Image | Zhang Kunkun

There is a subtle balance between internet celebrity and independent temperament in Daijiaxiang.

If the brilliant colors of Hongya Cave were built with exquisite architecture, Daijia Lane gradually grew up. In the superposition and coverage of countless constructions, each one conforms to a different era of life.

The original imprints naturally remain, while the new traces flourish and grow, giving rise to the wonderful existence of Daijiaxiang today.

Most of the ancient city walls in Chongqing are built on cliffs, and the most dangerous one is undoubtedly this section. The mountain shape of Daijiaxiang, with a section of city wall built, is easy to defend but difficult to attack, which was also the theme of the city at that time.

In the fourth year of Ming Hongwu, which is 1371 AD, the city wall of Daijiaxiang was first built.

Commander Dai Ding of Chongqing Prefecture built a large-scale stone city on the basis of the old city in the Song Dynasty, forming a pattern of nine open, eight closed, and seventeen city gates. It was later commonly referred to as' Chongqing City '.

Before the renovation of Daijiaxiang scenic spot, the photo was taken in September 2019 and provided by the Cultural and Tourism Commission of Yuzhong District

Nearly three hundred years later, Zhang Xianzhong and his remaining troops, as well as the Ming and Qing armies, repeatedly fought and attacked, causing severe damage to the city walls. In the second year of Kangxi's reign, 1663 AD, Sichuan Governor General Li Guoying ordered the construction of the city walls. During this period, this place was named after many people surnamed Dai who lived here.

Later, during the reigns of Qianlong, Xianfeng, and Tongzhi, several repairs were made to the old city walls, and a Qiansi Gate was opened next to Daijia Lane. The name comes from "Fu Tian" in the Book of Songs, "I pray for a thousand grain granaries, a box of ten thousand grain granaries, millet and rice beams, a celebration for farmers," praying for a bountiful harvest to fill the granaries. Afterwards, this gate indeed brought in cotton and grain from the people, which will be discussed later.

In the first half of 1927, Pan Wenhua, the first mayor of Chongqing, presided over the establishment of the New City Management Bureau to expand Chongqing's urban space, carry out urban expansion and municipal construction. Unfortunately, the old Chongqing city wall was broken, but the section of Dongshuimen survived.

Before the renovation of Daijiaxiang block, the photo was taken in October 2019 and provided by the Cultural and Tourism Commission of Yuzhong District

After decades of construction following the liberation, the city walls of the Central Plains mother city disappeared from the bustling city, and almost no one cared about their existence. It was not until the demolition began in 2012 that more and more city wall foundations gradually emerged.

Since its inception, history has suddenly turned around, exactly 650 years ago.

Previously slow, the city walls were built slowly.

Shicheng is ten zhang long, surrounded by the river as a pond. It has been carried by the shoulders and hands for decades. There is no riverside road, no raised or widened riverbank, and no gentle slope of the riverbank under Daijia Lane. Only squeaking and creaking can one climb up the danger. What kind of wonder is that?

Daijiaxiang Cliff Stack Road, photographed in September 2019, provided by the Cultural and Tourism Commission of Yuzhong District

The Shu Road is difficult.

So bumpy, why build a trail?

At the bottom of the trail, there used to be a famous salt dock.

Chongqing is one of the birthplaces of ancient salt industry in China, and the salt industry is also extremely developed. Due to its significant impact on people's livelihoods and high economic value, the salt industry has been highly valued by rulers since ancient times. In ancient times, smuggling salt involved huge amounts of money and required killing.

Before the renovation of the cliff cliff boardwalk at Daijiaxiang scenic spot, the photo was taken in September 2019 and provided by the Cultural and Tourism Commission of Yuzhong District

The Salt Wharf is closely related to people's livelihood and needs to be specially established. It requires a smooth waterway and easy access for strict inspections. Therefore, the site is located near the Zhenjiang Temple River under Hongyadong, at the lower end of the old trail in Daijia Lane, directly adjacent to this wharf.

All the salt transported by the salt dock is official salt. Salt ships are transported to the dock for inspection by specialized officials. Until the establishment of New China, the Salt Industry Group was also stationed here.

Adjacent to the Salt Wharf and Dongjiazui Wharf, they also rely on this trail to transport goods into Chongqing city. The nursery rhyme of the Republic of China sings "Qiansimen, Huabaozi, Snow White as Silver". There are grain and cotton at Dongjiazui Port, and they are unloaded and stored at this gate. The "Huabaozi" packaged with cotton is as white as clouds, fulfilling the wish of naming it "Qiansi Warehouse, Wansi Box".

