Quietly Appreciating That Slanting Sun in Chengdu's Winter
To be honest, the main purpose of coming to Chengdu is to try all kinds of its local delicacies. Even if I can't sample every delicious dish, I still want a chance to visit the must-try spots in Chengdu. Luckily, I came here. Although I dare not say I have truly fulfilled my ambitious goal, I certainly gained a lot.
Taiziling Ski Resort is an excellent place for winter skiing in the Southwest region, offering many southerners a great opportunity to experience skiing. It is also the best choice to enjoy a wonderful holiday with family and friends in the icy and snowy world. Seize the good time of the snow season and go feel it!
"Among the many immortal mountains in Shu, Jiuding is called a unique wonder." Jiuding Mountain Taiziling Ski Resort is located in Mao County, Sichuan. It only takes a 40-minute drive from the county town to get there, and it is 180 kilometers from downtown Chengdu, about a three-and-a-half-hour drive.
The ski resort has a total of 9 beginner, intermediate, and advanced ski runs, which can accommodate more than 5,000 people at the same time. Different ski runs can 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 inside the ski resort. It is said to be very nice, with floor-to-ceiling windows facing the ski runs, offering a superb view. If you drive by yourself, you can park directly at the hotel entrance. You can buy tickets and rent ski equipment right next to the front desk, without having to queue at the ski resort hall—a very convenient and thoughtful feature.
Moreover, you can enjoy the most beautiful time of the ski resort exclusively in the morning. I recommend skiing enthusiasts to stay here. Alternatively, you can choose to stay in Mao County or at a hotel halfway up the mountain, which is cheaper and offers good value for money.
As for food, you can bring your own or eat at the hotel inside the resort. The dishes are quite tasty, oily but not greasy, perfectly matching the white snow scenery. There are also chicken, yak meat, hot pot with vegetables, and so on, each with its own specialty—enough to fill you up and satisfy you.
The ski runs include beginner, intermediate, and advanced levels. The beginner and intermediate runs have more people. The advanced run is certainly only for professionals or masters with solid skills. To enter the advanced run, you need to wear a helmet and pass a technical check by the staff before taking the cable car to the top.
The resort also has activities suitable for children: snowball fights, building snowmen, and sledding. They are especially fun, with scenes full of childhood innocence and purity.
White snow, swirling snowflakes—the story of a frozen fairy tale is full of childlike innocence, melting our hearts.
Here, you can escape the hustle and bustle of the city and feel the power of nature. Every deep travel experience is a wonderful link, and ordinary companionship is the best gift in growth.
As a veteran representative of Chengdu's cold pot skewers, this Chengdu Gua Chuan Chuan is quite popular.
You don't need to worry about how many minutes to boil the beef or how many seconds for tripe. The cold pot skewers are cooked by professional chefs in the kitchen and then served to you, with much better heat control than when you cook them 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 fashionable. The interior is in a vintage Chinese red style, quite distinctive.
The boss speaks Mandarin, which feels pretty good. Their oil dip and dry dip are both unique. The peanuts in the dry dip are super fragrant—I love peanuts, so I can't praise their dry dip enough.
Now let's talk about their main specialty—skewers. The soup base has a hint of traditional Chinese medicine flavor. It doesn't taste bad; instead, it feels quite special. At least for me, I really like this taste.
All the ingredients here are very fresh.
Single-bowl dishes like boiled beef are generous in portion and incredibly delicious—simply a delicacy of the world. Almost every diner orders this dish, which is quite excellent.
I especially love the boiled pig brain. The brain is soft and tender in texture, with no fishy smell at all. The seasoning mixed with the brain makes it very flavorful, super tasty. So far, the boiled pig brain here is the best I've ever had—it reminds me of the taste I had when I was little! It instantly brings back nostalgic feelings.
These skewers are absolutely amazing! You'll want to come back for a second round after the first.
Vegetarian dishes are also great: wood ear mushrooms and tofu skin are must-orders. Many times, it's not about coming to Chengdu to eat, but coming to Chengdu for the sake of this food.
Chengdu Gua Chuan Chuan has achieved this!
There is an authentic Zigong cuisine restaurant, a model of Sichuan home cooking, dedicated to making conscientious and delicious dishes for diners, allowing friends far from home to taste the flavor of home in a foreign land.
Located in the beautiful land of abundance—Chengdu, hidden in a uniquely styled Sichuan restaurant near the city center, Chunxi Road. The specific address is No. 87-1, Xuedao Street.
