Internet-Famous City Chongqing – I Came for Hotpot!

Because of Guiyang’s coolness, I immediately felt Chongqing’s fiery passion upon arrival.

No itinerary – I came for hotpot.

In Chongqing, if you’re not lazy you won’t fall into a trap. I fell because I was lazy and jumped in myself.

Wandering around Jiefangbei, I wanted to visit many places, but it was hot and I felt too tired to take the subway. Just then a flyer distributor shoved a day-trip leaflet into my hand, under the name of a well-known travel agency.

Chongqing is a city with zero tourism complaints, and I hold deep love and expectations for it.

No shopping, air-conditioned bus, an experienced guide, six attractions in one day.

I paid 50 yuan and got on the bus. First, I was taken to a place selling pots from a famous brand. The explanation of the pot’s benefits was excellent. The pots are good, but we came for hotpot...

Then to a jewelry store. The store owner played up his persona: wealthy, celebrity. He talked endlessly about everything under the sun. Strangely, in the end he didn’t sell any jewelry – really, he didn’t – but wrote a few numbers on a white paper and said, “These are my car license plate numbers in Macau, lucky numbers! Whoever buys them will have unexpected surprises.”

I don’t know who was the monkey and who was putting on a show. We changed venues twice, wasted over an hour, and I was exhausted and speechless.

Ciqikou Ancient Town gave us one hour. I didn’t take any photos. The street was filled with Chen’s Little Twist pastries offering free samples, with people queuing to buy. The pot seller and number seller had ruined my mood – I was tired.

Maybe the ancient town only feels right at night.

Bai Mansion: thirty minutes. Zhazidong was closed. Chongqing People’s Hall – just a look from the outside. Liziba Metro Station: I took one video and one photo, done. Yangtze River Cableway: skipped.

What I couldn’t stand most was the guide using a sob story to push local products the whole trip. It ruined my mood. If you didn’t buy, you’d feel guilty! She’s worked hard, the driver worked hard too – but without us, would they really be hard up?

A beautiful day was ruined. I felt like I’d been nowhere yet also everywhere.

I’m embarrassed to say I’ve been a self-guided traveler for years. Today I fell into a trap. Too rash!

Chongqing day trip – brilliantly done!

Learning from yesterday, today I’m not fussy. I obediently took the subway and wandered on my own.

Chongqing Academy of Fine Arts – turned away due to COVID. But Huangjueping is so beautiful that even the walls are covered with stories – a perfect spot for fresh, artsy photos.

Even the residential buildings along the street weren’t spared; they’ve been beautified beautifully.

The back street of the academy – the most beautiful small street.

The Transport Teahouse is here – you must sit inside.

This is a street full of artistic atmosphere: bohemian, fresh, a clear stream in the national central city of Chongqing. Truly “double happiness”! A must-visit for young people.

After touring Huangjueping, I took Light Rail Line 2 to experience the Lianglukou Crown Grand Escalator – the second-longest single-rise slope escalator in Asia. It’s very fast; before I even got ready, it had already run halfway. One way costs 2 yuan.

Riding such a thrilling escalator once isn’t enough – I went back and forth, spending 4 yuan total.

Then Line 2 continued to experience the light rail passing through the building at Liziba Station. You’ll wonder: was the light rail or the building built first? Leave your guess in the comments!

Liziba Station is already an internet-famous spot. There’s an observation deck to watch the train go through the building; from the deck you can also get a close view of the Yangtze River.

For Chongqing night scenery, besides the uniquely charming bridges of the bridge city, there’s Hongyadong.

Staying in Jiefangbei, you must visit Hongyadong first at night. Hongyadong was under renovation, so the night view wasn’t as enchanting as the pictures, but it was still super beautiful!

To see Hongyadong at night, you can walk across the Qiansimen Jialing River Bridge and go to the Chongqing Grand Theatre side – a different perspective with another kind of beauty.

