Qijiang is like a brilliant pearl inlaid on the border of Chongqing and Guizhou. It is the home to China’s largest Ficus virens group, witnessed the production of China’s first auto transmission, and settles the largest coal industry base in Southwest China.
Qijiang is also a land of fertile soil with profound and deep cultural deposits and hometown to world-renown farmers’ prints. It has the best-preserved historical site of Liao People and the station of the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea.
Intangible cultural heritages
Qijiang farmers’ prints are well-known around the world, and Qijiang is also called the hometown of farmers’ prints. As the name card of Chongqing’s urban culture and intangible cultural heritage, Qijiang farmers’ prints have a time-honored history of over two thousand years. Since 1984, some Qijiang farmers’ prints have been brought to exhibitions and competitions in over ten countries, including the US, the UK, Canada, etc., and more than 600 pieces of works have been collected by the National Museum of China as well as individuals.
Qijiang boasts a long history and rich cultural deposits, and the farmers’ prints are only a small part of its abundant cultural relics. As cultural symbols, folk music, dance, opera, fine arts, manual skills, and customs of Qijiang, after several generations’ changes and inheritance, have all showed up prominently. Among them, Hengshan kunci (a traditional folk music type integrating blowing, beating, and singing), Shihao Yang Drama, Qijiang folk song, and others have been selected as the municipal intangible cultural heritages. Specifically, Yongcheng Chuida (or Suona Art), a much-liked and best-received treasure of folk art, has been listed in the national-level intangible cultural heritage.
Beautiful scenic areas
To attract tourists to take Qijiang as a destination instead of passing by and traveling, Qijiang District is planning preferred tour projects with good stories, beautiful scenery, and enjoyable facilities, hoping that tourists from around the world will flood in and forget to leave for its impressive charm.
Gujian Mountain highlights the core concept of “sports experience” in building a national-level leisure and fitness industry demonstration base and national-level tourist resort; Dongxi Ancient Town centers on the theme of immigrant culture when constructing an ancient town tourism brand nationwide; Laoying Mountain underlines science popularization to build a multifunctional theme amusement park. At present, Qijiang has succeeded in creating the two 4A scenic areas of Gujian Mountain and Laoying Mountain, Dongxi Ancient Town, a state-level historical and cultural town, two municipal resort areas, and one national geopark.
Delicacies
Beef jerky with five spices, beef fillet stir-fried with double chili, stir-fried sirloin–In addition to the dishes with inviting names, Qijiang-originated “LaoSiChuan” beef jerky series are also delicious with endless aftertastes. The “LaoSiChuan” beef jerky, popular around China, is made by Chongqing Jinxing Co., Ltd., which was established in the 1930s. The old plant was located in Qijiang District. Eighty more years have passed, the plant has developed from a small stall into a famous brand, continuing to attract customers with its unique flavor.
The highly-seasoned spicy fish, appetizing fish with pickled Chinese cabbage, and sweetish fish boiled with tomatoes–The three flavors of Beidu Fish seem to reveal the vicissitudes of life, and it is a must-try dish if you want to taste Qijiang’s authentic food. Moreover, Anwen mutton, “Fanzaoyang” chili sauce, Ganshui “Caodou” radish, Hengshan tribute rice, Shihao waxy corn are also delightful for the taste buds and with wide reputation.