Appreciate! That Touch of Slanting Sun in Chengdu's Winter
Chengdu's cuisine is profound and extensive.
To be honest, the main purpose of coming to Chengdu is to taste all kinds of its special delicacies. Even if I can't try every delicious bite here, I still want a chance to visit the must-go spots in Chengdu. I was lucky to come here. Although I dare not say I've truly fulfilled my ambitious goal, I have indeed gained a lot.
Taiziling Ski Resort is an excellent place for winter skiing in Southwest China, providing many southerners with a good opportunity to experience skiing. It is also the best choice to enjoy a wonderful holiday with family and friends in a snowy world. Take advantage of the good snow season and go experience it quickly!
"Sichuan has many fairy mountains, and Jiuding is unparalleled." Jiuding Mountain Taiziling Ski Resort is located in Mao County, Sichuan. It's only a 40-minute drive from the county town, 180 kilometers from downtown Chengdu, and about a three-and-a-half-hour drive.
The ski resort has 9 beginner, intermediate, and advanced ski runs, capable of accommodating over 5,000 skiers at the same time. Different runs meet the needs of skiers of various levels.
If you want to come early, you can book accommodation in advance. There is a Hemingzhuang Holiday Hotel in the ski resort, which is said to be very good. Its floor-to-ceiling windows face the ski runs, offering superb views. If you drive yourself, you can park right at the hotel entrance. You can buy tickets and rent ski equipment at the front desk without queuing in the main hall, which is very convenient and thoughtful.
Moreover, you can enjoy the best time of the ski resort in the morning. I recommend skiing enthusiasts to stay here. You can also choose to stay in Mao County or at hotels halfway up the mountain, where the room rates are cheaper and the cost-performance ratio is high.
For food, you can bring your own or eat at the hotel in the resort. The dishes are quite delicious, oily but not greasy, perfectly matching the white snow scenery. There are also chicken, yak meat, and hot pot vegetables, each with its own characteristics, ensuring you eat well and enough.
The ski runs are divided into beginner, intermediate, and advanced. Beginner and intermediate runs have more people. Advanced runs require professional or highly skilled masters to challenge. Entering advanced runs requires wearing a helmet and passing a technical test by the staff before taking the cable car to the top.
There are also activities suitable for children in the resort, such as snowball fights, building snowmen, and sledding. They are really fun, with scenes full of childhood innocence.
The white snow, the falling snowflakes, the story of Frozen, full of childlike fun, makes our hearts melt.
Here, you can escape the hustle and bustle of the city and feel the power of nature. Every deep journey is a beautiful connection, and ordinary companionship is the best gift in growth.
As a senior representative of Chengdu's cold pot skewers, this Gua Chuan Chuan is quite popular.
You don't need to worry about how long to boil beef or how many seconds for tripe. The cold pot skewers are cooked by professional chefs in the kitchen before being served, controlling the heat much better than if you do it yourself!
Located at No. 29, Jinfangyuan East Road, Chengdu Gua Chuan Chuan. When you walk into this shop, you'll find the decoration has an antique flavor but is also very stylish. The decoration is in Chinese retro red, quite distinctive.
The boss speaks Mandarin, which is pretty good. Their oil dip and dry dip have their own characteristics. The peanuts in the dry dip are super fragrant. I, who love peanuts myself, can't praise them enough.
Now let's talk about their signature skewers. The soup base of the skewers has a slight herbal medicine taste. It won't make you feel it's bad, but instead, it feels special. At least I really like this flavor.
All the ingredients here are very fresh.
For single-bowl dishes like boiled beef, the portion is generous, and it's incredibly refreshing. It's simply a heavenly delicacy. Almost every diner orders this dish, which shows it's quite good.
I especially love the boiled pig brain. The brain is very soft and delicate, with no fishy smell at all. The seasoning and brain are mixed together, making it very flavorful and delicious. So far, the boiled brain here is the best I've ever had, a bit like the taste I had when I was a child! It suddenly gives me a nostalgic feeling.
The taste of these skewers is amazing! You'll want a second serving after the first.
Vegetarian dishes are also very good. Wood ear and tofu skin are must-order items. Sometimes, it's not that I come to Chengdu to eat, but I come to Chengdu just for this food.
Chengdu Gua Chuan Chuan has achieved this!
There is such an authentic Zigong cuisine restaurant, a model of home-style Sichuan food, dedicated to making conscientious and delicious dishes for diners, allowing friends wandering outside to taste the flavor of home in a foreign land.
Located in the beautiful land of abundance, Chengdu, hidden near the city center, Chunxi Road, is a uniquely styled Sichuan restaurant. Xue Dao Street No. 87, Annex 1, is its specific location.
