Chengdu, Charm Is Everywhere~
Some say, when mentioning Chengdu, we think not of a city name but of various foods. Because Chengdu is a city full of food. In every alley and every street of this city, you can encounter a lot of food and many interesting snacks anytime, anywhere. And the enthusiasm of Chengdu people for eating has also led to the high development of Chengdu's catering industry. Any out-of-town tourist who comes to Chengdu is full of interest in its hot pot, Sichuan cuisine, snacks, malatang, etc. Not eating delicious food when in Chengdu always gives one the feeling of entering a treasure mountain and returning empty-handed.
A city has its own history and culture, as well as its own characteristic neighborhoods. To understand a city's history and culture, one should step into its characteristic neighborhoods, learn about the cultural origins and anecdotes of famous people it carries, touch the lingering warmth of its history up close, and feel the atmosphere of bustling commerce and the flavor of indulgence that have been passed down through the ages amid the changes of the times. With rare leisure time and family accompanying us, we decided to take a stroll around Jinli, enjoying the sights as we go and savoring slowly.
If Kuanzhai Alley is classical and literary, like a crescent moon in a mirror of time, then Jinli is bustling and worldly, like fireworks blooming outside the mirror of time. Walking into Jinli, the tempting aroma of delicious food hits you. Shops are open one after another, mainly selling food and drinks. Fresh fruits and delicacies, carefully decorated, appear and disappear in the mist. Looking at their beautiful shapes, discerning their fresh colors, sniffing their fragrant smells, one's mouth waters and one cannot stop.
Next to the storefronts, there are Sichuan opera young male performers in costume greeting guests. They mimic the actions from opera scripts, suddenly retracting their neck and sticking out their head, turning a white face into a red face, startling you. Before you can be surprised or annoyed, they pull you and make a funny face, causing you to burst into laughter. This teasing and fun instantly lifts your mood.
When we first went, the sky was clear, and strolling through Jinli with fewer tourists, it had a particularly hazy and classical charm. The streets of Jinli are not wide, but ancient buildings on both sides face each other. Strings of red lanterns, high and low, hang under the upturned eaves or on tree branches, twinkling in the misty rain, with unique charm.
Strolling in the ancient street, it feels like walking in a poetic atmosphere of harmonious rhythm. Carved and lattice windows, ancient walls overgrown with trailing ivy, and winding corridors leading to secluded spots are like the background of a poem. In the varying shades of elegance, there is a contrast between aged vicissitudes and vibrant life.
Jinli is an ancient street suitable for nostalgia, and also 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 the fast-paced city.
Hearing the name 'Wuhou', those who have read the Three Kingdoms must be familiar. Yes, this is the alias of the great Zhuge Liang—'Zhuge Wuhou'. If your favorite in 'Romance of the Three Kingdoms' is the Shu Kingdom, then the famous scenic spot in Chengdu—Wuhou Shrine—is a place you must visit. It will surely satisfy all your desires.
Soon it was afternoon, and my family and I prepared to visit Wuhou Shrine, to experience the legendary stories of the Three Kingdoms together and fulfill our dream of the Three Kingdoms.
Legend has it that Wuhou Shrine was first built in 223 AD. Initially, it was built as a tomb temple for Liu Bei. Later generations merged Liu Bei's tomb temple with Zhuge Liang's memorial hall, resulting in the current Wuhou Shrine, a joint temple for ruler and minister. It is also the only joint shrine for a ruler and his minister in the country.
The heroes of the Shu Kingdom, with their changing fortunes, have turned to dust here. The great achievements they established are also buried and rest here. All historical stories have settled and fermented here, resulting in the weighty Wuhou Shrine of today, a place to pay homage to the heroes of Shu Han.
From Sanyi Temple to Wuhou Shrine, from the Oath of the Peach Garden to Three Visits to the Thatched Cottage, we then arrived at the main hall of Zhuge Liang's temple. In the center of the hall hangs a horizontal plaque reading 'Name Eternally Reverberating Through the Universe', which must be the highest praise for Mr. Zhuge. The first couplet reads: 'If you can attack the heart, opposition will vanish; since ancient times, those who know war are not warlike.' The second couplet: 'If you do not assess the situation, leniency and severity will both be wrong; later administrators of Shu must ponder deeply.'
These two lines highly summarize Zhuge Liang's loyalty and ambition in serving the Shu Kingdom with utter devotion, as he used his whole life to repay the kindness of the three visits to his thatched cottage and the appreciation of his talent.
Wuhou Shrine is not large; as a shrine located in the bustling city, it does not occupy much land, and you can finish touring it in about an hour. Yet it is also vast, because it carries not just a scenic spot but the history of a dynasty, a tribute and remembrance to that era.
We walked and stopped, turning into quiet paths, admiring bonsai, viewing flowers and plants, and smelling subtle fragrances. We saw ancient trees with gnarled roots, observed the delicate reflections of arched bridges in the water, and lamented the dilapidated remnants of Han palace pillars. With reverence for the Shu Kingdom, we slowly walked out.
What people call the leisurely life of Chengdu is not the office buildings in the high-tech zone, nor the crowded Kuanzhai Alley, nor even the street photography of Chunxi Road. Come to People's Park; this is the place of life that Chengdu people most look forward to.
People's Park, with a 100-year history, serves as both a material and spiritual carrier, storing the authentic old Chengdu life.
