Qijiang Travel | Joy in ‘Qi’, Endless Qijiang Delights [Photos & Videos]

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Qijiang District, Chongqing

Chongqing. Qijiang

One of the new districts in the main city of Chongqing, and part of the second batch of national new-type urbanization pilot areas.

Take the high-speed train from Chongqing West to Qijiang East, and the train glides through lush green mountains and clear waters.

In less than half an hour, you'll see the winding Qijiang River.

The city of Qijiang, named after its river, is a place of outstanding natural beauty and rich cultural heritage.

Marshal He Long, who once governed the Southwest region, repeatedly praised, 'Qijiang is a wonderful place.'

Have you been to Qijiang? ... If not, you must go!

In this year's government work report, the concept of 'expanding the main urban area' was clearly defined.

Among the 12 districts, Qijiang has been upgraded to a proper main urban district.

Qijiang travel recommendation: the perfect combination of human history and natural environment

Qijiang, a city with a long history and profound culture, has a history of over 1,400 years. The earliest CPC branch in Chongqing was born here, and it is the only place in Chongqing that the Central Red Army passed through on the Long March. It is the 'hometown of Chinese peasant printmaking'. The scenic Gujian Mountain, the majestic Lao Ying Mountain, the elegant Qijiang River, the nearby Hengshan Peak, the historic and cultural town of Dongxi Ancient Town, the National Geopark of Dinosaur Footprint Fossils, the most beautiful village in China — Yongcheng Zhonghua Village, and the municipal-level Hengshan Resort, make it a place for visitors to 'keep in good health, enjoy retirement, and nourish the heart,' a destination that makes people 'want to come, want to stay, and want to return.'

Qijiang, Chongqing's civilized urban district in 2019, is a city surrounded by mountains and crisscrossed by three rivers, a great place to escape the summer heat, and a cultural destination inheriting 'red' genes. Thus, this trip revolves around these two aspects:

Day 01: Hengshan Huaxian Valley, Gujian Mountain

Day 02: Wang Liang's Former Residence, Yongcheng Wind and Percussion Music, Retrace the Long March Path (Red Army Bridge, Red Army Cave, Red Army Village, Shihao Red Army Martyrs' Cemetery)

Day 03: Qijiang Museum, Qijiang Peasant Printmaking Institute

Food recommendations: Crispy Grass Carp, Anwen Mutton, Beidu Fish

Accommodation: Starry Sky Camping (suburbs), Howard Johnson Hotel (city)

On the way to Hengshan Huaxian Valley, the 283 provincial road is famous for its '3 turns and 9 bends' — the filming location of Andy Lau's movie 'Lost and Love'.

Following the winding mountain road upward, you'll reach the summit. In summer, Hengshan is especially peaceful, cool, and relaxing — a perfect summer resort.

From the mountaintop looking down, the winding road looks like colorful ribbons floating through the mountains, with vast expanses of green coming into view. Looking into the distance, layers of clouds cover a corner of the sky, just blocking the glaring sunlight, adding a touch of coolness to the summer day.

Arriving in Qijiang lifts your spirits. Standing on the mountaintop makes you feel like you're in a fairyland, free from unnecessary noise and bustle, with only the tranquility of peaceful times. Qijiang is truly a desirable place.

First stop: Hengshan Huaxian Valley

Hengshan Huaxian Valley is located in Hengshan, Qijiang, with an average annual temperature around 25°C and only a 70-minute drive from the main city. It's hailed as the nearest 'air-conditioned health town' to Chongqing!

The valley's little mascot: Huahua Zai (Flower Baby)

It features 6 major themed functional areas, 5 popular flower sea landscapes, over 10 Instagram-worthy spots, romantic flower fields, a cute pet paradise, and more than 20 interactive experience projects. This is the first compound leisure destination in Chongqing combining sightseeing, outings, parent-child experiences, leisure vacations, and study tours.

Here you can enjoy flower seas, take beautiful photos, walk the kids, and touch the clouds. When tired, you can sleep; when awake, there are views; when hungry, there's delicious food. It's a refined lifestyle, active or relaxed, easy and pleasant.

The blue-purple flower spikes, delicate and elegant, form a sea of purple. The flower language of verbena is 'anticipation' — anticipation is beautiful and worth looking forward to, just like the flowers that connect into a sea, dot by dot.

Besides these, there are bighorn sheep, ponies, alpacas, peacocks, black swans, and other adorable animals that kids love. Here, children can interact closely with animals, learn to love and protect nature — an ideal place for edutainment.

