Wuhan Carbs × Chongqing Magic × Western Sichuan Scenery | A Whirlwind Tour of Three Cities

🍜 Wuhan: Unlock a Carb Craze Amidst the Hustle and Bustle 📍Must-sees: The Red Walls of the Yellow Crane Tower, Cycling Around East Lake, and Early Morning Bites on Shan Haiguan Road Wuhan at 5:30 am belongs to the "early morning warriors" of Shan Haiguan Road! A long queue has already formed in front of the Shuang Huang Beef Noodle Restaurant. The 20-yuan bowl of beef brisket with fried bean threads is bursting with wok hei. Next door, the peppery and oily aroma of Yan's Shao Mai fills the air. Bite into the thin skin, and the juices burst forth. Pair it with a 1.5-yuan egg liqueur for the perfect old Wuhan morning ritual. At 9 am, head to Entrance C of the Yellow Crane Tower, rent an oil-paper umbrella for 3 yuan, and capture stunning, crowd-free ancient-style photos (I've personally tested this—after 10 am, tour groups arrive, and it turns into a chaotic market!). In the afternoon, hop on a shared bike on the East Lake Greenway and cycle from Liyuan to Moshan. Along the way, the metasequoia trees reflect on the lake's surface. You might even encounter university students kayaking under bridges, making you feel like you've stepped into a coming-of-age film. 🌙Accommodation Tip: Apply for the "Wuhan Youth Talent Home" for 7 days of free accommodation! I stayed at the Jiang'an District Talent Apartment, with floor-to-ceiling windows directly facing the Yangtze River light show. The concierge even gave me a Zhou Hei Ya gift pack. 🚠 Chongqing: Cyberpunk Romance in the 8D Magic Mountain City 📍Must-sees: Cable Car Views of the Baixiangju Residential Buildings, Hongyadong from the Opposite Bank, and Hot Pot in an Air Raid Shelter Getting lost in Chongqing is a joy! Emerge from Exit 4 of Chaotianmen subway station, follow the Bang Bang Army (porters) uphill, and stumble upon the filming location of *Better Days*—the Kweixing Tower overpass. Walk from the 22nd floor down to the 1st, and you'll find yourself at the banks of the Jialing River. In the evening, take a taxi to the Grand Theatre Jiangtan Park, buy a light-up veil for 10 yuan, and wait for the moment when Hongyadong lights up, perfectly framing it with the Qiansismen Bridge. After taking photos, head straight to Dongting Hot Pot in the Pipa Mountain air raid shelter. Enjoy a spicy hot pot in the shelter, where the aroma of chili peppers mingles with the damp, rocky air, creating a truly magical atmosphere. 🚇Transportation Tip: Take Exit A of Linjiangmen Station on Light Rail Line 2. Take the elevator to the 22nd floor, and you'll find yourself on another road! Use the "Yuchangxing" app to scan the code and enter the station, even bypassing the queues at Liziba Station, where the train passes through a building. 🏔️ Western Sichuan: Experience Breathtaking Scenery Amidst Snow-capped Mountains and Lakes 📍Must-sees: Rafting in the Four Girls Mountains, Stargazing at Yuzixi, and Otherworldly Photos at Moishi Park Drive 3 hours from Chengdu to the Four Girls Mountains. The hidden gem here is rafting in Shuangqiao Valley! For 90 yuan, ride a rubber dinghy through ice-cold snowmelt. The scenery is stunning—sea buckthorn forests brush past, Yaomei Peak reflects on the water's surface, and a Tibetan boatman hums *A Diao* as he poles the raft. It feels like being in Switzerland. In the evening, ascend to Yuzixi. At 4,200 meters above sea level, the wind howls. For 50 yuan, cozy up in a herdsman's tent and sip yak butter tea while waiting for the sunset to paint the Gongga Mountains in shades of pink and gold. At 2 am, open the tent door to witness the Milky Way cascading from behind Yala Snow Mountain. Even time-lapse photography on your phone can capture star trails. 📸Photography Hotspot: Wear a long white dress to Moishi Park! On cloudy days, the stone forest takes on a cold, lead-grey hue. Capture it from above with a drone for an *Alien*-like scene. 🍲 Food Recommendations and Warnings for the Three Cities: Lessons Learned Wuhan ✅ Master Zhao's You Bing Bao Shao Mai on Liangdao Street: Skip the queue with the coffee set meal. The combination of hot dry noodles and iced Americano is surprisingly good. ❌ Sanxian Doupi in Hubu Alley: It's all pre-made dishes. Go to Laotongcheng for freshly ground bean milk instead. Chongqing ✅ Yuwei Xiaoyu Hot Pot: The original Pipa Mountain location is the real deal. The tender beef, cooked for 5 seconds and dipped in a dry sauce, is divine. ❌ Chen Ma Hua in Ciqikou: The commercial street is full of similar options. I recommend buying from farmers carrying baskets at Caiyuanba Railway Station. Western Sichuan ✅ Shou Zu Shan Tang in Xinduqiao: The milk residue cake dipped in chili powder is a cure for altitude sickness. ❌ Yak Hot Pot at Scenic Area Entrances: The meat is tough and expensive. Freshly slaughtered yak at Tagong Town Market is only 35 yuan per kilogram. 📌 2025 Travel Tips: Avoid the Crowds Wuhan Off-Peak Strategies: Enter the Yellow Crane Tower through the South Gate before 7 am to experience an empty city. Evening tickets to the East Lake Cherry Blossom Garden are cheaper, and the illuminated cherry blossoms at night are dreamlike. Chongqing Magic Route: Hongyadong → Daijiaxiang Cliffside Trail → Guotai Arts Center. This downhill route is easy on the legs. Buy a "South Station Return Ticket" for the Yangtze River Cableway to avoid the 2-hour queue at North Station. Western Sichuan Altitude Sickness Prevention: Start taking Rhodiola seven days in advance and bring oral glucose solution. Don't sleep when stuck in traffic at Zheduoshan! Get out of the car and take deep breaths to prevent cerebral edema. Transportation Tip: Choose a car with a Tibetan AL license plate for chartered trips in Western Sichuan. The drivers know the best scenic spots. Three cities, three ultimate experiences—Wuhan writes poetry with carbs, Chongqing builds dreams with stairs, and Western Sichuan cleanses the soul with snow-capped mountains. With this whirlwind guide, you're already ahead of the game in the 2025 social media photo contest! 📸✨