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

Winter stirs emotions the most; thoughts still linger in autumn, and in an instant, winter arrives.

Winter in Chengdu seems to unfold in a slow-paced life, yet its scenery is endlessly captivating.

Initially, winter in Chengdu was a world of verdant green, where indoors felt colder than outdoors.

Now, winter in Chengdu is a colorful world, an impressionist painting that draws you in; it is a poetic spiritual realm, a wondrous adventure in a gourmet 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 been to Chengdu feels a lingering attachment.

The leisurely Fu River, the bustling Chunxi Road, the idle street-side tea houses, the lively suburban farmhouse fun—

Like a vivid sound-and-color painting, like a bowl of mellow aged wine, they permeate every visitor to Chengdu.

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

Amid this intensity, there is also a heartwarming touch: hotpot skewers, Sichuan-style spicy dishes, and other snacks, along with the soft lights of small street-side shops, will long linger in the hearts of many Chengdu visitors.

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

Day 2: Taiziling Ski Resort

Day 3: Gua Chuan Chuan (Tianfu Square) → Bie Yuan Li Bar (Kuanzhai Alley)

With nothing much to do on the weekend, my friends and I decided to embark on a food-and-travel adventure, enjoying beautiful scenery while indulging in the taste sensations of delicious food. We woke up early this morning, got ready, and met up with friends. However, instead of heading straight to a restaurant, we first went somewhere to have fun, 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 hopped on a bus and went.

Upon arrival, we found quite a crowd, after all it's the weekend, with many parents bringing their children out to play, do activities, and bask in the sun.

Tazishan Park is located in the hilly area of eastern Chengdu, with vast terrain, lush trees, and a tranquil environment. Nestled against hills and water, the plants are arranged according to the terrain, verdant and lush, with birdsong and floral fragrance year-round.

The park's main building, Jiutian Tower, takes its name from the famous poem "Climbing Jin City Sanhua Tower" by the poet Li Bai: "Now that I've come to climb and gaze, it feels like a tour of the Nine Heavens." Jiutian Tower looks like a pagoda from afar and a building up close, with a novel and unique design—a magnificent landmark garden landscape of Chengdu. Ascending Jiutian Tower, one can take in the beauty of Chengdu, refreshing the mind and spirit.

The park also features a Bird Singing Forest, which gathers nearly 150 species of about 5,000 birds from around the world, including over 20 species under national first- and second-level protection. The Bird Singing Forest emphasizes bird science education and highlights bird performances, offering both entertainment and knowledge for children.

Additionally, this is a great place for people to play, relax, fish, enjoy entertainment, climb the tower for views, have picnics, and sip tea.

Lawns, lakes, pavilions, and paths offer a rustic charm, perfect for bringing kids to run wild. Besides, Tazishan Park is also the main venue for the annual Chengdu Lantern Festival!

It's indeed a wonderful place with everything for leisure and entertainment. Before we knew it, we had spent over three hours here, and it was already past 4 p.m. No wonder I felt a bit hungry—exploring sure makes you hungry fast. Then we set off for our final destination: Yuan Gong on Chunxi Road, which is incredibly popular. I had heard colleagues talking about it all the time, and finally I had the chance to try it. Checking the navigation, it wasn't far; we took a bus there.

This restaurant is located on Xuedao Street near Chunxi Road, quite close to the city center, a peaceful place amidst the hustle and bustle. The decor is very down-to-earth, in a vintage Chinese style, tastefully decorated.

Turning from the lobby into the dining area, it was very spacious with many private rooms, adorned with flowers, giving off a unique charm.

After finding our seats, we began our feast. The first dishes I want to recommend are these: super delicious, super tasty.

Soy-Fragrant Whole Fish: The fish is silver carp with many bones, so be careful when eating. The flesh is especially tender and flavorful, smooth and delicious, absolutely irresistible.

Longmen Hanging Meat: A special attendant helps cut the meat and plate it. The meat is crispy and tender, the outer coating perfectly fried, so addictive.

Yuan Gong Sliced Local Chicken: Mostly chicken slices with skin, mixed with scallion slices, refreshing, drizzled with secret chili oil, just the right spiciness.

