Tsycikou Old Town – Chongqing Porcelain Harbour

Tsitsikou: 1700 years near the water, where porcelain gave way to legends

This is not just an ancient street, but a multi-layered history where each era has left its mark. The history of Tsytsikou dates back more than 1,700 years - there was a fortress of the Three Kingdoms era, and later the fugitive emperor hid in local temples, giving the settlement the name "City of the Hiding Dragon".

During the Ming and Qing eras, this place became a real porcelain harbour: more than 70 workshops produced ceramics, and hundreds of ships moored in the port, carrying fragile cargo down Jialingjiang and Yangtze. Today, in the same alleys where porcelain was once packed in straw, spices and fresh tofu cheese are sold, and locals sit on the time-polished steps.

Tsychikou is a journey through time, where you can see how the military fortress became a harbor, the harbor became a legend, and the legend is home to those who keep the memory of these places. Touch the city, which has witnessed the change of dynasties and economic upswings, becoming a living chronicle of Chongqing.

We will walk with you through stone steps that remember the heaviness of boxes of porcelain, plunge into the atmosphere of the ancient port near the water and see where coffee is brewed and spices are sold in old workshops today. You will see how before your eyes the stories of merchants, artisans and ordinary residents who have created the character of this place for centuries will come to life.

Programme

A gateway to the past: Main street.
Our walk will start from the main street of the ancient city. We will walk along stone slabs that remember the steps of merchants, past the carved wooden facades of the Qing era.

Refuge of the Dragon: Baolunsa Temple.
We will visit the temple, inextricably linked to the fate of Emperor Zhu Yunwen. In the silence of its courtyards, you will hear the story of how the Buddhist abode became a refuge for the deposed ruler.

Behind the scenes of taste: Craft workshops.
We will walk through the streets, where not just sell, but give birth to the famous tastes of Chongqing. You will see how to manually roll noodles, smelt fragrant hotpot dressings and cook tofu - a real cooking show unfolding right before your eyes.

The magic of the Sichuan scene: Tea ceremony and opera.
In a traditional tea house, you will get acquainted with Chinese tea culture and an exciting show of Sichuan opera with the mysterious art of changing the masks of Bianlian.

Farewell to the harbor: Jialingjiang Quay.
The culmination of our excursion will be access to the embankment of the Jialingjiang River. Here, looking at the waters that carried porcelain into the big world, we will summarize the results of the trip.

The Back Path: Courtyards and Legends.
Return we will not be the same road, but quiet alleys, where tourists rarely look. Here you will see how the real owners of these places live – local artisans and old-timers, whose leisurely way of life preserves the soul of old Tsychikou.

• escort of the guide-guide.

The price does not include the price of entrance tickets to the tea house, as well as transportation costs (taxi, subway).

Meals on the route are organized as necessary, paid separately.