Kemei Takes You on a Food and Fun Tour in the Land of Abundance

Fingertips: The only things in life that cannot be let down are beautiful scenery and delicious food.

Some say that when you mention Chengdu, what comes to mind is not the city name but countless dishes. Because Chengdu is a city filled with food. In every alley and every street of this city, you can encounter a lot of delicious food and interesting snacks at any time.

And the enthusiasm of Chengdu people for eating has also led to the high development of the catering industry in Chengdu. Whenever foreign tourists come to Chengdu, they are all interested in Chengdu's hot pot, Sichuan cuisine, snacks, and spicy hot pot. If you go to Chengdu and don't eat the local food, you always feel like you've gone to a treasure mountain and returned empty-handed.

A city has its own history and culture, as well as its own unique neighborhoods. To understand a city's history and culture, you should walk into its characteristic neighborhoods, learn about the cultural origins and celebrity stories it carries, touch its historical warmth up close, and feel the prosperous commercial atmosphere and the flavor of indulgence that have persisted through the changes of the times.

With rare leisure time and family accompanying us, we decided to have some fun near Jinli, walking and enjoying, savoring slowly. If Kuanzhai Alley is classical and literary, like a crescent moon in a mirror of time, then Jinli is prosperous and worldly, like a few fireworks blooming outside the mirror of time.

Entering Jinli, the tempting aroma of delicious food hits you in the face. One shop after another is open, mainly selling food and drinks. Fresh fruits and delicacies, carefully decorated, appear faintly in the mist. Seeing their beautiful shapes, discerning their fresh colors, and smelling their fragrant scents, one's mouth waters uncontrollably.

Beside the shops, there are Sichuan opera actors in makeup greeting customers. They mimic the movements from the opera, suddenly shrinking their necks and sticking out their heads, turning a white face into a red one, startling you. Before you can be surprised or angry, they make a funny face and make you burst out laughing. This tease and laughter instantly lift your mood.

When we first went, the sky was clear. Strolling along Jinli, with fewer tourists, there was a hazy, classical charm. The streets of Jinli are not wide, but ancient buildings face each other on both sides. Strings of red lanterns hang high and low, either under the soaring eaves or on the branches of trees. In the hazy rain, they flicker and shimmer, full of unique charm.

Walking in the ancient street feels like strolling through a poetic realm with harmonious rhythms. Carved windows, moss-covered ancient walls, and winding corridors with secluded paths are like the backdrop of a poem. Amid the rich and light elegance, there is a contrast between vicissitudes and vitality.

Jinli is an ancient street suitable for nostalgia, as well as a place that appeals to both refined and popular tastes. Here you can find memories of Chengdu from the Three Kingdoms period, or enjoy a leisurely life in a fast-paced city.

After visiting Jinli, we got hungry. It seems that the temptation of food is quite strong. I decided to take my family to Gua Chuanchuan at the Jinfangyuan East Road store. I heard it was pretty good. When we arrived, we found that the environment of this Gua Chuanchuan was really nice.

The overall decoration is made of blue bricks and green tiles, with red walls full of festive atmosphere. The space is spacious, with clear functional areas. The Chinese retro style adds a unique charm to this store, making it antique.

Although we thought it was still early, when we entered, we found a different world inside. There were really a lot of people. The entire hall was full, with voices competing with each other, but it did not affect the enthusiasm of the foodies waiting outside. Indeed, delicious food is the key. This is the nature of Chengdu foodies.

Pot bottom: The soup base is prepared in authentic Chengdu style, with a pleasantly spicy cold pot skewer. The ultra-rich soup base is freshly boiled every day, covered with red oil over the secret broth. Full of dry ingredients, it is simmered from early morning until noon when it opens. It is fragrant without being numbing, spicy without being dry. This flavor cannot be imitated; only the recipe passed down from the older generation can be called the old Chengdu taste.

70+ kinds of skewers to choose from: 6 large freezers make your eyes dizzy. They ensure the ingredients are kept at a five-star cold chain level. Fresh ingredients are carefully selected every day, marinated with care, and skewered. Meat and vegetables are all available. After eating, the skewers are weighed by the kilogram. Whatever you want to eat, just take it, and immediately start the crazy skewer-eating mode!

