Follow Me to Chengdu for a Glorious Food Feast!

Fingertip: In life, the only things not to be let down are beautiful scenery and delicious food.

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

And the enthusiasm of Chengdu people for eating has also led to the highly developed catering industry in Chengdu. Every foreign tourist who comes to Chengdu is full of interest in Chengdu's hot pot, Sichuan cuisine, snacks, and spicy hot pot. Arriving in Chengdu without eating the food always gives one the feeling of going into a treasure mountain and returning empty-handed.

A city has its own history and culture, and also its own characteristic neighborhoods. To understand a city's history and culture, you should walk into its characteristic neighborhoods, understand the cultural origins and celebrity anecdotes it carries, touch its historical warmth up close, and feel the bustling atmosphere of commerce and the flavor of indulgence that has continued through the changes of the times.

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

Walking into Jinli, the tempting aroma of delicious food hits you. Shops are wide open, mainly selling food and drinks. Fresh fruits and delicacies, carefully decorated, loom in the misty smoke, beautiful in shape, bright in color, fragrant in smell, making you salivate secretly and unable to stop.

Beside the shops, there are Sichuan opera actors in makeup greeting customers. They perform movements from opera plays, suddenly shrinking their necks and sticking out their heads, turning from a white face to a red face, startling you. Before you can be surprised or angry, they pull a funny face and make you laugh. This tease and fun instantly improve your mood.

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

Walking in the ancient street feels like strolling in a poetic scene of harmonious rhythm. Carved windows, trailing vines on ancient walls, winding corridors, like the background of a poem, with a contrast between vicissitude and vitality amidst the elegance.

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

After visiting Jinli, we got hungry. It seems food's temptation is quite strong. I decided to take my family to Gua Chuanchuan (Melon Skewers) at Jinfangyuan East Road store, which I heard was pretty good. When we arrived, we found the environment of this Gua Chuanchuan was indeed nice.

The overall decoration is black bricks and green tiles, with red walls full of festive feel. The space is spacious, the functional areas are clearly divided, and the Chinese retro style adds a unique charm to the store, making it antique.

Although we thought it was still early, when we came in, we found it was a different world. There were so many people, the entire hall was full, voices overlapping, but that did not affect the enthusiasm of the foodies lining up outside. Indeed, deliciousness is the key, and this is the nature of Chengdu foodies.

Pot base: Authentic Chengdu method to prepare the soup base, spicy and comfortable cold pot skewers, super thick soup base freshly boiled every day, red oil covering the secret broth base, full of ingredients from early morning until noon opening, fragrant but not numbing, spicy but not dry. This flavor cannot be imitated; only the recipe passed down from the older generation can be called the old Chengdu taste.

70+ kinds of skewers to choose from: 6 large freezers dazzling to the eyes, ensuring five-star cold chain for ingredients, freshly selected ingredients daily, carefully marinated, skewered, meat and vegetables optional. Anyway, after eating, the skewers are weighed by the kilogram. Take whatever you want, start the crazy skewer mode immediately!

Handmade specialty dipping sauces: How fragrant is the dry dip? The combination of crushed peanuts + chili powder easily wins. A light roll gives a peanut fragrance. The tedious handmade process determines its uniqueness. The oil dip, with sesame oil, minced garlic, scallions, is also a little master at relieving spiciness and adding fragrance.

Beef skewers are versatile: Give me a piece of beef, and I can roll a world. Five-spice, spicy, coriander, pickled pepper, green onion. The beef is marinated with secret sauce for two to three hours. Plump pickled peppers with tender beef, a trace of green in the middle of red beef is particularly eye-catching. When eaten, the heavy flavor explodes on the tongue. In the thick beef grains, wrapped with pickled peppers ready to burst, the mouth says no but the body is very honest, sending skewers to the mouth one after another.

Small sausages: Small sausages are a Chengdu specialty. Plump small sausages with a mix of fat and lean, cut into suitable sizes, slightly sweet taste very Cantonese style. The double sensation of sweet and spicy is fascinating, and while relieving spiciness, the satisfaction will double! You won't regret coming to this store; it's really delicious and you can't stop eating.

Two | One · Bar "Boss", Find Your Own Intoxication

Hearing the name "Wuhou," anyone who has watched the Three Kingdoms will not be unfamiliar. That's right, it's the alias of the famous Zhuge Liang, "Zhuge Wuhou." If your favorite in "Romance of the Three Kingdoms" is the Shu Kingdom, then Chengdu's famous attraction—Wuhou Temple—is a place you must visit. It will definitely satisfy all your desires.

Before we knew it, it was afternoon. My family and I planned to visit Wuhou Temple, to feel the legendary stories of the Three Kingdoms period and fulfill our Three Kingdoms dream.

Legend has it that Wuhou Temple was first built in 223 AD. It was originally built as a tomb temple for Liu Bei. Later generations merged Liu Bei's tomb temple with Zhuge Liang's ancestral hall to form the present Wuhou Temple, a combined temple for monarch and minister. It is the only such temple in China.

