Land of Abundance, Capital of Cuisine~

Chengdu, a place you never want to leave once you come,

a land of abundance you never wish to depart—Chengdu, this ancient capital of Shu with over 3,000 years of history and splendor, is not only surrounded by numerous attractions but also hailed as the world's capital of cuisine. It is absolutely a must-visit destination for your travel list.

This is the high ground of Chengdu's cultural and creative industries. Many say it bears a strong resemblance to Beijing's 798 Art Zone, but I feel it adds a greater impact of historical contrast.

Once a red-brick factory, now a cutting-edge art exhibition venue; once a boiler room, now a music bar; once a Soviet-constructed office building, now a café and hotel. Everywhere here reflects the changes of the times, forming a stark contrast—as if there is a crack in time and space, yet everything coexists harmoniously.

Eastern Suburb Memory, formerly Chengdu Eastern Suburb Music Park, is a new-type modern cultural industrial park rebuilt on the site of the former state-owned Red Glory Electronic Tube Factory. It officially opened on September 29, 2011, and was renamed Eastern Suburb Memory on November 1, 2012.

It started as a music-themed park, so you can see many sculptures related to music and artistic elements. As the remains of an old industrial site, the leftover factory buildings, discarded pipes, tanks, and machine tools have been fully utilized by designers, many of which have become works of art.

First, it carries the memory of old industrial elements—red bricks, factory buildings, pipelines, large chimneys, machine tools, and other industrial tools and features—all renovated into a leisure and entertainment park area.

Of course, the memories left behind are not just these elements, but also the legacy of industrial civilization. In addition to the memories of old industry, there are also memories of life in the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s: bicycles, letters, red-lacquered wooden furniture, supply and marketing cooperatives—full of nostalgic vibes from the past.

It is a music hub where you can see musical instruments placed here and there. In this park, many musicians or music students carry a guitar or other instruments, drag along a speaker, and perform live on-site, drawing a crowd that stops to listen.

Even the bar owner plays and sings by himself. There are many cafés, dessert shops, and bars in the park. When I passed by a bar where the owner was playing and singing, I chose that place without hesitation. The weather was just right, and I truly enjoyed such a moment—I love the atmosphere of live music performances.

At Eastern Suburb Memory, there are cafés and drink shops, but don't forget—there is also a cozy and wonderful place: the bookstore. For those who enjoy a slow life and appreciate refined living, books are essential.

The most delightful time is sipping an afternoon tea or coffee while reading a favorite book. Or watching a stage play in a theater, experiencing a feeling akin to a live-action movie. Perhaps in such an environment, you'll discover that life can be so comfortable, and you can truly enjoy the tranquility that time brings.

It is precisely the industrial-style photography, musical enjoyment, and slow-paced lifestyle here that match my favorite way of living. So, Eastern Suburb Memory Music Park, for me, is the best place for relaxation.

Jinli Ancient Street is located in Chengdu, the Land of Abundance in Sichuan. Walking into Jinli Ancient Street in Wuhou District, Chengdu, feels like traveling back in time. China is full of ancient streets, but this one is truly unforgettable.

Jinli Ancient Street is close to Wuhou Shrine. It is neither wide nor narrow, and at first glance, it looks no different from ordinary alleys. But once you step inside, you realize it's quite special. Red lanterns hang at the main entrance, and the same goes for the interior—all along the way, you see long, vertical lanterns in clusters, evoking a sense of strolling through an ancient market.

As I walked further in, a small stream by the roadside caught my attention. The water was clear with many water plants, and little goldfish could be seen swimming about. When tourists fed them, the goldfish would rush over to compete for the food, their joyful movements sending ripples across the water. Where there is water, the air is naturally fresh, and these adorable little creatures bring new vitality to the place. This is an ancient street brimming with life at every moment.

Where there is beautiful scenery, there is inevitably delicious food. Jinli Ancient Street offers a wide variety of cuisines. Each shop has a large signboard, offering an array of drinks and snacks.

The shop names are particularly artistic, easily giving one a sense of traveling back in time. There are many spicy skewers at roadside stalls—a treat for those who love spicy food.

Cold noodles, glutinous rice cakes, ice jelly, grilled meat skewers, steamed sweet cakes, and many other delicacies with unfamiliar names.

Some sell candied hawthorns, others make sugar figurines, sell antiques, or paper fans—they are everywhere.

