Winter in Chengdu: A Paradise for Foodies and Fun-Seekers

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

Chengdu's winter seems to unfold in a slow-paced life, and its scenery is endlessly charming.

My first impression of Chengdu's winter was a world of green, where it felt colder indoors than outdoors.

Now, I see Chengdu's winter as a world of vibrant colors, captivating like an impressionist painting; it's a poetic spiritual realm, a wondrous adventure in a gourmet fantasy.

"Chengdu is worth savoring. Chengdu's elegance, Chengdu's leisureliness, Chengdu's simplicity, and its unique local flavor leave an unforgettable impression on all who experience it."

I think everyone who has been to Chengdu feels a lingering reluctance to leave.

The leisurely Fu River, the bustling Chunxi Road, the laid-back street teahouses, and the lively farmhouse fun in the suburbs.

It's like a vivid, sound-filled painting, like a mellow, enduring aged wine, soaking into everyone who comes to Chengdu.

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

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

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

Day 2: Taiziling Ski Resort

Day 3: Gua Chuanchuan (Tianfu Square) → Bieyuanli Tavern (Kuanzhai Alley)

With nothing much to do on the weekend, I planned a food and travel adventure with friends—enjoying beautiful scenery while savoring the sensory impact of delicious food. I got up very early this morning, packed up, and met up with my friends. But instead of heading straight to eat, we first went to a place for some fun, and then set off for our ultimate culinary destination. My friends all suggested visiting Tazishan Park, which is not far away. Action speaks louder than words, so we took the bus there.

When we arrived, we found quite a crowd—after all, it was the weekend, and many parents had brought their kids out to play, do activities, and soak up the sun.

Tazishan Park is located on the eastern edge of Chengdu, on a gentle hilly area. It's spacious, with lush trees and a tranquil environment. Nestled by the water, the plants are arranged according to the terrain, lush and verdant, with birdsong and flowers year-round.

The main building in the park is the Jiutian Tower, named after Li Bai's famous poem "Ascending the Scattered Flower Tower in Jin City": "Now I come to climb and gaze, as if on a journey to the ninth heaven." From a distance, the tower looks like a pagoda; up close, it resembles a building. Its design is novel and unique, making it a landmark garden structure in Chengdu. Climbing the Jiutian Tower offers a panoramic view of Chengdu's beauty, refreshing the mind and spirit.

The park also features a Bird and Language Forest, home to nearly 150 species and about 5,000 birds from around the world, including over 20 species under national first- and second-class protection. The Bird and Language Forest focuses on bird science education and highlights bird performance, offering both fun and educational opportunities for children to learn about birds.

In addition, 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 mountain charm, making it an ideal spot to bring kids for fun. Moreover, Tazishan Park is the main venue for the annual Chengdu Lantern Festival!

It's truly a great place, with all kinds of leisure and entertainment options. Before we knew it, we had spent over three hours there, and it was already past four. No wonder I felt a bit hungry—playing outside really makes you hungry fast. Then we set off for our ultimate destination: Yuan Gong on Chunxi Road, which is incredibly popular. I'd heard colleagues talk about it all the time, and finally I had the chance to check it out. I checked the navigation—it wasn't far, so we took a bus over.

This restaurant is on Xuedao Street near Chunxi Road, quite close to the city center, a quiet spot amidst the hustle and bustle. The restaurant's decor is very down-to-earth, with a vintage Chinese style and an elegant ambiance.

From the lobby, we turned into the dining area, which was very spacious with many private rooms, decorated with flowers and clusters, giving it a unique charm.

After finding our seats, we started attacking the food. The first dishes I want to recommend are these—super delicious, absolutely tasty.

Steamed Whole Fish with Black Bean Sauce: This fish is a silver carp, which has many bones, so be careful while eating. The flesh is particularly tender and flavorful, incredibly smooth and tasty, utterly irresistible.

Longmen Hanging Meat: A special staff member cuts the meat and arranges it on a plate. The meat is crispy and tender, with a perfectly fried coating that makes you want to keep eating.

