City of Gastronomy, Charm Everywhere!

Chengdu is not a place that dampens your willpower; on the contrary, it makes you feel vibrant. The only reason to indulge is your inability to resist the city's unrestrained imagination. Its beauty lies in innocence, and everyone, young or old, has a captivating, irresistible sense of relaxation. They never doubt the meaning of life; they are doers—if they want to play mahjong, they play mahjong; if they love spicy Xiaomi peppers, they eat them. The people of Sichuan have a spirit that is calm, fearless, and unassuming, living their cherished lives with dignity. Rather than saying I like Chengdu, I should say I love the vibrant, lively atmosphere of Chengdu.

The people of Chengdu love food, and Chengdu is indeed a city of gastronomy! The best feelings in life are surely found on journeys. Others' journeys have sweetness, sourness, and all flavors of life, but mine has just one flavor: the aroma of food. So, I came to Chengdu, this city full of delicious food!

Yuán Gòng, Yuán Gòng—meeting by fate, with a red plaque and golden characters—it instantly struck a chord in my heart. The moon-white poetic verses on the ground also highlighted the theme of "fate." It seems I truly have a fateful connection with this restaurant.

The ceiling of Yuán Gòng was covered with flame-red flowers, giving it a particularly innovative feel, and my mood unconsciously began to lift.

This restaurant is located behind another street near Chunxi Road, close to Qingshi Bridge. The location is a bit off the beaten path. Compared to the bustling, glittering Chunxi Road, it feels somewhat detached from the mundane, and I love this detached atmosphere.

The restaurant is quite spacious, with each table in separate booths that are adequately spaced, making it suitable for small gatherings. It didn't feel crowded at all—I simply fell in love with the environment!

Nowadays, restaurants are decorated with great style, and this one is no exception. The lighting and color tones, whether in the private rooms or the main hall's booths, exude a sense of design.

The dishes here are authentic Zigong Sichuan cuisine, and the flavors are excellent. The environment itself feels very homey. The red flowers and umbrellas as decorations add a sense of festivity and warmth, which filled my heart with warmth. Perhaps this is the taste of home.

The service staff were excellent—warm, attentive, and always available when called. Even though we were seated in a somewhat remote spot, the waitstaff could always be reached quickly, never leaving us waiting. Their attitude toward guests was genuinely friendly and welcoming, with dedicated staff guiding us from entrance to exit. I consider this a very positive aspect.

As for the dishes, the one that left the deepest impression on me was the Yuán Gòng Signature Flower Clam Rabbit. The green and red double peppers highlighted the tenderness and freshness of the rabbit meat, while the clams looked irresistibly glossy. With one bite, the tender, slightly numbing sensation combined with just the right level of spiciness—an instant dance of flavors on the palate. As the saying goes, "When golden wind and jade dew meet, they surpass countless scenes on earth!"

The Longmen Hanging Meat dish had a dedicated young man who helped cut the meat and plate it nicely. It had a crispy texture, and the outer coating was fried to perfection. Even after eating a lot, I didn't feel greasy. This is one of their signature dishes and quite distinctive.

The Old Duck Soup left a deep impression on me. It wasn't overly seasoned with MSG or chicken powder; instead, it had a clear, sweet, and refreshing taste that helped relieve the dryness. A sip made me feel physically and mentally soothed—so comforting and delicious.

Another dish, the Yuán Gòng Native Chicken Slices, was absolutely the best of the night. The flavor was fantastic, with lotus root slices underneath. The red chili oil was incredibly fragrant, and when eaten together with the chicken, it was simply heavenly. My friend and I couldn't stop praising this dish—it was truly delicious!

The Soybean-Fragrant Whole Fish was a large fish, covered with plenty of fermented black beans and minced pork. Even without the fish, the condiments alone could make several bowls of rice. The fish meat was especially tender and had no fishy smell at all!

"Fate brings people together from afar, meeting at Yuán Gòng." An authentic Sichuan restaurant that keeps surprising you!