On weekends, People's Park becomes the most lively.
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. Therefore it is called 'Centennial Heming'. You must learn to 'strike first to gain the advantage', because Heming is always full. As soon as someone leaves, you immediately grab a seat. After sitting down, an auntie dressed in blue-and-white porcelain-patterned clothing will come to clear the table and then let you order tea.
The playground is the place with the highest decibels. The sounds of children shouting and laughing are endless. Small trains, carousels, and roller coasters—every child and big kid can find their source of happiness.
But the most popular activity in People's Park is still boating. The mottled little boats are imprinted with the childhoods of Chengdu people since the last century. When the weather is good, there are the most people, and you have to queue for boating. Young parents bring their children here to boat, enjoying the happiness of a harmonious family. Of course, there are also young couples on dates.
In short, whoever is on the boat is as happy as a child.
|II. Natural Humanity, Exquisite Sentiments | The Unique Charm of Jiaoliao
Jiaoliao—a place whose name alone makes one want to know more. These two characters come from Zhuangzi's 'Free and Easy Wandering': 'The wren nests in the deep forest, but only takes one branch; the mole drinks from the river, but only takes a bellyful.' In this world of insatiable desires, we must not be too greedy. We should try to be 'if the whole world praises him, he is not more encouraged; if the whole world condemns him, he is not more discouraged. He is fixed on the distinction between inner and outer, and clear on the boundary between honor and disgrace.' Perhaps such a state is really too difficult, and that is why there is Jiaoliao—to let us slow down and put aside the pursuit of a piece of the world.
The Jiaoliao Hotel is a sturdy branch in this vast forest. With the philosophy of seeking carefree wandering and not dragging its tail in the mud, it absorbs the nutrients of old Chengdu culture, pursues 'slow life' in the busy city, and returns to a natural state of living.
Pushing the door open, the first thing that catches the eye is a corridor. At the end of the corridor, we can see a plaque reading 'Ride on things to wander with the mind'. It comes from Zhuangzi's 'In the World of Men'. After understanding its meaning, one cannot help but admire the great wisdom of the old Zhuangzi.
After entering the hotel, we looked at all four floors one by one. The design and decoration of this hotel are really good, giving people a comfortable and cozy feeling.
During the tour, we found that each room in the hotel has its own unique name, such as Yanqian, Youwei, Shiwei, and so on. We planned to stay in Yanqian, because when we first saw this name, my friend and I felt we liked it, as if these two characters contained deep meaning, leaving us endless room for imagination.
The hotel's security is also very good. The guest rooms require swiping a card or the butler to open the door. After confirming our stay, the hotel butler gave us a Jiaoliao-shaped room key card, which was endearingly cute! Looking closely, there is a butler service window outside the door. Opening it, we found that the inside and outside are connected. When we call, the butler will put what we need inside, and we can just take it. This design is very thoughtful, both convenient and without disturbing guests.
Although from the outside, Jiaoliao is rustic and elegant, the items used inside the rooms are consistent with five-star hotels. For example, mattresses, linens, bathroom fixtures, and automatic toilets—the hardware facilities are superb. Various ornaments are available in complete sets, neatly arranged. Everything appears so comfortable and cozy. The various brand-name equipment subtly reflects the hotel's high-end quality, making us reluctant to leave! My friend kept saying that this place is even more cozy than home.
After entering, we found that on the bedside of each room, there is a deeply affectionate Jiaoliao bird, staring deeply, as if in deep thought or listening. In each room, the bird's posture and expression are different. My friend and I treated it as our listener, trying to talk to it. Those troubles that are hard to tell others can be fully poured out to this little creature that can only be understood but not explained. After speaking out all the unhappiness, I felt much more at ease.
On the TV wall, a large hand-embroidered Shu embroidery peony blooms, and there is a carp leaping on Shu brocade. As we reached out to touch, we couldn't help but admire the skilled craftsmanship and long-standing culture of our ancestors.
Overall, the rooms are full of Sichuan traditional cultural elements. While staying, you can also feel the influence of humanities.
My friends and I often travel and have stayed in some good hotels, but hotels as thoughtful and considerate as this are indeed rare. This stay was definitely the right choice.
The room also provided four types of top-grade tea leaves from Mengding Mountain. Usually, we drink too many carbonated drinks, which can be a burden. When we settled down, we brewed a cup of tea, savored the gift of nature, and instantly felt refreshed and invigorated.
My friend and I also found that the most thoughtful part of this hotel is not just the room configuration and decoration, but also the excellent butler service, which can customize travel routes, travel plans, and solve any problems in the hotel for guests. Even our breakfast every morning can be customized according to our taste and time, delivered to the room. It is the first cultural dining in Kuanzhai Alley with Zhuangzi culture as the theme, in the form of set meals, integrating culture, Sichuan cuisine, drinking games, and performances, taking you into an era of pavilions, ancient zithers, and opera songs.
Waking up in the morning and pushing open the wooden window, breathing in the first breeze and first rays of sunlight in Kuanzhai Alley, it was so refreshing and pleasant. After washing up, we enjoyed the hotel's customized breakfast, and our hearts were filled with emotion.
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.
Looking carefully, we spotted a spider weaving its web on the opposite rooftop, and a falling leaf drifting down onto the table... Look, everything is striving to grow!
In the busy and noisy city, there is always a leisurely and comfortable place where you can release your body and mind.
