With the support ofour company, my family (my husband and my son) and I took a fam trip toChongqing and Yibin of Sichuan Province this summer. This trip is part of oneof our current product routes, from which I gained valuable experience. Beloware the summaries of the trip.

Day1 / 26 July High speed trainZhengzhou Dong - Chongqing Bei G3477 (1013-1531)

We took the highspeed train from Zhengzhou, where we live, to Chongqing, a journey of just 5hours. After arriving and settling into our hotel room, we eagerly headed outto find a local hotpot restaurant. We couldn’t wait to try Chongqing Hotpot,especially the famous “Nine-Square” Hotpot. The “Nine-Square” Hotpot cleverly divides the traditional hotpot base into three layers: thecentral grid, the cross-shaped grids, and the corner grids. Each section hasdifferent temperatures and varying levels of beef fat concentration, making itsuitable for cooking a variety of ingredients. Despite the intense spiciness,we savored every bit, sweating with delight. This is an experience you can’tmiss when traveling to Chongqing.

“Nine-Square” Hotpot 【九宫格火锅】

Day2 / 27 July Chongqing

Traveling by subwayin Chongqing City is very convenient, making it easy to explore the city’s keyattractions. Today we visited several notable spots such as LiberationMonument, Baixiangju residential community, Hongyadong and Qiansimen Bridge.

LiberationMonument【解放碑】

We found Baixiangjuquite interesting. Built in 1993, Baixiangju is a 24-story building withoutelevators. Its design cleverly utilizes the citys hilly terrain, with aerialwalkways connecting different apartment blocks, creating a distinctivemulti-level layout. In an era before elevators were common, this design greatlyfacilitated residents daily lives. Today, the Baixiangju community has becomea popular tourist attraction, celebrated for its unique architectural designand prime location. From this vantage point, we enjoyed breathtaking views ofthe Yangtze River.

Baixiangju【白象居】

Chongqing Hongyadongis a famous riverside complex known for its distinctive traditional stilt-stylearchitecture that seemingly hangs over the Yangtze River. This vibrant area isa popular tourist destination featuring a mix of shops, restaurants, and culturalattractions. The complex is renowned for its picturesque views, livelyatmosphere, and unique design. The best time to visit Hongyadong is in theevening when the colorful lights illuminate the area. The stunning display oflights creates a magical ambiance, highlighting the intricate architecture andenhancing the overall beauty of the riverside complex. During summer vacation,Hongyadong was so crowded that we couldn’tget inside. Instead, we made our way to Qiansimen Bridge to capture a photofrom a distance. It turned out to be a great decision, as the view from thebridge was truly spectacular.

Hongyadong & Qiansimen Bridge【洪崖洞 & 千厮门大桥】

I have to admit thatwe are truly hotpot enthusiasts. This evening, we went for hotpot again. Giventhat the previous hotpot was too spicy for my son, we opted for a split potwith both mild and spicy options. Again it was another exquisite hot pot experience;we all ate until we could barely move, haha...

A Split Pot【鸳鸯火锅】

Day3 / 28 July Chongqing

Chongqing is known asa mountain city, and the Mountain City Trail refers to pedestrian-only pathwayswithin the city. Unlike many urban alleys, the Mountain City Trail featuresnumerous steps and slopes, which locals refer to as "梯坎"(step-like steps). A prime example is the Third Mountain City Trail. Located onthe southern slope of the Yuzhong Peninsula, it runs from north to south,passing landmarks such as the Central Hospital (formerly the Legislative andJudicial Yuan of the Nationalist Government), the Anti-Japanese Memorial Hall,the Bodhi Vajra Pagoda, the site of the French Renai Church, and the Skywalk.The trail stretches 1,748 meters in total. A suspended skywalk has been builtalong the cliffside, offering views of the Yangtze River. Standing on theskywalk, we can enjoy a panoramic view of the southern bank of the YangtzeRiver.

Mountain City Trail

After a 2-hour hikealong the trail, we headed to the Yangtze River cable station. The YangtzeRiver Cableway, which connects Yuzhong District and Nanan District inChongqing, is a key feature of the citys unique three-dimensionaltransportation network. I had reserved our tickets earlier in the morning,anticipating the ride across the Yangtze would be a highlight. However, uponarrival, we were met with a long queue and learned that the wait time duringpeak season was around 2 hours. Despite the wait, once inside the cable car, wewere rewarded with breathtaking views of the Yangtze River.

