Rediscovering Hongya Cave: Remembering the Sweetness of the 1980s Before the Summer of 2020 Ends
As a native Chongqing native, I visited Hongya Cave before it became famous nationwide, and then rarely went again. So after it became a household name in Chongqing, I never went back, as it was usually visited by tourists from other places.
It wasn't until this holiday, when I brought friends to visit, that I went to Hongya Cave, a must-visit spot for out-of-towners. This gave me a completely new understanding of the place—I was even impressed. So I wrote this travelogue to record the wonderful changes in Hongya Cave, hoping to help everyone rediscover it.
What is the general impression of Hongya Cave? Is it the night view reminiscent of Spirited Away, or the characteristic stilted buildings and commercial streets? Before this visit, I thought Hongya Cave was nothing more than that.
But reality gave me a big surprise. Besides the night views and commercial streets, Hongya Cave finally has a place that combines strolling, photography, and eating—the Hongya Cave Reunion 1980 Block.
The 1980 Block should be a new attraction developed by Hongya Cave in 2020; I hadn't seen any news about it online before. If I had to describe this new attraction in one word, it would be retro; if I could add two more words, they would be Hong Kong style and artistic.
It can be said to be a circular street that highly recreates the living conditions of the 1980s. Let's take a sneak peek together.
This travelogue covers what to see, photograph, and eat at Hongya Cave—suggest bookmarking it!
The giant neon sign is the most iconic structure of the 1980 Block. The dazzling, colorful lights make it an excellent spot for silhouette photography.
The large signboard is like a microcosm of an era. Route 5 trolleybus, Shancheng Cinema, DISCO Square, Supply and Marketing Cooperative, Yiren Lane—the signboard includes almost all representative locations of the 1980s. The most prominent words on the signboard boldly declare—Let's reunite with 1980 together.
In the 1980s, bus stops were not as well-equipped as today; a single stop sign stood alone.
But this spot is great for photos, especially making legs look longer.
With urban development, old-style trolleybuses have gradually disappeared in Chongqing. Now only a few traces remain. The classic Route 5 trolleybus ran from Guanyin Bridge to Jiefangbei, carrying the passage of time back and forth.
There are few seats inside the car, and the carriage is quite spacious. Warm yellow light streams in and plays around. Not all nostalgic things can return, but we can remember them here.
Chongqing Station, which locals prefer to call Caiyuanba Railway Station, was the starting point of the newly built Chengdu-Chongqing Railway after the founding of New China.
Caiyuanba Railway Station hasn't changed much over the years; it remains as people in Chongqing remember it.
It is one of Chongqing's longest-operating railway stations, long shouldering important transportation tasks. Today, Caiyuanba Railway Station is gradually fading, with more routes transferred to Chongqing North Station and Chongqing West Station.
As people increasingly pursue modernity, old things become fewer. I hope we can remember the taste of the 1980s at the 1980 Block, capturing those once-familiar things with our cameras, so that at least we can find memories from photos in the future.
At the entrance of the railway station, cigarettes and matches are sold. Names like Yongshi (Warrior), Qinjian (Thrifty), and Fengshou (Harvest) all carry a strong flavor of the times.
Life in the 1980s was simple but not dull. Teresa Teng ran through the entire musical era of the 1980s. Each cassette tape was a song that moved us in times of joy or sadness.
The cinema was another form of spiritual entertainment. But the Shancheng Cinema in the 1980 Block no longer shows black-and-white films; instead, it features a holographic music show of Teresa Teng.
Entering the cinema, you won't find comfortable soft seats like in modern cinemas; wooden seats have a different flavor of time. When Teresa Teng sings 'Tian Mi Mi' again, beautiful memories ferment in the mind.
A narrow old Chongqing alley, wide enough for only one person, has a nice name—Yiren Lane (One-Person Alley).
Chairs are casually placed to one side, with pickled vegetable jars underneath, in front of homes. Long benches and stools are all typical 1980s styles.
Standing at the entrance of the alley, you feel as if you are truly in the old alley of forty years ago.
Mailboxes are neatly arranged, each in a different color, with the owner's surname and address written on the door.
Looking up, you see a horizontal bamboo pole drying clothes and another hanging cured meat and sausages. It's full of the breath of life—the fireworks of the mortal world soothe ordinary hearts.
At the end of the narrow alley is a home. The festive couplet does not contain usual blessings but reads, 'The whole country steps into a new era, carrying forward the past,' celebrating China's rebirth and the march forward of the times.
Various shop signs are densely packed. The high-saturation neon signs collide with the tight arrangement, creating a unique Hong Kong style.
Local Chongqing slang like 'Che Bazhi' (to chat) and 'Pai Lunzi' (to queue) bring people back from Hong Kong style to familiar Shancheng.
