Ciqikou, Chongqing

Ciqikou(Chinese:Từ khí khẩu;pinyin:Cíqìkǒu;lit.'Porcelain Port') is asubdistrictin theShapingba DistrictofChongqingMunicipality, People's Republic of China.It was originally calledLongyin Town(simplified Chinese:Long ẩn trấn;traditional Chinese:Long ẩn trấn;pinyin:Lóngyǐn zhèn) and was also known asLittle Chongqing.

A tea house in Ciqikou

Ciqikou Dough twist shop

Ciqikou Zhang Fei beef jerky

According to an old Chinese proverb: "One flagstone road, and one thousand years' Ciqikou".The name of the town can be traced back to porcelain production during theMing(1368–1644) andQingdynasties.Formerly a busy port located at the lower reaches of theJialing River,a thousand years after its foundation the town remains a symbol and microcosm of old Chongqing (Jiang Zhou).

Location

Ciqikou crowded with people

Ciqikou is located on the west bank of theJialing Riverand covers an area of 1.18 km²(0.46 sq mi). Three mountains,Mount Jingbi,Mount FenghuangandMount Ma'anlie in Ciqikou, whilstFenghuang QuanandQinshui Quanrun across it. The geography of Ciqikou is considered to have perfectFengshuiby the local people.

History

According to historical records, Ciqikou was first built during the reign ofEmperor Zhenzong of Song(r. 998–1004).It gained prominence during the Ming dynasty as a commercial port and market town, shipping goods both by land and water. Reaching its climax during the end of the Qing dynasty, the town has been described poetically, in Ciqikou, as "one thousand people greet each other during day... ten thousand lamps flicker at night".

Ciqikou today

Travelers to Chongqing and locals alike throng to Ciqikou's steep and narrow pedestrian streets. Shops sellporcelain,other handicrafts, and gifts, while restaurants and tea shops give visitors a look at what many areas of Chongqing were like before the metropolis became the vast urban agglomeration it is today. A 1,500-year-oldBuddhisttemple straddles the mountain in the middle of the old town.

Ciqikou is the source ofBaci culture.Many well-known people lived here during theSecond Sino-Japanese War,includingGuo Moruo,Xu Beihong,Feng Zikai,Fu Baoshi,Ba Jin,Bing Xin,etc.Ding Zhaozhong,a Chinese-born American scientist, studied here for many years during his childhood.

Customs

The ancient town abounds in customs, many of which have lasted till now. These includebaibazi,xingbang,family's ancestral temple,Pao Brother,temple fair,dragon dance,dragon boat race,friends of Sichuan opera,chuntai dramaas well aspingshuandteahouseculture.

Food

Tim Hortonsin Ciqikou

Chongqing is known for its wide variety of local food traditions, especially the ubiquitous, spicy "hotpot";while Ciqikou is one of the best-known places in Chongqing.Jiaoyan Peanut,Maoxuewang,andQianzhangpi,called thethree treasures of Ciqikou,as well asDouban fish,are the most popular.

Landmarks

• Compound of Zhong's(pinyin:zhōng jiā yuàn)

This compound is more than 120 years old. It was built by a late Qing dynasty eunuch by the name of Zhong Yunting (Chung vân đình;Zhōng Yúntíng), who served on the staff of the notoriousEmpress Dowager Cixiof theQing dynasty.Traditional Chinese architectural designs used in both the North and the South are featured in this heritage compound.

• Bayu Dwellings Collection(Ba du cư dân quán;bāyú jūmínguǎn)

Visitors walking into the hall and courtyard—and across the separation of time and space—of Bayu Dwellings, built of timber, stone and brick, experience an unmistakable sense of peace.

• Bao Lun Buddhist Temple(Bảo luân tự;Bǎolún sì)

TheJianwen Emperorof theMing dynastyspent the rest of his life living at this temple after he was ousted from Beijing and went into exile. The four large Chinese characters "Đại hùng bảo điện"(dà xióng bǎo diàn) hanging on this temple were written by Zhao Puchu (Triệu phác sơ;Zhào Pǔchū), a famous Chinese calligrapher who served as the president of China's Buddhist Society. The main building at the temple was built 600 years ago during the Ming dynasty and is characterized by its splendor. The whole building was constructed without using a single nail and is regarded as a miracle in China's architectural history. Buddhist believers flock to this temple to pray and undertake other Buddhist activities year in year out, particularly during China'sSpring Festival.

• Han Lin Academy(Hàn lâm học viện;hàn lín xué yuàn)

The Han Lin Academy in Ciqikou used to be a school, operated by a sun family during the Qing dynasty. The family's offspring studied there, and three of them, including two other students, were awarded the Qing dynasty regime in recognition of their outstanding performance in a national examination organized by the Qing dynasty's Ministry of Education. In large part due to this reputation, the Han Lin Academy in Ciqikou brought together many local academics and students at the time.

See also

• Ciqikou Station (Chongqing)