Yuan Gong Signature Rabbit: A combination of double-pepper rabbit and clams, incredibly fresh and savory, with a numbing and spicy flavor perfect for rice. Generous portions, absolutely my favorite.

After eating and drinking our fill, it was time to go home. After a full day of fun, it was time to return to dreams and savor the endless deliciousness.

A decade passes like a rainy night, the world is chaotic.

What remains constant are the Kuan and Zhai alleys; what changes are people's hearts. We are never quite satisfied with this bustling world. After experiencing the most beautiful scenes, we suddenly realize that even noisy places have their quiet moments. Right in the center of Kuanzhai Alley stands the Jiaoliao Hotel.

Amid the noisy crowd, we gently pushed open this story-filled door. While waiting for the butler to open it, the old door itself became a sight we couldn't ignore. The door is made of red bean wood, untouched by restoration, retaining its original appearance. The middle depicts traditional Chinese door gods. The left door god holds a peony, the right one holds a jue (an ancient wine vessel), together meaning promotion and advancement. It is said this design is meant to wish guests of Jiaoliao a flourishing career and steady promotion, guiding us back to the most natural state of life.

Pushing the door open, we saw a long corridor. The blue-tiled walls on both sides contrasted sharply with the steel-and-concrete high-rises. For those of us tired of the fast-paced city life, the blue tiles seemed to soothe our constantly tense nerves, making us want to touch and get close.

As we passed through the corridor, birds hopped and chirped on both sides, becoming unusually lively at our arrival, chirping incessantly. Though we couldn't understand their language, we could feel their warm welcome.

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

Upon entering our room, the overall color scheme was light, natural wood tones without any other decorative colors.

From the bed to the wardrobe, window frames, tables, and chairs, everything was made of smooth, polished phoenix tree wood, used directly. The amenities were quite complete—even better than my own home. This way of living close to nature was exactly what we needed.

We noticed that each room has orchids, surrounded by bamboo. Looking closely, we could see chrysanthemums carved on some reliefs, creating a very elegant atmosphere. With the dim yellow lighting, the entire room felt warm; the details revealed understated luxury.

The hotel's facilities were truly high-end, adhering to five-star hotel standards, providing us with an ultimate stay experience. The mattress, Kohler bathroom fixtures, and smart toilet—everything was perfect, giving us the best enjoyment. Running our fingers through every corner of the room, we could feel the owner's thoughtfulness, and we felt a little moved inside.

There was also a SPA room in the guest suite, which we really appreciated. After a day of sightseeing and exhaustion, we could lie in the SPA room, enjoy the masseur's service, relax our muscles and bones, and savor long-lost comfort.

At Jiaoliao, dwelling among mountains, forests, rocks, and bamboo, savoring Zen elegance, we fully enjoyed the pleasure of carefree living—a poetic residence. The bustling Kuanzhai Alley sees a constant stream of people every day. Beyond the long streets of flowing crowds, amid the quiet of prosperity, Jiaoliao silently watches the comings and goings.

Yesterday we tasted Yuan Gong, strolled through 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. Winter has arrived as promised, with a chill in the cold wind, but it can't stop us from moving forward. Today we decided to visit the famous Taiziling Ski Resort to experience the unique charm of ice and snow.

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

What attracts so many visitors is not just its popularity but also strong technical support. The resort is equipped with pure imported ELAN skis that have supported many Taiziling ski competitions, as well as various professional ski equipment from HEAD, BURTON, and NORDICA, attracting many professionals to show off their skills. It truly is the largest, most beautiful, and most professional ski resort in Southwest China.

Upon arriving at the ski resort, the first thing is to buy tickets at the main gate, then rent ski gear: boots, skis, poles, and other equipment. Today was packed—we had to queue for a long time, showing just how popular this place is.

Finally, we got to ski. It was fun, but for a group of beginners, we kept falling. Two hours was our limit, and there were so many people crowded on the beginner slope, not far from the entrance.

When skiing under the sun, it's both hot and bright, with strong UV rays. Be sure to apply sunscreen and wear sunglasses; don't wear too many clothes—just keep it comfortable. For beginners, it's advisable to hire an instructor; otherwise, you'll fall a lot.

