The highly-anticipated construction of Shibati Old Street in Chongqing is now in full swing. People are eagerly looking forward to its conservation, renovation, and construction to be completed as soon as possible. Meanwhile, people are also full of curiosity about what on earth it has to offer.
Eighteen scenic spots will be made to recreate the historic sites in the traditional style area of Shibati Old Street, according to the first-hand news obtained from Hangzhou Xintiandi Group, the central construction unit of Shibati Old Street traditional style area project, on June 10.
Relying on the old street's tradition, immigrant elements, commercial and civic culture, most scenic spots are dotted with historical sites, or these scenic spots can be traced back to a historical allusion, a much-told tale. What exactly do the 18 scenic spots look like? Let's catch a glimpse here and there.
Moon and Ficus Virens
The design drawing of the Moon and Ficus Virens.
Yuetaiba area is one of the best places to enjoy the panoramic view of the mid-mountain. In particular, it is the best time to visit Chongqing, and a city boasts mountains and rivers when the moon is bright in the sky on an autumn night.
Ancient Well
The design drawing of the Ancient Well
In the late Southern Song Dynasty (1127-1279), along Shibati Old Street, there were official roads, and the water from one wayside well tasted sweet. Thus this well became a drinking water source for nearby residents. It is said the well is located at the eighteenth stone staircase. This is also why the old street was named for.
Night Lanterns
The design drawing of the Night Lanterns
According to the Ba County Annals, the residents living in Taishanfang in Shibati Old Street were devout believers in Buddhism, so each household would raise money and donate oil to light lanterns, which would provide convenience to pedestrians every night.
Site of the Great Bombing
Site of the Great Bombing
The air-raid shelter is a historical and cultural heritage of the Anti-Japanese War with local characteristics of Chongqing and an important carrier to arouse people's attention to the history, culture, and city memory.
Xiangshui Bridge and Teahouses
The design drawing of the Xiangshui Bridge and Teahouses.
Xiangshui Bridge (literally means babbling river) is one of the eight bridges in Chongqing. It gets its name from the sound of running water under the bridge. It used to be the most bustling market in old Chongqing, with numerous teahouses and restaurants. This scenic spot intends to restore the atmosphere of the old teahouse in east Sichuan, and integrate the traditional opera performance in the teahouse, hoping to create a new experience featuring vision, hearing, and taste. With the unique exhibition, it will present the authentic experience area of tea culture in Chongqing.
Notably, the Mountain City Memory Museum among the 18 scenic spots has officially opened to the public.
The museum has four floors, displaying a large number of precious books, films, and videos about old Chongqing. The exhibition hall adopts high-tech technologies such as wireless centralized control, immersive 3D projection, splice liquid crystal display, and dreamlike starry sky, which are combined with real 3D models to re-present the memory of the old city to the public. The museum is located at the north entrance of Shibati Old Street traditional style area.