# Ciqikou Ancient Town (磁器口古镇)

Chongqing, Chongqing Municipality · Southwest, China · Guidebook rating: 5/5
Canonical: https://cnatrip.com/en/places/ciqikou-ancient-town
Language: en

## Key facts

- **Time needed:** 3–4 hours
- **Getting there:** Free
- **Good for:** Old Towns & Villages, Waterfront

## About Ciqikou Ancient Town

“One stone-paved road, a thousand years of history.” For lovers of ancient towns and folk customs, Ciqikou is a 1,700-year-old town on the banks of the Jialing River. For food lovers, a visit means sampling its “Three Specialties”: qianzhang (pressed bean curd sheets), mahua fish (twisted dough fish), and maoxuewang (blood curd hotpot).

## Tips from the guidebook

- 1. Maoxuewang: The maoxuewang at the stall opposite Qingyun Tea House is considered the most authentic. The tofu pudding here is also unforgettable.
- 2. Sichuan Opera seated performances: Unlike a formal recital or a traditional stage show, a seated performance has no barrier beyond a single table. On one side are the audience and tea drinkers; on the other are the singers, musicians, drummers and fiddlers. The line between performer and audience becomes blurred, allowing visitors to focus more closely on the musical beauty and linguistic charm of Sichuan Opera. Seated performances can be enjoyed in many spots around Ciqikou, with the best-known venues being Zhuanyun Building, Baoshan Palace, and the Longqun Sichuan Opera Troupe on Xiahe Road’s Huawu.

---
Source: China Self-Guided Travel 2025 (《中国自助游》, Tianjin Science & Technology Press, Aug 2024), p. 420. Prices, hours and transport details are as printed in the August 2024 edition and may have changed. Always confirm with the venue before you travel.
Site: China Trip (https://cnatrip.com) — independent China travel guide in 13 languages.