CHONGQING (CQNEWS) -- Climbing hills and steps is a part of the everyday life of Chongqing people but a little tiring. However, “Shiguangli” Zaozilanya Footpath in Yuzhong District makes it like a “time machine”, full of novelty and pleasure.

“Hi, can you take a picture for us? Thanks!” In the morning of January 28, a reporter from Chongqing Daily came to “Shiguangli” Zaozilanya Footpath. Viewed from the bottom of the footpath steps looking upwards, the sides of the steps are set with beautiful collages of colored tiles. Shortly after walking up the footpath, the reporter was asked by five people who were visiting to act as a photographer for them.

“Here, sit apart along the steps and don’t block the track pattern!” Chen Hongyan, a retired citizen, was the leader of the tour, directing her four companions to sit apart on the steps of the footpath, posing for photos and recording short videos with the painted backdrop of the steps, and sharing them on social media platforms.

After taking photos, they started chatting with the reporter again. It turns out that the five of them who are neighbors in the same community, set off early in the morning from Dashiba in Jiangbei District, took a bus to Qixinggang, then descended from the entrance to the footpath next to Mingshicheng Community to “Shiguangli” Zaozilanya Footpath, choosing the best location to take a picture. The leader, Chen Hongyan, was satisfied with the visit. She said that she had cancer more than ten years ago, but has been optimistic about her treatment. Visiting around with her friends is her greatest hobby. “The footpath is truly beautiful and worth the trip to leave a ‘footprint’!”

Walking along the footpath, the reporter experienced what Chen Hongyan had said: Elements of Chongqing such as the winding rail transit, the aerial cableway across the river and the towering Jiefangbei gradually come into view during the climb. On the wall to the left are four of the most popular items of the 1970s, including sewing machines, Shancheng Watches, bicycles and radios, which are tiled to tell the story of Chongqing’s past. The walk is so interesting that the fatigue of the climb is long forgotten.

For this reason, “Shiguangli” Zaozilanya Footpath has become a popular place for the public and tourists to visit since it was renovated in 2019. The reporter noticed that passers-by and residents were very cooperative during the tour, taking the initiative to make room for those taking photographs. The atmosphere on the footpath was very harmonious.

“When the weather is good, at least a dozen groups of people visit here every day.” A resident walking his dog on the footpath told the reporter that since the renovation of “Shiguangli” Zaozilanya Footpath was completed, there has been a steady stream of people coming to take photographs. There are even tourists with suitcases who come to take photos before checking into their hotels.

However, the footpath used to be less than attractive. The reporter learned that it was very inconvenient for residents to get around because of the broken steps, missing greenery and poor street lighting before the renovation. In November 2019, renovation work on the footpath was initiated and completed in December of the same year.

According to Yuzhong Committee on Housing, Building and Planning, with the theme of tapping into Chongqing’s regional culture, reviving the functions of the neighborhood and showing the changes of the times, Zaozilanya Footpath incorporates elements of the times between the 1970s and 2000 into its design, evoking the memories of the public and giving visitors a better understanding of Chongqing.

Visiting guide

Rail transit: Take Rail Transit Line 1 to Qixinggang Station, exit at Exit 1, walk towards Chongqing General Hospital (Zhongshan Hospital) for about 600 meters to the gate of Mingshicheng Community, then go down from the sign of “Shiguangli” Zaozilanya. (Translated by Wang Huixin, Fathom Language Limited)