The Latest Chengdu Family Travel Guide - June 2021

Hot pot, skewers, bobo chicken, braised grilled meat skewers, sweet noodles... Speaking of Chengdu, there are so many delicious foods like these. Want to see what Chengdu has to offer? Follow me and let's draw the latest Chengdu food map for 2021!

Food near Taikoo Li

1. Southeast Asia in Taikoo Li — Jiyu Thai Seafood Hot Pot (Taikoo Li branch)

Everyone should know the beauty of Thai hot pot. Even if your appetite is poor in summer, a bowl of sour and spicy Tom Yum Goong can instantly stimulate your appetite.

Fragrant leaves and galangal are indispensable, with lime adding flavor. Most importantly, Jiyu's Tom Yum Goong base is truly made by simmering shrimp heads!

The delicate shrimp paste, when cooked in the boiling Tom Yum Goong broth, shrinks into small balls.

It wraps the freshness until it releases in your mouth.

The 'swan eggs' (a type of clam) are slightly open, waiting for you to taste their fresh flavor.

The abalone is extremely lively, with its frills moving, locking in the taste of the sea.

Wow, I absolutely love their curry! Among Thai dishes, curry is my favorite. Thai curry, infused with coconut milk and various Thai spices, performs its true nature. The rich and savory curry sauce interweaves with the fresh and slightly sticky crab meat, spreading deliciousness instantly on the tongue, mildly spicy with sweetness. The thick coconut milk glaze carries a hint of Southeast Asian charm. The chef at Jiyu carefully cracks the crab.

The desserts are also very creative. After scooping out the coconut meat, the coconut becomes an adorable container, filled with cute little glutinous rice balls that are about to pop out. The chewiness of the rice balls perfectly combines with the beauty of coconut, infused with coconut fragrance, making them extremely enticing.

2. Grilling a whole tray of oysters without stopping — Oyster Hero (Taikoo Li branch)

Believe it or not, there's a place offering an oyster buffet! They must not know my reputation as the 'Oyster Killer'.

The owner of Oyster Hero is like a reclusive master in the martial arts world, with exceptional skill in selecting oysters.

Every detail is carefully considered to provide diners with the perfect culinary experience.

From ingredient selection to serving, the owner has his own set of standards. The freshness of the oysters is just right, incredibly fresh! There's absolutely no fishy smell or sand, and they are plump and delicious! Most importantly, you can eat as many oysters as you want here! Did you hear that? If you love oysters, you must not miss this!

Half palm-sized oysters are placed on the grill. After about seven to eight minutes, when small bubbles appear inside the shell, add garlic sauce! Garlic chili sauce is the soul of grilled oysters. The house-made garlic chili sauce is the finishing touch — mildly spicy, with the aroma of garlic bringing the oyster's freshness to life.

There's also my favorite vermicelli scallops, also grilled DIY style. The freshness of scallop meat and vermicelli combine into a most delicious symphony.

Additionally, many grilled meats in the restaurant are also self-service. At Oyster Hero, forget about calories and eat to your heart's content!

3. Just want to enjoy skewers — De Jin Braised Grilled Meat Skewers (Xiangshulin branch)

Braised grilled skewers are always more fragrant than those grilled on open racks. Since the air doesn't circulate, the flavors force their way into the skewers.

At De Jin, one must-order dish is the 'Clothesline Potato Shreds'! It's the first time I've seen such tangled potato shreds hung up like clothes. They are super soft and sticky, yet never break. The potato shreds are slightly spicy, giving a nostalgic feeling of eating spicy strips as a child.

The beef short ribs are substantial, the honey-glazed pork ribs are tender and juicy... De Jin truly delivers!

The giant Thai tiger prawns are skewered perfectly, with the delicious flavor locked inside the shell. Each bite brings freshness into my mouth.

De Jin's grilled chicken wings are satisfying! The plump chicken wings are grilled until the fat sizzles, and they are still bubbling when served. The skin is slightly charred and fragrant, grilled to perfection! The meat is also super flavorful from the marinade.

The grilled sliced steamed bun is a masterpiece. The moisture inside the bun is completely dried out, leaving only a faint fragrance of flour. The crust is crispy and slightly golden, with a hint of milk aroma.

But don't order too many grilled bun slices, as there are many more delicious items at De Jin Braised Grilled Meat Skewers.

Three consecutive visits on Zhimin Road

4. Sitting by the roadside reminiscing childhood — By the Roadside Malatang (Zhimin Road branch)

The street-side atmosphere of By the Roadside is particularly appealing. Imagine sitting on the curb, with an old-style aluminum pot bubbling and emitting the aroma of beef tallow. With a few friends, sitting on small stools, eating skewers, and drinking, enjoying life freely — what a wonderful thing!

