A Quick Trip to Chongqing

After graduating from university, we arranged a reunion. This time we chose to return to where it all began—Chongqing. After wandering for half a lifetime, have we still remained the same as before? Without time to dwell on it, I boarded a Juneyao Airlines flight and headed excitedly to Chongqing.

Thanks to the pandemic, I found that first class was only a little over 1,000 yuan, so I opted for it. I was curious to see what first class on a large aircraft was like (the flight I booked with Juneyao Airlines was operated by an Airbus A330).

The seats were indeed much roomier than economy class, almost like being able to lie flat and sleep.

The food, however, was not great—compared to China Southern Airlines' first class, Juneyao's was quite poor. Not only was there less food, but the taste was also lacking.

For this class reunion, I followed the arrangements of my Chongqing classmates—they organized it at the Chongqing Expo Garden. I looked it up online and learned it was the site of the 8th International Garden Expo. After entering, I felt it was just average—kind of like a suburban park. But since the organizing committee classmate arranged it here, I'll just go with the flow!

The accommodations inside were mostly in the style and level of guesthouses.

We were assigned a four-person room, which felt like being back in the university dormitory again. We chattered away late into the night, just like the late-night dorm talks back then.

Since we were old classmates reuniting after many years, no one cared about sightseeing spots. We just holed up together, chatting: sharing funny stories from the past, talking about our current insights, and looking forward to the future. So we spent Friday, Saturday, and Sunday just staying inside the Expo Garden.

But with food and drink available, pleasant scenery, and the warmth of old classmates, it was actually quite enjoyable.

However, in China, knowing people has its perks. One of our old classmates even managed to order delivery from a famous hotpot restaurant to inside the garden.

Besides hotpot and Sichuan cuisine, there was also barbecue, and a small shop housing a fossil collection had some very interesting items.

Eating, playing, strolling, and chatting—this kind of feeling was really nice.

Inside the fossil museum, some things were really fascinating. I couldn't help but linger there. Looking at these fossils felt like witnessing the vicissitudes of time.

The owner was a person who loves life. The small courtyard at the entrance was also arranged with great charm. Even some common succulents, under the owner's skillful arrangement, looked particularly interesting.

This arrangement of dead wood with baby's breath became my favorite.

One of our old classmates had also rented a siheyuan here for cultural promotion. On the last day of the reunion, we decided to make dumplings there. Thirty of us had a great time, as if we had returned to our student days.

Returning to the university campus after many years, it felt unrecognizable. Along with those hurried times, it gave a dreamlike feeling.

In the evening, I moved to the Atour Hotel near Jiefangbei, which made it easier to enjoy the beauty of Chongqing at night.

In China, there are a few cities where the night is very enchanting. Besides the famous Hong Kong and Shanghai, Chongqing's nightscape also ranks highly. With mountains, rivers, and skyscrapers, the night view has rich layers. Hongyadong, Qiansimen Bridge, and Jiefangbei each have their own unique night scenes.

Fortunately, the Atour Hotel I stayed at was very close to these places. When tired from walking, I could just slowly stroll back. This time I chose the Atour Hotel (Chongqing Jiefangbei), located at Jiaochangkou Dayuan Plaza, right next to the Food Street. For a foodie like me, it was the best choice. Moreover, it was close to the subway entrance and the commercial center. The popular Yangtze River Cableway and Hongyadong were all within walking distance.

Speaking of Atour Hotel, it has become one of my preferred hotel chains for business trips. The first time I stayed at one was at the Chengdu Du Fu Thatched Cottage branch, and I felt it had a somewhat literary and artistic vibe. I remember their official website saying: 'The founders of Atour, during a trip, accidentally walked into the Atour Village. Moved by the natural, fresh, and simple atmosphere there—though not wealthy, the people were honest, trusting, kind-hearted, and always happy—they named the hotel chain after it.' So Atour initially built its brand as a humanistic hotel themed around reading and photography. Of course, for frequent business travelers like me, the reason I choose Atour is straightforward: it offers good value for money. How to put it? It's a grade above Hanting and Home Inn, and the breakfast is better than Ji Hotel. Since it's a chain, it maintains a certain standard, unlike some independently operated hotels at the same price point in a city—Atour's basic level is similar across the country, and the service doesn't vary too much.

Of course, if I had to say what really appeals to me, it's their concept of the 'Fourth Space.' The so-called Fourth Space, as Atour officially claims, is that a hotel is not just a place to sleep, but also an entryway to a humanities-infused, warm, and interesting lifestyle. Atour calls it the Fourth Space. I think what moves people is perhaps that every hurried traveler needs a place to rest, to settle their restless soul.

For a book lover like me, having a little time in a rushed journey to calm down and browse some leisurely books is a very happy thing.

In the lobbies of Atour hotels across the country, there are a few bookshelves filled with books. Though not large and not many books, those volumes with the scent of ink are like pavilions in a storm on the information highway—a place where people can gaze at the weary ancient path of humanity and the lingering sunset after the calamity.

On days with books, both the heart and the feet can roam in the poetic and picturesque distance!