Like a child happily seeking the scent of flowers, I seemed to blend into the team of dragonflies and butterflies flying around. After a bend, a spectacular sea of flowers undulating with the mountain slopes came into view.

Near the valley is a starry sky camping base. As a highlight scenic area of Hengshan, it has vast forest coverage and high negative oxygen ions, allowing us to feel the nature while running amidst the fragrance of flowers.

On summer nights, you can camp under the stars, barbecue, listen to cicadas and birds, while kids and pets play around the tent — happiness becomes so simple.

Camping, stargazing, on a weekend, gather a few friends, find a scenic spot, pitch a tent on the grass or bare earth, smell the fragrance of soil and green grass, watch the sunrise together, sing old songs, tell stories... feel the long-lost sense of return and relaxation.

Second stop: Gujian Mountain Scenic Area

Gujian Mountain, also known as 'Jigongzui' (Rooster's Beak), boasts spectacular natural scenery and rich cultural sites, with an altitude between 800 and 1,300 meters. It has long been known as the 'Little Emei of East Sichuan' and is one of the 'Twelve Scenic Spots of Bayu'.

Between two solitary peaks of the Jigongzui cliff, ancient people built a stone arch bridge, hence the name Yang Bridge (Sun Bridge). Legend has it that an enlightened monk of Gujian Mountain gave up his mortal body here to reach paradise, so it's also called Sheshen Cliff (Cliff of Self-Sacrifice).

The Jingyin Temple on the summit enjoys bustling incense, with devout believers coming in an endless stream. There's a saying: 'The Bodhisattva of Jigongzui — answers distant prayers better than nearby ones.' The mountain air is humid, rich in negative oxygen ions, and the ecological environment is excellent — perfect for oxygen absorption.

Gujian Mountain Scenic Area covers about 100 square kilometers, with the highest peak Jigongzui at 1,300 meters. It is a national forest health city and national geological heritage park. The area features rare Danxia landforms, alpine gorges; various nationally protected animals and ancient trees; the millennium-old Jingyin Temple, the Artists' Village, Leigu Stone, and many other natural and cultural attractions.

Walking on from Jingyin Temple, you'll find an interesting small courtyard, eventually reaching a viewing platform where you can overlook Qijiang city, the road you came from, the parking lot below — all at a glance. Those afraid of heights might get weak-kneed, but standing here and looking out, you truly feel the magic of nature and the insignificance of humans.

If elderly people want to offer incense but can't hike, no worries — there is a road that leads directly to the mountaintop, requiring only a short walk to the temple.

At the foot of Gujian Mountain, there are dozens of reservoirs big and small, with good water quality, and most allow fishing. Fish species are diverse, including topmouth culter. Fishing costs 30 yuan per day, no catching of silver and bighead carp allowed. In summer, many people go up to escape the heat and enjoy the cool.

Gujian Mountain Tent Campground

The campground is a typical mountain-type campground covering an area of 115 mu. It uses a stepped, clustered layout, building 1 RV site, 6 special tents, 22 fixed tent sites, 40 free tent sites, 10 cabin sites, as well as a visitor center, washrooms, children's playground, BBQ area, etc., all connected by a herringbone road.

It has complete supporting facilities such as independent drinking water and sewage treatment systems, living electricity, lighting, and WiFi systems. Modern shower and toilet facilities, a supermarket, restaurant, and laundry room meet tourists' daily needs. The fees are reasonable with varying standards, generally affordable for average wage earners.

Third stop: Wang Liang's Former Residence

Qijiang is a city with a long history and profound culture, and the only place in Chongqing where the Red Army passed through on the Long March. General Wang Liang was born here. Wang Liang was the commander of the Fourth Army of the First Front Red Army. His military career lasted only a short five years, but he made outstanding contributions in several anti-encirclement campaigns. Born into a wealthy family, Wang Liang received a good education from childhood, mastering both Chinese and Western learning. Later, he joined the army to pursue his ideal, becoming a person of both literary and military talent. In 1932, on his way back to the southern Jiangxi base area under orders, he unfortunately died a hero's death.

Wang Liang's former residence is a quadrangle courtyard layout, one story with a basement, facing west with east, backing onto Fengguan Mountain and facing Lao Ying Mountain. It is a typical eastern Sichuan post-and-beam structure.

Wang Liang was a native of Yongcheng Town, Qijiang District — a brave warrior who died before fulfilling his ambitions. He knew three foreign languages, abandoned his studies to join the military at 21, and once studied at the Whampoa Military Academy. His life was glorious but brief, participating in many perilous and fierce battles, achieving eternal military glory.

