Famed “Little Chongqing,” Ciqikou Ancient Town, formerly known as Longyin Town, is a time-honored place that has a long history dating back to the Song Dynasty. Surrounded by mountains on three sides, this ancient town is built along the mountain, with the Jialing River running through it. Used to be an important trade port for porcelain and other goods, Ciqikou is one of the best ancient towns in China, and now a landmark attraction in Chongqing that attracts tourists from all over the world.
Ciqikou Ancient Town Facts
- Chinese name: 磁器口古镇 (Ciqikou Guzhen)
- Location: 1 Cinan Street, Shapingba District, Chongqing
- Opening time: All day
- Time needed: 3-4 hours
- Best time to visit: Spring and Autumn
- Ticket: Free
- Suited to: Culture and history enthusiasts as well as anyone interested in ancient Chinese architecture
Why Visit Ciqikou
- Trace history: Thanks to its riverside position, Ciqikou has served as a bustling trade hub for over 1,000 years. Boats from other places along the Jialing and Yangtze Rivers docked here, cementing its reputation as a bustling trading hub. Porcelain productionwas especially flourished here. Today, you can still see artisans making traditional pottery and encounter many historical buildings while on a leisure wander here.
- Unique blend of natural landscapes and ancient architecture: The ancient town is nestled among three rivers and three mountains. Ancient buildings from the Ming and Qing Dynasty, stone-paved alleys, stilted houses, and historic docks are scattered among the mountain terrain, forming a picturesque scene, making it just like a miniatureof Chongqing.
- Taste the essence of authentic Chongqing flavors: As the birthplace of famous Chongqing Mao Xuewang (spicy blood curd stew)a, this area is also a gather place of diverse Chongqing culinary treasures, including Chongqing hotpot, Chen Mahua, sticky glutinous rice cakes and more. Be ready to satisfy your taste buds here.
What to See and Do in Ciqikou Ancient Town
1. Marvel at the Yinglong Gate
Ciqikou Ancient Town has many ancient architecture, and the Yinglong Gate is prominent among them. As one of the city’s most important gates, especially during the Qing Dynasty, the Yinglong Gate held an important position as “the Throat into Southwest China.” It has witnessed the prosperous past of Chongqing when the city became an economic, cultural, and transportation center of the country.
2. Discover the Ancient Baolun Temple
Ciqikou Ancient Town is an inclusive site for Buddhism, Confucianism, and Taoism with nine palaces and eighteen temples, among which the Baolun Temple is a must-visit Buddhist temple on your travel to Chongqing Ciqikou. Also named Longyin Temple, it was once a shelter for Emperor Jianwen. Facing the Jialing River with Baiyan Mountain in the back, this old temple in Chongqing Ciqikou boasts exquisite double-eaved wooden architecture and serene lanes.
3. Appreciate the Night View of the Stilted Buildings
On the Back Street of Ciqikou Ancient Town, there is a Diaojiaolou Square where you can see well-arranged stilted buildings with traditional Bayu architecture. When the night falls, the buildings give a visual feast with lights turned on and lanterns shining. What’s more, there will be performances in the center of the square, taking you back to the past. Besides, you can visit a tea house there, taste the Baba tea, and immerse yourself in the charm of this ancient town in Chongqing.
4. Visit the Chongqing Memory Museum
As its name indicates, the museum in Ciqikou Ancient Town bears a memory of Chongqing’s past. It exhibits many micro landscape models of stilted buildings, hotpots, tea houses, and other icons of the city, through which you can learn Chongqing’s culture intuitively. Besides, it displays folk activities like music performances, paper cutting, dough figures making, and so on. It’s not only a historical heritage of Ciqikou Ancient Town in Chongqing but also a window for people to see the old Chongqing.
5. Taste the Delicious Food in Ciqikou
One of the top things to do in Chongqing, Ciqikou is also a paradise for foodies. Don’t hesitate to try the local delicacies on your Chongqing tour of Ciqikou Ancient Town. The Zhengjie Street and Hengjie Street house many restaurants for spicy hotpot, hot and sour rice noodles, Chongqing style boiled blood curd, and other specialties of Chongqing. Also, food stalls along the streets serve mashed potato with egg, cold rice cakes, fried dough twists, and more snacks that are mouthwatering. You may like Top 10 Food to Eat in Chongqing
6. Take a Riverside Stroll
Taking a leisure stroll along the Jialing River, the ancient stalls and shops, diverse specialties, bustling crowds and serene river create a stark contrast. The riverfront vendors offer various popular foods in Sichuan and Chongqing. Visitors are invited to sample the Chen Mahua pastries, hot pot, xiaomian noodles and many other snacks while enjoying the scenic views of the Jialing River. The riverfront also offers a respite with tea houses, traditional ear cleaning services, and Sichuan Opera. All these experiences during a riverside stroll embody the desired leisurely pace of travel.
Related reading: Top 15 Things to Do in Chongqing
Best Time to Visit Ciqikou Ancient Town
Ciqikou Ancient Town in Chongqing, China experiences a subtropical monsoon humid climate, with four distinctive seasons. Particularly, it has a hot summer and cold winter, which is not ideal for traveling. Hence, the best time to visit there is during spring and autumn when the weather is mild and the surroundings are pleasant.
You may like: Chongqing Weather & Best Time to Visit
How to Get to Ciqikou Ancient Town
Ciqikou Ancient Town is located in the Shapingba District of Chongqing, and below are practical ways for you to get there.
By Rail Transit: Take Chongqing Rail Transit Line 1 to Ciqikou Station, and exit from exit 1. Walk for 5 minutes and then you’ll be in the ancient town.
By Bus: Many buses take you to the Ciqikou Ancient Town with CNY 2, such as Bus No. 101, 105, 202, 220, 261, 467, 808, etc.
By Taxi: You can also take a taxi from any part of Chongqing to the ancient town, and the starting price will be CNY 10.
If you find yourself in other cities in China like Beijing, Shanghai, and Chengdu, you need to get to Chongqing first by flight or high-speed train and then visit Ciqikou Ancient Town by the transportation above.
Attractions Nearby Ciqikou Ancient Town
- Geleshan National Forest Park: Located 7km from Ciqikou Ancient Town, this forest park is a popular tourist attraction with stunning views of mountains and lakes. Besides, it is also a place for sports and conference services.
- Ancient Bashu Architecture Museum: Located in Shapingba District near Ciqikou Ancient Town, the Ancient Bashu Architecture Museum has over 1,000 collections of excavated carvings, paintings, inlaid porcelains, and more.
- Three Gorges Museum: Built in 1951, this comprehensive museum near Ciqikou Ancient Town boasts exhibition sections with different themes of the Three Gorges, archaeological excavations, valuable porcelain, and more, showing a window to see the history of Three Gorges and Bayu culture. It is also a must-visit attraction on your Yangtze Cruise tours, and you can head there after you visit Ciqikou Ancient Town.
