[Tongue's Adventure] / A Feast of Gluttony, Chengdu's Beauty Captivates the World!

Fingertips: The only loves in life are beautiful scenery and delicious food, which should not be let down.

Some say that when we think of Chengdu, we don't think of the city's name but of countless delicacies. Because Chengdu is a city filled with food. In every alley and on every street of this city, you can encounter a lot of delicious food and interesting snacks anytime, anywhere.

And the enthusiasm of Chengdu locals for eating has led to the highly developed catering industry in Chengdu. Every out-of-town visitor to Chengdu is full of interest in Chengdu's hotpot, Sichuan cuisine, snacks, and malatang. Coming to Chengdu without enjoying the food always makes one feel like entering a treasure mountain and returning empty-handed.

One: Taiziling Ski Resort → Gua Chuanchuan (Jinli) Two: Bieyuan Li Bar (Wuhou Temple) Three: Yuan Gong (People's Park) → Jiaoliao Hotel

One | One · Everyone has a skiing dream in their heart.

It is said that Chengdu locals have three treasures in winter: eating hotpot, soaking in hot springs, and going skiing. In this chilly season, the most comfortable things are these three.

And the place where you can best feel the snow and ice world, besides Xiling Snow Mountain, is the Taiziling Ski Resort on Jiuding Mountain, a three-and-a-half-hour drive from Chengdu. Friends who love skiing might join us to experience the passion of winter.

"Among the many immortal mountains in Shu, Jiuding is called unique." Taiziling Ski Resort in Mao County's Jiuding Mountain is the professional top choice in Sichuan's winter tourism skiing market, providing tourists with a scenic area that integrates skiing and sightseeing, becoming a great winter destination for many outdoor sports enthusiasts.

Arriving at the ski resort, you'll find there are not only three beginner slopes, totaling 290 meters; three intermediate slopes, totaling 390 meters; and three advanced slopes, totaling 2,630 meters. On top of the advanced slope, there is a cable car directly to the mountaintop, and looking down from there, the scenery is incredibly beautiful—the earth is covered in silver, stunningly beautiful.

The resort also has multiple play projects suitable for children of all ages. You can watch the snow, have snowball fights, take photos, and ski, and you can also take children to the kids' play area for sledding. No matter your skiing skills, you can find a suitable slope here to play to your heart's content.

Besides play projects, eating and accommodation are also the most concerned issues for everyone. To meet the needs of different tourists, the ski resort also provides multiple price ranges for food and accommodation. The resort is equipped with the Hemingzhuang Holiday Hotel, with over 70 guest rooms of various types. The rooms are decorated with wooden sauna boards combined with Qiang ethnic style and have 24-hour heating.

The resort has two dining areas that can accommodate 2,000 people at the same time. They serve hotpot chicken, beef offal hotpot, etc., which are delicious and appetizing just by looking. They also offer Tibetan-Qiang style delicacies made from plateau yak meat, lamb, wild vegetables, and alpine wild mushrooms.

The altitude of Taiziling is close to 3,000 meters, and the temperature is relatively low. For those who don't exercise, it's recommended to dress warmly. Once the sun comes out and you start moving, it's actually not cold but quite hot. Parents should remember to bring an extra set of clothes for their children, as playing can easily make them sweat and wet their clothes. Skiing equipment can be brought or rented. If you don't ski often, renting is more cost-effective. Don't worry if you can't ski; there are instructors to teach you hand in hand.

Relying on the unique natural terrain of Jiuding Mountain Scenic Area, plateau altitude, and rich vegetation, the resort's air is fresh with high negative oxygen ion content, so the snow quality is the rare powder snow found in ordinary ski resorts.

In winter, 80% of the days are sunny with good weather, and daytime temperatures can even reach 20°C. Tourists at this sunny ski resort can enjoy skiing while staying away from smog, close to the blue sky, and basking in the sunshine.

| Two · What is worth waiting a lifetime for might also be Gua Chuanchuan

A city has its own history and culture, as well as its unique characteristic blocks. To understand the history and culture of a city, you should step into its characteristic blocks, learn about the cultural origins and stories of famous figures, touch the historical remnants up close, and feel the bustling commercial atmosphere and lively flavors that have continued through the changes of the times.

