By Xinyi Li, EDITOR

Shibati or Eighteen Stairs Old Street has always been a unique symbol of Chongqing's  mountain city culture. Since its construction, it has received much attention. The first-opened zone("the Area with Traditional Features", approximately 5,000 square meters and accounting for 1/16 of the entire grounds, completed construction a few days ago. 

The birds-eye view of Shibati from Jiaochangkou

Five groups of buildings with traditional features of Eastern Sichuan

There are five groups of traditional Eastern Sichuan buildings in the first-opened zone. Following the shape of the terrain, the structures sprawl out on both sides of the main road in a way pleasing to the eye. Furthermore, the rise upward also corresponds to zigzag street.

The traditional architectural style of Shibati

Based on dressed stones, most are built by black and red bricks, bamboo and whitewashed walls, as well as wooden attics covered with gray tiles. According to on-site construction officials, the first-opened zone has reproduced the space of Shibati Old Street. Meanwhile, these buildings, with the features of Bayu traditional architecture, also unfolds the different architectural periods that the street has seen through the years. These old buildings have the power to take visitors back to the older times.

The stilted building of Shibati

Additionally, the air-raid shelter near the first-opened area is also being restoration and will serve as a memorial museum for the bombing of Chongqing on June 5, 1941.

Stairs there

Both old stairs and Huangge trees are still there

The 18 stone steps from the dwelling place of the inhabitants is how the street gained its name. Moreover, these old stairs and the Huangge tree encircled by one person still standing there.

Amazing viewings along with stairs

The old poles and street lamps remain as well. During the process of renovation, there was no damage to or change in the original position where the tree sits. Instead, it has obtained more growing space.

One corner of Shibati

According to officials familiar with the renovation, the salt merchant’s hall near the first-opened zone will also begin the protective renovation. It emerged earlier than the above buildings in the 1950s.

Stairs there are wooden

Three functional zones with distinctive characteristics

Starting construction in May 2017, the Area with Traditional Features covers an area of 170,000 square meters, including 90,000 underground and 80,000 aboveground.

Old trees and the street lamp

The area consists of three functional zones. Centered on traditional buildings of Eastern Sichuan, and the stilted buildings of Chongqing, the first-opened zone will shift the focus to leisure industries such as culture, home stays, and catering. In this way, tourists can experience a deeper, more historical understanding of Chongqing.

The first zone will not be open to the public at present, although the project is suspected to be complete and open to the public by 2021.

Green plants near the window

Source: Chongqing Evening News