Day 1 in chongQing 重庆

 Today was Monday and also an extended holiday of the autumn festival, so I was forced to buy 8:15 am ticket to go to chongQing 重庆, although I wished to sleep in. 

Chongqing is also known as the Mountain City. As the name suggests, the city is built on the mountain. Zhang Zhidong, 张之洞 a famous official in the late Qing Dynasty, once chanted Chongqing like this: "The famous city is perched on the rocks, and eagles and eagles look at the majestic Sanba." The mountain is the city, and the city is the mountain. Walking in such a 3D or even 4D city, you can't get around without some cool transportation. Chongqing Light Rail 轻轨 goes up and down, along the mountains and rivers. On one side, it comes along the mountains, and on the other side, it comes along the water. You can see the Jialing River 嘉陵江 along the line.

The Jiefangbei Monument 解放碑 is 27.5 meters high. It once seemed very tall, but now it has been submerged in the luxurious commercial centers that have sprung up around it. Transportation is very convenient, with many buses departing from here. It is only a 10-minute journey to the Yangtze River Cableway 索道 and the Jialing River Cableway. A delicious street is also nearby.

The architecture of Baixiangju 白象居 is very Chongqing-style, and you can see the two rivers and the Yangtze River Cableway. Walk down the slope from the main entrance of Baixiangju, and there are camera positions all the way.

Chaotianmen 朝天门 is located at the confluence of two rivers (Jialing River and Yangtze River). Originally named "Ancient Chongqing Pass", it was one of the 17 ancient city gates in Chongqing. Chaotianmen is an important water and land port and an important cargo distribution center. Walking in Chaotianmen, you can personally experience the dock culture of the mountain city. Today, the Chaotianmen Passenger Terminal has newly built a spacious Chaotianmen Square, where you can overlook the two rivers.

Qiansimen Bridge 千斯门大桥 offers river views and Hongyadong 洪崖洞 (traditional Bayu stilt houses, 吊脚楼 lights on in summer from 19:30 to 23:00). It is a group of stilt houses with traditional Bayu architectural features, built on the mountain, born from water, and growing along the cliff. They are staggered in height and follow the terrain of the mountain. Take photos and check in at Daijiaxiang Alley 戴家巷. 

The Kuixing Tower 𣁽星樓 was built for the god Kuixing, who is believed by Confucian scholars to be the master of the success or failure of articles. There are two "hanging" sky bridges between the Kuixing Tower Square and the office building next to it. The place where you stand is the first floor, but it is actually the 22nd floor where local residents live.

I walked in 39C (102f) the whole afternoon. I was so thirsty that I drank one liter juice and then ate rice noodle with soybean meat paste + 2 marinated quail eggs + 2 fried crispy pork炸酱河粉 + 2个卤鹌鹑蛋+2 炸酥肉for dinner.