Daijiaxiang Old Street, photographed in September 2019, provided by the Cultural and Tourism Commission of Yuzhong District

In fact, in old Chongqing, those who had docks had commerce. This area used to be one of the busiest areas in Chongqing.

Although the trail is steep, it is close to the core area. The porters in the old city are great at conquering the trails.

More than a hundred years ago, the Monument to the people's Liberation was already the center. And the northern part of old Chongqing city has always been bustling with prosperity. In addition, Daijia Lane is adjacent to Dongjiazui Wharf and Salt Wharf on the Jialing River, and the salt transportation industry has abundant wealth. Small vendors in the surrounding area follow suit to make a living, with a wide range of goods including mountain goods, Guangzhou goods, Jiangsu goods, and miscellaneous goods. It can be called a golden port for small vendors and was one of the most prosperous areas in Chongqing in the past.

Image | Zhang Kunkun

Objectively speaking, the geometric advantage of Daijiaxiang's location is really great.

Close to Monument to the people's Liberation and the iconic Cathay Pacific Cinema, and within walking distance of Monument to the people's Liberation, the economic center of Chongqing, most of the existing buildings were built in 70-90 last century. After the founding of New China, various units and departments, such as the United Front Work Department of the Municipal Party Committee, transportation companies, salt companies, and shipping companies have been established here.

But the advantage of location is always accompanied by comprehensive evaluation of transportation. In fact, 50 years ago, the effect of Daijiaxiang was already declining.

Before the renovation of Daijiaxiang block, the photo was taken in October 2019 and provided by the Cultural and Tourism Commission of Yuzhong District

The function of ancient city walls has disappeared completely, and the city has become convenient and accessible. Some docks have built cable cars, and buses and light rails have become increasingly popular. In the end, even "bang bang" has become rare, and small and medium-sized businesses have almost no dependence on waterways.

However, Daijiaxiang, which has been growing on cliffs for hundreds of years, cannot be fully reached by modern transportation. There are no outsiders on the Daijiaxiang Trail except for residents.

Before the renovation of Daijiaxiang block, the photo was taken in October 2019 and provided by the Cultural and Tourism Commission of Yuzhong District

Daijia Lane is separated from the bustling commercial area by a wall, but the hustle and bustle of the city is difficult to spread. The streets and alleys in the area are narrow in scale, and commercial functions are gradually fading away. This cliff has gradually become overgrown with weeds, which was evaluated as "affecting the city's appearance" at that time. Moreover, due to the large height difference, even the transportation for residents up and down is very inconvenient, requiring a large detour from the mountain to the mountain. Residents who had some solutions gradually moved out of this place.

If the wall could speak, it could tell the story of its former grandeur and majesty. It could also tell the story of the bustling commercial ports of various countries, the steep cliffs beneath the wall, and the old gray brick buildings that once inhabited government officials in the early days of the founding of the People's Republic of China, as well as civilians in later times.

The feeling of the ever-changing world is nothing better than this.

Whether it's the golden port or the lonely old street, Daijia Lane is full of ups and downs, while the river flows through the ages and the mountains remain immortal.

Standing on a 60 meter high cliff, below is the rolling Jialing River. The steep cliffs form a natural barrier here, easy to defend but difficult to attack.

I used to see Daijia Lane on the other side, which was a small forest on a cliff, with only trees. Standing in Daijia Lane and looking out, through the branches and leaves of the trees, the scenery is unobstructed, allowing for a clear view of the river, water, boats, Qiansimen Bridge, and even Hongyadong.

Overlooking Daijia Lane from the opposite bank, the boxes on the cliff edge are for reference

This is a paradise on earth, invisible to those outside, with the whole world in front of those inside. Everything outside the trees passes through your entire world.

The prosperity and obscurity do not affect the scenery that Dai Jiaxiang sees.

The gray brick old house, the beacon smoke city wall, the salt Ding old road, and the Daijia Lane have faded away, revealing a unique sense of time. This atmosphere attracts an independent attitude and a unique aesthetic.

Image | Zhang Kunkun

At the beginning of 2019, the first coffee shop had just set up camp in Daijia Lane, and a pop-up store was built in the store that had not yet been renovated, which still retained the furnishings of residential buildings.

After the brief operation of the pop-up store, the owner carried out a simple decoration of the space. All the tables, chairs, appliances, and objects in the store were old items, matched with old photos and oil paintings, full of emotions; People drink coffee here and look at the river view. Time flies by and this place has become the first independent coffee shop to open in Daijiaxiang.