While heading to Hongyadong, I crossed a pedestrian overpass and was attracted by baskets of beautiful fruits. So tempting! They come in slightly different colors with extremely gorgeous names like “something plum” – I’ve already forgotten. Don’t buy them; they are “medicine-water babies.” Don’t ask how I know.

From Hongyadong to Chaotianmen, the straight-line distance is less than a kilometer. Chaotianmen is where the Jialing River and Yangtze River meet – two rivers of different colors converge, clearly distinguishable.

It’s said to be a kilometer, but walking feels much farther. Navigation will drive you crazy.

Chongqing has a peculiarity: walking is faster than taking a car, because navigation will guide you into a day trip.

But as you walk, a bowl of Chongqing small noodles on the street costs only 7 yuan – absolutely worth stopping to taste the real Chongqing small noodles.

Pea powder – a small bowl is a bit insufficient.

Speaking of Chongqing, hotpot is its spokesperson. To eat real Chongqing hotpot, you must listen to the locals: don’t eat in the food streets; go to the alleyways where locals eat, and you’ll get the true Chongqing hotpot – the kind you dip in oil.

For Chongqing hotpot, duck blood is a must. This specialty beef is very tender and smooth. Black tofu, wakame – a satisfying mix of meat and vegetables.

A dazzling array of delicacies.

Self-service rotating mini hotpot – it’s just ordinary hotpot.

After dinner, while roaming in Jiefangbei, I accidentally entered a very Beijing-style hotpot restaurant. Attracted by its decoration, I went in and took photos, but unfortunately didn’t have time to actually dine there.

Chongqing Hotpot Museum:

After two days exploring Chongqing city, I wanted to see the outside of Chongqing.

So another day trip: Fairy Mountain and Three Natural Bridges were arranged.

To go to Chongqing’s Wulong District, besides driving, I didn’t do homework; I couldn’t figure out how to get there!

Fairy Mountain is an extremely clean pure land. The grassland has never been damaged, as holy as a fairy.

The Three Natural Bridges are equally worth lingering over. But the pitfall of day trips is truly inescapable.

Following the guide’s instructions, I arrived early to wait for the bus. Once everyone was assembled, we set off. The guide chatted away – though the content wasn’t related to the two attractions, it was still interesting.

We arrived early at the lunch place in Wulong District. In the courtyard, Miao girls in full dress were singing to welcome us, offering a “smash bowl” drink.

After drinking, we smashed the bowls together at the entrance. Then we watched a short performance: “Miao Girl Marrying Off,” with talking and singing, livening up the atmosphere.

Then a teacher started explaining about cinnabar, jewelry, and their uses. The explanation was excellent. Then the whole bus followed the teacher while listening and walking, and we ended up in an exhibition hall. The hall was full of beautiful jewelry and cinnabar products. But you couldn’t leave without buying, and you couldn’t avoid looking – you had to look even if you didn’t buy, just stuck there. For over an hour, some people felt embarrassed and bought small trinkets, and then we were allowed to go to the restaurant.

Group meal: 10-person table.

When we got back on the bus, it was already 1 p.m. We drove to Fairy Mountain. Up to now, the guide hadn’t said why it’s called Fairy Mountain, and we dared not ask!

Fairy Mountain Grassland: one hour of viewing time. Actually, this attraction isn’t suitable for a tour group’s whirlwind visit. It’s best for families, couples, or a few friends to sit down, slowly breathe the fresh, clean air of the fairy grassland, step on the thick, unspoiled grass, enjoy the sweet fragrance of grass, watch the running sheep, feel the breeze and sunshine – that would do justice to the beauty and richness of Fairy Mountain and our encounter.

Now I understand why it’s called Fairy Mountain – because the grassland is as beautiful and pure as a fairy, having its own clean sky in a chaotic world.

Time stands still; harmony!

Before I could gallop across the grassland, I had to hurry back – I was about to be late.

Then we drove to the Three Natural Bridges!

