Located on the banks of the Jialing River in Shapingba District, Chongqing, Ciqikou Ancient Town was first built during the Song Dynasty. Covering an area of 1.5 square kilometers, it borders the Jialing River to the east, Shapingba to the south, Tongjiaqiao to the west, and Shijingpo to the north. Just 3 kilometers from the city center, it is a key traditional street protected by Chongqing that has survived millennia of change.Ciqikou Ancient Town features a unique landscape of "one river, two streams, three mountains, and four streets." Ma’an Mountain stands at its center, Jinbi Mountain to its left, and Fenghuang Mountain to its right—three peaks gazing at one another with two deep valleys cutting through. The twin streams of Fenghuang and Qingshui meander around, while the Jialing River flows in from the north, broad and calm, forming a natural waterway haven. Once a vital land-and-water port along the Jialing, it thrived with the bustle of “thousands of hands greeting by day, and tens of thousands of lanterns glowing by night,” earning the nickname “Little Chongqing.” It’s a perfect spot to relive the old charm of the city.
If you have the chance to visit Chongqing, don’t miss this ancient town teeming with delicious food.