Land of Abundance, City of Gastronomy~

Chengdu, a place you won't want to leave once you arrive, a Land of Abundance you won't want to depart from — Chengdu, this capital of the Shu Kingdom with its 3000-year history and splendid culture, not only has numerous surrounding attractions but is also a world-renowned culinary capital, definitely a must-visit destination.

This is a highland of Chengdu's cultural and creative industries. Many have said it resembles Beijing's 798 Art Zone, but I feel it offers more of a historical contrast impact than 798.

Once a red-brick factory, now a cutting-edge art exhibition space; once a boiler room, now a music bar; once a Soviet-assisted office building, now cafes and hotels. Everywhere here reflects the changes of the times, forming a strong contrast. It all seems like a crack in time and space, yet exists harmoniously.

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

It was initially a music-themed park, so you can see many sculptures related to music and artistic elements. As a relic of an old industrial site, the remaining factory buildings, discarded pipes, tanks, or machine tools have all been fully utilized by designers, many becoming works of art.

First of all, it carries the memory of old industrial elements: red bricks, factory buildings, pipelines, large chimneys, machine tools, and other industrial implements and elements. After a series of renovations, it has been transformed into a leisure and entertainment park area.

Of course, what leaves memories is not only these elements but also the inheritance of industrial civilization. Besides the memory of old industry, there are also memories of life from the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s: bicycles, letters, red-lacquered wooden furniture, supply and marketing cooperatives—full of nostalgic feelings of old times.

It is a music hub. Here you can see musical instruments placed around. In this park, many musicians or music students, carrying a guitar or other instruments, dragging a speaker, come to perform live. Then many people stop by to watch and listen.

Even the bar owners play and sing themselves. There are many cafes, dessert shops, and bars in the park. When I passed a bar, the owner was playing and singing, so I chose that place without hesitation. The weather was just right, and at that moment I really enjoyed such a time. I love the atmosphere with live music performances.

At Dongjiao Memory, there are cafes and drink shops, but don't forget there is also a cozy nice place—of course, I have to mention the bookstore. For those who like slow living and enjoy a refined life, books are indispensable.

The most enjoyable time is to have an afternoon tea or coffee, reading a favorite book. Or watch a drama performance in some theater, experiencing an online movie-like feeling. Perhaps in such an environment, you will find that life can be so comfortable, and that you can enjoy the peace that time brings you.

It is precisely the industrial-style photography, musical enjoyment, and slow pace of life here that are exactly my favorite lifestyle and state. So for me, Dongjiao Memory Music Park is the best place for leisure.

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 to the past. There are countless ancient streets in China, but this one is unforgettable.

Jinli Ancient Street is close to Wuhou Shrine. It is neither wide nor narrow. On the surface, it looks no different from an ordinary alley, but once you walk in, you find it is actually very different. At the entrance, red lanterns are hung, and inside it is the same. All the way, there are long vertical lanterns, string after string, giving a feeling of browsing an ancient market.

As I went further in, a small ditch by the roadside caught my attention. There were many water plants in the river, the water was crystal clear, and many cute little goldfish were swimming everywhere. When tourists feed them, the goldfish immediately rush over to grab the food, their joyful mood causing ripples on the water. Where there is river water, the air is naturally good. These cute little lives give new vitality to the place. This is an ancient street full of life at all times.

Where there is beautiful scenery, there is naturally no shortage of food. Jinli Ancient Street has a wide variety of delicacies. Each shop hangs large plaques, offering everything from food to drink.

The names of the shops are particularly artistic, easily giving one a feeling of traveling back to the past. There are also many spicy skewers in roadside shops, 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 whose names I cannot recall.

Some also sell sugar-coated hawthorns, there are sugar figurine makers, antique sellers, paper fan sellers—everywhere.

There is also a flavor indispensable to ancient alleys: candy sellers. That kind of white hard candy can stick to your teeth, but it is especially sweet and delicious.