Comrade Mao Zedong wrote the magnificent verse: 'Myriad trees frost-red, a blazing sky; the heavenly troops' wrath surges to the heavens.' The commander who won great merit in that battle was none other than General Wang Liang, a famous general of the early Chinese Workers' and Peasants' Red Army and commander of the Fourth Army.

The entire exhibition uses the life story of General Wang Liang as the main thread, employing texts, pictures, and artifacts to take us back to that bygone era. It is clearly themed and divided into three exhibition halls: the main residence, Red Qijiang, and Wang Liang's Deeds.

Fourth stop: Yongcheng Wind and Percussion Music

Yongcheng Wind and Percussion Music is the most widespread, vibrant, and time-honored traditional music form in the mountainous rural areas of Chongqing.

With a history of over 300 years, the most influential and largest is the Liu Family Band, which has been passed down for eighteen generations. The Liu Family Band was founded by Liu Yiwen from Xiniuping, Xiaogan, Hubei in the Ming Dynasty, with only six people at that time.

Fifth stop: Retrace the Long March Path

Located in Shihao Town, Qijiang District, the bridge was built in the Qing Dynasty. In January 1935, the First Army Corps of the Red Army passed over it. Since it witnessed the Central Red Army's Long March passing through Qijiang, later generations named it 'Red Army Bridge'.

It is a stone-wood structure bridge with a gable roof of blue tiles and post-and-beam frame, showcasing the original ancient bridge design. Compared to conventional bridges, the Red Army Bridge carries more historical mission, having witnessed the eventful years of the Red Army's Long March in Qijiang. It stands like a mirror, reflecting both the past and the present.

Strolling on the old bridge, it seems you can hear the shouts of the Red Army soldiers. In the blink of an eye, nearly a hundred years have passed like a fleeting colt glimpsed through a crack, but the old bridge remains unchanged in its colors.

On January 21, 1935, the medical team of the First Division of the First Red Army Corps stayed overnight at the home of peasant Li Shuqing in Qishuping, Shihao. The next day, when the team withdrew, they left behind four seriously wounded Red Army soldiers from Jiangxi, entrusting Li Shuqing to care for them.

To avoid searches by warlord troops, Li Shuqing moved the wounded to a cave called Yougangzui Cave at the foot of the hill behind his house. Li's family took turns delivering food and gathered herbs to treat their wounds. In February and March of the same year, two of the Red Army soldiers died from severe wounds and were buried outside the cave by Li Shuqing and another peasant Tang Mingxing.

One soldier recovered and left in April; the other recovered and helped Li Shuqing's family with farm work, but two years later was forcibly conscripted by the Kuomintang army in Datong Town and never heard from again. To commemorate the fallen Red Army soldiers, local people renamed 'Yougangzui Cave' as 'Red Army Cave'.

After parking, you need to walk about 500 meters along a mountain path to reach Red Army Cave.

In Chonghe Village, Anwen Town, Qijiang District, a journey filled with red cultural memories is attracting increasing attention. Tourists walk along the trail, often taking photos with their phones to share their joy.

Chonghe Village is about a 1.5-hour drive from Qijiang city center, bordering Yaolongshan Town in Tongzi County, Guizhou. It is a typical rural village on the Chongqing-Guizhou border.

Here, the melody of 'Seeing the Red Army Off Ten Times' always lingers in the air. The battle that cost the Red Army the most casualties during the Long March was the Xiangjiang Campaign, reducing the Central Red Army from over 86,000 at the start to just over 30,000.

Shihao Red Army Martyrs' Cemetery

After the founding of the People's Republic of China, the people of Qijiang, remembering those who sacrificed, built Red Army martyrs' cemeteries in Baiguo Village and near Shihao Market between 1964 and 1983, gradually bringing together the remains of five Red Army martyrs.

In 1991, it was renovated and expanded to become the current Shihao Red Army Martyrs' Cemetery. The entire cemetery comprises seven parts: the Long March Poetry Stele, the martyrs' burial ground, the martyrs' statue, the martyrs' memorial tower, an inscription forest, an exhibition room, and a forest of Red Army propaganda slogan steles.

The Shihao Red Army Martyrs' Cemetery features an inscription by General Yang Chengwu. The martyrs' memorial tower bears inscriptions by Marshal Nie Rongzhen, General Zhang Aiping, and General Li Wenqing (former deputy commander of the Chengdu Military Region).