As everyone knows, Chengdu is a city of gastronomy. When it comes to representative foods, chuan chuan (skewers) definitely have a place. Large bundles of bamboo sticks, hot red broth, and numbing spicy flavors make your mouth water uncontrollably. This Chengdu Gua Chuan Chuan Main Store on Jinfangyuan East Road could be your choice.

The restaurant offers a rich variety of skewers—dozens of types, with many choices for both vegetables and meats. It was dazzling to choose from.

The ingredients are pre-skewered and placed in refrigerated cabinets for customers to pick freely. All you need to do is choose your favorite dishes. Another feature here is that the kitchen chef cooks the skewers and serves them directly in a large pot, saving you the trouble of cooking them yourself. For lazy people like me, it’s incredibly convenient.

After a short wait, a steaming pot of skewers arrived. The broth looked oily and spicy, but the spiciness was actually moderate. The flavors were numbing, spicy, and fresh. The restaurant offers both dry dipping powder and oil-based dips. The dry dip is their specialty and is highly recommended.

Besides skewers, there are also several hot dishes worth trying, such as numbingly spicy brains, which are smooth and delicate; numbingly spicy duck blood, fresh and silky; numbingly spicy duck intestines, crisp and tasty; and numbingly spicy luncheon meat and instant noodles, which are also quite memorable.

This Chengdu Gua Chuan Chuan may not claim to be the best chuan chuan in Chengdu, but it is definitely the most unique.

In this laid-back city of Chengdu, there are many small taverns of various sizes. But this one, Bie Yuan Li, surrounded by greenery, lit by neon lights, and stocked with a wide variety of drinks and snacks, is the only one of its kind in Chengdu.

The tavern's unique Cat Girl adds a touch of mystery to the night, making people look forward to the evening even more.

I heard that to provide customers with a better experience, the owner hired the lighting design company that worked on the Bird's Nest to design the lighting effects. I can only secretly remark—what a grand production, and how generous the boss is!

When the lights inside the tavern come on, the whole place becomes a colorful neon world. Under the interplay of light and shadow, multicolored lamps resemble stars in the sky, shining brightly in the tavern. Seeing this scene, I couldn't help but marvel—indeed, the boss's decision was right, and customers' experience is the greatest affirmation.

Since this is a tavern, alcohol is a must. There is an enormous selection: foreign spirits, cocktails, pure imported beer, and many more that I couldn't even name. My eyes were dazzled. In short, whatever you want to drink, you can probably find it here!

Not only that, but even the tableware was carefully chosen by the owner—Jingdezhen blue-and-white porcelain, elegant and beautiful, truly captivating.

Although there are many alcoholic drinks, what I favor isn't the strong, fiery kind. A Long Island Iced Tea looks as clear and mild as black tea, but it has the strong, rich aroma of alcohol. With lemon juice and coke added, it tastes sweet, similar to lemon black tea, so it has always been popular among girls. A friend who knows a lot about alcohol told me that this drink is the "wolf in sheep's clothing" of the cocktail world; its alcohol content is relatively high, so those who don't drink much should be careful not to overindulge.

There is also a cocktail called Metropolitan. It's no exaggeration to say that the Metropolitan is one of the most popular cocktails in the world. To this day, it has been popular for over thirty years. With its low alcohol content, sweet and sour taste, and rich fruity flavor, it won me over and became my favorite.

If you happen to order the bartender's special at Bie Yuan Li Tavern, congratulations—you'll enjoy a dazzling cocktail show. The finished cocktail slowly "exhales" a mist from the rim of the glass, creating a particularly artistic atmosphere. Savor it slowly; the deeper the contact between your tongue and the cocktail, the more wonderful its flavor becomes.

I must recommend this Chinese-style cocktail—the Ancient Qiang Wheat Straw Brewed Wine. It's rice wine enjoyed through a wheat straw, and it was my first time seeing such a thing. The rice wine is sweet, mellow, and rich, smooth on the palate. Drinking a small bottle in winter makes your whole body feel warm.