Handmade specialty dipping sauces: How fragrant is the dry dipping sauce? The combination of crushed peanuts + chili powder easily takes the lead. Roll it lightly, and you can taste the peanut fragrance. The painstaking process of handmade production determines its uniqueness. The oil dip made with sesame oil, minced garlic, and chopped green onions is also a great helper for relieving spiciness and adding fragrance.

Beef skewers are versatile: Give me a slice of beef, and I can roll up a world. Five-spice, spicy, cilantro, pickled pepper, green onion. The beef needs to be marinated with a secret sauce for two to three hours. Plump pickled peppers with tender beef, a touch of green sandwiched between the red beef, especially eye-catching. When eaten, the heavy flavor bursts on the tip of the tongue. In the thick beef pieces, the pickled peppers are ready to explode with juice. Even if your mouth says no, your body is very honest, sending skewer after skewer to your mouth.

Mini sausages: Mini sausages are a special product of Chengdu. The round little sausages are half lean and half fat, cut into bite-sized pieces. The slightly sweet taste is very Cantonese-style. The dual taste of sweetness and spiciness is fascinating. It will double your satisfaction while relieving the spiciness! You will not regret coming to this store. It's so delicious that you can't stop eating.

Two | 壹·Bar "Boss", Find Your Own Intoxication

Hearing the name "Wuhou", anyone who has seen the Three Kingdoms must be familiar with it. Yes, this is the alias of the famous Zhuge Liang, "Zhuge Wuhou". If your favorite in "Romance of the Three Kingdoms" is the Shu Kingdom, then the famous scenic spot in Chengdu—Wuhou Shrine—is a must-see for you. It will definitely satisfy all your desires.

Soon it was afternoon, and my family and I planned to visit Wuhou Shrine, to experience the legendary stories of the Three Kingdoms period together, and fulfill our dream of the Three Kingdoms.

Legend has it that Wuhou Shrine was first built in 223 AD. Initially, it was built as a mausoleum for Liu Bei. Later generations combined Liu Bei's mausoleum with Zhuge Liang's memorial hall, forming the current Wuhou Shrine, where the emperor and his minister are worshipped together. It is also the only temple in China where both a monarch and his subject are worshipped together.

The heroes of the Shu Kingdom, with their changing fortunes, turned to dust here. Their great achievements are also buried and rest here. All the historical stories have settled and fermented here, resulting in today's heavy Wuhou Shrine, a place to commemorate the heroes of Shu Han.

From Sanyi Temple to Wuhou Shrine, from the Peach Garden Oath to Three Visits to the Thatched Cottage, we arrived at the main hall of Zhuge Liang's shrine. In the center of the hall hangs a horizontal plaque with the inscription "Famous throughout the Universe", which is probably the highest praise for Mr. Zhuge. The couplets read: "If you can win hearts, opposition will naturally disappear; since ancient times, those who know war are not fond of war"; "If you fail to assess the situation, leniency or strictness will both be wrong; later rulers of Shu should think deeply."

These two lines highly summarize Zhuge Liang's loyalty and ambition to dedicate his life to the Shu Kingdom until his death. He used his entire life to repay the favor of the three visits to his thatched cottage. Wuhou Shrine is not large; being in the bustling city, it does not occupy much space. It takes about an hour to walk through. Wuhou Shrine is also very large, because what it carries is not just a scenic spot, but the history of a dynasty, a tribute and memory of that era.

We walked and stopped along the way, turning into quiet paths, admiring bonsai, watching flowers and plants, smelling faint fragrances. We looked at the ancient trees with twisted roots, admired the exquisite arched bridges and water reflections, sighed at the damaged pillars of the Han Palace. With reverence for the Shu Kingdom, we slowly walked out.

In Chengdu, a city known for its leisure, there are many bars of all sizes. But one like Bieyuanli, surrounded by greenery, lit by neon lights, and rich in various kinds of alcohol and snacks, is the only one in Chengdu. To give consumers a better in-store experience, they specially invited a lighting design company to create the lighting effects.

The evening time cannot be wasted; we need to have a good time. I planned to take my family to Bieyuanli to enjoy the pleasant night.

Upon entering the store, as the lights inside turned on, the entire bar looked like a colorful neon world. Under the interplay of light and shadow, various colored lights were like stars in the sky, shining brightly in the bar, instantly enhancing the atmosphere of entertainment and leisure.