The Shihao Red Army Martyrs' Cemetery is a Chongqing Cultural Relics Protection Unit, Chongqing Patriotic Education Base, and Chongqing National Defense Education Base.

Sixth stop: Qijiang Museum

Located in the Farm Community of Gunan Street, Qijiang District, it is a comprehensive museum displaying the culture of the Qijiang River basin, and the only museum in China featuring the culture of the Liao people.

The museum has four exhibition halls: the Lobby, Geology Hall, History and Culture Hall, and Stone Carving Hall.

The ground floor is the Lobby, displaying a sand table model of the Qijiang District Geopark, 4 meters long and 3 meters wide, intuitively showing the topographical features of Qijiang as a miniature of its geography.

The second floor, Geology Hall, is divided into six units. It exhibits the four major characteristic resources and five 'treasures of the museum' of the Qijiang Petrified Wood–Dinosaur Footprint National Geopark.

The four characteristic resources are petrified wood, dinosaur footprints, dinosaur fossils, and Danxia landform resources. The five treasures are dinosaur footprint fossils, dinosaur fossils, fish fossils, crinoid fossils, and ichthyosaur fossils.

Unit 1: Comprehensive Science Zone

Where does life come from? Where do we come from? Here you can find answers to the origin and evolution of life. Follow these footprints, travel through the time tunnel, explore the Earth, and experience the journey of life's evolution.

Unit 2: Petrified Wood Zone

Petrified wood in Qijiang is widely distributed, found in Gunan, Wenlong, Dongxi, Yongxin, Longsheng, Hengshan, and other places. Qijiang's petrified wood has three notable features: rare, precious, and unique! Like other plant and animal fossils, petrified wood is a very precious geological paleontological relic resource and a valuable natural heritage left to us by nature. This is another characteristic resource of the Qijiang Geopark.

Unit 3: Geology and Mineral Resources Zone

Qijiang is rich in mineral resources, with advantageous minerals including coal and iron. It is the largest coal supply base in Chongqing, with proven coal reserves accounting for 40% of the entire city and production capacity accounting for 20%. You can delve deeper in this zone. In addition, you can see precious fossil specimens in the display cabinets.

Unit 4: Dinosaur World

Dinosaurs are mysterious creatures. Stepping into the Dinosaur Hall, the breath of ancient life hits you. While dinosaur skeletal fossils are common, dinosaur footprint fossils are extremely rare. In the Qijiang Museum, the five 'treasures of the museum' will absolutely amaze you!

Treasure of the Museum: Crinoid Fossil

On the wall, an ink-wash lotus hanging upside down? Actually, it's not a painting but a fossil; not a lotus but a crinoid. This crinoid fossil is our No. 4 'treasure of the museum,' measuring 3.65 meters high and 1.86 meters wide. Crinoids are not plants but animals — a type of marine echinoderm plankton, with roots on top and leaves below, growing upside down and drifting with the currents. From an aesthetic perspective, this specimen has stalks, 'flowers,' and 'leaves,' is huge in size, graceful in posture, complete in form, and of outstanding quality — a masterpiece among crinoid fossils.

The third floor, History and Culture Hall

The third-floor History and Culture Hall includes seven sections: Ancient Qijiang, Mysterious Qijiang, Red Qijiang, etc. Qijiang is a land of outstanding people and brilliant talents. In the Han Dynasty, the great scholar Yin Zhen gave lectures here; Qijiang peasant prints enjoy fame worldwide; Yongcheng Wind and Percussion Music, Shihao Yangxi Opera, Hengshan Kunqu Opera, Qijiang Bagu Pottery, and other cultural and artistic treasures are breathtaking.

The serene and elegant Qijiang Museum carries the long history and culture of Qijiang, and presents a picture of its bright future.

Seventh stop: Qijiang Peasant Printmaking

Qijiang peasant printmaking originated from woodblock New Year prints of the Ming and Qing dynasties. Patterns are first carved on wooden boards, then hand-printed to create pure handmade works. The compositions are vivid and brightly colored, renowned both at home and abroad. It is an intangible cultural heritage project of Chongqing, and Qijiang has been named the 'hometown of peasant prints.'

The themes mostly draw from the production and daily life of farmers, exuding strong ethnic and folk flavors and a sense of life. It artistically absorbs the essence of folk wood carving, stone carving, fabric appliqué, cross-stitch, paper-cutting, woodblock New Year prints, indigo printed cloth, and other folk arts. The printing plates evolved from wood to stone, paper, and other materials, and the ink colors and printing techniques have become increasingly rich. The works always retain a simple, naive, exaggerated, and romantic artistic effect, with a unique ethnic style and distinct regional characteristics.