With rare leisure time and family accompanying us, we decided to stroll around Jinli, enjoying the sights and savoring slowly. If Kuanzhai Alley is classical and literary, like a crescent moon in a mirror of time, then Jinli is bustling and secular, like a few fireworks blooming outside that mirror.

Entering Jinli, the tempting flavors of food hit you in the face. Shops are wide open, mainly selling food and drinks. Fresh fruits and delicacies, carefully arranged, appear faintly in the mist; looking at their beautiful shapes, discerning their fresh colors, and smelling their fragrant scents, your mouth waters uncontrollably, unable to resist.

Beside the shops, there are Sichuan opera performers in makeup greeting customers. They mimic the movements from the opera, suddenly shrinking their necks and stretching their heads, turning a white face into a red one, startling you. Before you can be surprised or annoyed, they pull a funny face to make you burst out laughing. This amusement instantly lifts your mood.

When we first went, the sky was clear, and strolling through Jinli with fewer tourists gave it a hazy, classical charm. The streets and alleys of Jinli are not wide, but on both sides, ancient buildings face each other, with strings of red lanterns hanging high and low, either under upturned eaves or on tree branches, flickering in the hazy rain, full of unique charm.

Walking on the ancient street feels like walking in the artistic conception of a harmonious poem. Carved windows and doors, ancient walls draped with creeping vines, and winding corridors deep in the distance are like the background of a poem, contrasting elegance with vicissitudes and vitality.

Jinli is an ancient street suited for nostalgia and a place that appeals to both refined and popular tastes. Here, you can find memories of Chengdu from the Three Kingdoms period and also enjoy a leisurely life in a fast-paced city.

After strolling through Jinli, we got hungry. It seems food's temptation is strong. We decided to take the family to Gua Chuanchuan at Jinfangyuan East Road. We heard it was good. Upon arrival, we found the environment was really nice.

The overall decoration features blue bricks and green tiles, with red walls full of festive joy. The space is spacious, with clear functional zoning. The Chinese retro style adds unique charm to this shop, making it truly antique and elegant.

Although we thought it was still early, once inside, we realized it was a different world. There were incredibly many people; the entire hall was full, with chatter everywhere, but it didn't affect the enthusiasm of those waiting in line outside. Indeed, good taste is king—this is the true nature of Chengdu foodies.

Soup base: Authentic Chengdu method for preparing the broth, a cold pot skewer that's spicy and comfortable. The super-concentrated broth is freshly boiled every day, with red oil covering the secret broth base. Full of ingredients simmered from morning until noon opening. Fragrant but not numbing, spicy but not dry. This flavor simply can't be imitated; only recipes passed down from the older generation can be called old Chengdu flavor.

70+ types of skewers to choose from: Six large freezers make your eyes dizzy. Five-star cold chain protects the ingredients. Fresh ingredients carefully selected daily, marinated with care, skewered. Meat and vegetables are optional; after eating, the sticks are weighed. Take whatever you want and start the crazy skewer-eating mode!

Handmade special double dipping sauce: How fragrant is the dry dip? The combo of crushed peanuts + chili powder easily wins. Roll lightly for a peanut aroma. The tedious handmade process makes it unique. The oil dip includes sesame oil, minced garlic, and green onions, also a great helper to reduce spiciness and add flavor.

Beef skewers are versatile: Give me a slice of beef, and I can roll a world. Five-spice, spicy, cilantro, pickled pepper, green onion. Beef must be marinated in secret sauce for two to three hours. Plump pickled peppers plus tender beef, a hint of green between red meat is particularly striking. The heavy flavor bursts on the tongue when eaten. The thick beef cubes wrap the pickled peppers ready to burst with juice. Mouth says no, but body is honest, sending skewers one after another into the mouth.