When you arrive at this restaurant, you'll find its environment stands out. The shop is eye-catchingly arranged. The main hall combines traditional Chinese carved beams and pillars with heavy industrial steampunk style, complementing each other well.
The service is warm and attentive—always ready to respond and solve problems promptly for diners. Great!
The restaurant's cuisine is Zigong salt gang style. They specialize in Zigong characteristic dishes, which can be described in seven words: spicy, numbing, fresh, and very authentic.
I must mention the Yuangong local chicken slices. This is a delicious red-oil chicken slice. The local chicken is truly tasty and well-seasoned, with very chewy meat. The chicken skin is not greasy, and the flavor is quite spicy. Those who like spicy food must not miss it! It's definitely one of their classic dishes.
The soy-braised whole fish—I don't know what kind of fish it is, but it tastes really good. The fish meat is extremely tender, without any fishy smell. Even the seasoning is stir-fried with pork belly. The restaurant really goes all out with their ingredients.
Longmen hanging meat—this dish left the deepest impression on me. It's not simple crispy pork; it's crispy pork with added ingredients, including meat and vegetables. The waiter cuts it into pieces right in front of you, saying some auspicious words during the process—very ceremonial! The texture is like a large crispy pork piece, crispy on the outside. It feels a bit like fried dough sticks with meat—quite an interesting dish!
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, and the soup is really fresh. One bowl down, and you feel fantastic!
The food is served super fast, the service is genuinely good, the taste is great, and the value for money is high—that's Yuangong.
339 has long been a gathering place for Chengdu's nightlife and has become a new calling card for Chengdu's nightlife! There are many bars and entertainment venues here that are very attractive, but one stood out and made us walk in—Bieyuanli, a small tavern full of literary atmosphere!
It is located near the 339 TV Tower, at No. 96, Mengzhuiwan. The environment is quite nice. The bar space is fairly large, with two floors, good ventilation, and no stuffiness inside.
The interior design resembles a Chinese courtyard, blending a living atmosphere with fashion. Wooden tables and leather chairs are comfortable, and the two floors are spacious.
Recommended by the service attendant, we chose a type of wine. This hot pot wine is particularly fragrant and mellow. It tastes like a mix of various fruit aromas, sweet and smooth. The alcohol content is low, not intoxicating, making it very suitable for women.
The snack lemongrass grilled fish is also especially delicious. The fish is grilled until crispy on the outside and tender on the inside—so good. It looks covered with chili, but the actual flavor isn't too spicy. The fragrant fish pairs well with the wine.
Unexpectedly, there are also famous Chengdu snacks like San Da Pao (three cannonballs) and glutinous fried little tangyuan, which are really soft and sticky, irresistibly tasty.
The freshly fried French fries are crispy and delicious. I have to say the shop is very thoughtful: they provide two dips—salad dressing and ketchup. I personally like the tomato flavor; classic can't be surpassed in my heart!
The fruit platter has super fresh fruits, with a sweet taste that is really intoxicating. Not only is the taste good, but the presentation is also beautiful—it accidentally reveals a hidden girlish heart.
The barbecue platter, in Dai-style flavor, has generous portions with both meat and vegetables. It tastes great, with meat and offal grilled tender, easily coming off the skewer with a gentle bite.
I like this small tavern. Although it's called a tavern, it's more like a typical quiet bar—not too noisy, nor too quiet. The decoration is nice, with lighting that creates a great atmosphere in the hall. Plus, there is live music, which adds a lot of feeling.
Perhaps in life, we need such spontaneous travel to 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 in Chengdu.
As we turned the street corner, the red brick walls came into view. Looking over the antique wall heads, we saw towering trees inside, and I couldn't help but silently applaud: what a tranquil spot amidst the bustle.
Stepping into the courtyard, we were greeted by a tea house and a vegetarian restaurant. In the tea house, many people could be seen leisurely sipping tea and chatting happily. Tea drinkers and tourists seemed to freeze in that moment together—a beautiful scene that made me sigh with admiration: such a carefree scene!
Since we arrived in the afternoon and hadn't started exploring yet, it wasn't time for tea, so we passed through. To avoid the crowds, we headed toward less populated areas. We eventually walked into a small courtyard, which was crowded and lively, but to me, it presented a warm and peaceful scene, like a flowing freehand painting—movement within stillness, stillness within movement.
Following a side path, we reached the rear hall, where we encountered some men and women from the monastery's life experience camp. Dressed in loose white casual clothes, they sat together in a circle, discussing their feelings and insights from meditation practice.