Yuan Gong Sliced Local Chicken: Most slices are chicken with skin, mixed with green onion slices, giving a refreshing texture. Drizzled with secret chili oil, the spiciness is just right.

Yuan Gong Signature Rabbit: A combination of double-pepper rabbit and clams, exceptionally fresh and flavorful. The numbing and spicy taste is perfect with rice, and the portion is generous—absolutely my favorite.

After eating and drinking to our hearts' content, it was time to go home. With the day's fun over, it was time to return to our dreams and savor these endless delicacies.

Ten years pass like night rain, the world of rivers and lakes is chaotic.

Unchanging are the narrow and wide alleys; changing is the human heart. We are never quite satisfied with this bustling world. After experiencing earthly beauty, one suddenly realizes that even noisy places have their quiet moments. Right in the middle of Kuanzhai Alley stands the Jiaoliao Hotel.

Amidst the noisy crowd, we gently pushed open this door full of stories. While waiting for the butler to open it, the old door itself became a must-see sight. The gate is made of red bean wood, untouched by restoration, retaining its original appearance. In the middle are painted traditional Chinese door gods. The left door god holds a peony, and the right one holds a wine vessel (jue), together symbolizing promotion and prosperity. It is said that this design is meant to wish guests staying at Jiaoliao a thriving career and continuous advancement, leading us back to the most natural state of life.

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

As we walked through the corridor, the birds hopping up and down on both sides became unusually lively at our arrival, chirping nonstop. Though we couldn't understand their language, we could feel a warm welcome from their calls.

Then the scene shifted, and we formally entered the accommodation area. Jiaoliao Hotel is quite large; we walked through and admired its beauty. It has four floors, with guest rooms and an open-air tea terrace. Each floor has its own unique scenery, with different views at every step, making people stop to admire.

As soon as we entered the room, we noticed that the overall color palette was light wood tones, without any other decorative colors.

From the bed to the wardrobe, window frames, tables, and chairs, everything is made from smooth, polished phoenix tree wood, used directly. The facilities are quite complete—even more well-equipped than my own home. This lifestyle close to nature is exactly what we need.

We also noticed that every room has orchids, surrounded by bamboo. Looking closely, we could see some relief carvings with chrysanthemum motifs, creating a very elegant atmosphere. With the dim yellow lighting, the whole room felt very warm, showing understated luxury in the details.

The hotel's equipment is truly high-end, all meeting five-star hotel standards, providing us with an ultimate stay experience. The mattress, Kohler bathroom fixtures, and smart toilet are all perfect, offering us the best comfort. Running our fingers over everything in the room, we felt the owner's care, and our hearts were moved.

The guest room also has a SPA room, a thoughtful touch that we greatly appreciated. After a day of sightseeing, we could lie in the SPA room, enjoy the masseur's service, relax our muscles and bones, and fully enjoy a long-lost sense of ease.

At Jiaoliao, nestled among mountain forests, stones, and bamboo, savoring Zen elegance and poetic dwelling, we found the joy of carefree living. The bustling Kuanzhai, with its crowds every day. Outside the long street of flowing people, amidst the noise, Jiaoliao quietly watches the comings and goings.

Yesterday we tasted Yuan Gong, strolled on Chunxi Road, and enjoyed divine service at Jiaoliao Hotel. Waking up this morning, I felt great—truly, eating, drinking, and having fun are the best ways to relax. Winter has arrived as promised, with a chill in the wind, but it couldn't stop us from moving forward. Today we decided to visit the famed Taiziling Ski Resort, to experience the unique charm of ice and snow.

Jiuding Mountain Taiziling Ski Resort is located along National Highway 213 from Wenchuan County to Mao County in Aba Prefecture, Sichuan, in Qinglongba within the Jiuding Mountain Scenic Area. It's about 180 kilometers from Chengdu, roughly a three-and-a-half-hour drive.

What attracts so many visitors is not just its popularity but also its strong technical support. It is said that the ski resort is equipped with imported ELAN ski gear, which has 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 was to buy tickets at the main entrance, then rent ski gear: boots, skis, poles, and other equipment. There were so many people today; we queued for a long time, showing how popular it really is.