The heroes of the Shu Kingdom, with their changing fortunes, have turned to dust here. Their great achievements are buried and rest here. All historical stories have settled and brewed here, resulting in this heavy Wuhou Temple, a place of remembrance for Shu Han heroes.

From Sanyi Temple to Wuhou Temple, from the Oath of the Peach Garden to Three Visits to the Thatched Cottage, we arrive at the main hall of Zhuge Liang's shrine. In the middle of the hall hangs a horizontal plaque with the inscription "Famous Throughout the Universe," which is presumably the highest praise for Mr. Zhuge. The upper couplet reads: "If you can attack the heart, opposition will naturally disappear; since ancient times, those who know war are not fond of war." The lower couplet reads: "If you do not assess the situation, both leniency and strictness will be wrong; later rulers of Shu should think deeply."

These two lines highly summarize Zhuge Liang's loyalty and ambition to devote himself wholeheartedly to the Shu Kingdom until his death. He used his entire life to repay the favor of the Three Visits to the Thatched Cottage. Wuhou Temple is not large; located in a bustling area, it does not occupy much land. It takes about an hour to visit. But Wuhou Temple is also huge, because what it carries is not just a scenic spot, but the history of a dynasty, a tribute and remembrance of that era.

We walked and stopped, turning to quiet spots, admiring bonsai, watching flowers and plants, smelling faint fragrances. We looked at ancient trees with intertwined roots, observed the delicate arch bridges and water reflections, sighed at the dilapidated Han palace ruins. With reverence for the Shu Kingdom, we slowly walked out.

In Chengdu, a city known for its leisure, there are many small bars. But one like Bie Yuan Li (Other Courtyard), surrounded by greenery, lit by neon lights, and rich with various alcohols and snacks, is the only one in Chengdu. To provide consumers with a better in-store experience, they specially invited a lighting design company to design the lighting effects.

The evening time should not be wasted; we need to have fun. I planned to take my family to Bie Yuan Li to enjoy the cozy night time.

After entering the store, as the lights inside turned on, the whole bar became a colorful neon world. Under the interplay of light and shadow, colorful lights were like stars in the sky, shining brilliantly in the bar, instantly elevating the entertainment and leisure atmosphere.

The alcohols in the store are as rich as their lighting. Foreign wines, Chinese mixed drinks, cocktails, and pure imported beer are all available! Basically, whatever you want to drink, you can find it here!

Night Suit Mask's Kiss: Just the appearance is enough to make ladies favor this rose wine, with a refreshing rose fragrance. Because the alcohol content is not high, it's a good choice for girl gatherings or leisure time. The rose flavor is not strong at first, but the wine taste becomes clearer later, enchanting.

Ancient Qiang Wheat Straw Sip Wine: A blue-and-white porcelain bottle full of Jianghu atmosphere! Wheat straw as a straw, sipping wine amidst laughter and joy, has a unique flavor.

Barbecue Platter: Wine and grilled skewers have always been an inseparable couple. Eating barbecue without wine seems to disappoint the party! Small sausages, shrimp, corn kernels, dried tofu, green beans, and other dishes, all spicy and fresh, can satisfy different people's cravings.

Lemongrass Grilled Fish: Besides barbecue, this grilled fish is a must-order. Although the fish is not big, the fragrance of the fish has already hooked us. Because the grilled fish has lemongrass, it makes the fish's aroma fresher! The fried fish is crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, refreshing and delicious, very satisfying. Sitting in such a music bar, playing around, is the best place to enjoy leisure and comfort.

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

What people call Chengdu's leisure life is not the office buildings in High-tech Zone, not the crowded Kuanzhai Alley, nor the street photography of Chunxi Road. Come to People's Park, which is the place where Chengdu people most look forward to living.

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 liveliest.

There are two old tea houses in the park: Yongju and Heming, among which Heming is the most famous. It was first built in the 1920s, nearly a hundred years old, almost the same age as People's Park. Therefore, it is called the Hundred-Year Heming. You must learn to "strike first," because Heming is always full. As soon as someone leaves, you immediately take the seat. After sitting down, an auntie dressed in blue-and-white porcelain style attire will come to clean the table and then let you order tea.

The playground is the place with the highest decibels. The sounds of children playing and laughing are endless. Small train, carousel, roller coaster—every child and big child can find their source of happiness.

But the most popular activity in People's Park is still boating. The mottled small boats bear the childhood of Chengdu people since the last century. On good weather days, there are the most people, and boating requires queuing. Young parents bring their children to boat here, enjoying the happiness of a family together. Of course, there are also couples dating. In short, no matter who is on the boat, everyone is happy like a child.

After visiting the park, today we planned to take the family to eat at Yuan Gong on Chunxi Road. Earlier, a friend told me that this restaurant is an authentic Zigong-style Sichuan restaurant, very popular and bustling. So today we specially came to taste it.

When we arrived, many people were already dining! The decoration of the restaurant is quite down-to-earth. The antique environment is very attractive, highlighting the characteristics of old Chengdu. The private rooms, main hall, and booth seats are all well-designed, decorated with blooming flowers, revealing a unique charm.

