Chongqing Specialities
Print Painting
With the rapid economic development, peasants in rural Chongqing have benefited from great improvement in their material wealth. This has led to a desire for more cultural activities in their spare time, and the art of print painting has become their beloved form of self-cultivation and self-relaxation. And there is no lack of artistic genius here: over a period of ten years 874 works have been exhibited in the US, Japan, UK, Canada and Italy and over 600 works have become part of personal collections.
Huangsha Pomelo
Huangsha pomelo is probably the most famous fruit in Chongqing. Unlike some other kinds of pomelo, it is unusually succulent and sweet, with a rich honey fragrance.
Rongchang Paper Fans
It is almost 450 years since the first Rongchang paper fan was made. Since then, the fan has enjoyed unique renown domestically and internationally. It is hardly surprising then, that hundreds of years ago the fans were exported to India and Burma. At first only the nobility could afford to buy the elegantly made fans. The past several decades have witnessed rapid innovation utilizing different materials to make the fans and the original few styles have now expanded into 345 different types of fan.
Shu Brocade
Shu brocade (also known as Sichuan brocade), soft in feel and flamboyantly colored, has a history of over two thousand years, and it is one of the four best and most famous brocades in China along with Nanjing Brocade, Suzhou Brocade and Guangxi Brocade.
Developed over more than twenty centuries, over several hundred types have evolved and brocade has become an integral part of the women’s dress among the ethnic groups from southwestern China. However, handmade brocade has given way to modern textile industries and there is only one factory in the city that specializes in making Sichuan Brocade.
Three Gorge Inkstone
For travelers fascinated by Chinese calligraphy, Three Gorge Inkstone might be the best shopping item in Chongqing. Made from special stone excavated on the Libi Gorge section of Jialing River, the fine-shaped inkstone is delicately engraved with beautiful patterns.
Gastrodia Elata
Talking about Chinese herbal medicine in Sichuan, one will not fail to recall Gastrodia elata (tianma), which contributes a great deal to patients with eclampsia. Duck braised in Gastrodia elata soup is the most famous medical dish you might encounter when dining in the local restaurants in Chongqing.