When I arrived at this restaurant, I found the environment very prominent. The storefront is eye-catching. The hall is decorated with a combination of traditional Chinese carved beams and pillars and industrial steam punk, complementing each other.
The service is very warm and attentive. They respond promptly, and if diners need anything, they solve problems immediately. It's good!
The restaurant's dishes are Zigong cuisine, and their main offering is Zigong specialty dishes. It can be described in seven words: spicy, fresh, and very authentic.
I have to mention this Yuangong Chicken Slice. It's a delicious red oil chicken slice. The free-range chicken is really fresh and flavorful, the meat is quite chewy, and the chicken skin is not greasy. The taste is quite spicy. Friends who like spicy food must not miss it! It's definitely a classic dish of the restaurant.
Black Bean Flavored Whole Fish. I don't know what kind of fish it is, but the taste is really good. The fish is super tender, without any fishy smell. Even the seasoning uses diced pork belly. The owner is really generous with ingredients.
Dragon Gate Hanging Meat. The most memorable dish is this. It's not simple crispy pork; it's crispy pork with added ingredients, with meat and vegetables inside. The waiter will cut it in front of you piece by piece, saying auspicious words during the process, which is quite ceremonial! It tastes like a large piece of crispy pork, crispy on the outside. It feels a bit like fried dough sticks with meat. This dish is really interesting!
Wanghua Old Duck Soup is incredibly delicious. After eating so many dishes, a bowl of old duck soup is light and not greasy. The duck meat is very tender. The key is that the soup is really fresh. A bowl down, and you feel great!
The food comes out super fast, the service is really good, the taste is good, and the value for money is high. That's Yuangong.
339 has long become a gathering place for Chengdu people's nightlife and a new name card for Chengdu's nightlife! Many bars and entertainment venues here are very attractive, but one stands out and drew us in—Bie Yuan Li, a small tavern full of literary atmosphere!
It's near the 339 TV Tower, at No. 96, Mengzhuiwan. The environment is quite nice. The bar space is quite large, with two floors, good ventilation, and you won't feel stuffy inside.
The interior design of a Chinese courtyard combines life atmosphere with fashion style. Wooden tables and leather chairs are comfortable, and the two floors are spacious.
Recommended by the waiter, we chose a type of wine. This hot pot wine is especially fragrant, with a taste of multiple fruits, sweet and smooth. It has a low alcohol content, won't get you drunk, and is suitable for women.
The snack lemongrass grilled fish is also very tasty. The fish is grilled until crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, incredibly delicious. Looking at it covered with chili, it's actually not very spicy. The fragrant fish pairs well with the wine.
Unexpectedly, there are also famous Chengdu snacks like Three Big Cannons. The glutinous fried small tangyuan are really chewy and addictive.
The freshly fried French fries are crispy and delicious. I have to say the shop is thoughtful, providing two dips: salad dressing and ketchup. I personally like the tomato flavor, as the classic can't be surpassed in my heart!
The fruit platter has super fresh fruits, with a sweet taste that's intoxicating. Not only is the taste good, but the presentation is also beautiful, revealing the hidden girly heart accidentally.
The barbecue platter, Dai-style grilled skewers, has generous portions, both meat and vegetables, with good taste. The meat and offal are grilled very tender, falling off the skewers with a light bite.
I like this small tavern. Although it's called a small tavern, it's more like a typical quiet bar. It's not too noisy nor too quiet. The decoration is nice, with lights inside the hall creating a great atmosphere. Plus, there are live singers, which feels awesome.
Maybe in life, we need such a trip where we can go wherever we want. So I came to a must-visit place in Chengdu—Wenshu Monastery.
Wenshu Monastery is located in Qingyang District, Chengdu, with a very long history. It is one of the national key Buddhist temples designated by the State Council. It's a place you must visit when coming to Chengdu.
As we turned the street corner, the red brick wall came into view. Looking over the antique wall, I saw towering trees inside, and I couldn't help but applaud: what a peaceful place amidst the noise.
Stepping into the courtyard, we were greeted by a tea house and a vegetarian restaurant. In the tea house, many people were leisurely drinking tea and chatting, a scene that caught my eyes. The tea drinkers and tourists seemed to freeze at this moment, a beautiful picture that made me sigh: what a contented scene!
Since we arrived in the afternoon and it wasn't time for tea, we passed through. To avoid the crowds, we walked towards less crowded places. Eventually, we came to a small courtyard. It was bustling with tourists, lively and noisy, but in my eyes, it presented a warm and peaceful scene, like a flowing ink painting, movement within stillness, stillness within movement.