The image is sourced from the internet

The years under the old tree are frozen, and the attitude of the old street caf é is independent. Soon, this shop became the most popular independent coffee shop in the city, and countless young people came to Daijia Lane, which used to be only inhabited by "Old Yuzhong", for a cup of coffee and a photo.

No one can ignite a street, nor can an independent store ignite a district.

Internet celebrities are a form of long-term credit that not only requires persistence, but also requires larger scale, more similar styles, and more sustained aggregation.

Daijiaxiang is fortunate to grow freely, but it has welcomed one unique small shop after another. The so-called 'good wine is not afraid of deep alleys' has been brought out of the circle by various independent small shops.

The big rabbit standing opposite the Guotai Grand Theater is the popular rabbit house elf home in Daijiaxiang Square. It's quite wide inside, with many big rabbit images and various rabbit related merchandise, making it a must visit shop for rabbit fans. The style of the selected products sets the tone for Dai Jiaxiang's aesthetic emphasis.

Image | Forrest Gump

"Hua Si Niang" chicken soup and "Papaya" are both stores that people will look for with their navigation. The former makes rice noodles and tells the feelings of Chongqing. In the houses of residents, pictures of Chongqing are full of walls: 20 years ago, Monument to the people's Liberation, Chaotian Gate, Tongyuan Gate... The tables and chairs are also very distinctive. The wall clock beside the special plaque is very old, and the temperament of the whole store is integrated with the old alley.

The latter focuses on Thai internet famous snacks, and the shop owner takes the online feel to the extreme. Not only does the ruins style stand out, but the shop owner even prepares sofas specially made for diners, allowing for free photography and rightfully becoming a part of consumption.

Image | Forrest Gump

The boss's genes determine the direction of the store. The owner of "Three Foot Ice" is a graduate of the Sculpture Department of the Academy of Fine Arts, who uses sculptures to polish products. Many people start with beautiful scenery at the entrance and great photo opportunities in the store. Sitting down to order a dessert, they are surprised by the chocolate flavored sculpture and give the evaluation of the store as "starting with appearance and loyal to talent".

Image | Forrest Gump

Interesting souls are ultimately gathered together with interesting souls. More internet famous stores are coming in droves, and one of the most anticipated characteristic buildings of 2021, the "Cliff Box", crosses the cliff edge fence of Daijia Lane. Nine giant shipping containers are scattered and overlapping, as if rising from the ground. The highly saturated colors make the visual impression of the container group stunning.

Picture of the box on the cliff edge

The "Xianshi Taishao" on the third floor of the box is known as the "Cliff side Little Chiang Mai" of Yuzhong's mother city, with a super wide angle view of the north mouth of the river and an outdoor camping style. On the rooftop, enjoying Southeast Asian fusion cuisine and Chongqing sky night scenery becomes even more impressive.

The charm of craft beer is self-evident. Rather than being a drink, it has become a way of life. Moving into Daijia Lane, every position is a scenic spot, and wherever you sit, there is a view.

Looking straight at Jiangbeizui, Huanghuayuan Bridge and Qiansimen Bridge ride on both sides. Right now is the road, with cars coming and going. Ahead of the road is the river reflecting the city, and the daily life of city residents is around us.

Having a drink, as soon as the river breeze blows, there is an impulse to get drunk and take a break.

Image | Forrest Gump

Standing on the edge of the cliff, the river and the clouds blend together in a faint mist. The curve of the wine is just right, reflecting the city across from it. In the cup, smoke flows like mist, half drunk and half awake, and the craft beer seems to be a tiny bit of discomfort in the human world.

At present, Xiaohongshu and Moments have amplified all of this. With a piercing arrow, thousands of troops and horses come to meet, interesting souls will eventually meet.

How fast time flies now - from the first cup of coffee to this moment, only two short years.

Image | Forrest Gump

In the past, it was slow, but now the pace is new in the blink of an eye.

Here, city walls, old trees, and residents have grown, and the old trail has also given rise to another destination: Daijiaxiang Cliff Park.

Everything happens naturally.

Because of the defense of the mountain city, a city wall is needed.

Because the salt industry is valuable, a trail is needed.

Due to its central location, it used to be bustling.

Due to the bumpy roads in Sichuan, they are gradually declining - but old residents keep old tea houses, old bean flower shops, old barber shops

Because the country is beautiful, there are cafes, small shops that gather together, and a secluded corner in the bustling city. The forest stands together have grown into the new Daijiaxiang Cliff Park.

Image | Zhang Kunkun

The park is just a part of Daijia Lane. The entire Daijia Lane is now divided into four major areas: the urban nostalgic cultural old street, the rest area along the city wall, the cliff trail sightseeing area, and the Chongqing style life experience area.