We finally got on the slopes. It was fun, but for a group of beginners, we kept falling. Two hours of skiing was our limit, and with so many people, we were all crowded on the beginner slope, not far from the entrance.

When skiing under the sun, it's both hot and sunny, with strong UV rays. Be sure to apply sunscreen and wear sunglasses; don't wear too many clothes—just dress comfortably. Beginners are advised to hire an instructor, or you'll fall a lot.

When skiing, you must wear gloves and sunglasses; if going on the intermediate slope, you must wear a helmet. For beginners, double skis are the best choice; the skis can be adjusted to fit your boots. Once you're sure you're properly equipped, you can enter the ski area.

Inside the scenic area, there are also places to eat, like hotpot and soup pots. The food is pretty good—colorful, aromatic, and delicious, almost like heavenly cuisine. Outside our dining hall, there was a glass sunroom where people could take photos, drink tea, relax, and enjoy the sunlight while taking in the scenery. It's quite nice!

Jiuding Mountain's scenery is actually quite beautiful, and Taiziling Ski Resort is the most professional ski resort we've been to in Sichuan. It has beginner, intermediate, and advanced slopes with various gradients for visitors to choose from. The altitude of the ski resort is about 2,500 meters, similar to Wolong, so altitude sickness is unlikely. The ski resort has 2.5 kilometers of skiing trails.

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

This morning when I woke up, I suddenly had the idea to visit Tianfu Square. After discussing with friends, we decided to go. Today we took the subway—taking the bus was too crowded. I'm not sure how long the ride was, but it felt quite close.

When we arrived, we saw so many people. On the weekend, everyone comes out to relax.

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

The Sun and Immortal Bird sculpture stands at the center of Tianfu Square. It's the intersection of Metro Lines 1 and 2, and the future Line 18, making it the central hub of Chengdu's southeast-northwest transportation artery.

It's one of the most popular check-in spots for tourists visiting Chengdu, always bustling with people. The most impressive thing was the strong patriotic atmosphere at Tianfu Square just before National Day this year, which deeply moved me.

But the biggest highlights of Tianfu Square are:

1. The architectural beauty of the square itself: a Tai Chi pattern flanked by pillars shaped like the character "xiang" (乡). This Tai Chi view is best captured from above.

2. The historical significance of the square: it has always been an important landmark near the imperial city, and now it is Chengdu's economic and cultural center.

3. As a transportation hub: you can transfer to the subway here, and there are exhibition halls all around. It's convenient—first-time visitors meeting here will surely find each other.

After strolling through Tianfu Square, it was time for lunch. Today we all agreed to eat at Gua Chuanchuan. Although it's on Jinfangyuan East Road, transportation is convenient, so it wouldn't take too long.

When we got off the bus, we saw a restaurant with antique decor that looked quite stylish.

With red as the main color, wooden tables and benches gave a comfortable feeling. The space was spacious with clear functional zones, making it easy for customers to get food and dine.

What's most worth mentioning is their food—super delicious.

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

Brown Sugar Glutinous Rice Cake: A favorite for dessert lovers—soft, sticky, smooth, and chewy. Take a piece, and the fragrance of rice and spices dances in your mouth—very tasty!

Spicy Hot Pot Noodles: Spicy and numbing. When you encounter such a bowl of hot pot noodles, forget about your image and just gobble it up! The texture—I guarantee whenever I crave hot pot noodles, I'll come here!

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

There are also all kinds of meat and vegetable skewers in the refrigerator for you to choose from. Action speaks louder than words—go for it!

This place is a paradise for skewer lovers—tasty, tender, and impossible to stop eating.

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. Here, you can see both the old and new ways of life in Chengdu, and it represents the slow pace of life of Chengdu people—perfectly embodying the leisurely realm of "one step bustles, one step quiet."

My friends and I walked out together, as if cutting a slice of leisurely time. We smelled the scent of time, walking unhurriedly along the narrow and wide alleys, strolling at a relaxed, slow pace.