A row of small wooden stools is placed by the street for rest, with enamel cups and small round mirrors on the small tables.
Magazines of various kinds hang on the walls, and glass cabinets display popular movies and TV dramas from the 1980s.
If the street is a Hong Kong-style neon street, then this old-fashioned corridor is Wong Kar-wai's 'In the Mood for Love.'
Wong Kar-wai's warmth and sentiment are captured in the moving light and shadows of the corridor.
Various ads are pasted and torn down, forming a unique poster that, along with other magazine posters, covers the mottled wall.
The corridor is not spacious; Wong Kar-wai-style red lights illuminate the interior, while light from outside cuts in, breaking into patches. As you step up the stairs, it feels like stepping on starlight, about to fall into a dreamlike fantasy.
Multiple bulky television sets have been redesigned and repurposed into an artistic column.
Different black-and-white TVs play different programs—some show classic songs, some display images, and even snow screens.
Undoubtedly, taking photos here must be very cool.
Glittering lights and purple illumination, a giant speaker is the most prominent structure in the square. When familiar music plays, let's gather at Hongya Cave Reunion 1980 Block. It is said that there will also be performances of classic songs by artists and dance shows by troupes—not to be missed.
Beside the square, a classic motorcycle is parked, perfect for striking a pose.
A 'Night Shanghai' style disco stage, tassels shimmering under the lights, a microphone waiting for someone to take hold of it.
Contra, King of Fighters, Command & Conquer: Red Alert—familiar games appear on the screen, reminiscent of childhood arcade machines.
Many classic games can be played with two players, still the same familiar taste.
The Supply and Marketing Cooperative is not just a memory of Chongqing but a memory of the entire 1980s.
The items displayed inside seem to unlock a sealed memory. Whether during busy or idle farming seasons, or on holidays and ordinary days, the cooperative was associated with everyday necessities like oil, salt, soy sauce, vinegar, clothes, shoes, hats, needles, threads, candies, biscuits, as well as agricultural supplies like fertilizer, seeds, pesticides, and the increasingly distant system of state monopoly over purchase and marketing.
It's like an old friend you haven't seen for years suddenly appearing before you, evoking deep memories of work scenes, life tastes, and even somewhat blurry images and voices.
Sitting on the dam to hear a storytelling and drinking tea is the lifestyle of the people of Shancheng.
When tired from exploring the 1980 Block, rest and relax at Baba Tea (Dam Tea).
Brew a pot of light tea, chat with friends, and talk about everything. Amid the well-known hustle and bustle, steal a half day of leisure.
Dayanggou, a place name that has disappeared. It fades into the distant memories of countless Chongqing people and is passed down in the words of the older generation's xiehouyu (folk wisecracks).
It was once Chongqing's largest non-staple food market. Whether people lived near Linjiangmen or Chaotianmen, they almost all went to Dayanggou to buy vegetables and meat. The 1980 Block recreates Dayanggou Market, where food is also sold—a variety of marinated meats and snacks, all available.
Old-fashioned barber equipment and neon signboards. Sitting in a vintage chair, what kind of hairstyle do you want? Big waves or a bowl cut?
With the popularity of mobile phones, public telephones have gradually disappeared in the river of time.
If Caiyuanba Railway Station carries separations, then long-distance telephone booths carry longing. Pick up the receiver and make a call across time and space.
This is a wall I really like. You can openly leave traces of your visit at the 1980 Block, full of human touch.
The Butterfly brand sewing machine was an early sewing machine brand, hot-selling nationwide since the 1980s. It was one of the 'three major items' of that era.
Owning a Butterfly sewing machine was almost every young woman's dream in that era, and it is also a memory for our mothers. Through the changes of time, the sewing machine has become a memory of an era.
Old suitcases still display their timeless design aesthetics.
The city develops faster and faster, and fewer people write letters by hand. In the era before mobile phones were prevalent, green mailboxes, black mail slots, and locked box doors all accumulated the most intense emotional expectations—hoping they would bring greetings from distant relatives, communication from friends, and longing from lovers.
Bubblegum, a favorite in childhood, filled childhood with big fantasies.
The canteen was green, with a green shoulder strap above and a cross-shaped weave below, tightly holding the canteen in the middle. As children, everyone liked to wear green military uniforms and caps, and they also liked green canteens.
Wind-up frogs were a popular children's toy across the country in the 1980s and 1990s. In the 1980 Block, they have transformed into small trash bins located in various places.
I think many people, like me, never thought that Hongya Cave could have such special beauty.
After seeing Hongya Cave's night view for a long time, we naturally assume it only has those things, but things are always changing. Now Hongya Cave has the 1980 Block, reminiscing the past; next, the sixth floor will also have 2070 Chongqing, looking to the future.