Don't think you can only drink here—they also have a hidden Sichuan cuisine kitchen. Its taste and portions can rival any outside Sichuan restaurant. Dan dan noodles, Zhong dumplings, and childhood-flavored fermented rice with brown sugar 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 on the inside—guaranteed to win you over after just a few bites.

After seeing all this, if you're curious, go and experience it yourself!

From the entrance of Kuan Zhai Alley to the Jiao Liao hotel is only about two hundred meters, but it can take half an hour to walk. With rows of snack shops and various gold and silver utensils, if your mind wavers, you'll easily get lost in the sights and sounds.

Your eyes take in the green bricks, black tiles, ancient trees, and long streets. Your ears are filled with the tinkling sounds of copper and silver craftsmen hammering and shopkeepers calling out. Your nose catches the aroma of sugar-coated hawthorns and egg-baked cakes. Breaking free from all this requires a lot of willpower.

It's a place full of lively human warmth and secular atmosphere. Walking back and forth feels like tumbling through the entanglements of the mortal world, satisfying all your senses.

Jiao Liao, right in the middle of Kuan Zhai Alley, stands out as an exception in this century-old lane. The tightly closed double doors and the permanently locked copper lock seem to declare a philosophy of retreating into the courtyard to create a world of its own.

Truly experiencing what it means to be "a city in the mountains"! Step out, and it's bustling; step in, and you calmly guard your heart. A pure land built amidst prosperity and leisure, with hidden luxury and profound charm.

And indeed it is: once the heavy copper lock falls, it blocks the gazes of passing tourists and also shuts out the boisterous world of the alley, steeped in three hundred years of life.

The wind can pass through the courtyard, birds can perch on the eaves, but the noise outside cannot enter even a bit. To find peace amidst the bustle—that is Jiao Liao.

The wooden structure made entirely of paulownia wood is a meeting of traditional aesthetics and modern techniques, natural yet sturdy. Long-term exposure to the faint scent of wood promotes sleep, calms the mind, and nourishes the body.

The hotel's architectural style combines movement and stillness. "Movement" is evident in the details of the interior decoration: birds appear from the moment you enter the corridor, leading to bird-shaped ornaments in the guest rooms, echoing the hotel's name—Jiao Liao.

"Stillness" lies in the antique courtyard with green and black bricks and tiles. Every plant and tree exudes elegance; every bamboo and mat shows refined taste. Each guest room has a poetic name, as if endowed with life and vitality.

The rooms are mostly decorated with natural wood, fresh and clean, and fully equipped with various drinks, snacks, fruits, tea, and more. The overall feeling is very warm and comfortable. There is also a small open-air balcony where you can watch the Kuan Zhai Alley outside in the morning—living in the mundane while transcendent. That's the life I want. If you need to relax your tired body, professional spa services are available.

Breakfast is also very warm. Upon check-in, the butler asks about your meal time and taste preferences—very considerate. You can choose between Chinese and Western meals, which come with fruits, dried fruits, and various pastries, delivered to your room by the butler! Full of love.

Staying here, you truly feel at ease and leisurely, enjoying this beautiful scenery and experiencing the joy of carefree living!!

Taiziling Ski Resort is located in the Jiuding Mountain Scenic Area in Mao County, about 180 kilometers from Chengdu. It takes about 3.5 hours to drive from Chengdu to the ski resort. The highest altitude of the ski resort is 2,971 meters, and the lowest is 2,733 meters, with a drop of 238 meters. Most people do not experience altitude sickness, so you can enjoy it with confidence. The total length of the ski slopes is 2.5 kilometers, making it the ski resort with the longest slopes in southern China.

Taiziling Ski Resort has relatively professional slopes: 3 advanced runs, 3 intermediate runs, and 3 beginner runs. Whether you're a first-timer or a seasoned expert, you can find fun here.