The tender beef, after By the Roadside's exclusive marinade, becomes exceptionally soft. A quick dip in the beef tallow-rich broth is all it needs. The secret sauce, with its spicy and intense broth base, creates the most delightful summer taste bud stimulation.

Tripe is always a must-have for hot pot. Just seven or eight dunks in the broth, and the 'thorns' on the tripe absorb the soup, along with an irresistible crunch!

Although you can choose your own dipping sauce, the classic combo is dry powder with original broth: a spoonful of peanuts, a spoonful of chili, and a layer of boiling broth. Be careful with the broth amount — too much dilutes the flavor, too little makes it hard to mix. Take the meat off the skewer and dip it into the prepared sauce; you won't get tired of it no matter how much you eat.

At By the Roadside, even the sauce dish is retro to the core. The common enamel dish from the 1990s is used, making you feel like you've traveled back to high school summers — the youth, the old chipped enamel dish, and that never-stopping pot of beef tallow broth...

5. The spiciest eaters traverse Chengdu — Chengdu Eater (Zhimin Road branch)

Chengdu Eater's 'Ba Ba' skewers are the most enticing. Each skewer, with its different flavors, represents a myriad of life experiences. Every skewer has its own wonderful name.

Called Chengdu Eater, it naturally has its signature dishes. The extremely characteristic grilled fish fillets are topped with bright red chilies, symbolizing prosperity. The generous amount of chili and green onions creates a visually striking scene. The spiciness of the chili perfectly masks the fishy taste, and the delicate fish meat can be parted with just the tongue. Every fiber of the fish is so tender and wonderful.

The 'Naked Prawns' live up to their name. Each prawn is peeled clean, soaked in hot, oily red chili oil. Simply lift the skewer, and the smooth prawn meat, coated with spicy oil, enters your mouth, bouncing on your tongue.

The 'Zui' (drunk) style sweet and sour ribs are also well-crafted. They choose ribs that easily fall off the bone with a 'yi min' (a type of bone). The super flavorful sweet and sour ribs instantly take you back to childhood. The thick, dark sauce is a favorite of uncles. The ribs, glazed with sugar, are full of sweetness, with a hint of aged vinegar's sourness. Mix them with rice, and it's the most wonderful taste from the depths of childhood memories.

6. A fisherman's table of good dishes — Yufu Yuzai (Zhimin Road branch)

Yufu Yuzai's fish is the most ingenious. The large pickled vegetable jars are filled with fragrant pickles. The dried chilies and hanging garlic reveal a rustic farmhouse atmosphere. The mottled brick walls, the long benches and bamboo chairs for shade... At this moment, I feel like a guest at an ordinary Sichuan farmhouse, where every soup and dish is a thoughtful gift from the host...

Yufu Yuzai is different from ordinary fish hot pot. The transparent fish tank at the entrance shows various fresh fish. The fish, ordered and sliced on the spot, guarantees quality.

The so-called 'shi lai yun zhuan' (stone brings luck) refers to cooking superb fish in a stone pot.

Fresh fish is deboned and sliced into thin pieces. The bottom of the stone pot is covered with pebbles, then the boiling hot broth is poured in to cook the fish slices. Since the fish is not directly heated by boiling, it retains an extra tenderness. The traditional sour pickled vegetable soup tantalizes our taste buds in the air, crisp and sour; the fish's freshness melts like pudding in the mouth, not dry at all. Combined with the broth, it brings warmth to the throat, and then into the stomach, a unique freshness that makes you feel ethereal.

What could be more satisfying than a bowl of 'bing fen' (ice jelly) after hot pot? That delicious ice jelly spreads coolness in the mouth, instantly calming the heat of the hot pot, leaving only a refreshing chill.

Yufu Yuzai truly offers a heartwarming taste of Sichuan and Chongqing!

Must-Recommended Hotel in Chengdu

Chengdu Ximu Shanju Hotel (Shaanxi Street branch) near Tianfu Square, Kuanzhai Alley, and People's Park.