Yangtze River Cableway

From the cablestation, we walked to Longmenhao Old Street, which is one of the mostdistinctive old streets in Chongqing, characterized by a nearly 50-meterelevation difference, embodying the citys signature "uphill anddownhill" experience. Strolling through Longmenhao, we enjoyed grand viewsover the Yangtze River.

Longmenhao Old Street【龙门浩】

Yangtze River Views

Day4 / 29 July Bus Chongqing - YaobaOld Town

In the magical cityof Chongqing, one spectacular sight that captivates visitors is the LizibaLight Rail Station—a remarkable place where trains pass through residentialbuildings. This unique feature is not only a marvel in Chinas and the worldsrail transport history but also a new highlight for tourists in Chongqing.Located by the Jialing River and built into the hillside, the stationsingenious "track-through-building" design takes advantage of thecitys three-dimensional terrain, showcasing Chongqings distinctive charm.Standing on the platform, watching the light rail train slowly approach, itfeels as though the train is not just passing through a building, but crossingthe boundaries of time and space, leading us into an incredible world. After aphoto stop at Liziba, we stepped on thelight trail train and it was impressive to witness the train running just on asingle trail.

LizibaLight Rail 【李子坝轻轨】

After lunch, we tookpublic transport from Chongqing to Yaoba Old Town via Hejiang County. By theway, during this trip we took a lot of public transport, which is green andsustainable. It was a surprise to me that my son was happy with that. Wearrived at Yaoba Old Town at about 4.30 pm. After checking into our rooms anddropping off our luggage, we headed straight to explore the old town. With itsquiet streets and few tourists, Yaoba’s small size allowed us to stroll throughit in just an hour. We had plenty of time to enjoy a delicious local lambhotpot dinner.

Yaoba Old Town【尧坝古镇】

Day5 / 30 July Bus Yaoba - ShunanZhuhai

After breakfast, wetook a series of local bus transfers from Yaoba to the Shunan Bamboo Sea ScenicSpot. By early afternoon, we had arrived at our hotel, a cozy home stay run bya warm and welcoming family spanning two generations. The hosts were exceptionallyhelpful and enthusiastic. In the late afternoon, the father graciously drove usto the Bamboo Museum for visit. There we learned some knowledge about bamboos.

That evening, weenjoyed a "Bamboo Feast" at the home stay. It was amazing to discoverthe variety of bamboo parts that can be eaten, including bamboo shoots, bamboofungus, bamboo fungus eggs, bamboo mushrooms and bamboo flowers—allincredibly delicious. We joked that we felt like Giant Pandas enjoying theirfavorite treats!

Bamboo Feast【竹子宴】

Day6 / 31 July Shunan Zhuhai

The Shunan Bamboo SeaScenic Area is a bamboo-themed attraction that blends natural scenery withhistorical sites, serving as a summer retreat. The area features over 500 peakscovered in dense bamboo forests, with green waves stretching to the horizon. Witha vegetation coverage rate of 93%, it serves as a natural green oasis withfresh air.

Today we went to explore the south partof the Bamboo Sea. We first took the cable car to the “Observation Tower” alsonamed Guanhailou. From the tower, we could see an endless bamboo forest thatresembled a sea.

Guanhailou【观海楼】

Xianyu Cave, renownedfor its exceptional natural and cultural scenery, is hailed as the "Pearlof the Bamboo Sea." Located in the southern part of the Shunan Bamboo Sea,it is nestled among the steep cliffs, and is a must-visit site in the ShunanBamboo Sea. Xianyu Cave is not actually a cave but rather a semi-cave extendingabout 500 meters, backed by a sheer cliff and overlooking a deep valley. XianyuCave served as a place of religious activity for both Buddhism and Taoism. Itwas once a vibrant place with flying eaves and flourishing incense, but nowonly a few Ming Dynasty rock carvings remain.