The variety of alcohol in the store is as rich as their lights. They have foreign liquor, Chinese-style cocktails, cocktails, and original imported beer! Basically, if you want to drink it, you can find it here!

Kiss of the Night Suit Mask: The rose wine, with its beautiful appearance enough to charm young ladies, has a refreshing rose fragrance. Because the alcohol content is low, it can be chosen for small gatherings of girlfriends or leisurely moments! The rose flavor is not strong when you first taste it, but the wine flavor becomes clearer and clearer as you go, intoxicating.

Ancient Qiang Wheat Straw Zha Jiu: A blue-and-white porcelain bottle, full of a dashing atmosphere! Wheat straws as straws, taking sips amidst laughter and chatter, have a unique flavor.

Barbecue Platter: Fine wine and grilled skewers have always been an inseparable pair. Eating barbecue without drinking wine seems to let down the gathering! Mini sausages, shrimp, corn kernels, dried tofu, green beans, and other dishes, with a complete range of spicy and savory flavors, can satisfy different people's appetites.

Lemongrass Grilled Fish: Besides barbecue, this grilled fish is also a must-order dish. Although the fish is not big, Basimei was already hooked by the aroma of the fish. Because the grilled fish is flavored with lemongrass, the fish's fragrance becomes fresher! After frying, the fish is crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, smooth and delicious, with an excellent taste. Sitting and playing in such a music bar is the best way to enjoy leisure and comfort.

|贰·Taste of Sichuan Cuisine, Unforgettable Yuangong

People talk about Chengdu's leisure life, but it is not about the office buildings in the High-tech Zone, not about the crowded Kuanzhai Alley, nor about the street photography on Chunxi Road. Come to People's Park, this is the place Chengdu people most look forward to for living.

With a history of 100 years, People's Park serves as a material and spiritual carrier, storing the real old Chengdu life. On weekends, People's Park becomes the liveliest place.

There are two old tea houses in the park, Yongju and Heming, among which Heming is the most famous. It was first built in the 1920s, nearly a hundred years old, almost the same age as People's Park. Hence it is called a century-old Heming. You must learn to "strike first," because Heming is always full. As soon as someone leaves, grab a seat immediately. After sitting down, an auntie dressed in blue-and-white porcelain-style clothes will come to clean the table and let you order tea.

The playground is the place with the highest decibels. The sounds of children playing and laughing are endless. Little trains, carousels, roller coasters, every child and big child can find their own source of happiness.

But the most popular thing in People's Park is still boating. The mottled boats leave traces of the childhood of Chengdu people from the last century. When the weather is good, there are the most people, and you need to queue for boating. Young parents bring their children to row boats here, enjoying the happiness of a harmonious family. Of course, there are also couples on dates. In short, no matter who is on the boat, they are as happy as children.

After visiting the park, I planned to take my family to have dinner at Yuangong on Chunxi Road. I had heard from friends that this restaurant is an authentic Zigong-style Sichuan cuisine restaurant, very popular and in high demand, so today I specially came to taste it.

By the time we arrived, there were already many people dining! The decoration of this restaurant is quite down-to-earth. The antique environment is very attractive. The atmosphere highlights the characteristics of old Chengdu. The private rooms, hall, and booth seats are all quite design-oriented, decorated with flowers and clusters, revealing a unique charm.

Many of the people dining here are tourists visiting Chengdu. Looking at the dishes they ordered, they are all very characteristic of Chengdu, such as Maoxuewang, sliced native chicken, and the signature rabbit. These are the reasons I must visit. I haven't eaten such fresh, spicy, and numbing dishes for a long time. Thumbs up!

Yuangong Sliced Native Chicken: The chicken slices are tender and delicious, with a great taste. Added with chopped green onions and white onion slices, it is refreshing and delicious. Drizzled with secret red oil seasoning, the spiciness is just right.

Longmen Hanging Meat: It's like a whole piece of fried crispy meat. The young lady cut it while saying auspicious words, giving a good sense of ritual. The meat is tender, smooth, and delicious. Dipping it in chili powder makes it even better.

Yuangong Signature Rabbit: Tender and smooth rabbit meat paired with refreshing and juicy clams. The texture and flavor are instantly elevated. It is both fragrant and spicy, and eating it feels super enjoyable.

Yuangong Braised Duck: The duck meat is tender and tasty, with a rich braising flavor. Especially the skin part is fragrant, smooth, and delicious, with an excellent texture.