This is exactly the ancient street in my impression, perfectly interpreting my beautiful expectations for an ancient street. If time permits, I would love to take a set of portraits in the ancient street, holding an oil-paper umbrella, with a nice hairstyle, wearing ancient costume, strolling leisurely—it would surely be a different experience.

The surrounding shops are all antique in style, many decorations have an 'ancient flavor'. Everything doesn't feel modern. Even after walking out, that feeling remains fresh. Step into Jinli Ancient Street, and it recreates an ancient dream for you!

Chengdu Jiaoliao Boutique Hotel is located within the Kuanzhai Alley scenic area. In the bustling Kuanzhai Alley, it finds tranquility amidst noise, creating a place full of classical and elegant Chinese traditional cultural atmosphere.

From a tourism perspective, Jiaoliao Hotel is adjacent to Chengdu's Kuanzhai Alley and Jinli, making transportation very convenient. It's easy to experience local customs and characteristics nearby, such as snacks, Sichuan opera face-changing, etc., to enjoy Chengdu's cultural entertainment.

It can be said to be a quiet haven hidden in the bustling city, as if isolated from the noise of Kuanzhai Alley. Antique style, the sound of dripping water and birdsong together—everything is just right.

'Perhaps pity the clogs' teeth imprinted on moss, a gentle knock on the wood door long unanswered'—the ancient gate is awakened daily by the hustle and bustle of passersby, like an old man of seventy who has traveled through time, with the vicissitudes he has experienced, telling us unknown stories. Entering the hotel, every grass and tree is exquisitely tranquil, every bamboo and stone is elegantly charming.

The first impression of Jiaoliao Hotel is its new Chinese-style design full of natural atmosphere. The hotel extensively uses materials like mountains, water, stones, and bamboo, all very close to nature. The entire space layout is tranquil with plants and elegant with bamboo and rocks. According to the staff, the guest rooms cover about 1,400 square meters, and the suites include study, living room, kitchen and other functional areas. After hearing this, my friend and I couldn't help but marvel at this hotel's greatness!

It is said that the most special thing about this hotel is that it offers in-room SPA services, with a set of techniques tailor-made for the hotel. Combining local culture, environment, and climate with some traditional Chinese medical therapy methods, it creates the hotel's unique 'Jiaoliao Nest in the Woods'. It provides travelers with comprehensive services for body and mind cultivation and experiencing nature. After a short rest, we also tried the SPA. It was really nice; the massage therapist had skilled techniques, allowing us to enjoy total body relaxation in utmost comfort.

Every room here is equipped with facilities of international five-star hotels, from mattresses down to toiletries and smart toilets—all perfect and delightful. There is also 24-hour butler service. When we ring the bell, a butler responds. There is also a special butler window beside it; after hearing the call, the butler places what we need inside, which is convenient and doesn't disturb us. Overall, it's very good.

It's no exaggeration to describe this hotel as poetic and picturesque. Each room has a different name: Haolai, Fanli, Dapeng, Cangying, Ziran, Yanqian, Youwei, and many other room types. My friends and I stayed in Yanqian and Youwei, feeling that these two names are quite similar to us—a sort of fate.

Our room was surrounded by green bamboos, with mountains and water everywhere. Even on rainy days unsuitable for sightseeing, we could open the window and listen to the raindrops sliding down the bamboo. Turning off our phones, holding a good book, we enjoyed a slow life away from noise, escaping worldly worries, leisurely and content.

Only later did we gradually learn the origin of the hotel's name. It is said that the name Jiaoliao comes from Zhuangzi: 'The wren builds its nest in the deep forest, using no more than one branch.' This embodies the desire to stay away from the mundane world amidst noise, abandon disturbances, guard one's heart, return to nature, and be free and unfettered.

Jiaoliao Boutique Hotel is a sound of a secluded stream in the noise, and even more, two unique flowers in the mundane world. Drawn from natural humanity, constructed with delicate emotions, it creates another way of life.

Giving you wind in the courtyard and moon on the eaves, allowing you to savor Zen charm and elegance among mountains, forests, rocks, and bamboos, fully enjoying the delight of freedom.

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