A block condenses the essence of an era. Here you can feel the style of the last century, shoot movie-like photos, and experience delicious food. Only when we open our hearts and rediscover Hongya Cave can we truly appreciate its beauty as a must-visit attraction in Chongqing.
Now let's take a look at the travel guide for Hongya Cave.
Reunion 1980 Address: 5th Floor, Hongya Cave Scenic Area, Yuzhong District, Chongqing. Take the sightseeing elevator to the 5th floor.
Bus: Take buses 111, 112 (outer loop), or 114 to Hongya Cave Station.
Metro: Take Light Rail Line 2 to Linjiangmen Station, then walk about 500 meters.
If arriving by air:
From Jiangbei Airport Station, take Metro Line 3 to Hongqihegou Station, transfer to Metro Line 6 to Xiaoshizi Station, exit from Gate 9, and walk about 900 meters.
If arriving by train:
From Chongqing North Station to Hongya Cave:
Metro: Take Line 6 and transfer to Line 10, about 40 minutes.
Bus: Take bus 105, get off at Xiaoshizi Station, then walk about 270 meters.
Taxi: 20-minute drive, cost about 25 yuan.
Hongya Cave Reunion 1980 Block – Tickets and Opening Hours
Reunion 1980 Block Entry Ticket: Current price 29 yuan
Teresa Teng Holographic Music Show Ticket: Current price 29 yuan
Combo Ticket (Entry Ticket + Teresa Teng Music Show): Current price 39 yuan
Discounts: Children under 1.2 meters enter free.
Opening Date: August 18, 2020
Block Opening Hours: 11:00 AM – 11:00 PM
1. Chongqing Hongyadong Hotel
Reason for recommendation: Located within the Hongya Cave scenic area, near Xiaoshizi Metro Station, walking distance to Jiefangbei, Yangtze River Cableway, and Guotai Grand Theater.
Surrounding light rail lines 1, 2, and 6 are about a 5-minute walk away, making travel convenient. The hotel is built against the cliff overlooking the river. After exploring the 1980 Block, you can take the elevator directly back to the hotel.
Address: 11th Floor, Hongya Cave Scenic Area, Yuzhong District, Chongqing
2. Chongqing VKing High-altitude Riverside Hotel
Reason for recommendation: It is the top-ranked budget-friendly hotel in Chongqing. Located in the heart of Jiefangbei CBD, with Yangtze River Cableway, Light Rail passing through buildings, and Hongya Cave nearby. The night view is stunning—the most beautiful night scenes of Chongqing, including the Grand Theater light show, Nanshan Yikeshu, the bridge crossing the river, and Nanbin Road, are all in full view. The hotel is fully equipped with smart technology and luxury-grade toiletries.
Address: Unit 35-4, 35th Floor, United International Building, No. 201 Xinhua Road
3. Chongqing Qianhe Zhixuan High-altitude Riverside Hotel
Reason for recommendation: Also located in the heart of Jiefangbei. All rooms have views of Chongqing's first-line river and cityscapes, with full floor-to-ceiling windows and viewing platforms. Nearby Jiefangbei, Yangtze River Cableway, and Hongya Cave are all within 500 meters walking distance. Lines 1 and 6 are just downstairs, connecting to the whole city.
Address: United International Building, No. 201 Xinhua Road, Yuzhong District, Chongqing
Travelogue Table of Contents:
1. Preface
2. Rediscovering—Hongya Cave, Hello
3. 01/ First Stop—Giant Neon Sign Wall
4. 02/ Memory of the Route 5 Trolleybus
5. 03/ Caiyuanba Railway Station
6. 04/ Shancheng Cinema
7. 05/ Old Chongqing Alley
8. 06/ Neon Street
9. 07/ 3D Black-and-White TV Wall
10. 08/ DISCO Square
11. 09/ Arcade Machines
12. 10/ Supply and Marketing Cooperative
13. 11/ Dam Tea (Baba Tea)
14. 12/ Dayanggou Market
15. 13/ Barber Shop: Wash, Cut, Blow-dry
16. 14/ Public Long-distance Telephone
17. 15/ 'I Was Here' Message Wall
18. 15/ Old Objects
19. Hongya Cave Reunion 1980 Block – Comprehensive Travel Guide
20. Nearby Accommodation and Travel Information / Hotel Index / Attraction Index / Ticket Index / Website Navigation / Travel Index / Cruise Index / Corporate Travel Index / Franchise Cooperation / Distribution Alliance / Friendship Links / Corporate Gift Card Procurement / Insurance Agent / Agent Cooperation / Hotel Franchise / Destination and Scenic Area Cooperation / More Cooperation / About Ctrip / Ctrip Hotspots / Contact Us / Careers / User Agreement / Privacy Policy / Business License / Security Center / Ctrip Content Center / Intellectual Property / Trip.com Group Algorithm Announcement
