Chengdu---Charms Everywhere
Chengdu is actually not a place that erodes one's willpower; on the contrary, it makes you feel vibrant. The only reason to sink is that you cannot resist the city's unbridled imagination. Its beauty lies in its innocence; the men, women, old and young here all have a deadly charming relaxed vibe. They never doubt the meaning of life; they are doers. If they want to play mahjong, they play mahjong; if they crave small chili peppers, they eat them. There is a certain spirit in Sichuan people—it is tranquil, fearless, neither humble nor pushy, living their beloved little lives on their own terms. I like Chengdu, but it's more accurate to say I love Chengdu's vibrant atmosphere of everyday life.
Chengdu people love food, and Chengdu is a gourmet capital! The best feelings in life are always hidden in the journey. Others' journeys have sweetness, sourness, and all flavors of life, but my journey has only one taste: the aroma of food. So I came to Chengdu, a city full of delicious food!
Yuangong, Yuangong, as fate brings tributes, a red plaque with golden characters instantly struck my heart. The moon-white verses on the floor also echoed the theme of "fate." It seems I am truly fated with this restaurant.
The ceiling of Yuangong is covered with flame-like red flowers, feeling particularly innovative, and my mood gradually brightened.
This restaurant is located on another street behind Chunxi Road near Qingshi Bridge. The location is a bit secluded. Compared to the dazzling prosperity of Chunxi Road, this place seems somewhat detached from worldly affairs, and I love this unworldly place.
The restaurant's environment is quite spacious. Each table has a separate booth with adequate distance, suitable for small gatherings. It doesn't feel crowded—I absolutely love the atmosphere!
Nowadays, restaurant decor is quite stylish, and this one is no exception. The lighting tones, whether in private rooms or hall booths, are well-designed!
The dishes here are also authentic Zigong Sichuan cuisine, all very delicious. The environment feels like home, with red flowers and umbrellas as decorations adding a festive and warm touch. This feeling suddenly brought a warm current to my heart; perhaps this is the taste of home.
The service staff are quite good, genuinely warm and attentive, always available when called. Although our seat was a bit remote, the servers could be reached anytime, with no cases of being unable to be summoned. The attitude towards guests is truly kind and friendly, with dedicated guidance from entrance to exit. That's something I find commendable.
Now for the dishes: the one that left the deepest impression on me is Yuangong's Signature Clam Rabbit. The rabbit meat is made tender and delicious by the green and red two-colored peppers, and the clams look enticing. With one bite, it's tender, slightly numbing, with moderate spiciness. In an instant, taste buds dance—"When golden wind meets jade dew, it surpasses countless worldly encounters!"
Longmen Diao Rou (Hanging Meat): A special young man helps cut the meat and arrange it on a plate. Crispy texture, the outer coating is perfectly fried, and it's not greasy even after eating a lot. This is one of their signature dishes, quite distinctive.
Old Duck Soup left a deep impression. It's not heavy with chicken essence or MSG; it has a clear, sweet fragrance that perfectly relieves dryness. One sip soothes the body and mind—so comfortable and delicious.
Another dish: Yuangong Native Chicken Slices. It was definitely the best of the evening. The taste is excellent, with lotus root slices at the bottom. The red chili oil is very aromatic, and when mixed with the chicken slices, it's simply heavenly. My friend and I both praised this dish endlessly—really delicious!
Bean-Spiced Whole Fish: The fish is large, topped with lots of fermented black beans and minced meat. Even without the fish, the condiments alone can go with several bowls of rice. The fish meat is especially tender and not fishy at all!
"Fate brings us together across a thousand miles, meeting at Yuangong." Authentic Sichuan cuisine restaurant, full of surprises!
As everyone knows, Chengdu is a food capital. When it comes to representative food, chuanchuan (skewers) definitely occupies a place. Big bundles of bamboo sticks, hot red soup, spicy and numbing flavor—it makes your mouth water uncontrollably. This Chengdu Gua Chuanchuan main store at Jinfangyuan East Road could be your choice.
The skewer selection is quite rich, with dozens of varieties, both vegetarian and meat, making it hard for me to choose.
The ingredients are pre-skewered and placed in refrigerators for diners to pick freely. Diners just need to choose what they like. Another feature of the skewers here is that the kitchen cooks them and serves them directly in a large basin, saving you the time of cooking yourself. For lazy people like us, it's incredibly convenient.
After a short wait, a steaming pot of skewers arrives. The soup looks shiny and spicy, but the spiciness is moderate. Upon entry, it's numbing, spicy, and delicious. They provide dry dip and oil dip for diners to use. The dry dip is their specialty, quite good, worth recommending.
Besides skewers, there are also several hot dishes that are decent, such as spicy pig brain—soft and delicate; spicy duck blood—tender and smooth; spicy duck intestines—crisp and tasty; and spicy luncheon meat, instant noodles, etc., all quite memorable.
Although this Chengdu Gua Chuanchuan may not be the best in Chengdu, it is the most unique.
In Chengdu, a city known for leisure, there are many bars of all sizes. But a bar like theirs, surrounded by greenery, lit by neon lights, and rich in various wines and snacks, is only found at Bieyuanli in Chengdu.
