Jinli Old Street was set up and opened for public in 2004. Walking in this street, historic lanes, old official residences, vernacular dwelling, inns and shops will bring you back to the ancient China.
The elegant style of the architectures tells you what Sichuan looks like during the Qing Dynasty. Sichuan Culture is inlayed in this ancient street.
After its recent renovation, Jinli Ancient Street has become one of the busy trading streets in Chengdu. On both sides of this 350-metre street there are numerous small stores selling handicrafts, antiques, and souvenirs such as Shu embroidery, lacquer products, folk handicrafts, old porcelain dishes, curios, or calligraphies and paintings.
Within the area, there are also hotels, restaurants, teahouses, bars and cafés. The street is very popular with both locals and tourists, especially at night.
In the middle of the street, there is a wooden stage which looks like an ancient pavilion. It is used from time to time for performing classic Sichuan Operas. You can enjoy folk music along with the actor's beautiful, quick costume and make-up changes. The actors' perfect performances will wow you.
When you reach the end of the street, you'll be tempted by the aroma of delicious local snacks. The citizens of Chengdu are born epicures and they are particularly fond of dining. Here there are many restaurants as well as sidewalk booths offering local snacks that will make your mouth water.
Jinli Characteristic
In 2005 Jinli was named as one of the "national top ten city commercial pedestrian street", and it is equally famous with Beijing Wangfujing Pedestrian, Wuhan Jianghan road, Chongqing Jiefangbei Stele, Tianjin Heping road those famous old streets, so-called " the First Street of West Sichuan ", is known as the "Chengdu Riverside Scene at Qingming Festival scroll". In 2006, Jinli was awarded the "national cultural industry demonstration base" by the national ministry of culture.
Relative to the domestic man-made landscapes, Jinli is completely grassroots, localized, and homely. Stores in Jinli Old Street sell some chopsticks, tea, lanterns, silk quilt and local products. Restaurant foods are Zhangfei beef, Sandapao, intestine noodles which are affordable. And there are artisans’ items like, kneading a clay figurine, turning a sugar painting, buying a paper-cut, which is consists of child interest and nostalgia also regards people of childhood simple pleasure. Along the street are colorful lanterns and sign boards. The most eye-catching is Chengdu girls. They eat melon seeds in the bar and playing cards, drinking foreign wine, and speaking soft Chengdu dialect. Chengdu people like to wander in the Jinli Old Street, people who has nostalgia emotion will find it a good place to visit, people who love to eat will satisfy their appetite in Jinli.
Historical Development
Jinli first phase was completed to open on October 31, 2004, the teahouse, theatrical stage, liquor shop, handwork workshop, arts and crafts stall, and food shop is around the street. What’s more, there is a Delicious Street (Haochi Street), provides the most Sichuan characteristics of all kinds of snacks, let every visitors have a good appetite.
Jinli second phase has been opened to the public in 2009 before the Spring Festival. Jinli second phase construction would be bold introduction of water into Jinli street and made circulation, which formed "Jinli Water Bank" landscape.
Travel Tips of Jinli Old Street
【Accommodation】
Jinli inn is given priority to with Qing dynasty architecture, and there are inn, cottage, and cottonrose hibiscus three different styles of buildings. In the courtyard there is corridor, patio, garden, and around the house there is rockery, bubbling streams and the trees make a pleasant shade. And the inn has quiet environment, complete structure and rational layout. Guest room interior decoration is of primitive simplicity and elegant and equipped with antique mahogany furniture, modern advanced sanitary ware, optical fiber network, and central air conditioning. Jinli Inn not only decorates classic, its service is more subtle and considerate, let every customers enjoy the comfortable, leisurely, quiet living condition, experience the rich western Sichuan folk culture characteristics.10 minutes drive away from the consulate of south area, 30 minutes' drive from the airport, 20 minutes drive from the railway station.
【Transportation】
Jinli is located within the first ring road of Chengdu downtown, the middle of Chengdu Wuhou Temple Street, connects to Jinjiang in the north, faces to Rainbow Bridge in the east, and was separated with famous Wuhou Temple only by a wall. This street can reach directly to Tianfu square. Bus No. 1, 57, 304, 306 and 335 can reach Jinli Old Street.
【Foods】
In Jinli, the biggest regret is no having snacks. More famous and delicious like buckwheat noodle, Sandapao, beef coke cake, coke cake, yellow fermented glutinous rice, fried sugar ball, and so on.
There are a lot of specialties from suburban county that it is difficult to buy in downtown Chengdu, such as Zhangfei beef produced in Langzhong city of Sichuan; sesame cake, which are found in Chongzhou Sichuan. In general, snacks in Jinli street taste authentic and it is affordable. Jinli snack street collects famous snacks around Sichuan in the street.