Small sausages: Small sausages are a Chengdu specialty. Round little sausages with balanced fat and lean, cut to a suitable size. The slightly sweet taste is very Cantonese style. The sweet and spicy dual flavor is fascinating, relieving spiciness while doubling satisfaction! You won't regret coming to this shop; it's so delicious you can't stop.

Two | One · Bar "Boss", find your own intoxication

Hearing the name "Wuhou," those who have read the Three Kingdoms must be familiar. That's right, it's the alias of the famous Zhuge Liang, "Zhuge Wuhou." If your favorite kingdom in "Romance of the Three Kingdoms" is Shu, then Chengdu's famous attraction—Wuhou Temple—is a must-see. It will surely satisfy all your desires.

Soon it was afternoon. My family and I planned to visit Wuhou Temple to experience the legendary stories of the Three Kingdoms and fulfill our Three Kingdoms dream.

It is said that Wuhou Temple was first built in 223 AD. Initially built as a mausoleum for Liu Bei, later generations merged his mausoleum with Zhuge Liang's shrine, resulting in the existing joint temple of ruler and minister, the only one of its kind in China.

The heroes of the ever-changing Shu Kingdom have turned to dust here; their great achievements are buried and rest here. All historical stories have settled and fermented here, giving rise to the weighty Wuhou Temple, a place to commemorate the heroes of the Shu Han.

From Sanyi Temple to Wuhou Temple, from the Oath of the Peach Garden to Three Visits to the Thatched Cottage, this leads to the main hall of Zhuge Liang's shrine. In the center of the hall hangs a horizontal plaque reading "Name Resonates Across the Universe," which is surely the highest praise for Master Zhuge. The upper couplet reads: "If you can win hearts, opposition will naturally disappear; since ancient times, those who know war are not fond of fighting." The lower couplet reads: "If you do not assess the situation, leniency and strictness are both wrong; later generations governing Shu must think deeply."

These two lines highly summarize Zhuge Liang's loyalty and ambition to serve Shu with all his might until his death. He used his entire life to repay the kindness of the three visits. Wuhou Temple is not large; located in the bustling city, it occupies a small area, and you can walk through it in about an hour. Yet Wuhou Temple is also vast, because it carries not just a scenic spot but the history of a dynasty, a tribute and remembrance of that era.

Walking and stopping along the way, we turned into quiet paths, admired bonsai, watched flowers and plants, and smelled subtle fragrances. We looked at the intertwined ancient trees, observed the ingenious arched bridge and water reflections, and sighed at the scarred remnants of Han palaces. With a sense of respect for the Shu Kingdom, we slowly walked out.

In Chengdu, a city known for leisure, there are many bars of all sizes. But a bar like Bieyuan Li, surrounded by greenery, lit by neon lights, and filled with various alcohols and snacks, is the only one of its kind in Chengdu. To provide consumers with a better in-store experience, they specially invited a lighting design company to create the lighting effects.

We couldn't waste the evening time; we planned to take the family to Bieyuan Li to enjoy the cozy night.

Entering the store, as the lights turned on, the whole bar became a colorful neon world. Under the interplay of light and shadow, colorful lights resembled stars in the sky, shining brightly in the bar, instantly enhancing the entertainment and leisure atmosphere.

The bar's alcohols are as rich as their lights. Foreign liquor, Chinese-style cocktails, cocktails, and pure imported beer are all available! Basically, whatever you want to drink, you can find it here!

Night Suit Mask Kiss: A rose wine that is beautiful enough to be favored by ladies, with a refreshing rose fragrance. Since the alcohol content is not high, it's a good choice for small gatherings with sisters or leisurely moments. The rose flavor is not strong when you first taste it, but the wine's flavor becomes clearer as you go, intoxicating you.

Ancient Qiang Wheat Straw Zha Wine: A blue-and-white porcelain wine bottle with a strong Jianghu vibe! Wheat straws serve as straws, sipping the wine amidst laughter and chatter, giving it a unique flavor.