The unique Cat Girl in the shop adds a layer of mystery to the night, making people look forward to the evening even more.
I heard that this shop hired the company that designed the lighting for the Bird's Nest to design their lighting effects, in order to provide a better experience for customers. I can only silently remark—what a grand production! The boss is truly generous!
As the lights inside turn on, the whole bar looks like a colorful neon world. Under the interplay of light and shadow, various colorful lights resemble stars in the sky, shining brightly. Looking at this scene, I couldn't help but exclaim—indeed, the boss's decision was right; the customers' experience is the greatest affirmation.
Since this is a small bar, wine is certainly essential. They have an enormous selection: liquor, mixed drinks, cocktails, pure imported beers—everything is available. There are also many wines I can't name, dazzling my eyes. Basically, whatever you want to drink, you can find here!
Moreover, the vessels used to hold food are all carefully selected Jingdezhen blue-and-white porcelain, looking elegant and beautiful, making people swoon.
Although there are many alcoholic drinks, what I love most are not the strong ones. Long Island Iced Tea is as clear and bland as black tea, yet it has the intensity and mellow fragrance of alcohol. With added lemon juice and cola, Long Island Iced Tea tastes sweet, similar to lemon black tea, so it's always popular among girls. My friend, who knows a lot about drinks, told me this is the "wolf in sheep's clothing" of the cocktail world—its alcohol concentration is quite high, so those who can't handle it should avoid overindulgence.
Another drink here is called Metropolitan. It's no exaggeration to say that Metropolitan is one of the world's most popular cocktails. To this day, it has remained popular for over thirty years. With its lower alcohol concentration, sweet-sour taste, and rich fruit flavor, it won me over and became my favorite.
If you happen to order the bartender's special at Bieyuanli Bar, congratulations—you'll witness a super eye-pleasing cocktail show. After mixing, the cocktail slowly "breathes" mist from the rim, creating a very artistic atmosphere. Savor it slowly; the deeper the contact between your tongue and the cocktail, the more wonderful the taste becomes.
I must recommend this Chinese-style cocktail: Ancient Qiang Wheat Straw Baijiu. It's rice wine with a wheat straw as a straw—I've never seen that before. The rice wine is sweet and mellow, smooth and soft on the palate. Drinking a small bottle in winter makes your whole body feel warm.
Don't think you can only drink here; it's actually a hidden Sichuan cuisine restaurant. The taste and portion sizes can rival outside Sichuan restaurants. Dan Dan Noodles, Zhong Dumplings, and childhood-flavored fermented rice with brown sugar syrup are all available here!
Their signature grilled fish has always been a popular dish. The fish is well marinated, crispy on the outside and tender inside—guaranteed to win you over after a few bites.
After seeing so much, curious you should go experience it yourself!
From the entrance of Kuanzhai Alley to the Jiaoliao inn is only about two hundred meters, but it can take a full half hour to walk. Rows of snack shops, all kinds of gold and silver utensils—if your mind wavers slightly, you'll be lost in some sight or sound.
Your eyes see the green bricks and black tiles, ancient trees and long streets. Your ears hear the clanging of copper and silver craftsmen's hammers and the hawking outside shops. Your nose catches the aroma of fried sugar-coated fruits and egg pancakes. Breaking free from all this requires a lot of willpower.
Full of vibrant human life and worldly atmosphere. Walking back and forth once is like doing a somersault in the mire of worldly affairs—eyes, ears, nose, colors, senses—all fully satisfied.
The Jiaoliao inn right in the middle of Kuanzhai Alley is a unique exception in this century-old lane. Its tightly closed double doors and the ever-present copper lock seem to declare a philosophy of shutting oneself away in a small courtyard.
Truly experiencing what is meant by "a city's forest"! Step out and it's bustling; step in and you keep a quiet heart. In the midst of prosperity and comfort, a pure land is built, luxurious inside with spirit within.
And it's indeed true: once the eight-tael copper lock falls, it separates the gazes of passing tourists and blocks out the bustling world steeped in three centuries of the alley's vibrancy.
The wind can pass through the courtyard, birds can perch on the eaves. But the noise outside can't enter at all. In the midst of the bustle, it takes a quiet place—that is Jiaoliao.
The wooden structure made entirely of paulownia wood is an encounter of traditional aesthetics and modern techniques, natural yet sturdy. Steeping in the faint woody aroma for a long time can help sleep, calm the mind, and soothe the body.
The architectural style of the hotel combines movement and stillness. "Movement" is seen in the details of the interior decor. Birds catch the eye from the entrance corridor to the guest rooms' bird-shaped decorations, echoing the hotel's name—Jiaoliao.
"Stillness" lies in the antique courtyard of green tiles and black bricks, where every blade of grass and tree is elegant, every bamboo and mat is tasteful. Each room has its own poetic name, as if full of life and vivid!
