Chongqing Heritage Tour: Hands-on Crafts & Teahouse Visit

Mineral-Pigment Painting: See raw azurite, malachite and cinnabar sparkling under the lights, then watch them ground into jewel-toned powders once used on temple murals. Choose a local-culture line sketch—stilted houses or cable cars—and layer on pure mineral colour at a table set with easel, brushes and fixative. Paint as many sheets as you like, add the centre’s red seal, and leave with museum-quality artwork made by you.

Traditional Block Printing: Handle centuries-old carved woodblocks depicting Bayu dragons, bridges and tea-house scenes. Ink the motif, place handmade rice paper, then rhythmically burnish to reveal a crisp black-on-white print. Try different blocks, experiment with gradient inking, and create a personalised set of limited-edition Chongqing prints to frame or share.

Paper-Cutting Craft: Master the rhythmic snip of Chinese jiǎn-zhǐ under a local artist’s guidance. Fold vermilion paper, trace folk patterns, and cut out intricate skylines or mountain-river motifs symbolising good fortune. Finish by mounting your lace-fine design on a contrasting backing card—the perfect lightweight souvenir of Bayu craftsmanship.

Stop 2: Traditional Teahouse - Walk along Bai Xiang Street, where every stone tells a story from Chongqing’s layered past. Nestled on a quiet corner, you’ll discover a century-old teahouse—weathered wooden windows, bamboo chairs, and the gentle hum of locals chatting over steaming cups. Sip authentic Chongqing-style gaiwan tea, delicately scented with jasmine or osmanthus, and learn the traditional way of holding and tasting it. As stories unfold and tea flows, you’ll feel the rhythm of daily life in old Chongqing—unhurried, flavorful, and deeply human. More than just a drink, it’s a doorway into the city’s soul.