Barbecue Platter: Fine wine and grilled skewers are an inseparable couple. Eating barbecue without alcohol feels like betraying the party! Small sausages, shrimp, corn kernels, dried tofu, green beans, and many other items—spicy, numbing, fresh, and fragrant—can satisfy different people's appetites.

Lemongrass Grilled Fish: Besides barbecue, this grilled fish is a must-order dish. Although the fish is not large, its aroma already captivated us. The addition of lemongrass makes the fish's fragrance fresher! After frying, the fish is crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, smooth and delicious. Sitting and playing in such a music bar is the best way to enjoy leisure and comfort.

| Two · Sichuan Cuisine on the Tip of the Tongue, Unforgettable Yuan Gong

What people call Chengdu's leisurely life is not the office buildings in the High-tech Zone, not the crowded Kuanzhai Alley, nor the street photography on Chunxi Road. Come to People's Park—this is the place Chengdu locals most look forward to in life.

People's Park, with a history of 100 years, serves as a material and spiritual carrier, storing the real old Chengdu life. On weekends, People's Park becomes the most lively place.

There are two old tea houses in the park: Yongju and Heming, with Heming being the most famous. It was first built in the 1920s, nearly a hundred years old, almost as old as People's Park. Hence it is called Hundred-Year Heming. You must learn to be quick; because Heming is always full, you need to grab a seat as soon as someone leaves. Once seated, an auntie in blue-and-white porcelain style clothing will come to clear the table and let you order tea.

The playground is the place with the highest decibels. The sounds of children playing, laughing, and shouting fill the air. Small trains, carousels, roller coasters—every child and big kid can find their source of joy.

But the most popular activity in People's Park is still boating. The colorfully mottled small boats are imprinted with the childhoods of Chengdu locals since the last century. It's most crowded when the weather is good; you need to queue for boating. Young parents often bring their children here to boat, enjoying the happy family time, and there are also young couples on dates. In short, whoever is on the boat, they are as happy as children.

After strolling through the park, we planned to take the family to Yuan Gong on Chunxi Road. A friend told us this shop is an authentic Zigong-style Sichuan cuisine restaurant, quite popular and bustling, so we came to taste it today.

By the time we arrived, many people were already dining! The decoration of this shop is quite down-to-earth, with an antique environment that is very attractive. The atmosphere highlights old Chengdu's characteristics. The private rooms, main hall, and booths are all tastefully designed, decorated with flowers and clusters, revealing a unique charm.

Many customers here are tourists visiting Chengdu. The dishes they ordered are typical Chengdu specialties. Mao Xue Wang, local chicken slices, and signature rabbit are reasons I must visit. I haven't eaten such spicy and fragrant dishes for a long time; big thumbs up!

Yuan Gong Local Chicken Slices: Chicken slices are tender and delicious, with great taste. Added with green onions and white onion slices, it's refreshing and tasty. Drizzled with secret red oil seasoning, the spiciness is just right.

Longmen Hanging Meat: The preparation is like frying whole crispy pork. The waitress cuts it while saying auspicious words, adding nice ceremony. The meat is tender, smooth, and even better with chili powder dip.

Yuan Gong Signature Rabbit: Tender and smooth rabbit meat pairs with juicy clams, instantly elevating the texture layers. It's both fragrant and spicy, and it tastes great.

Yuan Gong Braised Duck: Duck meat is tender and tasty, with a strong braised aroma. Especially the skin part is smooth and delicious, with excellent texture.

Huoshui Silver Carp: The silver carp is quite large. The back is sliced with a knife for better flavor absorption. The fish meat is snow-white and tender. The celery and green pepper segments are especially delicious—my absolute favorite! Such delicacies cannot be missed; action speaks louder than words.

| Two · Natural Humanity, Exquisite Sentiments | The Unique Charm of Jiaoliao

Jiaoliao, a place whose name makes you want to know more. The name comes from Zhuangzi's "Xiaoyao You": "The wren builds its nest in the deep forest, using no more than one branch; the field mouse drinks from the river, taking no more than a bellyful." In this insatiable world, we must not be too greedy. Try to be "unmoved by praise from the whole world, and not disheartened by blame from the whole world; determine the distinction between internal and external, and discern the boundary between honor and disgrace." Perhaps such a state is too difficult, hence Jiaoliao exists, allowing us to slow down and let go of a corner of pursuit.