Chengdu Ximu Shanju Hotel is located at No.130 Shaanxi Street, southwest corner of Tianfu Square, in the city center. It is about 930 meters from Metro Lines 1 and 2, about 327 meters from People's Park, about 350 meters from the popular Heming Old Teahouse (inside People's Park), about 290 meters from the Pig Trotter Food Street, about 1.3 kilometers from Kuanzhai Alley, about 1.8 kilometers from Wuhou Temple and Jinli, about 1.6 kilometers from Chunxi Road, and about 2.5 kilometers from Taikoo Li. The location is excellent with convenient transportation. Around the hotel, there are educational institutions, key schools, high-end commercial areas, office buildings, such as the Education Department, Human Resources and Social Security Department, Public Security Department, Shishi Middle School, City Center, Renhe Spring, all within walking distance. The hotel has 94 guest rooms of various types. On the hotel grounds, there is a provincial key cultural relic — the Shaanxi Guild Hall, built during the Kangxi period, with a plaque inscribed by Mr. Yu Youren. The over-300-year-old simple architectural style contrasts with modern fashion, creating a charming fusion infused with the essence of ancient Shu culture. You can sleep surrounded by a classic Chinese garden courtyard, enjoying tranquility amid the hustle, elegant and serene, much loved by family travelers and business guests. The bedding, bathroom amenities, and high-end toiletries in the rooms are all customized by the group, ensuring quality. The entire hotel is covered by central air conditioning and 100Mbps fiber optic Wi-Fi, meeting your needs for online work and surfing. The first floor features a simple Oriental-style buffet restaurant offering breakfast, afternoon tea, and authentic home-style Sichuan dishes. The leisure and business self-service area and reading area offer a variety of drinks and fruits for guests to enjoy free of charge. On the second floor, there is a meeting room and a multimedia cinema hall, where you can watch imported foreign blockbusters and enjoy a thrilling audiovisual experience without going to a movie theater.

Must-Visit Attractions in Chongzhou

1. Qimu · Baiju

It can be considered a paradise within the Land of Abundance. The Qing Dynasty architecture in western Sichuan, like a just-made-up young lady, stands alone away from the hustle. Neither seductive nor vulgar, it awaits you. The wooden structure emits a light fragrance. From afar, you can hear the babbling of mountain springs. Eating wild mountain vegetables and game, the rustic charm of the mountains is all here. Wait to savor its beauty, pause to admire, and feel relaxed and joyful.

3. Sanlang Longhai Tourism Resort

Red pandas are an animal I really like. I hurried to Sanlang Longhai Tourism Resort. At Sanlang Longhai, red pandas coexist harmoniously with nature. With their round bodies, they live carefree. After eating and drinking, they hold their bellies and lazily lie aside. Their small eyes sparkle, but their dark circles are even bigger than mine.

4. Jiezi Ancient Town

Jiezi Ancient Town at the foot of Fengqi Mountain has stood for a thousand years through wind and rain. The bluestone road tells countless tales. The alleys hide many fragrances of wine. Under the night sky, it is as bright as day. I wonder if there was ever a time after dusk when the moon rose over the willows, a scholar turned back and found the beauty in his heart at the end of the lantern-lit street.

5. Kangdao Trail and Guangyan Zen Temple

Once a pilgrimage path — the Kangdao Trail — was damaged by a natural earthquake. After its destruction, it has taken on a new appearance. Walking through the forest, listening intently to the whispers of flowers and birds, taking in all the beautiful scenery along the way, I arrived at the ancient temple — Guangyan Zen Temple. The meditation room is deep amidst flowers and trees; the winding path leads to a secluded spot. Entering this temple is like cleansing the soul, as if it has become a bright mirror.

6. Xiyun Painting Academy

The origin of this academy's name is my favorite: 'The meaning of unfolding is endless, swirling and flowing, then empty in the air' — this is the origin of 'Xi Yun' (Stream Cloud). This academy houses a collection of many famous paintings. Although it stands out alone, it has a calm magnanimity — 'What am I like, drifting aimlessly? A gull between heaven and earth.' Suddenly, I really want to get to know the owner of the academy.

7. Qingcheng Equestrian

Qingcheng Mountain has an otherworldly atmosphere, giving a feeling of 'the great Dao does nothing'. While being in harmony with the Dao, it also follows the way of heaven and earth. Qingcheng Equestrian has a courage that confronts horses, a beauty of strength and passion, full of tension and vitality. Qingcheng Equestrian also metaphorically represents the mutual balance between humans and nature.

8. Yuantong Ancient Town

Visit Yuantong Ancient Town, watch the river flow by, and think about the historical river that has surged through this city for 1,600 years. Once bustling Yuantong, the 'Along the River During the Qingming Festival' of Chengdu, where three rivers converge created the prosperity of Hui Jiang Yuantong, but now time passes like flowing water. The alleys may still retain traces of that past prosperity.

9. Haoyun Aviation Club

At Haoyun Aviation Club, I experienced a bit of 'speed and passion'. Paragliding, something I never dared to imagine, became a dream come true. Takeoff was only a moment, and then I embraced the blue sky and fell in love with its inclusiveness. The plane was very stable, and looking down at the earth, I realized how beautiful the land beneath us is.

10. Yanhua Pool Museum

It's only when you visit Chongzhou for the first time that you are captivated by such gentle and lingering beauty. Every frame in Yanhua Pool Museum is like an ancient painting; entering the painting feels like becoming a fairy in the painting. The splashed ink scenic spots from the Tang and Song dynasties come into view bit by bit, forming the myriad beautiful colors in Yanhua Pool. I just want to be here, sipping a cup of pipa tea, listening to the sound of raindrops hitting the leaves outside the window.