We arrived at the Three Natural Bridges scenic area around 4 p.m. Entering the site required queuing for the sky elevator for a long time – two elevators running parallel:

Such a beautiful attraction was given only one and a half hours – really a pity. The Three Natural Bridges could be enjoyed for half a day.

It’s no exaggeration: to take photos, I was running all the way during this itinerary.

I had planned to eat a nine-grid hotpot in the evening to complete my Chongqing hotpot trip. But we didn’t return to Jiefangbei until 10 p.m., after a simple meal at a service area. Now I didn’t want anything anymore. I returned to the inn carrying three bags of dried fish the guide had sold me – so lonely.

This guide used the driver to push dried fish and spicy chicken nuggets: how hard the driver works, how his wife is waiting at home, how his child misses dad, how difficult it is to earn this little money – she almost cried.

She didn’t cry, but I almost did.

I bought – my fate was in the driver’s hands!

Moreover, this guide was domineering: after introducing the local specialties, she directly said, “You don’t need to buy too much. For each family, 100 yuan is affordable.” She arranged it on the spot. I was Family No. 1 – my family consisted of just me. On the way there, I hadn’t slept when she told stories about Tibet; I had been an enthusiastic audience and got immersed – so I bought.

Behind me were a few young boys who looked like they had just finished college entrance exams. One said, “Buy – if you don’t, she’ll nag all the way.”

Yes, spending money always gets you what you want and what you don’t want.

So the guide was satisfied!

Now about accommodation in Chongqing. I think staying on Jiefangbei Pedestrian Street is fine!

I stayed at Jiefangbei Qingnian Road Times Square Building D – it’s also called Jiefangbei Qingnian Road Times Haoyuan Building D. Actually, it’s the same building. The entire building is full of such apartments. I moved from the 35th floor down to the 12th floor before settling down.

Jiefangbei is convenient in every way, but you must carefully choose your room. If you’re two people, it’s okay – you can sleep anyway. If you have poor sleep quality, you need to ask more about the room’s location, etc.

The first night, the apartment host directly upgraded me three levels – I stayed in a 35th-floor tatami room with a view. Sitting by the window drinking tea, I could see Jiefangbei directly through the window. Joyful!

Coincidentally, the street of Jiefangbei was preparing to hold a trade fair, setting up at night. I had planned to have a good sleep, but the renovation noise surrounded me the whole night. The next morning, with panda eyes, I immediately checked out and switched to another apartment in the same building. I emphasized repeatedly, “I do not want a room with a view.” The front desk said, “Don’t worry – the price you chose is not a view room.”

But the front desk said they would give me a room with better ventilation – so they upgraded me to a big room with a row of bright windows. The room was so big that I felt I couldn’t handle it. Sure enough, after turning off the lights, the problem came: the bathroom’s outer wall was glass, and the outside light illuminated the room clearly – visibility like daytime. An auntie can’t daydream. Another sleepless night. The next day, with a sallow face, I set off early for the Wulong day trip. When I came back, I asked for a room with a window but with the window facing the corridor.

My restless heart finally settled. That night, I slept until after 9 a.m. Today I also need to check out.

I left my luggage at the front desk and had time to see Hongyadong in the daytime, Qiansimen Jialing River Bridge, and stroll around Chaotianmen:

Even in the daytime, Chongqing is still beautiful. The Chongqing day trip wasn’t perfect, but this phenomenon doesn’t exist only in Chongqing – just different degrees.

I call for standardization of the tourism industry and reasonable treatment of guides. When will guides stop using sob stories? Only then can group tours be stress-free.

The more guides use pity, the worse it will become.

Even so, I still fell in love with Chongqing – its beauty, its food, and its women. There are so many beautiful women in Chongqing – a casual glance makes you unable to look away. I often see beautiful girls and sigh inwardly: “Heavenly beings, fairies descending to earth.” I recall why Fairy Mountain is called Fairy Mountain – because Chongqing’s beauties are as beautiful as fairies.

Autumn is here, and it’s cold. Autumn and hotpot are a perfect match. Let’s go to Chongqing – anyone up for hotpot together?