Spring Walk: Xiahao Old Street, Chongqing

Xiahao Old Street is located in Nan'an District, Chongqing, near Nanbin Road. It faces the Yangtze River, backs onto Nanshan Mountain, and is across the river from the scenic Yuzhong District. It is one of the three main areas in Chongqing where stilted buildings are concentrated. In the spring of the first year of the Jiache era of the Northern Song Dynasty, the great writer Su Shi passed through Chongqing on his way to take the imperial examination. He was amazed by the dragon-like boulders in the Yangtze River and named the village on the riverbank Longmenhao. During the Shaoxing era of the Southern Song Dynasty, the waterway of Longmenhao was smooth, and the place names of Shanglongmenhao and Xialongmenhao gradually emerged. Xialongmenhao is today's Xiahao Old Street. The old street still retains historical buildings such as the former site of the French Yongxing Foreign Firm, the former site of Wuchang Zhonghua University, and the Wen Family Courtyard. Today, Xiahao Old Street has been rebuilt according to the four principles of "original site, original construction, original area, original height, and original appearance." It has become the last piece of pure land in Chongqing that has not been covered by reinforced concrete buildings. 📍Detailed address: Northeast corner of the intersection of Nanbin Road and Dongshuimen Yangtze River Bridge, Nan'an District 🕙Opening hours: 24 hours 🚉Transportation: Take Metro Line 6 to Shangxin Street Station, Exit 1, or take Bus 346 to Shangxin Street Station. ⏳Duration: 2–3 hours 💰Ticket price: Free ❤Recommended reason: An authentic old street that truly reflects the ups and downs of old Chongqing. 🌟Highlights: National Geographic magazine calls it "another world" and "a specimen of Chongqing." 📝Tips: 1. There are many small roads, so it's easy to get lost. 2. The roads are steep and narrow, so be careful and walk slowly. 3. The street is beautiful both day and night, and both are worth experiencing. 4. Shangxin Street Station is a treasure trove. Exit 1 is Xiahao Old Street, Exit 2 is Longmenhao Old Street (you can go to the Socialist Academy at night to take photos like those in La La Land), and Exit 4 is the starting point of the Qingshuixi Trail (a beautiful path up Nanshan Mountain).