light fragrance in the mouth, one bowl down, I just want to wander the world with my beloved.

Ancient Qiang Wheat Straw Zha Wine: The story continues, and the wine can't stop. We were drinking happily when the owner mysteriously said, "Our zha wine is interesting. Want to try it?" When served, the plate of wheat straw as straws gave the zha wine a wild aura. If this friend wants to drink, you have to suck through the wheat straw—very fun.

Handmade Fried Tangyuan: A bit like miniature sugar-oil fruit, coated with a layer of brown sugar. Soft, sticky, sweet tangyuan is today's sweet treat. It reminded me of the taste my grandma made when I was little.

Fruit Platter: A mix of various fruits, crisp and refreshing, fresh and delicious.

I was truly conquered by this place—too awesome. A place I'll definitely visit again.

The meaning of good food and scenery is not to escape, hide, acquire, or record.

It is to change one's worldview in an environment beyond imagination, and thus slowly change what truly matters in one's heart.