My Chongqing off-peak travel guide for Labor Day: A magical journey

I've long yearned to visit Chongqing, a city full of charm. The spicy and delicious food, the relaxed and comfortable atmosphere, the well-arranged buildings, the winding roads, and the rich history of the Republic of China are all fascinating. For my Labor Day trip, I did a lot of research on food, accommodation, and transportation in advance to avoid the crowds. The facts proved that these preparations were well worth it, and the whole family was very satisfied with the entire trip. [Awesome] Three-day travel guide Day 1: First arrival in Chongqing, encountering Luzu Temple and Liziba ✈️Take a plane from Beijing to Chongqing and arrive smoothly at noon. Chongqing has a wide variety of hotels to meet different consumer needs. I carefully selected a homestay with a good environment inside and outside near Chaotianmen, which was very cost-effective. After putting down my luggage, I ate a bowl of Ga Ga noodles nearby, which officially started my Chongqing trip. 🏢 Afternoon: The worldly atmosphere and intangible cultural heritage charm of Luzu Temple 🏠Go to Jiefangbei, Kui Xing Building, and Luzu Temple. Luzu Temple was an unexpected surprise on this trip. It has a history of 105 years and is full of historical vicissitudes. This is an ancient alley full of worldly culture and human fireworks. Here, the farmers market and the coffee shop face each other across the street, forming a wonderful and special combination. On the street, the community opera performance is lively and the incense is also very prosperous. 🥃🫖At 4pm, I walked into the Republic of China teahouse and enjoyed a unique intangible cultural heritage performance. In the teahouse, I not only avoided the hot weather of up to 35℃, but also stayed away from the bustling crowds of tourists, which was unanimously praised by my family and was also rated by my children as the TOP 1 fun index of this trip. Drinking tea and watching dramas in the teahouse of Luzu Temple, immersing myself in the teahouse culture and the charm of intangible cultural heritage, I seemed to see a folk life portrayal at the level of ruins. The actors performed wonderfully and it was worth the price. Evening: The quiet beauty and gourmet feast of Liziba 🚈🚇In the evening, after eating and drinking enough at the teahouse, we went to the next stop, Liziba, full of energy. The scenery of Liziba in the evening is absolutely beautiful. The crowds during the day have dissipated, and the crowds coming to see the night view have not yet arrived. We did not insist on finding those so-called photo spots, because every scenery encountered on the road here is worth stopping to admire. 🍖Dinner was booked at Liziba Liangshan Chicken, which was rated as the NO 1 delicacy of this trip by my foodie + chef teammate. Whether it is the environment, taste, or ingredients, it fully meets his high standards. Day 2: Strolling in the mountains, tasting history and nature 🏔Today's itinerary is all in the mountains, including Huangjueya, Laojun Cave, and Huangge Ancient Road. Coming to Chongqing, a mountain city, how can you not experience the feeling of climbing slopes and crossing ridges? Morning: The rainbow adventure of Huangjueya and the Sanmao Former Residence complex 🎑🌈In the morning, instead of choosing the popular Daijia Lane and Eighteen Steps on the Internet, I went to Huangjueya, which is hidden in the mountains. There are many unique Bayu residences here, which used to be the resting place for porters and caravans, and also the residence of official barracks and post stations. Fortunately, we encountered two rainbows here. The old street under the sun formed a beautiful picture, making people linger. 🌷🌻In Huangjueya, I encountered my TOP 1 on this trip, the Sanmao Former Residence. Sanmao was my favorite writer in high school. When I saw the sentence "Every time I think of you, a grain of sand falls from the sky, and from then on, the Sahara is formed" in the exhibition hall, I seemed to be back in high school, full of nostalgia for that unrestrained and freedom-loving soul. Noon: The unexpected surprise of the Chuan Chuan hot pot 🥘🥓I originally planned to go to Jiu Jiu Beef, which is on the must-eat list, but there were too many people in line, so I decisively chose another Chuan Chuan hot pot. Unexpectedly, it was very delicious and can be called the king of cost performance on this trip. You can eat very full for less than CNY 40 per person, and the taste is quite good. It is estimated that because it is close to the University Town, the prices of the food here are cheap and down-to-earth. Afternoon: The leisurely time of Huangge Ancient Road 🛝Considering the traffic jam, we did not choose to take a taxi down the mountain. And since we had just eaten, walking down the mountain from Huangge Ancient Road was a good way to digest food, and the temperature in the mountains was also comfortable and cool. 🤸‍♂️This ancient road was built in the Tang Dynasty and reached its peak in the Song, Yuan, Ming, and Qing Dynasties. It is the only way for Yunnan and Guizhou to enter Bashu and is known as the "Ancient Southwest Silk Road" and the "Sichuan-Guizhou Salt Road and Tea Horse Road", which has both historical value and natural scenery. Along the way, birds and flowers accompany you, and there are many teahouses distributed among them, which is convenient for tourists to rest when they are tired. These teahouses seem to be reminding people that life does not have to be too hurried. You may as well stop and appreciate the surrounding scenery. 🏆☕️Looking back on the major mountain scenic spots I have visited across the country, Chongqing is the only place where teahouses are so densely opened in the mountains, which also vividly demonstrates the Chongqing people's hard work and understanding of leisure and enjoyment. Day 3: A historical and cultural tour to experience the heritage of Chongqing 💼🕶Today's itinerary is mainly about history and culture. I went to the Special Garden, Gui Garden, Dai Li's Mansion, Zhou Gongguan, Zengjiayan Cliff Trail, and Binjiang Park. Morning: The retro charm of Zhongshan Fourth Road ☘️🌳We walked into Zhongshan Fourth Road, the most beautiful road in Chongqing, which is a quiet street full of retro charm. The road is lined with green trees, the environment is quiet, and tall banyan trees are neatly arranged. The roots of several banyan trees even grow on the walls, which shows how old they are. 🏡🏫There are many buildings combining Chinese and Western styles on this road, as well as many historical sites. This place witnessed an important turning point in Chinese history, the signing of the Double Tenth Agreement. 🏛☕️There are many chic cafes along the road. We tasted the unique glutinous rice wine milk and the soft and delicious Jiuyuan steamed buns. I ate three in one go, which was very filling and could last for most of the day. Noon: The delicious enjoyment of Guoqiang Beef 🍘🍡I didn't eat lunch. After visiting Zengjiayan Trail, I drank a cup of orange Americano in the forest and watched the light rail shuttle in front of me, which felt very pleasant. At 2pm, I took a taxi to Guoqiang Beef. At this time, the peak dining period had passed and there was no need to queue. The double-pepper beef was especially good for eating with rice, and my son directly finished a plate of beef fried rice. In Chongqing, it is simply too difficult to complete the weight loss task. Afternoon: The happy time of Eighteen Steps and Binjiang Park 🌊💦I went to Eighteen Steps along the way. Because there were too many people, I didn't stop to visit. I crossed the street and went directly to Chongqing Binjiang Park. This is simply a paradise for children. Children can dig sand, pile stones, and fish. Adults with good swimming skills can also swim here. There is a lot of laughter. 😻🤗Standing in Binjiang Park, I truly felt that Chongqing is not only a mountain city, but also a river city, surrounded by mountains and rivers, with unlimited scenery. The Sheraton Hotel on the South Bank is glittering with gold, which complements the Yangtze River Cableway, forming a beautiful picture. [Cute]