A quiet and niche place in Chengdu

The quiet and niche places in Chengdu include: 1. Chengdu Baiyao Factory, 2. Xiaotong Alley, 3. Paulownia Tree Street, etc. Paulownia Tree Street is not far from Xiaotong Alley and is also a very literary alley. It was renamed Paulownia Tree Street because there was a big Paulownia tree in the street.

1. Chengdu Baiyao Factory

The original name of Chengdu Baiyao Factory is Baiyao Field, which is not the literal meaning. It is not comparable to the Baiyao in Yunnan Baiyao, but refers to gunpowder.

It is said that the name Baiyaochang was originally chosen to keep it secret. According to reports, the Baiyao Factory was built in 1902 (some say 1906). It was designed by Germans and integrated Chinese and Western architectural elements. There were dozens of original office buildings, factories, warehouses and other buildings on the site. Today, only one representative building of Baiyao Factory still stands - the office building.

This small building full of Western architectural features is the only physical evidence of the Westernization Movement that can be found in Chengdu. The brick-and-timber building consists of two main buildings and a pavilion. It has a church-like spire and blue-gray brick walls, which are 80 centimeters thick. Glutinous rice slurry is used as an adhesive to build the walls, which is very strong.

2. Xiaotong Alley

Xiaotong Alley is one of the many "slow life" alleys in Chengdu. The gray old-fashioned buildings constitute the main attraction of this street. The background color is the silhouette of Chengdu's leisurely and gentle temperament.

These quiet alleys in the hinterland of the city can temporarily block the noise for you, allowing you to stop for a moment and be in a daze at the right time. Some media once used the term "original ecology" to describe Xiaotong Alley, because it is close to nature and closer to the soul, and it is an indifferent corner in the bustling city. "

. However, if you take a closer look, you will find that on the first floor facing the street, the charming specialty coffee house and water bar bloom like flowers, among the grocery stores and hardware shops. , and it is becoming more and more prosperous.

Because of these unique shops, Xiaotong Alley, an alley less than 200 meters long, although hidden behind the bustling Kuan Alley, has gradually become a favorite place for young people to gather to burn incense, Drink tea, talk about life, or do nothing, just sit under the old tree and be in a daze. The charm of slow life is vividly demonstrated here.

Why is an ordinary alley so popular among young people? A popular saying is that the Kuanzhai Alley and Zhijishi Street before the renovation were actually leisure places with a literary and artistic style in Chengdu for a long time. When Kuanzhai Alley turned around and became more and more high-end, young people had no choice but to branch out, and the relatively quiet Xiaotong Alley, not far from Kuanzhai Alley, gradually became their goal.

3. Paulownia Tree Street

Chengdu people have always had a tradition of naming streets after plants, and Paulownia Tree Street is one of them.

Paulownia Tree Street was called Renli Hutong in the Qing Dynasty. This title was canceled in the early years of the Republic of China and was renamed Paulownia Tree Street because there was a large Paulownia tree in the street.

It is next to Kuanzhai Alley, but it lacks the excitement of Kuanzhai Alley. On both sides of the Paulownia Street are brightly colored houses and various types of small shops next to each other. The bright colors are especially suitable for taking Instagram-style photos. The most pleasant thing is to find an afternoon with warm winter sunshine. When the sun shines through the leaves and falls on these small buildings, the dappled shadows swaying in the wind will definitely max out your circle of friends. This is a popular place for young people to check in. After taking pictures and having fun, they go to a private restaurant to chat with their friends about their dreams until late at night. Young and artistic people will definitely like this place. There is also the smell of firewood, rice, oil and salt, there are shirtless uncles playing mahjong, there are ladies leaning against the wall knitting sweaters, there are old tube buildings - here is the city life of ordinary people. The modern commercial atmosphere and the pyrotechnic atmosphere of life are intertwined without interfering with each other. This is Paulownia Tree Street!