There are many things to do all over Sichuan province in China. Heading to the panda base, eating copious amounts of spicy food or heading up the mountains to see the wonderful sights or snowcaps. Try a different angle, try visiting more places with a more historical foundation.
Guanyinge Old Tea House
It’s not a well-known thing to do, but something else besides all the tourist traps is to visit the Shuangliu district and experience both a local hotspot and a historical landscape. It is a protected heritage site because it is the oldest tea house, around 300 years old. The tea house has a floor area of around 300 square meters and has three awnings on two streets.
As the title suggests, the earthen stoves or tiger stoves, gaiwan tea bowls and copper kettles are the things that have been carried through time. The floors display the years of feet that have walked them through centuries.
It is one of the spots that locals in their 60s and 70s will still go to. They will wake up early in the morning and go to the tea house, boil their own water, make tea and sit and chat with friends and family. All of this can be done with one yuan or just twenty-three Jamaican dollars. You can follow the flow of the locals or go with the other Chinese tourists, drink tea, chat, relax and enjoy the atmosphere.
Xianshi Soy Sauce Base
Inspired by the Jiang Hanyuan Sauce Garden from the late Qing Dynasty, the Hejiang Xianshi Brewing Food Co. Ltd created its company to make soy sauce. Their signature product, Xianshi Soy Sauce, has been developed using ancient techniques. Located in Hejiang County, Luzhou City, it is one of the oldest and well-preserved of its kind.
They have fields set for sun exposure and dew fermentation for the Xianshi Soy Sauce. This historical and beautiful site has been open to the public since 2023, since the completion of their Chishui River Manor.
Xianshi soy sauce is made from Chishui River basin wheat and soybeans, Chishui River water and local well salt. The soy sauce is a healthy substitute for table salt; it doesn’t burn while cooking or form sediment while in storage, nor does it mould or spoil.
Once you are at the manor, you see the soy sauce fermenting in different stages and for different purposes; you might even see someone mixing the sauce. So, enjoy the view of the Chishui River, purchase soy sauce, vinegar, cooking wine, or even try their soy sauce-flavoured ice cream.
Bi Liufu Oil-paper umbrella Museum
This is a museum in Jiangyang District, Luzhou that displays the history of Fenshui oil-paper umbrellas, which is a national intangible cultural heritage. It is one of the sites that conserves the entire historical handmaking process.
The museum is in its sixth generation of craft, and to connect to a younger generation, it has developed close to a 1000 new designs to catch more attention. These patterns are usually either printed or hand- painted.
The umbrella uses locally sourced materials such as moso bamboo, water bamboo, yantong wood, bark paper and tung oil. They use these materials and take the 96 meticulous steps to make their umbrellas to ensure they can last for the next 100 years.
When you go to the museum, you will see different pieces throughout time; you will even be able to see some of the artisans in multiple places during different stages of the umbrella production process. At the end, you can go home with your own handmade umbrella!
Lizhuang Ancient City
On the south bank of the Yangtze River and a half an hour drive from downtown Yibin, is the first ancient town of the Yangtze River. This city is a National Historical and Cultural Heritage Town with a history of more than 1000 years. Forty-seven thousand residents currently live in the town.
The town still has the original layout of the streets and lanes from when it was built during the Ming and Qing dynasties. A total of 18 alleyways are well preserved with their wooden structures and green slab stones. Many famous schools, like Tongji University, were located here during World War 2, with the university’s scholars relocated as well, like husband and wife Sicheng Liang and Huiyin Lin, who are architecture experts. Today, the Society for the Study of Chinese Architecture is located in the residence of the couple.
The alleyways are winding, and it’s easy to get lost, so be careful, but you will be able to find many cute and interesting trinket and snack shops. When you’re tired of exploring the city, you can take a walk along the Yangtze River or take a boat ride, watch ducks, look at the water lilies and relax.
You might not be able to visit all these places in one trip, but that could be another reason for another trip! While it may be a bit difficult to fully understand the tours and environment if you don’t understand Mandarin, if you are willing to go outside your comfort zone, you will have an amazing and interesting experience.
Comments