Located on the north side of the old city wall and adjacent to the ancient salt wharf, it covers an area of 10000 square meters and consists of a cliff plank road about 750 meters long and a suspended observation deck in the middle section. The height difference between the upper and lower parts is 60 meters. It is situated on the banks of the Jialing River, adjacent to Hongyadong, facing the financial center of the north mouth of the river, and connecting Linjiang Road and Jiabin Road up and down.

The park architecture is not a crude replica of the old system. The arrow stacks of the city wall at the top of the cliff on the boardwalk have taken root and sprouted, gradually winding downwards in a "Z" shape from east to west, and connected to the west boardwalk parallel to the city wall by a suspended boardwalk.

Picture of the box on the cliff edge

Following the wooden steps and leaning against the cliff, one arrives at a transverse platform road that runs through the entire middle section. At the most prominent position in the center, there is a viewing platform with the most Chongqing style stilt houses: behind it is the old city wall covered in moss, the most representative of Chongqing is the flourishing yellow poplar tree, the towering Jiangbei Mouth is faintly visible, and the Yangtze River flows eastward in the middle, like a picture of rapid development now and the past slowly intertwined.

Image | Zhang Kunkun

Along the way, there are six scenic spots including the Golden Slope, the Hanging Foot Tower, the Flying Immortal Rock, the Hongya City Wall, the Cliff Yellow Ge, and the Cliff overlooking the River, which leave the longest stopping rhythm and become the climax of the entire park's architectural language.

This is a new park that has just begun to grow in 2021, full of old dreams and fresh.

Daijiaxiang has not changed. It has been hiding on the north side of Linjiang Road in Yuzhong District. Across the street from the side entrance of Guotai Center stands a "Daijia Lane" sign, guiding those interested to reach the old block.

The old appearance is vague and the past is hazy. Stepping into this old residential area of Daijiaxiang, the four story gray brick house, the water tower that is as high as the building, and the old scenery of green trees and red walls seem to cross the boundaries of time, instantly traveling back to old Chongqing more than ten years ago.

Image | Forrest Gump

The appearance and culture of old Chongqing have been authentically reproduced here, but the continuous flow of people checking in will take you back to the present. It's just that the past passed too fast, and then you come back and stop, bringing special joy.

Everything tells you that this moment is already present.

The cliff yellow ivy, the old hanging foot tower hole water tank, and the Hongya city wall are all preserved one by one, but the railings are made in a bright orange red color, making selfies very easy and photogenic! The design of the observation deck is also contemporary, with a simple and flat shape suspended on the cliff, and a three story sloping roof building for visitors to enjoy the river from the cliff.

Image | Forrest Gump

The old Chongqing style can be seen everywhere in the Chongqing flavor life experience area, and the wall murals are lifelike: tea shop noodles stall tofu pudding rice, beer string old popsicles... Where the old people with waving Pushan have eaten noodles, young girls wear sunglasses and lead dogs to drink coffee - Chongqing's original positioning and identity have not changed, and the emotional destination of urban life has not changed. The fastest walk from the Binjiang entrance to the exit of Daijiaxiang Street is still only 8 minutes.

After only fifty years of tranquility, the genes of Daijiaxiang still have a prosperous background.

Image | Forrest Gump

It is only one street away from the Monument to the people's Liberation business circle where tourists gather. In the business circle, it is easy to switch between leisure and prosperity. This is the unique advantage of Daijiaxiang in terms of location.

Facing the river on a cliff, sitting on the Jialing River, the characteristics of Chongqing's mountain city and river city are undoubtedly revealed. Strolling through it, you can not only feel the fireworks of Chongqing's old community, but also enjoy the iconic city scenery such as Hongyadong on the side and Jiangbeizui on the other side. Such landscape conditions are equally unique.

Image | Forrest Gump

After the completion of the Daijiaxiang Yabi Trail, the accessibility and experiential experience of the community have been further enhanced, making it possible for all of this to go beyond the circle. As more and more tourists come to Chongqing and tend to explore the unique old streets, alleys, and communities with mountain city characteristics, Daijia Lane, which combines multiple advantages, naturally becomes the first one to emerge from the circle.

Image | Forrest Gump

The trail hanging on the cliff like this is already a wonder in other cities. However, in mountain cities, magic, and 8D Chongqing, it may really just be a trail.

In the past, a city wall took hundreds of years to be repaired and patched up. In the past three to five years, Daijiaxiang has developed a different aura and atmosphere.

The story of Daijiaxiang, every tree, every brick, and every cup of internet famous coffee, is written with two words: time.