The ancient village of Ci Qi Kou, on the Jia Ling Riverbank, was formerly known as Long Yin. The town covers an area of 1.2 square kilometres (291.6 acres) and is 14 kilometres west of the Chongqing Municipality.
Even though Chongqing has experience many changes, Ciqikou still retains what it looked like in the past. Because of this, the town became a protected cultural site in 1998.
Ci Qi Kou dates back to over 1700 years ago and was famous for its porcelain production during the Ming and Qing Dynasties (1368-1911). Over twenty kiln sites were discovered here. The town's name was changed from Long Yin to Ci Qi Kou, meaning porcelain town, because of its huge porcelain production. Other than this, the town was also a supply harbor for shipping along the river which is why there are so many shops lining the 12 lanes in the town. You will find shops for crafts, groceries, drugs, snacks etc. There are also quaint little teashops and restaurants all along these streets where you can experience the cultural lifestyle of this town.
Most of the homes are from the Ming and Qing Dynasties which are both famous for its architectural styles. Many of the buildings are built from bamboo and timber. Blue bricks and pillars with vermilion doors and windows highlight the simple white walls. Black lanterns hung on the gates give the appearance and feel of a time long past. The town's livelihood is based off the Jia Jing River that quietly flows past the front of the town.
Three attractions of the village are tea bars, the artists' studios and the Shu Embroidery workshops. There are over a hundred tea bars in the town each unique with its own characteristics. These are great places for friends to catch up and for tourists to mingle with the locals.
The artists' studios display amazingly beautiful pieces of artwork so that you will be much conflicted when trying to choose a few items to bring home. The embroidery shops are owned by very skilled embroiders. You will also be tempted to bring home examples of their work.
Other notable attractions of the town are the local specialties such as Mao Xue Wang, Qian Zhang Pi and JiaoYan Huang Sheng. These are all highly recommended dishes that will not disappoint you.