Moving forward, we arrived at Wenshu Pavilion, where the Sutra Library is located. The door was not open, but we saw a few monks sweeping fallen leaves in the courtyard. Later, we learned that the Sutra Library is usually not open to visitors, only on certain specific days. It is said to house tens of thousands of Buddhist scriptures, including the "Medicine Master Sutra" and "Diamond Sutra" bestowed by Emperor Kangxi, as well as calligraphy and paintings from the Ming and Qing dynasties. The most famous is the "Empty Forest" ink trace bestowed by Emperor Kangxi to Wenshu Monastery. Since we couldn't enter, we had to leave with that regret. Perhaps a little regret makes our lives more interesting.
Following a small path, we arrived at the central area of Wenshu Monastery. The halls were magnificent, towering, heavy, and ancient, naturally inspiring reverence. Pavilions and towers had upturned eaves and carved edges, with exquisite patterned openwork windows, full of classical beauty.
Wenshu Monastery is a typical traditional Chinese building. There are many antique structures to enjoy. Due to time constraints, we couldn't finish touring the entire monastery, but life needs some regrets—it seems more interesting that way.
As the saying goes, "Young people shouldn't enter Sichuan, and old people shouldn't leave Shu." Chengdu is known as a city you don't want to leave once you arrive. The rich Sichuan culture is displayed on every street and alley. Whether it's food, scenery, or Sichuan girls, everything dazzles and overwhelms.
Coming to Chengdu, eating, drinking, and having fun are essential. And with all that, accommodation is also necessary. When it comes to accommodation, you must check into this guesthouse hotel—Jiaoliao Humanistic Boutique Hotel. It will absolutely catch your eye the moment you step in.
Location: The hotel is located in Kuanzhai Alley, known as "Chengdu's living room."
Metro: Line 4 is right at the mouth of Kuanzhai Alley.
Geographic location: It's really great! Right inside the Kuanzhai Alley scenic area. You can go out and stroll, eat, and shop—very convenient. It's not far from Chunxi Road, Taikoo Li, Tianfu Square, etc. You can take the subway or a taxi. A taxi ride costs about 10 yuan.
Hotel style: I really like the overall style of this guesthouse. The room design leans Japanese, made of pure wood structure. The room has a unique fragrance that is very soothing. There are hand-embroidered Shu embroidery and wren birds specially painted by famous artists in the room.
The hotel has many calligraphy, paintings, and antiques, which the owner worked hard to collect. Every detail is carefully thought out and impeccable.
Room: The door uses an electronic lock for security. The entire room, including decorations and bed, is made of Chinese parasol tree wood, giving off a faint woody scent that is very relaxing.
The room has a dedicated dining area, and the lunch and dinner are quite tasty.
Bathroom: When I go out, whether staying in a hotel or guesthouse, the bathroom is my top concern. Its cleanliness can definitely affect my mood. I would give full marks to Jiaoliao's bathroom! The details reflect understated luxury. Super five-star deluxe配置: Kangnaixin linens, King Koil mattress, Kohler bathroom products, TOTO smart toilet. Even turning on the faucet makes you feel the shop's dedication.
Washing area: It's worth mentioning that the washing area has a wet-dry separation. You can take a shower or soak in the bathtub. The hotel also provides bath salts.
The three-piece toiletries set is by American June Jacobs (a high-end spa skincare brand from New York). I've used this brand before at a Sheraton in Guangdong and loved it. I didn't expect to use it again in Chengdu. According to the butler, June Jacobs specially customized a treatment for the hotel, combining local culture, environment, climate, and some traditional Chinese medical therapies to create the hotel's unique "Jiaoliao Chao Lin" (Wren Nest in the Forest).
Bedding: Lying down is so comfortable—falling asleep in minutes. The quilt and mattress are very soft and skin-friendly. I prefer buckwheat pillows, and the hotel thoughtfully provided one for me.
The biggest highlight is the hotel butlers—a very enthusiastic group. When I was about to arrive at Kuanzhai Alley, the butler contacted me in advance, came to the alley entrance to pick me up, and introduced the culture of Kuanzhai Alley along the way. This alone made me feel very favorable toward the hotel. After arriving, the butler learned that I can't eat spicy food, so they specially prepared a non-spicy wonton for breakfast.
Life's journey is not only accompanied by delicious food and beautiful scenery but also needs the marks of struggle. On the long road of life, we need to work a little harder.