Another essential flavor of an ancient alley is the candy seller—those hard white candies that can stick to your teeth, but are exceptionally sweet and delicious. Yes, exceptionally sweet and delicious.

This is the ancient street of my imagination, perfectly fulfilling my expectations of such a place. If I had more time, I would love to have a photo shoot here, holding an oil-paper umbrella, with a beautiful hairstyle, wearing ancient costume, strolling leisurely—it would surely be a unique experience.

The surrounding shops are all antique in style, with decorations infused with an old-world charm. Everything feels far from modern times. Even after leaving, the feeling lingers. Step into Jinli Ancient Street, and it brings your ancient dreams to life!

Chengdu Jiaoliao Boutique Hotel is located within the Kuanzhai Alley scenic area. Amid the bustling Kuanzhai Alley, it creates a tranquil retreat filled with classical, elegant Chinese cultural ambiance.

From a travel perspective, Jiaoliao Hotel is adjacent to Chengdu's Kuanzhai Alley and Jinli, with very convenient transportation. It's easy to experience local customs and specialties nearby, such as street snacks, Sichuan opera face-changing, and other cultural entertainment.

It can be said to be a quiet haven hidden in the midst of a bustling city, seemingly cut off from the noise of Kuanzhai Alley. The antique style, the sound of dripping water, and bird calls all come together perfectly.

"I should pity the clogs' prints on the moss, a gentle knock at the wicker gate long unopened." The ancient gate is awakened daily by the hustle and bustle of passersby, like an old man from bygone days, carrying the vicissitudes of his years, telling untold stories to newcomers. Upon entering the hotel, every blade of grass and every tree is exquisite, every bamboo and stone is full of elegance.

Our first impression of Jiaoliao Hotel was its nature-infused neo-Chinese style design. The hotel extensively uses materials like mountains, water, stone, and bamboo, all close to nature. The spatial layout is lush and elegant, with bamboo and stone adding charm. According to the staff, the guest rooms occupy about 1,400 square meters, and each suite includes a study, living room, kitchen, and other functional areas. Hearing this, my friend and I couldn't help but marvel at the hotel's excellence!

It is said that the hotel's most special feature is that it offers in-room SPA services, with a tailored technique developed specifically for the hotel. Combining local culture, environment, and climate with traditional Chinese medical therapies, they created the hotel's signature "Jiaoliao Nest in the Forest" treatment, providing travelers with holistic services for body and mind cultivation and connecting with nature. After a short rest, we also experienced the SPA, and it was truly wonderful—the masseur had skilled hands, allowing us to enjoy total relaxation in supreme comfort.

Each room is equipped with amenities of international five-star hotels, from large mattresses to bathroom fittings and smart toilets—everything is meticulously done and enjoyable. There is also 24-hour butler service; when we rang the bell, the butler responded immediately. There is a special service window next to the room—after hearing the call, the butler places whatever we need inside, which is convenient and does not disturb us. Overall, it was a great experience.

It is no exaggeration to describe this hotel as poetic and picturesque. Each room has a different name: Hao Lai (overgrown weeds), Fan Li (fence), Da Peng (roc), Cang Ying (eagle), Zi Ran (nature), Yan Qian (simple words), You Wei (subtle existence), and more. My friends and I stayed in Yan Qian and You Wei—these names seemed to resonate with our personalities, a sort of fate.

Our room was surrounded by green bamboo, with water and mountain views. Even on rainy days when it's not suitable for going out, we could open the window and listen to the raindrops trickling down the bamboo. Turning off our phones, we held a good book, enjoying a slow life away from the hustle and bustle, free from worldly troubles, leisurely and content.

Later, we gradually learned about the origin of the hotel's name. It is said that "Jiaoliao" (wren) comes from Zhuangzi: "The wren nests in the deep forest, but only takes one branch." This expresses a desire to stay away from the mundane, to shed troubles, to keep one's true heart, to return to nature, and to be free and unfettered amidst the clamor.

Jiaoliao Boutique Hotel is like a hidden stream's murmur in the chaos, or two unique flowers in the mundane world. Drawn from nature and humanity, it crafts exquisite sentiments, creating another way of life.

It offers you wind in the courtyard and the moon above the eaves, allowing you to savor the Zen charm among the mountains, forests, bamboo, and stones, fully enjoying the joy of carefree living.

If I truly want to take something away, I hope it is the memories of Chengdu...