Mandarin Immersion (Part 13)

This entry is part 13 of 40 in the series Mandarin Immersion

May 27, 2023

Mandarin Immersion (Part 13)

By Simon J. Lau

I went on a river cruise along the Jialing River, which took us around parts of Chongqing. I managed to capture these stunning views of the city from the river. I didn’t expect to enjoy the tour as much as I did, but I did, and the photos turned out beautifully.

In coming here, I also noticed the unusually low river levels. It appears China is suffering from a severe drought, causing some rivers, including the Yangtze and Jialing rivers, to dry up. This has created a serious issue for China’s hydroelectric power grid.

After, I visited Hongya Cave. It’s a traditional Chinese stilt house where deep caves were built into the mountainside. Created during the Ming dynasty, and rebuilt several times, it has also served as a military fortress. It’s now a commercial area and popular tourist destination.

Earlier in the day, I visited Liziba. As I mentioned previously, Chongqing is a mountainous city, which has forced urban planners to think creatively. One such example is this: A subway stop located inside a commercial and residential building. Although unorthodox, it’s very convenient for residents and workers!

Finally, one stereotype of Sichuan women (which includes women from Chongqing) is that they have beautiful skin. My wife, Jean, is Sichuanese, and she has flawless skin. Now that I’ve spent more time here, I can definitely see where that stereotype came from.