Many of the people dining here are tourists visiting Chengdu. The dishes they order are very Chengdu-style: Maoxuewang, local chicken slices, and signature rabbit are the reasons I must visit. I haven't eaten such fresh, spicy dishes for a long time. Big thumbs up!

Yuan Gong Local Chicken Slices: Chicken slices are tender and delicious, with a great taste. Added scallions and white scallion slices, refreshing and tasty, drizzled with secret red oil seasoning, the spiciness is just right.

Longmen Hanging Meat: The preparation is like a whole fried crispy meat. The little sister cuts it while saying auspicious words, nice ritual. The meat is tender, smooth to eat, even better with chili powder.

Yuan Gong Signature Rabbit: Fresh, tender, smooth rabbit meat with refreshing, juicy clams, the texture levels up instantly. Fragrant and spicy, super enjoyable to eat.

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

Live Water Silver Carp: The silver carp is quite big. The back of the fish is cut into several slices to absorb flavor easily. The fish meat is snow-white and tender, with celery and green pepper segments, especially delicious, absolutely my favorite. Such deliciousness must not be missed. Action speaks louder than heart.

| Two · Natural Humanities, Exquisite Feelings | The Unique Charm of Jiaoliao

Jiaoliao—a place whose name makes people want to know more. These two characters come from "Zhuangzi · Xiaoyao You" (Free and Easy Wandering): "The wren nests in the deep forest, occupying only one branch; the mole drinks from the river, only filling its belly." In this insatiable world, we cannot be too greedy. We must try to be "unmoved by the whole world's praise, undeterred by the whole world's blame, discerning the distinction between inner and outer, and distinguishing between honor and disgrace." Perhaps this state is really too difficult, which is why there is Jiaoliao, allowing us to slow down and let go of the pursuit of a corner of the world.

Jiaoliao Hotel is a strong branch in this vast deep forest, seeking carefree freedom, unwilling to drag its tail in the mud. It absorbs the nutrition of old Chengdu culture, pursuing a "slow life" in busy city, returning to nature.

Pushing the door open, a corridor comes into view. At the end of the corridor hangs a plaque with the inscription "Ride on Things to Roam the Spirit," from Zhuangzi's "The World of Man." After understanding its meaning, one can't 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 the hotel are really good, giving a comfortable and cozy feeling. During the visit, we found that each room has its own unique name, such as Yanqian, Youwei, Shijia, etc. We planned to stay in Yanqian, because the first time we saw the name, my friend and I liked it very much, as if the two characters contained deep meaning, leaving us endless imagination.

The security of the hotel is also very good. Guest rooms require a card or the butler to open the door. After confirming the stay, the butler gave us a wren-shaped room card, cute and lifelike! Looking closely, there is a butler service window outside the door. When opened, we found it connected inside and out. After we called, the butler would put what we needed inside, and we could take it directly. Such design is very thoughtful, convenient without disturbing guests.

Although outwardly Jiaoliao is simple and elegant, the items in the room are consistent with five-star hotels. Such as mattresses, linens, bathroom fixtures, and automatic toilets—the hardware facilities are superb. Various ornaments are complete and neatly placed. Everything is so comfortable and cozy. Various brand-name devices invisibly reflect the hotel's high class, making us love them! My friend kept saying that this place is more cozy than home.

After coming in, we found that each room's bedside has a loving wren, gazing deeply, as if pondering or listening. In each room, the wren's posture and expression are different. My friend and I treated it as our listener, trying to talk to it. Those troubles hard to tell others can all be poured out to this little creature that can only be sensed, not explained. After speaking out all the unhappiness, I felt much more comfortable.

On the TV wall, there is a large handmade Shu embroidery peony blooming, and also a koi jumping on Shu brocade. Reaching out to touch, we couldn't help but admire the skilled craftsmanship and long-standing culture of our ancestors. Overall, the room is full of Sichuan traditional cultural elements. While staying, we can also feel the cultural influence. My friends and I often travel and have stayed in some nice hotels, but a hotel so thoughtful and considerate is rare. This stay was definitely the right choice.

The room also provides four top-grade teas from Mengding Mountain. Usually, we drink too many carbonated drinks, which can be a burden. When we calm down, we brew a cup of tea, savor the gifts of nature, and instantly feel refreshed and energized.

My friend and I also found that the most thoughtful part of the hotel is not only the room configuration and decoration but also the superb butler service. They can customize travel routes, travel plans for guests, and solve any problems encountered in the hotel. Even our breakfast every morning can be customized, delivered to the room according to our taste and time. Lunch is enjoyed at Zifei, which is the first cultural restaurant in Kuanzhai Alley themed on Zhuangzi's philosophy. It uses a side-dish form, integrating culture, Sichuan cuisine, drinking games, and performances, taking you into pavilions, ancient zithers, and opera songs. In the morning, opening the wooden window, breathing the first breeze and first sunshine of Kuanzhai Alley, so refreshing and pleasant. After washing up, we enjoyed the customized breakfast, filled with emotion.

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

Observing carefully, we saw a spider weaving a web on the roof opposite, and a falling leaf landing on the table... Look, everything is growing hard!

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