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Ciqikou, Shapingba District, Chongqing, China
The nearest ancient town to Chongqing; perfect place to taste local delicious snacks
Ciqikou is an old town preserved in sprawling modern Chongqing, about one hour drive from the city center. It is a timeless ancient town built in the Ming and Qing dynasties. Firstly it was named 'Longyin'. Since 1918 the porcelain trade began due to the convenient location, gradually the trade became prospered throughout the area. Local people used Ciqikou as its name instead of Longyin which means 'porcelain harbor' in Chinese.
With a history of more than 1,800 years, it has some typical traditional and cultural characteristics featured in mountainous areas. The ancient town has only two main streets and they've been taken up by all kinds of shops. Now it has 12 streets in all and among them the Tea House plays an important role of local culture.
Travelers to Chongqing and locals alike throng to Ciqikou's steep and narrow pedestrian streets. Shops sell porcelain, other handicrafts, and gifts, while restaurants and tea shops give visitors a look at what many areas of Chongqing were like before the metropolis became the vast urban agglomeration it is today. A 1,500-year-old Buddhist temple straddles the mountain in the middle of the old town.
Origin and Porcelain Heritage
Ancient Town of Ciqikou is famous as producing porcelain. In 1918 gentry merchants raised fund and created a new craft porcelain workshop in Qingcao slope named "Shu porcelain factory". The quality of chinaware there was very good with various types, gradually it became famous and products were exported at home and abroad. Gradually "Ciqikou" take the place of "Longyin town". And now more than 20 ancient kiln sites have been found there.
Streets and Traditional Architecture
There are 12 streets in Ancient Town of Ciqikou, and buildings on the both sides of streets are mostly in the form of Ming and Qing style, the ground is paved stone. Commerce and trade activities are concentrated in the big port and Jinrongzhen Street near wharf.
Cultural Activities and Handicrafts
Nowadays the Ciqikou ancient town preserved relatively intact ancient buildings, developed oil manufacture, reel off raw silk from cocoons, sugar refining, knead dough figurine, and Sichuan opera and many traditional performances and a variety of traditional snacks, tea houses, etc. Temple fair held in every Spring Festival is the most distinctive traditional activities in Ciqikou ancient town, attracting tens of thousands of citizens to participate in.
Teahouse Culture
And Ciqikou is the nearest ancient town away from Chongqing urban area. In the ancient town of Ciqikou within sight of the most distinctive scenery is teahouse. In the past time of Ciqikou, teahouses can be seen everywhere. Until now, the teahouse is still featured scenery in Ciqikou, hundreds of meters of old street have 13 tea houses, every teahouse are full of customers.
Walking through the dozen or so lanes of Ciqikou Ancient Town, you will be surrounded by buildings in the style of the Ming and Qing dynasties, with stone-paved streets under your feet. Although much of what you see today has been restored in recent years—just like many other ancient towns near large cities—this does not detract from the feeling of “Old Chongqing” that permeates the place. The town is compact, and most visitors can explore it in about two to four hours.
You can visit Zhong Family Courtyard and Tong Family Courtyard, both typical examples of traditional mountain-style residences from eastern Sichuan. Another highlight is the Folk Culture Village, which hosts performances of Sichuan opera, storytelling, and other folk arts all year round. Those looking for a more spiritual experience can stop by Baolun Temple, a thousand-year-old Buddhist temple said to have been the hiding place of Emperor Jianwen of the Ming Dynasty.
When you grow tired from walking, there is no shortage of teahouses where you can take a break. Teahouses are an iconic part of Ciqikou’s charm—once frequented by boatmen, local gentry, and storytellers. Even today, you may still find live performances of local arts such as Sichuan opera singing and Sichuan qingyin (a traditional lyrical singing style) while enjoying your tea.
Of course, tasting the local food is an essential part of any visit. Ciqikou is known for its “three delicacies”—spicy duck-blood stew (mao xue wang), thin sheets of bean curd (qian zhang pi), and crispy peanuts with pepper salt. Even more famous is Chen Mahua, a traditional hand-twisted fried dough snack that gained fame in the late Qing Dynasty. There are several Chen Mahua shops along the streets—if you are wondering which one is the most authentic, simply look for the one with the longest queue.
If you come in the evening, consider climbing up to Ma’anshan Park. From the back street of the town, a ten-minute uphill walk will take you to the summit, where you can enjoy sweeping views of the entire ancient town and the Jialing River. The scenery is particularly spectacular at sunset, when the warm light reflects off the old rooftops and river waters.
Opening Hours
The ancient town is open all day, free of charge. However, most shops begin to close about 9:00 p.m., so it’s best to arrive earlier if you want to enjoy the full experience.
Travel Tips
Try to avoid visiting during public holidays and weekends, as the crowds can be overwhelming—weekdays offer a more relaxed atmosphere, allowing you to stroll and taste local snacks at leisure. There are many shops selling local specialties; take your time to compare prices and quality before making a purchase. Comfortable walking shoes are recommended, as you will be covering a lot of ground and the stone-paved streets can be uneven.
From on request
From $ 327
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