CHONGQING (CQNEWS) -- An endless stream of vehicles is driving on the Haier Road, Jiangbei District, but few people pay attention to Cuntan Old Street on the west side of Cuntan Bridge. It was a place where must be passed for shipping from Yubei and other farther districts until the Cuntan Port Phase I was put into operation in 2006. However, everything there can arouse the memory of many Chongqing people. Although the street is desolate now, it will be built into a Bayu Style Area. Let's look forward to its return together.

Cuntan Ferry and Matou Old Street were the No.1 ferry in the southwest China and an image of Chongqing respectively. Mr. Zhang, 67, still remembers how busy it used to be. When he was young, he was willing to go shopping after walking half a day from Yuzui. He comes here to take a walk every day after moving to the neighborhood.

Cuntan Old Street is located at Haier Road, Jiangbei District, and close to the intersection of the Yangtze River and Xiaojia River. Compared with the Cuntan Yangtze River Bridge on the east and Cuntan Free Trade Port on the west, Cuntan Old Street is quiet and lonely. It is like a tangled ficus virens, with silent but meaningful features.

Most residents in Cuntan Old Street have moved out, as a result, the bluestone road in the lane is covered with moss. You can also feel the unique summer of Chongqing under the sunshine.

Next to the street, the Zhishan Bridge, built during the period of Emperor Daoguang of the Qing Dynasty, has been listed as a key cultural relic in Jiangbei District. Due to more than 140 years old, the bridge has partially collapsed at both ends of the bridge. Few people walk on the bridge and weeds cover the bridge deck, which shows the trace of history.

Compared with the prosperous areas, it looks simple and crude with old brick houses, old wires and the rusty door locks. But some people looking for the relics of old Chongqing are still attracted by it.

Most residents have moved out and there are many empty houses. The quiet atmosphere is only broken by tourists who visit here for the old views. The cat seems to like the silent atmosphere, lying and sleeping on the chair and under the ficus virens.

This hotpot shop is no longer run by anybody. In Chongqing, where there are people, there is hotpot. Hotpot refers to the delicious food and lively gathering. We seem to be able to smell the taste of hot pot and see the scene of a group of people sitting around to eat hot pot and chat through the luxuriant flowers and plants and abandoned tables and chairs in the yard.

Cuntan Old Street is opposite to Yangrenjie which was relocated and will become a cultural industrial park. It’s planned to create a Bayu Style Area integrating traditional cultural experience, leisure, entertainment, and tourism in Cuntan Old Street. Once the plan is done, the core area of Cuntan Old Street will be twice as large as that of Ciqikou Ancient Town. At that time, we will see a new Cuntan Old Street. (Translated by Jiang Yuling, Fathom Language Limited)