Having visited Chongqing several times before, I always encountered foggy weather. However, this time, the weather was exceptionally clear, with blue skies and white clouds. The tour guide praised us, saying we were lucky.
We stayed at a hotel in Yubei District, and when we pulled the curtains, we could see Chongqing North Railway Station just 200 meters away. That's how the Mountain City is - it looks close, but it took us a 15-minute drive from the station to the hotel due to the city's winding roads. This reminded me of a saying often used by mountain dwellers: "Seeing the house but crying when walking to it."
Chongqing is not only a mountain city but also a city of water. The surging Yangtze River and the rushing Jialing River traverse through the rugged mountains, warmly embracing Chongqing's Chaotianmen. The beautiful curves of the two rivers outline the charming Yuzhong Peninsula. Locals affectionately call the Yuzhong Peninsula the "Mother City." It feels like a familiar name! To the people of Chongqing, it represents the mother of the city, nurturing the roots and origins of Chongqing. With 3,000 years of Jiangzhou Prefecture, 800 years of Chongqing City, and 100 years of Jiefangbei, the city has accumulated rich historical and cultural heritage, giving rise to the Ba-Yu culture, the War of Resistance culture, and the Red Rock Spirit.
During the transition from spring to summer, Chongqing condenses the charm of the mountain city, river city, and city that never sleeps into picturesque scenery, presenting its allure to the world. The waves of the two rivers, the bustling scenery on both sides, demonstrate the beauty of the Yuzhong Peninsula to the fullest. In this 800-year-old city, there are magnificent cliffside buildings like Hongyadong, and the famous Red Rock Village, which showcases the struggle of the Chinese Communists in Chongqing. Zhou Enlai, Dong Biwu, Ye Jianying, Wu Yuzhang, Wang Ruofei, and Deng Yingchao, among others, worked and lived here.
Within the limited time, we visited the Chongqing Three Gorges Museum, which is a splendid business card of Chongqing. Unlike many other museums, the Three Gorges Museum here is not only a Chongqing attraction but also a "national-level" museum. It sits opposite to Chongqing's iconic building, the solemn People's Assembly Hall, aligning perfectly along the central axis. The building unfolds like a folding fan, with four floors, each highlighting a theme. The museum features various forms of exhibits, such as thematic sculptures, scene restorations, music paintings, sound-controlled images, and multimedia, vividly presenting the distant history of the Three Gorges.
The museum, primarily themed around the Three Gorges, is also a comprehensive museum of history and art. Over two-thirds of the 1,087 cultural relics and ancient sites related to the Three Gorges Project are displayed here. Visitors can feel the essence, dynamics, natural wonders, and the ever-changing aspects of Chongqing's soul and spirit.
Every time I come to Chongqing, I must stroll around the ancient town of Ciqikou. The buildings here, with green bricks and black tiles, exude simplicity and elegance. The alleys paved with bluestones are enchanting and peaceful, leading to quaint and serene houses, like an old man narrating the oldest and most genuine stories of Chongqing. Today, Ciqikou Ancient Town still retains numerous historical relics, such as Baolun Temple, a Buddhist temple built during Emperor Zhenzong's reign in the Song Dynasty, and Xingji Grocery Store, an important underground Communist Party liaison point in Eastern Sichuan. Of course, there are also many teahouses, eateries, and various handicraft shops. Among the delicacies, Maoxuewang (spicy hot blood), Qianzhang (thousand-layer), and Jiaoyan Huasheng (peanuts with pepper and salt) are famous, along with Yanxun Doufu (smoked tofu), Shiban Ciba (stone mill rice cake), and Zhutong Mijiu (bamboo bucket rice wine). Numerous handicrafts can be found everywhere, showcasing the authentic charm of the Ba-Yu culture.
Despite the crowds surrounding us, our mood was extremely relaxed and pleasant. "Hey, let's get our ears cleaned. It's rare to come to Chongqing, so let's enjoy it. My treat!" A young man from our group generously suggested. Without hesitation, we followed him into the "ear cleaning" shop. A Chongqing girl with glasses asked me to sit on a wooden chair and introduced me to the folk tradition of ear cleaning. "We Chongqing locals don't call it ear cleaning; we call it 'xiaoshufu.' It's an art and a skill, integrated into folk craftsmanship, and has been listed as intangible cultural heritage. Do you know? In our country, there are three types of 'happiness living like immortals'." I looked up at her, captivated, and waited for her to continue. "Bathing, foot massage, and ear cleaning." She continued her explanation that ear cleaning, also called cai'er, is one of the seventy-two folk professions... As she spoke, she started cleaning my ears. Her movements were gentle, using all the "18 martial arts" of ear cleaning, while the tools included flexible ear scrapers, silver needles, feathers, bamboo handles, hooks, and tweezers. Her movements were slow, kneading, pushing, and combing, creating a tingling sensation that gradually turned into a relaxing feeling, making it a truly extraordinary experience. No wonder ancient poets praised it, saying, "A thousand years of leisure, feeling like immortals; divine beings fly to rest here."
After a light rain, the weather cleared up, and the sun shone brightly through the thick clouds. Guangyang Island gave me a feeling of tranquility and peace on the waterfront. Amidst the tranquility, I felt the calls of my heart.
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