Following a small path, we reached the back hall and encountered some men and women from a monastery life experience camp. They were sitting in a circle, wearing loose white casual clothes, discussing their feelings and experiences of meditation.
Going further, we arrived at Wenshu Pavilion, where the scripture library is located. The door was closed, but we found several monks sweeping fallen leaves in the courtyard. Later, we learned that the scripture library is usually not open to tourists, only on specific days. It is said to house tens of thousands of Buddhist scriptures, including the "Medicine Buddha Sutra" and "Diamond Sutra" bestowed by Emperor Kangxi, as well as paintings and calligraphy from the Ming and Qing dynasties. The most famous is the "Empty Forest" calligraphy bestowed by Emperor Kangxi to Wenshu Monastery. Since we couldn't enter, we had to leave with regret. Perhaps a bit of regret makes life more interesting.
Following a small path, we arrived at the central area of Wenshu Monastery. Seeing the magnificent and solemn halls, thick and ancient, we couldn't help but feel reverence. The pavilions and towers had upturned eaves and carved windows with exquisite patterns, full of classical beauty.
Wenshu Monastery is a typical traditional Chinese building. There are many antique buildings for you to admire. Due to time constraints, we couldn't finish exploring the entire monastery. But life, after all, needs some regrets; it seems more interesting this way.
As the saying goes, "Young men should not enter Sichuan, and old men should not leave Shu." Chengdu is known as a city you don't want to leave once you arrive. The rich Sichuan culture is displayed in the streets and alleys of Chengdu. Whether it's food, scenery, or Sichuan girls, it's dazzling and overwhelming.
When in Chengdu, eating, drinking, and having fun are essential. With that, of course, accommodation is needed. If we talk about accommodation, you must visit this homestay hotel—Jiaoliao Boutique Hotel. The moment you enter, you'll be absolutely impressed by this Chengdu homestay.
Location: The hotel is located in Kuanzhai Alley, known as the "Chengdu Living Room."
Subway: The entrance of Kuanzhai Alley is Metro Line 4.
Geographical location: The location is really great! It's right inside the Kuanzhai Alley scenic area. You can go out and shop and eat conveniently. It's not far from Chunxi Road, Taikoo Li, Tianfu Square, etc. You can take the subway or a taxi. If you take a taxi, it's about ten yuan.
Hotel style: The overall style of this homestay is what I really like. The room design is Japanese-style, made of pure wood. The room has a unique fragrance that is very soothing. There are handmade Shu embroidery and a wren bird painted by a famous painter.
The hotel has many calligraphy, paintings, and antiques, which the owner took great effort to collect. Every detail is carefully chosen, flawless.
Room: The door uses an electronic lock for security. The entire room, including decorations and bed, is made of phoenix tree wood, giving off a light woody scent that is very relaxing.
There is a dedicated dining area in the room. Lunch and dinner are quite delicious.
Bathroom: When I go out, whether staying in a hotel or a homestay, the most important aspect is always the bathroom. The cleanliness of the bathroom can definitely affect my mood. The bathroom at Jiaoliao deserves full marks! The details show understated luxury. Five-star ultra-luxury configuration: Carnation linens, King Koil mattress, Kohler bathroom fixtures, TOTO smart toilet. Even turning on a faucet shows the owner's care.
Washing area: It's worth mentioning that the washing area is separated into wet and dry areas. You can take a shower or soak in the bathtub. The hotel also provides bath salts.
The toiletries are from June Jacobs (a high-end spa skincare brand from New York). I used this brand at a Sheraton in Guangdong before and loved it. I didn't expect to use it again in Chengdu. According to the butler, June Jacobs customized a set of techniques specifically for the hotel, combining local human culture, environment, climate, and some traditional Chinese medical therapies to create the hotel's unique "Jiaoliao Nest in the Forest."
Bedding: Lying down is so comfortable, fall asleep instantly. The quilt and mattress are very soft and skin-friendly. I like buckwheat pillows, and the hotel thoughtfully provided me with one.
The biggest highlight is the hotel butler, a group of very enthusiastic young people. When I was about to arrive at Kuanzhai Alley, the butler contacted me in advance and even came to the alley entrance to pick me up, introducing the culture of Kuanzhai Alley along the way. This alone made me very fond of the hotel. After arriving at the hotel, when the butler learned that I couldn't eat spicy food, he specially prepared non-spicy wontons for breakfast.
Life is not only accompanied by delicious food and beautiful scenery, but also needs the mark of struggle. On the long road of life, we need to work a little harder.
