A trip to Chongqing

Last February, before I returned home to my parents for the Lunar New Year, I planned a solo trip to Chongqing.

It was my first time traveling alone. While I anticipated some challenges, the trip ended up being quite smooth.

I departed from Guangzhou's South Railway Station in the morning and arrived at Chongqing's West Station in the evening. I rented a small apartment conveniently located right next to the Nanping metro station, giving me easy access to the sights I wanted to see.

The next day, I started my day with a traditional Sichuan-Chongqing breakfast - a warm bowl of porridge and small steamed buns. This hearty meal fortified me for the foggy, chilly morning.

My first stop was the city zoo. While the pandas were delightful in their spacious enclosure, I noticed that some of the other animals, like the birds, monkeys, and bear, seemed a bit confined in their habitats.

A bear lay motionless for prolonged periods, which made me wonder about its state of mind.

For lunch, I sought out a local fast-food joint called Xiangcunji, which was like a Chinese version of KFC but with regional Sichuan-Chongqing cuisine instead of chicken and fries. I enjoyed being able to sample a variety of dishes, as they had a buffet-style setup where you paid by the weight of the food.

In the afternoon, I headed to the interesting CRT Yangjiaping station, where the monorail tracks ran right through a circular plaza up in the sky. January was not the tourist run season, so the train wasn't quite empty.

I stopped for a cup of lemon tea before continuing to the Baiju Temple Bridge, whose pier had an almost otherworldly, portal-like appearance due to the low water levels of the dry season. This area had become a bustling tourist hub, with various snack vendors lining the exposed riverbed.

As dusk approached, I made my way to the Half Cliff Trail, which wound along the mountainside between the Fotuguan residential area and Eling Park.

I loved this quiet, uncrowded trail for its spectacular views of the river and city. Part of the trail ran alongside the railway, allowing me to observe the trains up close.

At the Eling Park end, I found a platform that offered a glimpse of the famous CRT Liziba Station, where the train passes through a building. I stayed to admire the night cityscape, then continued exploring Eling Park, even climbing a tower for a better vantage point.

The following day, I hiked two more trails - the Huangge Ancient Trail and the Qingshuixi Trail. To reach the Huangge Trail, I first had to traverse a lively, narrow-streeted residential area where farmers were selling their wares. Along the trail itself, I came across beautifully preserved inns and teahouses, as well as the historic former home of writer Echo Chen.