Ciqikou, originally known as Longyin Town (Dragon Hidden Town), is located at No. 1 Ciqi South Street, Shapingba District. Built along the mountain overlooking the Jialing River, the town dates back to the Song Dynasty and was once one of Chongqing's most important river ports. It was a bustling trading hub for porcelain and salt — hence the name "Ciqikou" (Porcelain Port). Today, although the dock function has disappeared, the town preserves a large amount of ancient architecture and cultural heritage, making it a popular attraction in Chongqing.

🏛️ A Millennium of History

Ciqikou is a national 4A-level scenic area, recognized as a "Intangible Cultural Heritage Tourism Destination" and one of the "Top 10 Cultural Tourism Industry Landmarks of Chengdu-Chongqing." What surprises visitors most is that Ciqikou is a free scenic area. Today, Ciqikou Ancient Town has become a comprehensive tourist destination integrating food, shopping, culture, and entertainment. Here you can taste authentic Chongqing snacks, admire the antique architecture, and feel the unique folk customs of Chongqing.

Ciqikou Ancient Town

🎯 What to Experience

🏮 Ciqikou Ancient Town

Ciqikou Ancient Town is a well-preserved ancient town with a long history and culture. Here you can admire the antique architecture, unique folk culture, and traditional handicrafts. At the same time, Ciqikou Ancient Town has many delicacies such as hot pot, xiaomian, and douhua, allowing you to taste authentic Chongqing snacks.

Ciqikou Scenery

🛕 Baolun Temple

Baolun Temple is one of the famous attractions in Ciqikou Ancient Town — an ancient Buddhist temple. The temple has ancient architecture and exquisite Buddha statues. The environment inside the temple is quiet, making it a good place for quiet reflection.

Baolun Temple

⛵ Ciqikou Dock

Ciqikou Dock is a famous attraction along the Jialing River. Here you can enjoy the beautiful scenery of the Jialing River and the unique dock culture. On the dock, you can see many tourists taking cruise ships and enjoying the river view, experiencing the beauty of Chongqing's mountains and rivers.

Ciqikou Dock

🎭 Folk Performances

At Ciqikou Ancient Town, you can enjoy many folk performances, such as folk song and dance, acrobatics, and more. These performances showcase the unique culture of the Chongqing region, making your trip more colorful.

Folk Performance

If you have ample time, you can also visit the Chongqing Memory Museum, Jiabin Lou Historical Culture Exhibition Hall, Dream Snow Art Exhibition, Ciqikou Houjie Park, and Chongqing 1949 Grand Theatre. Each place has its own unique characteristics and charm.

🍲 Food & Flavors

🍲 Hot Pot

Chongqing hot pot is one of the local specialty foods. Ciqikou Ancient Town has many hot pot restaurants where you can taste authentic Chongqing hot pot, such as mala hot pot, yuanyang hot pot, and more.

Chongqing Hot Pot

🍜 Xiaomian (Noodle Soup)

Xiaomian is one of Chongqing's specialty snacks and is one of the must-try foods for many tourists visiting Ciqikou Ancient Town. In the alleys of the ancient town, you can find many xiaomian stalls where you can taste uniquely flavored mala xiaomian and suanla xiaomian.

Xiaomian Noodles

🫘 Douhua (Silken Tofu Pudding)

Douhua is one of Chongqing's traditional snacks and is one of the specialty foods of Ciqikou Ancient Town. In the alleys of the ancient town, you can find many douhua shops where you can taste delicately textured douhua with fragrant spicy sauce.

Douhua

🍡 Other Delicacies

In addition to the above delicacies, Ciqikou Ancient Town has many other delicious foods, such as fried tofu, nuomi ci (glutinous rice balls), tanghulu (candied fruit), and more, allowing your taste buds to enjoy an ultimate experience.

Local Snacks

🛍️ Shopping & Souvenirs

🫙 Local Specialties

At Ciqikou Ancient Town, you can purchase many local specialties, such as hot pot base, chili sauce, pao cai (pickled vegetables), and more. These specialties allow your family and friends to taste Chongqing's food culture.

Local Snacks

🎨 Handicrafts

At Ciqikou Ancient Town, you can purchase many handicrafts, such as paper-cutting, clay sculpture, wood carving, and more. These handicrafts showcase the unique culture of the Chongqing region, making your trip more meaningful.

Local Snacks

📚 Books & Publications

At Ciqikou Ancient Town, you can purchase many local books and publications, such as history books and travel guides. These books and publications allow you to understand Chongqing's culture and history more deeply.

Local Snacks

🎴 Souvenirs

At Ciqikou Ancient Town, you can purchase many souvenirs, such as postcards and keychains. These souvenirs allow you to recall this wonderful trip even after leaving Chongqing.

Local Snacks

🏨 Where to Stay

🏨 Hotels

There are many hotels around Ciqikou Ancient Town for tourists to choose from, such as themed hotels and homestays. These hotels provide good accommodation environments and convenient facilities, making your trip more comfortable.

Local Snacks

🏡 Homestays (B&Bs)

If you want to experience the local life and culture more deeply, you can choose to stay in a homestay. There are many homestays around Ciqikou Ancient Town for tourists to choose from. These homestays are moderately priced and have beautiful and comfortable environments.

Local Snacks

🎒 Youth Hostels

If you are a young backpacker or a traveler with a limited budget, you can choose to stay in a youth hostel. There are many youth hostels around Ciqikou Ancient Town for tourists to choose from. These hostels are affordable and fully equipped.

Local Snacks

📝 Visiting Tips

This concludes the one-day travel guide for Ciqikou. It has both the depth of history and culture, the temptation of delicious food, and the pleasure of natural scenery. I hope you can feel the unique charm and humanistic spirit of this city during your trip to Ciqikou. If you have any questions or suggestions, please feel free to leave a message in the comment section to share your thoughts. Let's make travel guides better together!

📍 Address: No. 1 Ciqi South Street, Shapingba District, Chongqing
🎫 Admission: Free
⏰ Recommended Duration: One day
🚇 Getting There: Metro Line 1, Ciqikou Station (Exit 1)

Step Into the Past at Ciqikou

From Song Dynasty flagstones to the aroma of freshly brewed tea, Ciqikou offers a rare glimpse into the soul of old Chongqing. Plan your visit and walk through a thousand years of history.

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