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

Clean green bricks and black tiles, old-fashioned wooden doors and windows, horse-tethering stones by old walls, old teahouses under the eaves, lush sycamore trees—these ancient, clear objects seemed to be separated from the city's noise by a soundproof wall. The dust of the world had been filtered away. The ancient Ba-Shu dream from a thousand years ago, in a turn or a glance, lightly landed on the threshold of memory, stunning in an instant.

Time was soft and warm. Tourists from all over came towards us and brushed past, like water flowing, shallow ripples, smiling and chatting. Local residents, quaint inns, exquisite doorways, towering ancient trees, covered-bowl tea houses, bronze-ringed wooden doors, bluestone water tanks, and ivy and catkins cascading from the blue wall—all these form the unique elements and Chengdu vocabulary that present modern people's memory of a city.

Walking in Kuanzhai Alley, the sun was mild, flowers were blooming, and the dazzling display of shop windows kept our eyes busy. We wandered here and there. Zen-like shops had exquisite tea sets and fragrant tea; trendy restaurants had dancing fountains and shifting lights; soft, colorful windows displayed Jiangnan-style cloth garments and fans;

In the deep corners of the alleys, there were young people lying down to get ear cleaning or setting up stalls for portraits; classical, elegant inns had melodious singing and bright red lanterns... Here, time was slow, life was leisurely, and our footsteps naturally became very light and slow.

Chengdu locals, after a busy day, also brought their families to stroll here—old and young, men and women, in small groups, walking, looking, talking, laughing, eating... The dreamlike, slow nightlife was just beginning...

After walking through Kuanzhai, dusk was approaching. We arrived at our last stop of the day—Bieyuanli Tavern. As soon as we entered this place, we were attracted by its unique charm. Walking into the lobby, we could catch the eye of colorful, shifting lights.

At Bieyuanli, your eyes always hold stars. The dynamic lighting, where both the lamps and the light move, gives you an amazing visual experience.

All the indoor plants are vibrant and full of life. The whole place is filled with a romantic atmosphere, like a utopia for young people. With a two-story loft and an open-air garden, it lets you fall into the gentle embrace of the night, slowly stirring your tense nerves. Booths and private rooms fully satisfy your desire for free-spirited conversation—perfect for gatherings with friends.

The tenderness of Bieyuanli is hidden in every thoughtfully arranged detail: the flower arrangements on the tables, the dazzling light fixtures, the entire wall of wine storage, the uniform Jingdezhen blue-and-white porcelain tableware, and the Chinese-style eaves... It's a fusion of culture and trend, overturning the common perception of ordinary taverns. I felt like I was attending a brilliant art exhibition.

Here, we not only encountered various delicious foods but also felt a different kind of vibrant charm.

Long Island Iced Tea: Boys who are infatuated with alcohol shouldn't miss the classic Long Island Iced Tea. This most story-laden strong cocktail has explosive power and a strong aftertaste. It seems light, but it's actually a "heart-arsonist."

Dui Jiu Guihua (Competitive Drinking Osmanthus Wine): Coming to Bieyuanli Music Tavern, how could we not have competitive drinking? I chose Dui Jiu Guihua first. Its light color was stunningly beautiful. The floral aroma of the osmanthus wine was prominent, with a fresh taste. After one bowl, you just want to wander the world with your beloved.

Ancient Qiang Wheat Straw Zha Wine: The story continues, and we couldn't stop drinking. While we were enjoying ourselves, the owner mysteriously said, "Our Zha wine is really interesting; want to try it?" When it was brought to the table, this plate of Zha wine with wheat straws as straws exuded a wild aura. To drink it, you had to use a wheat straw—a lot of fun.

Handmade Stir-Fried Tangyuan (Glutinous Rice Balls): A bit like mini versions of sugar-coated fried dough balls, coated with a layer of brown sugar syrup. The soft, sticky, sweet tangyuan was your sweet of the day, reminding me of the flavor of my grandmother's cooking.

Fruit Platter: A mix of various fruits, crisp and refreshing, fresh and delicious.

We were really won over by this place—so amazing. It's a place I'll definitely visit again.

The meaning of food and scenery is not to escape, hide, obtain, or record.

Rather, it is to change your worldview in environments beyond your imagination, and gradually change what you truly consider important in your heart.