You must wear gloves and sunglasses when skiing; a helmet is required for intermediate slopes. Skis can be adjusted according to boot size. Once you're properly geared up, you can enter the ski area.

There are plenty of places to eat inside the scenic area—hotpot, soup pots, etc. The food is tasty, aromatic, and visually appealing, almost heavenly. Outside our dining hall, there was a glass sunroom where people could take photos, drink tea, relax, enjoy the sunshine, and admire the view. It was quite nice!

Actually, the scenery at Jiuding Mountain is beautiful, and Taiziling Ski Resort is the most professional ski resort in Sichuan we've visited so far. It has beginner, intermediate, and advanced slopes with various gradients for visitors to choose from. The altitude is about 2,500 meters, similar to Wolong, so altitude sickness is unlikely. The resort has 2.5 km of ski runs.

Relying on Jiuding Mountain's unique natural terrain, high altitude, and abundant vegetation, the ski resort has fresh air with a high concentration of negative oxygen ions. It's neither too cold in winter nor too hot in summer, with a pleasant climate—a rare natural eco-resort near Chengdu, perfect for skiing and relaxation.

Waking up early this morning, I suddenly had the idea to visit Tianfu Square. After discussing with 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 quite close.

Once there, we found a huge crowd—indeed, on weekends, everyone wants to relax.

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

The Sun Bird stands in the center of Tianfu Square. It is the intersection of Metro Line 1, Line 2, and the soon-to-open Line 18, the central hub of Chengdu's southeast-northwest transportation artery.

It is one of the hot check-in spots for tourists visiting Chengdu from other places, always bustling with people. What impressed me most was the strong patriotic atmosphere at Tianfu Square on the eve of National Day this year—it deeply moved me.

The biggest highlights of Tianfu Square are:

1. The architectural beauty of the square itself: a Taiji pattern with "xiang"-shaped building pillars on both sides—this Taiji landscape is best captured from above.

2. Its historical significance: it has always been an important landmark around the imperial city, and now it is the economic and cultural center of Chengdu.

3. Transportation hub: you can transfer to metro lines here, surrounded by exhibition halls. With convenient transportation, if you arrange to meet here, you'll easily find each other.

After touring Tianfu Square, it was time for lunch. Today we unanimously decided to eat at Gua Chuan Chuan. Although it's on Jinfangyuan East Road, transportation was convenient, so it wouldn't take too much time to go back and forth.

Upon getting off the bus, we saw a shop with classic, elegant decoration that looked quite stylish.

Red as the main tone, wooden tables and stools gave a sense of comfort. The space was spacious with clear functional zones for convenient selection and dining.

What deserves the most praise is the food—super delicious.

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

Brown Sugar Ciba: A favorite for dessert lovers—soft, sticky, smooth, and chewy. Take a bite, and the rice and sweet aromas dance in your mouth. Very tasty!

Spicy Hot Pot Rice Noodles: Spicy and numbing. When you encounter such a bowl, throw caution to the wind and just gobble it up! The texture is so good—I guarantee that whenever I crave hot pot noodles, I'll come here.

Spicy Tripe: Tripe with bean sprouts is a great combination. The tripe shreds are thin and springy, with the right amount of numbing and spiciness intertwining in your mouth.

The freezer also offers a variety of meat and vegetable skewers for you to choose from. Action speaks louder than words—start eating!

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

As the saying goes, "After a meal, walk a hundred steps; you'll live to ninety-nine." So after eating, we went for a stroll to start the evening fun.

The best place for an after-dinner walk is undoubtedly Kuanzhai Alley. It not only showcases the life of old and new Chengdu but also represents Chengdu's slow-paced lifestyle, perfectly fitting the idyllic state of "one step bustling, one step serene."

My friend and I strolled arm in arm, as if cutting out a slice of leisurely time. We sniffed the scent of time and slowly, unhurriedly followed the wide and narrow alleys, strolling at ease.

Stepping on the soft light of time, we entered the alleys. The leisure and slowness here made us mistakenly think that time had forgotten to change, that the story still happened yesterday.

