Design sketch of the river bank after reconstruction

Picture of the river bank in reconstruction

CHONGQING (CQNEWS) -- Ciqikou will have new facilities within this year. It was heard from Shapingba District that it is building Shaci Culture Industrial Park, which is focused on Ciqikou and 4.5 square kilometers in total area. As the key node of Shaci Culture Industrial Park, Ciqikou Wharf is planned to be finished with riverbank scenery and traditional buildings.

Reappearance of the ancient wharf from the period of Ming and Qing Dynasties

Ciqikou Wharf is the ancient wharf of urban Chongqing, and regarded as the “last memory of Chongqing” together with Jiefangbei, Tongyuan Gate and Linjiangmen.

In the late Qing Dynasty and the early Republic of China, Ciqikou Wharf was a wetland wharf, with developed waterborne transportation. After many years, it cannot be integrated with Ciqikou Ancient Town, so it needs to be renovated. This is not only for building urban scenery but for digging and preserving “the culture of wharf”.

How to reconstruct and renovate it? Tsinghua Design Team has been entrusted to make a special analysis of it and find out the local characteristics. The Team traced the source of the Ancient Wharf, found old photos of Ciqikou Wharf and researched historical materials, so as to show the wharf with landscape design and reconstruct the ancient wharf from the period of the Ming and Qing Dynasties.

Platform for viewing Chuanjiang Haozi Rock Carving

What will we see at the Ciqikou Wharf after renovation? It was said that tourists could enjoy the ancient Chongqing and ancient wharf. An outdoor square will serve as the “viewing deck,” measuring 45m wide and 75m long, for tourists to take a rest and view the river.

At the southeast side of the wharf, there will be an “outdoor theater” by virtue of the end-road area of the overpass. A wooden trestle of the same style as the wharf will run from the northwest side Fenghuangxi to Shuiguanyin.

There is an altitude difference between the outdoor square and the facade connection. From the outdoor square, tourists will be able to view the Chuanjiang Haozi Rock Carving, which shows the vivid scene of the Water Wharf of the past. The local part of handrails is designed with the guard bars which are similar to a stilted building, and connects with the wooden platform. Seeing from the distance, it will look like the stilted building.

Currently, Ciqikou Wharf is under construction, and it is planned to open by the end of 2017. Hopefully it will be included in the route of the Yangtze River & Jialing River Cruises. (Translated by Liu Hongyan, Fathom Language Limited)