Most of the rooms are decorated with natural wood, fresh and clean, with complete facilities. They feature the King Koil Jingzhu Shiguang co-branded mattress, Kohler bathroom fixtures, TOTO smart toilets... Various drinks, snacks, fruits, teas, etc., are all available, giving an overall warm and comfortable feeling. There is also a small open-air balcony where you can see the Kuanzhai Alley outside. Entering the world while staying detached—this is the life I desire. And if you want to relax your tired body, they offer very professional spa services.
Breakfast is also especially warm. Upon check-in, the butler asks about meal time and taste preferences, very thoughtful. You can choose Chinese or Western food, paired with fruits, nuts, and various pastries, and it's delivered to your room! Full of love.
Living here, truly carefree and comfortable, enjoying this splendid view to the fullest, with all the pleasures of leisure!
Taiziling Ski Resort is located in Jiuding Mountain Scenic Area, Mao County, about 180 kilometers from Chengdu. It takes about 3.5 hours by car from Chengdu to the ski resort. The highest altitude is 2,971 meters, the lowest 2,733 meters, with a drop of 238 meters. Most people do not experience altitude sickness, so you can enjoy it with peace of mind. The total length of ski runs is 2.5 kilometers, making it the longest ski resort in southern China.
Taiziling Ski Resort has relatively professional slopes: 3 advanced, 3 intermediate, and 3 beginner runs. Whether you're skiing for the first time or a professional with all the skills, you can find fun here.
Jiuding Mountain Scenic Area has a beautiful natural environment, with clear waters and green mountains, and rich vegetation resources. It is a multifunctional scenic area integrating outdoor camping, tourism, sports, and leisure. The concentration of negative oxygen ions is extremely high, and PM2.5 is consistently below 10. During the snow season, more than 70% of the time is sunny, making it a city of sunshine and a kingdom of snowscapes.
The slopes here are naturally winding and undulating, called "dream slopes" by ski enthusiasts. Multiple slopes are available for you to choose—many choices, full of surprises—providing a wonderful stage for beginners and masters to play and show their skills.
Skiing is truly exhausting, and the ultraviolet rays are very strong. After a while, you'll be sweating profusely and feel drained. Be sure to rehydrate and rest properly. While resting, enjoy the blue sky, take photos, and admire others' cool poses—it's also very enjoyable. The weather is great; sunlight on the snow reflects strongly, so it's best to bring sunglasses in your gear.
To go on the advanced slopes, you must take the cable car, and you must wear a helmet on the cable car. So if you plan to go on the advanced runs, remember to rent a helmet.
Riding the cable car, with the white snow beneath your feet and the blazing sun above, and skiers whizzing by below—you're especially afraid of dropping your gear or phone. It's quite thrilling.
After about ten minutes on the cable car, you reach the starting point of the advanced slopes. Getting off, your legs go weak; the first slope is at least 40 degrees.
It's indeed "too high to bear the cold." There are even fewer people on the advanced slopes. Very few use double boards; most are skilled players with their own single boards, skiing down in a few moves and disappearing in no time.
If you're hungry, you can buy some food. There are dining areas in the ski resort, but you can also bring your own. Bringing some rice and a self-heating hotpot is quite good. The hotpot at the hotel is tasty, no worse than outside—a big red pot, oily but not greasy. Enjoying the snow scenery while experiencing the spicy kick of hotpot is truly a pleasure.
From the moment you set foot in Jiuding Mountain, you will appreciate a natural realm far from noise, poetic, harmonious between heaven and man, and ancient and serene. And at Taiziling Ski Resort, you can have a wonderful holiday full of harmony and intimacy with family and friends. Why not do it!
Chengdu Du Fu Thatched Cottage is located on the bank of Huanhua Stream outside the west gate of Chengdu. It is a must-visit for tourists coming to Chengdu.
As the name suggests, the Du Fu Thatched Cottage is the former residence of Du Fu. Although the thatched cottage complex is grand and luxurious, Du Fu's actual residence is only a tiny part of the scenic spot—a few small, shabby thatched huts. The large-scale construction was built by later generations to commemorate Du Fu.
After entering the cottage, there are many crossroads with signboards guiding tourists to scenic spots. Going further, a quaint alley appears: the walls on both sides are vermilion, with tiles inset with animal-faced round bricks. The moss mottled on the tiles indicates the alley has been built for some time. The bluestone slabs underfoot have turned dark and cracked.
Through the alley, a winding stream comes into view, with green bamboo on both banks and towering ancient trees—a poetic and picturesque scene.
Before I knew it, we arrived at a place like a thatched cottage—yes, this is Du Fu's former residence! There are small paths on both sides, and bamboo fences enclose the small garden.
The roof does not incorporate modern building materials, but it is no longer the one Du Fu lived in. Here, I just want to stand in front of the house and feel the timeless verse: "Could I get a great mansion covering millions of rooms, sheltering all the poor scholars in the world with joyful faces!" The soil on the wall has loosened, revealing a large frame made of bamboo strips. The wood on the threshold feels like it could break with one step.
Walking in the thatched cottage, the air is thick with the atmosphere of history and strong poetic flavor. I was so immersed that I didn't want to leave for a long time...
What I miss is the scenery of Chengdu; what I miss is the food of Chengdu; what I miss most is the vibrant everyday life of Chengdu...