They have been invited to exhibitions in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, France, Japan, and other countries. Many works have been collected by the National Art Museum of China, provincial (city) museums, Chinese embassies abroad, foreign art galleries, and foreign friends.

In recent years, Qijiang has increased support for peasant printmaking, promoting it into primary and secondary school classrooms, establishing printmaking studios and companies, and continuously extending the printmaking industry. Innovatively, people are integrating printmaking elements into daily necessities and tourist souvenirs, creating printmaking-style handbags, folding fans, silk scarves, umbrellas, wine sets, and other cultural and creative products.

Beidu Fish: Qijiang Chun Beidu Fish, Wu's Old Brand

Address: Intersection of Jiulong Avenue and Gongshang Branch Road, Qijiang District, about 100 meters southeast (north side of Jinfu Huayuan)

Beidu Fish became famous in the 1980s and is renowned worldwide. It originated from the Beidu ferry crossing in Qijiang. The preparation involves scaling and gutting live fish, cooking on an earthen stove, adding the fresh fish, then sprinkling a generous amount of chili, Sichuan pepper, garlic, and some special seasonings before drizzling with secret boiling oil. The resulting Beidu Fish is fresh, fragrant, numbing, spicy, tender, and smooth — a famous riverside dish.

Now it has evolved into the classic 'one fish, four preparations' of spicy fish, tomato fish, sour cabbage fish, fish head soup with wontons, becoming a renowned Chinese dish.

Anwen Mutton: Liujia Zhengjie Mutton

Address: Mutton Village, 100 meters from Anwen Town highway exit (near Anwen Toll Station of Lanhai Expressway)

Anwen Mutton has a history of over 200 years, using traditional techniques and secret recipes. It is listed as a district-level intangible cultural heritage in Qijiang and has been awarded the title 'Chongqing Time-Honored Brand.' Its unique cooking methods have won high praise from diners.

The lamb used is local goat. The mutton soup is very fresh, and the meat texture is chewier. This restaurant has been open for decades and is an intangible cultural heritage.

Anwen Mutton offers a variety of one-lamb-multiple-dishes: clear soup, red spicy soup, braised chunk lamb, fresh lamb, specialty steamed lamb, specialty roasted lamb chops, spiced lamb chops, specialty roast lamb slices, specialty lamb hooves, grilled lamb liver, and a nutritious 'Two Treasures' health soup, all of which are favorites of diners.

Crispy Grass Carp Full Fish Feast

Address: Huilong Village, Crispy Grass Carp Farm

Grass carp is known for its firm flesh, low bone content, crisp and refreshing texture, and it tastes even more delicious. It has a unique smooth and crispy quality, with the belly part being the best. Due to its chewy texture, the cooking methods are varied, including stir-frying, steaming, and stewing, each with its own flavor. Crispy grass carp itself is very nutritious, comparable to salmon and eel. Today's recommendation is this 'one fish, six flavors' crispy grass carp full fish feast.

It can be made into several flavors: spicy fish cubes, double-pepper diced fish, cold-dressed fish slices, sweet and sour fish fillets, spiced fish head, fish-flavored fish strips.

Crispy grass carp: 68 yuan per jin; crucian carp soup: 38 yuan per jin.

Local specialties: Dongxi Fermented Bean Curd, Fan Zaoyang (Meal Savior) Chili Sauce, Jinjiao LaoSichuan Beef Jerky.

High-speed train: Chongqing West to Qijiang East, 26 minutes, 22 yuan per person.

Self-driving: Chongqing city center – Inner Ring Expressway (G75 Lanhai Expressway), 1 hour 10 minutes, 70 km, toll about 20 yuan.

Hengshan Huaxian Valley: opening hours 09:00–17:00, ticket 60 yuan.

Address: No. 22, Tiantai Mountain, Hengshan Town, Qijiang District.

Gujian Mountain: open all day free, uphill shuttle car 10 yuan per person.

Address: Qingshui Village, Jigongzui, Qijiang District.

Wang Liang's Former Residence: free.

Address: Sanhuaiba Community, Zhonghua Village, Yongcheng Town, Qijiang District.

Yongcheng Wind and Percussion Music: beside Wang Liang's Former Residence.

Red Army Bridge: Lianghekou, Shihao Town, Qijiang District.