Xianyu Cave【仙堣洞】

We continued ourhiking. On the east of Xianyu Cave lies the Tianbao Fortress, also known asTianbao Cave. The ancient fortress stretches 1500 meters in length, with aheight of 20 meters and a width of about 10 meters. Its roof is made of rock,with most of the structure being a natural half-cave and some parts hewn byhand. Legend has it that this fortress was used by the ancient "barbarianarmy" as a military stronghold. It says it could house around 3000 peoplein the cave. After a half-day of exploration and hiking, we took cable car downthe mountain and returned to our hotel.

Tianbao Fortress【天宝寨】

Day7 / 01 August Shunan Zhuhai

Today, we tookshuttle buses to the northern part of the Bamboo Sea and visited two mainsites: Longyin Temple and the Rainbow Waterfall (Qicai FeiPu). We found out it’sconvenient to take a shuttle bus within Bamboo Sea area with a fee of 5 yuanper person every time, and we did not wait long for the bus, just a fewminutes.

shuttle bus【观光车】

Longyin Temple issituated on Jiulong Mountain at an altitude of 980 meters, making it the secondhighest peak in the area. Originally built during the Ming Dynasty, the templewas later restored during the Qing Dynasty. Unfortunately, it was completely destroyedin 1959, leaving only the foundation stones, steps, and stone door frames.Reconstruction began in 2003, and the temple was reopened to the public in2010. From the viewing pavilions in the temple, we had a panoramic view of thegreen valley.

Longyin Temple【龙吟寺】

The Rainbow Waterfallis located in the Hulu Valley between Shigu Mountain and Shiluo Mountain. TheShui Liao River, flowing from the deep forest, cascades down in four tiersbeneath the Huilong Bridge, creating a dramatic drop of nearly 200 meters. On asunny day at noon, the sunlight often reveals a rainbow forming at the bottomof the pool.

Rainbow Waterfall【七彩飞瀑】

Day8 / 02 August Bus Shunan Zhuhai -Lizhuang Old Town

After breakfast, wetook local bus to Lizhuang old town via Yibin City. Li Zhuang Ancient Town islocated in the Cuiping District of Yibin City. Named after a natural stonepillar, the town has a flat terrain and was originally a fishing village. Itwas established during the Liang Dynasty (circa 540-548 AD) and later became atrading hub during the Ming and Qing Dynasties. The town features a well-preservedlayout and architecture from these periods, with stone streets and numerousQing Dynasty buildings. The town is renowned as the "First Ancient Town ofthe Yangtze River" and is recognized as a historical and cultural town inSichuan Province.

Lizhuang Old Town【李庄古镇】

We strolled throughthe old streets and sampled local delicacies like “White Cake” (Bai Gao) and “WhiteMeat” (Bai Rou). We did not try the “White Liquor” (Bai Jiu), which completesthe renowned “Three Whites” of Lizhuang.

Li Zhuang White Meat【李庄白肉】

Moonlight Fields(Yueliangtian), located on the western side of the ancient town, got its poeticname from two crescent-shaped fields in the area. Liang Sicheng and Lin Huiyinlived here for six years from 1940 to 1946, and they managed to completeseveral important works, including History of Chinese Architecture. Today,Moonlight Fields has transformed into a vibrant tourist destination, bustlingwith shops and attractions. In the evening, it offers a captivating view as thelights illuminate the area, creating a charming and picturesque atmosphere.

Moonlight Fields【月亮田】

Day9 / 03 August Bus Lizhuang - Yibin

After breakfast, wetook a public bus to Yibin City. After resting in our room, we enjoyed a simplelunch of Yibin Ranmian before heading to Hejiangmen Square to view the YangtzeRiver up close.

Sanjiangkou, alsoknown as Hejiangmen, is located at the intersection of two roads in the mainurban area of Yibin City. It is where the Yangtze River, Jinshajiang River, andMinjiang River converge. The Yangtze River flows forward from Sanjiangkou, passingthrough the Three Gorges, crossing the plain, and entering the East China Sea.Locally, Sanjiangkou is referred to as the "Zero Kilometer of the YangtzeRiver" due to its position at the confluence of the three rivers. So fromYibin, the Yangtze River truly earns its name.

Hejiangmen【合江门】

Day10 / 04 August Flight Yibin -Zhengzhou GY7223(0845/1045)

In the early morning,we took taxi to Yibin Airport for our flight home. Our trip ended on a happynote.

Yours Sincerely

Sunny Qiao - Charmission Travel