Clean blue bricks and black tiles, old-fashioned wooden doors and windows, horse-tie stones by old walls, old tea houses under the eaves, lush plane trees—these ancient and clear objects seem separated from the city's noise by a soundproof wall. The dust of the mundane world has been filtered clean. A thousand-year-old dream of ancient Shu, in a turn or a glance, lightly falls on the threshold of memory, stunning in an instant.

Time is warm and soft. Tourists from north and south come and go, brushing past like flowing water, shallow ripples of waves, smiling chatter. Original residents, simple inns, exquisite doorways, towering ancient trees, lidded bowl tea houses, copper-ringed wooden doors, bluestone water vats, and trailing vines and flowers from blue walls… form its unique attraction and Chengdu vocabulary, presenting modern people's memory of a city.

Walking in Kuanzhai Alley, the sun was gentle, flowers were blooming, and the dazzling window displays kept our eyes busy. We wandered here and there. Small shops full of Zen spirit, with exquisite tea sets and rich tea aroma; stylish restaurants with leaping fountains and hazy light effects; ornate windows with Jiangnan-style clothings and small fans;

At the deep corners of the alleys, young people lying down for ear cleaning or setting up portrait stalls; classical and elegant inns with singing opera tunes and red lanterns… Here, time is slow, life is leisurely, and our footsteps naturally become very light and slow.

Chengdu locals, after a busy day, now also stroll hand-in-hand with their families. Old and young, male and female, in small groups, they walk in the alleys, looking, talking, laughing, eating… The leisurely nightlife, like a dream, now begins…

After wandering Kuanzhai, dusk was approaching. We arrived at our last stop for today—Bie Yuan Li Bar. As soon as we entered the shop, we were attracted by its unique charm. Walking into the lobby, looking up, we met the colorful play of light and shadow.

At Bie Yuan Li, your eyes are always filled with stars. This fantasy moving light—the lights move, the light moves—offers an excellent visual experience.

All indoor plants are vibrant and full of life. The room is filled with a romantic atmosphere, like a utopia for young people. Two-story loft plus an open-air garden drops you into the gentle embrace of the night, slowly stirring your taut nerves. Booths and private rooms fully satisfy your desire for unrestrained conversation. Ha, it's perfect for a gathering of friends.

The tenderness of Bie Yuan Li hides in its ingenious arrangements: flower arrangements on tables, dazzling lights, a full wall of wine storage, uniform Jingdezhen blue-and-white porcelain tableware, and Chinese-style eaves… It's a fusion of culture and trends, overturning the impression of an ordinary bar. I felt like I was attending a splendid art exhibition.

Here, we not only encountered various delicious flavors but also felt the splendid vibes.

Long Island Iced Tea: Boys who love the intoxication of alcohol must not miss the classic Long Island Iced Tea. This most storied strong cocktail has an explosive power and a heavy aftertaste. It looks light, but it's a "heart-arsonist."

Doujiu Osmanthus: When you come to Bie Yuan Li Music Bar, how can you not have doujiu? I chose doujiu osmanthus first. Its light color is stunningly beautiful. The floral fragrance of osmanthus liquor is prominent; it tastes fresh. One bowl down, I just want to roam the world with my beloved.

Ancient Qiang Wheat Straw Zha Jiu: The story continues, and the wine must not stop. While we were drinking merrily, the owner mysteriously said, "Our zha jiu is really interesting—want to try?" Served on the table, this zha jiu with straws as straws has a wild aura. If you want to drink it, you have to use a wheat straw—very fun.

Handmade Stir-Fried Tangyuan: A bit like mini sweet-oil dumplings, coated in a layer of brown sugar syrup. Soft, sticky, sweet, and fragrant—these tangyuan are today's sweet treat, reminding me of the taste my grandmother used to make.

Fruit Platter: A combination of various fruits, crisp and refreshing, fresh and delicious—very tasty.

I was truly won over by this place—awesome. It's a place I'll revisit.

The significance of food and scenery is not about escape, hiding, acquisition, or recording.

It's about changing your worldview in an environment beyond imagination, gradually altering what you truly consider important.