Travel Chongqing to the Old Town of Ciqikou

Well preserved in the sprawling fashionable Chongqing, Ciqikou is an timeless old town built in the Ming and Qing dynasties. It was firstly named "Longyin". But since the porcelain trade became flourishing throughout the city, the locals used Ciqikou as the name of the town which means in Chinese: "porcelain harbor" .

Located in the mountainous Chongqing, 1,800 years old Ciqikou has its own typical traditional and cultural characteristics. The old town of Ciqikou has only two main stems all taken up by shops of all sorts. But today, as you can see, there are altogether 12 steep and narrow streets in the town. Tea houses and coffee shops take an important place to meet needs of the local culture.

Travelers and locals come to Ciqikou meandering and shopping. You can buy porcelain, handicrafts, gifts, special snack( Grilled-Fresh-Squid, Hot and Sour Rice Noodles, Peppery Chicken, Zhangfei Beef and especially Fried Dough Twist). When you want to have a rest and chat with friends, tea houses and coffee shops of different style are always ready. Or you can walk along the Yangtze River for a absence of mind, enjoy the fragrant gentle breeze.

Of the 12 streets of Ciqikou, most of the architecture are in forms of Ming and Qing style with grounds paved with stone slabs. Business and trade activities are mainly concentrated in Jinrongzhen Street and the big port. Temple fair are held once a year during the Spring Festival of Chinese, thousands of people are attracted to participate. Teahouse is the most most distinctive vision of Ciqikou.

Rambling over Ciqikou, people feel intense breath of specific historical and cultural background, culture of Ba-yu, religion, Hongyan, as well as the culture of folk all mix together.

Ciqikou expresses a unique dock culture of the city.