Jiaoliao Hotel is a sturdy branch in this vast forest, seeking only carefree roaming, unwilling to drag in the mud. It draws on old Chengdu culture, pursuing a 'slow life' in the busy city, returning to a natural state of living.

Pushing open the door, a corridor comes into view. At the end of the corridor hangs a plaque reading 'Ride on things to roam the spirit,' from Zhuangzi's 'The World of Men.' Understanding its meaning, I can't help but admire the great wisdom of Master Zhuang.

After entering the hotel, we looked through all four floors. The design and decoration of this hotel are really good, giving a comfortable and cozy feeling. During the tour, we found that every room has its own unique name, such as Yanqian, Youwei, Shiwei, etc. We planned to stay in Yanqian because when we first saw the name, we liked it. It seemed to contain deep meaning, leaving us with endless imagination.

The security of this hotel is also very good. Guest rooms require swiping a card or the butler to open the door. After confirming our stay, the hotel butler gave us a wren-shaped room card, cute and charming! Looking closely, we noticed there is a butler service window outside the door. Opening it, we found it connected inside and out. When we call, the butler places what we need inside, and we just take it. This thoughtful design is convenient and doesn't disturb guests.

Although Jiaoliao looks quaint and rustic from the outside, the items in the room are consistent with five-star hotels. For example, mattresses, linens, bathroom fixtures, and automatic toilets—hardware facilities are excellent. Various decorations are complete and neatly arranged, everything appearing so comfortable and cozy. Various brand equipment subtly reflects the hotel's high-end and sophistication—we absolutely loved it! My friend kept saying it's more welcoming than home.

After coming in, we noticed that on the bedside of every room, there is a affectionate wren gazing deeply, as if in deep thought or listening. In each room, the wren's expression and pose are different. We treated it as our listener, trying to converse with it, pouring out all our unspeakable troubles to this little creature that can only be understood but not explained. After speaking out all the unhappiness, we felt much better.

On the TV wall, a large hand-embroidered Shu peony blooms, and there are jumping koi on Shu brocade. Touching them, we couldn't help but admire the mature craftsmanship and long culture of our ancestors. Overall, the room is full of elements of Sichuan traditional culture, allowing us to feel the cultural influence while staying. My friends and I often travel and have stayed in some good hotels, but one as thoughtful and considerate as this is rare. We definitely made the right choice this time.

The room also provides four types of top-grade Mengding tea. Drinking too many carbonated drinks usually burdens us. When we settle down, brewing a cup of tea and savoring nature's gift makes us feel refreshed and invigorated.

My friend and I also found that the most thoughtful part of this hotel is not only the room configuration and decoration but also the excellent butler service. They can customize travel routes, travel plans, and solve any problems encountered in the hotel for guests. Even our breakfast every morning can be customized according to our taste and time, delivered to the room. Lunch is at Zifei, the first cultural dining in Kuanzhai Alley themed on Zhuangzi culture. It integrates culture, Sichuan cuisine, drinking games, and performances, leading you into pavilions, antique zithers, and song dramas. Waking up in the morning, pushing open the wooden window, breathing the first breeze and first ray of sunshine in Kuanzhai Alley, so refreshing and pleasant. After washing up, we enjoyed the hotel's customized breakfast, filled with gratitude.

After eating, we stood in the small garden breathing fresh air, admiring the clear night sky, brewing a cup of hot tea, and exploring the stories of time in this ancient alley up close.

Observing carefully, we noticed a spider weaving its web on the roof opposite, and a drifting leaf falling on the table... Look, everything is striving to grow!

In the busy and noisy city, there is always a leisurely, cozy place to relax your body and mind.