Live Water Silver Carp: The silver carp is quite large. The back of the fish is cut into several pieces to make it easier to absorb flavor. The fish meat is white and tender, and the celery and green pepper segments are especially delicious. It is simply my favorite! Such delicious food must not be missed. Action speaks louder than words.

|贰·Nature and Humanity, Delicate Sentiments丨The Unique Charm of Jiaoliao

Jiaoliao, a place whose name alone makes you want to know more. The name comes from "Zhuangzi: The Happy Excursion": "The jiaoliao bird builds its nest in the deep forest, but only occupies one branch; the field mouse drinks from the river, but only fills its belly." In this world of insatiable desires, we should not be too greedy. We should try to be "unmoved by praise from the whole world, and not discouraged by blame from everyone; to determine the boundary between the inner and outer, and discern the realm of honor and disgrace." Perhaps this state is really too difficult, so there is Jiaoliao, to let us slow down, let go of the pursuit, and find a place.

Jiaoliao Hotel is a strong branch in this vast forest. It pursues freedom and does not want to drag its tail in the mud. It draws nourishment from old Chengdu culture, seeking "slow life" in the busy city, and returning to a natural state of living.

Pushing open the door, the corridor comes into view. At the end of the corridor, a plaque reads "Ride on things to roam with the mind." This is from Zhuangzi's "The Human World." After understanding its meaning, one can't help but admire the great wisdom of the old master Zhuang.

After entering the hotel, we looked at all four floors one by one. The design and decoration of this hotel are indeed very good, giving a comfortable and peaceful feeling. During the visit, we found that each room in the hotel has its own unique name, such as Yanqian, Youwei, Shiwei, etc. We planned to stay in Yanqian, because when we first saw this name, my friend and I immediately liked it. It seemed that the two characters contained a profound meaning, leaving us with endless imagination.

Although Jiaoliao looks simple and elegant from the outside, the items inside the rooms are all consistent with five-star hotels. For example, mattresses, linens, bathroom fixtures, and automatic toilets. The hardware facilities are excellent. Various decorations are complete and neatly arranged. Everything is so comfortable and cozy. The various brand-name devices invisibly reflect the hotel's high-end quality. We simply couldn't stop loving it! My friend kept saying that this place is even more warm than her own home.

After coming in, we found that on the headboard of each room, there is a affectionate jiaoliao bird, gazing deeply, as if deep in thought, or as if listening. In each room, the jiaoliao's posture and expression are different. My friend and I treated it as our listener, trying to talk to it. All the unspeakable troubles can be poured out to this little creature that can only be understood, not expressed. After saying all the unhappiness, I felt much better in my heart.

Overall, the rooms are full of elements of traditional Sichuan culture. Staying here, you can also feel the influence of humanity. My friends and I often travel and have stayed in some good hotels, but a hotel as considerate and thoughtful as this is rare. This stay was definitely the right choice.

The room also provides four top-grade teas from Mengding Mountain. Usually, drinking too many carbonated drinks can be a burden. When we calmed down, we brewed a cup of tea, savoring the gifts of nature. Suddenly, I felt refreshed and invigorated.

My friend and I also discovered that the most thoughtful part of this hotel is not just the room configuration and decoration, but also the excellent butler service. They can customize travel routes for guests, make travel plans, and handle any problems encountered in the hotel. Even our breakfast every morning can be customized. According to our tastes and time, it is delivered to the room. The lunch is at Zifei, the first cultural restaurant in Kuanzhai Alley themed on Zhuangzi's culture. It integrates culture, Sichuan cuisine, drinking games, and performances in the form of side dishes, taking you into a dynasty of pavilions, ancient qin music, and opera songs. In the morning, opening the wooden window, breathing in the first breeze of Kuanzhai Alley and the first ray of sunlight, it is so refreshing and pleasant. After washing up, we enjoyed the hotel's customized breakfast, feeling deeply moved.

After breakfast, we stood in the small garden, breathing fresh air, admiring the clear night sky, brewing a cup of hot tea, and exploring the stories of time in this ancient alley up close.

Observing carefully, we found a spider weaving its web on the opposite roof, and a falling leaf landing on the table... Look, everything is growing hard!

In the busy and noisy city, there is always a leisurely and pleasant place where you can relax your body and mind.