Yanzi Hotel 

1st Print Factory

The view of Caiyuanba Yangtze River Bridge from the footpath

Yanziyan Footpath used to be a convenient passage from Caiyuanba to Qixinggang

Yanziyan Footpath on the mountainside

Zou Rong Park with the winding road

CHONGQING (CQNEWS) -- During the May Day holiday, the reporter of Chongqing Evening News went to Yanziyan area. Although most residences in Yanziyan are surrounded by construction fences, a footpath hidden in Yanziyan is a key route for the travel of backpackers and residents nearby. This footpath starts from Pipashan Backstreet in Qixinggang to Caiyuanba. It was prosperous before and many stories and relics left on the footpath are worth listening to and visiting.

The farther you go, the quieter the environment will be

You can arrive at Yanziyan Old Street after walking along a lane next to the 1st Print Factory on Pipashan Backstreet.

Yanziyan, also known as Yanxi Cave in ancient times, is located at the Ridge of Pipa Mountain, between Guoyuan Park (Guo Xunqi’s Mansion) and the original airplane terminal at Shanhuba.

It is an old street that is easy to forget. Typical Chongqing residences are scattered on the mountainside, facing the Yangtze River. It is called one of the old streets with Chongqing features and Chongqing memory by nonlocal netizens.

It is less Yanziyan Old Street than a 2-meter-wide footpath on the ridge. The majority of residents in Yanziyan area have moved out. Construction fences separate the residences on the mountainside and the footpath. The farther you go, the quieter the environment will be.

Former key transportation route

According to the guide map of 10 years ago, this footpath was a slow moving system demonstration section built in Yuzhong District. It reached Coral Park from Daxigou Station. Along the footpath, you can walk from Pipashan Centre Street in Qixinggang to Nanqulu Park and then to Caiyuanba Railway Station.

“If you get stuck in a jam, you can also take a bus at Caiyuanba to Lianglukou and then to Qixinggang via Zhongshan 2nd Road or Pipashan Centre Street, which costs about the same time to walk through the footpath.” Chen Fuguo, an old resident living at Pipashan Centre Street, said that although this recreational footpath is not very old, it has existed for several decades as a key transportation route for nearby residents, and the footpath is transformed on the basis of this key transportation route.

More young people go there

Because it is close to Caiyuanba Railway Station, most people who go in and out of the railway station shall pass through Yanziyan Old Street, and walk from Caiyuanba Railway Station to Qixinggang through the footpath and then to Jiefangbei, so Yanziyan used to be a busy area.

Chen Fuguo said that speaking of Yanziyan before, Shizhong District (now Yuzhong District) could be said to be known to all. “Since about 2000, Yanziyan has become less busy. Nowadays, most people walking on the footpath are those who live in Qixinggang and work in Caiyuanba. In the past two years, and more young people visit the footpath on holidays.”

According to Chen’s instructions, the reporter walked through Yanziyan Old Street and then arrived at Nanqulu Park in less than 20 minutes through the footpath. The footpath is located on the mountainside, surrounded by green trees. Nanqu Road is on the foot of the footpath where you can overlook the Yangtze River.

Zou Rong Park with the winding road

In addition to the place that condenses the memory of Chongqing, you can also visit other historical places on Yanziyan Old Street. For example, Guoyuan Park in 1st Print Factory and Yanzi Hotel at the center of Yanziyan Old Street.

Yanzi Hotel has a history of nearly 40 years. Strangers who have struggled in Caiyuanba with better economic conditions would stay here. In the 1980s, it was one of the most fashionable hotels in Shizhong District. In recent years, Yanziyan is no longer busy, but the Yanzi Hotel has been known to many visitors. Although the door of the hotel is tightly fastened and dark, the four Chinese characters “Yanzi Hotel” in front of the door are still clearly visible. The mosaics of several swallows on the walls behind the store sign are still spirited.

Another place for visiting is Zou Rong Martyr Monument in Nanqulu Park. It is a park built for the monument, which is combined with the winding road. After Chongqing being directly governed by the Central Government, Zou Rong Martyr Monument was included in the first batch of municipal cultural relic protection units. In 2005, the public suggested that, in view of Zou Rong Martyr Monument in Nanqulu Park, and the reconstruction project of Nanqu Road has been completed, the park could be renamed Zou Rong Park to build a patriotic education base and improve the popularity of Chongqing via historical figures. In August 2005, the original Municipal Bureau of Parks and Woods officially approved the Nanqulu Park renamed Zou Rong Park. (Translated by Mao Qiao, Fathom Language Limited)