Jiuding Mountain Scenic Area boasts beautiful natural scenery with lush mountains and clear waters, rich in vegetation. It is a multifunctional scenic area integrating outdoor camping, tourism, sightseeing, and sports leisure. The concentration of negative oxygen ions is extremely high, and PM2.5 is consistently below 10. During the snow season, 70% of the days are sunny, making it a city of sunshine and a land of snowscapes.

The slopes here are naturally winding and undulating, known by ski enthusiasts as dream slopes. There are multiple slopes to choose from, offering plenty of options and surprises, providing a stage for beginners and experts alike to enjoy themselves and showcase their skills.

Skiing is a very energy-consuming activity, and with the strong ultraviolet rays, you'll soon be sweating profusely. Be sure to rehydrate and take breaks. Resting while looking at the blue sky, taking photos, and admiring others' impressive poses is also very enjoyable. The weather is good, and the sunlight reflecting off the snow is dazzling, so it's best to bring sunglasses.

To access the advanced runs, you must take the cable car, and wearing a helmet is mandatory. So if you plan to try the advanced runs, remember to rent a helmet.

Riding the cable car, with the white snow beneath your feet and the sun overhead, you see skiers speeding by below. I was particularly worried about dropping my gear or phone—quite thrilling.

After about ten minutes on the cable car, you reach the starting point of the advanced runs. As soon as I stepped off, my legs felt weak—the first slope was at least 40 degrees steep.

Indeed, "it's lonely at the top." There were even fewer people on the advanced runs. Very few used skis; most were skilled snowboarders who swooshed down in no time and disappeared from sight.

If you get hungry, you can buy some food. There are places to eat inside the ski area, but you can also bring your own food, like rice and self-heating hotpot—pretty good. The hotpot at the hotel is delicious, no worse than outside restaurants. A big pot of bright red broth tastes rich but not greasy. Enjoying the spicy hotpot while watching the snow scenery—that's true enjoyment.

From the moment you step into Jiuding Mountain, you will experience a natural realm far from the noise, full of poetry, harmony between man and nature, and pristine tranquility. And at Taiziling Ski Resort, you can have a joyful, intimate holiday with family and friends—why not!

Chengdu Du Fu Thatched Cottage is located on the bank of Huanhua Creek outside the west gate of Chengdu. It is a must-visit for tourists coming to Chengdu.

As the name suggests, Du Fu Thatched Cottage was Du Fu's former residence. Although the thatched cottage scenic area is grand and luxurious, Du Fu's actual residence is only a tiny part of it—a few small, shabby thatched huts. The large-scale constructions were built by later generations to commemorate Du Fu.

Upon entering the thatched cottage, there are many forks, each with signposts directing tourists to the attractions. Going further, a quaint alley comes into view: both sides are vermilion walls, with tiles embedded with round bricks carved with animal faces. The mottled moss on the tiles shows that this alley has been here for some time. The green stone slabs underfoot have been worn black and are cracked.

Passing through the alley, a winding stream appears, with green bamboos growing on both banks, accompanied by towering ancient trees—a truly poetic scene.

Before we knew it, we arrived at a place resembling a thatched hut. Yes, this is Du Fu's former residence! Small paths on both sides, with bamboo fences enclosing the small garden.

The roof has no modern building materials, but it is no longer the same hut Du Fu lived in. Here, I just wanted to stand in front of the house and feel the eternal lines: "Could I get a vast mansion covering ten thousand rooms, sheltering all the world's poor scholars with joyful faces!" I saw the soil on the walls loosening, revealing large sections of frames woven from bamboo strips. The wood on the threshold felt like it would break with one step.

Walking through the thatched cottage, I was enveloped by a sense of history and rich poetic charm, making me linger and reluctant to leave...

What I miss is the scenery of Chengdu; what I miss is the food of Chengdu; what I miss most is the vibrant, lively atmosphere of Chengdu...