July 10, 2023

On June 27th at noon, I arrived in Chongqing. I didn’t feel the rush of moisture from Chongqing as soon as I got off the plane—perhaps it’s quite different from the humid south in my impression. Instead, it was much more humid, but I found it quite comfortable, with a lingering moistness.

We had the first meal cooked by Mom at Dream’s house: it could be said to be the first meal at a Chongqing household in terms of significance. It indeed had a different taste, but unfortunately, due to the exhaustion of the journey, my mental state wasn’t great, so I didn’t have much appetite and didn’t eat too much. Looking back now, it’s a bit regrettable and remorseful.

Meeting Dream’s mother for the first time, I felt a bit awkward and awkward. On the one hand, I don’t speak the local dialect, and on the other hand, Mom’s warm hospitality. All of this pleasantly surprised me and left me a little overwhelmed.

Dream’s house is on the high 19th floor, with a large balcony and a broad view, seemingly overlooking all of Chongqing. Various flowers and plants are planted on the balcony, lush and verdant. Looking out over a corner of Chongqing, I see the layered mountains, the undulating peaks and valleys of the mountain city, and the intertwining of mountains and rivers.

Confrontation on both sides of the Yangtze River: on one side are towering skyscrapers, on the other side is the Longmen Old Street with its blue stone road. In the middle is a big bridge like a red dragon. Going up the mountain, there are pavilions, banyan trees, and old temples. Suspended houses and grey brick buildings are densely packed, adorned with green tiles and plants, amidst the chorus of frogs.

It’s a sophisticated modern commercial street, with the flavor of the streets near Beijing’s Yonghe Temple, as if there are deep courtyards, but they wind and spiral upward, endless.

It’s a lively nightlife scene, with bustling barbecue restaurants, colorful street markets, bustling traffic, the colorful bridges over the river, and the continuous chirping of cicadas, all constantly reminding me: this is Chongqing: this is the beautiful mountain city: Dream’s home.

The dreamy water town in dreams, the streets and alleys in reality. Compared to Yandi Lane and Xiaohao Alley, Down Street has a more three-dimensional and dreamy color: green bamboo everywhere, buildings in the style of the Republic of China. In the quiet night, there are cicadas, frogs, dim yellow lights, and swaying tree shadows.

For a child from the north, the charm of the south lies in the flowing rivers and lush mountains. Unlike the vastness of the grasslands, the layers of mountains and the towering skyscrapers built of reinforced concrete also add to the charm of the mountain city. What I find interesting is that many residential buildings have various flowers, plants, and trees on their rooftops, adding to the lush greenery. I am fascinated by Chongqing in summer, provided it’s not too hot.

Dreams are no more than this.