璧山区 — City of Lakes, Parks, and the Legendary Bishan Rabbit
Bishan District, situated on the western outskirts of Chongqing's main urban area, has rapidly transformed from a quiet county into a modern, green-friendly suburb known as the "Garden of Chongqing." Named after the legendary "Bi Jade Mountain," Bishan is renowned for its extensive network of lakes and parks, including the magnificent Xiuhu Park (秀湖公园), the family-friendly Fengxiang Lake Children's Park (枫香湖儿童公园), and the serene Qinglong Lake (青龙湖). The district's commitment to green space is evident everywhere — more than 40% of Bishan's land area is covered by parks and gardens.
Despite its modern development, Bishan retains strong cultural roots, particularly in its food scene. The district is famous throughout China for "Bishan Rabbit" (璧山兔) — a tender, flavorful rabbit dish that showcases the region's mastery of spicy Sichuan cuisine. The newly restored Bishan Ancient Town offers a taste of traditional Sichuan architecture, while the beautiful Xiuhu Park provides a stunning lakefront setting for relaxation and recreation. With its proximity to downtown Chongqing (just 30 minutes by metro line 1) and its abundance of family-friendly attractions, Bishan has become a favorite escape for locals and travelers alike.
Xiuhu Park is Bishan's crown jewel — a magnificent 90-hectare park centered around a beautiful man-made lake, surrounded by classical Chinese gardens, traditional pavilions, and sculpted rockeries. The park was designed to showcase the best of Chinese landscape art, with twisting paths that lead visitors through bamboo groves, over curved stone bridges, and past tranquil lotus ponds. The lake itself is dotted with small islands connected by charming bridges, and visitors can rent paddle boats (¥20–30) to explore the waterways. The park is especially magical at sunset when the traditional lanterns begin to glow and the lake reflects the changing colors of the sky.
The park features several cultural highlights, including the "Bishan People's Grand Theater," a venue that hosts traditional Sichuan opera and local performances. The "Calligraphy Corridor" displays stone inscriptions of famous Chinese poems, and the "Tea Culture Plaza" offers traditional tea ceremonies overlooking the lake. Xiuhu Park is also home to Bishan's largest playground, with modern equipment for children of all ages. Fitness stations, jogging paths, and outdoor chess tables make it a lively community hub throughout the day. The park is free to enter and open 24 hours — a beautiful spot for morning tai chi or evening strolls.
Fengxiang Lake Children's Park is a sprawling, beautifully designed park dedicated entirely to children's play and learning. Covering over 80,000 square meters, the park features an incredible array of free play equipment including giant slides (some over 10 meters tall), elaborate climbing structures, sand pits, zip lines, water play areas, and musical instruments scattered throughout the grounds. The park is divided into themed zones — the "Science Garden" features interactive exhibits on physics and nature, while the "Adventure Zone" challenges older children with rope courses and climbing walls.
Beyond the play equipment, the park includes a small farm animal petting zoo (with rabbits, goats, and ducks), a miniature train that circles the park (¥10), and shaded picnic areas perfect for family outings. The lake itself offers paddle boat rentals, and the surrounding gardens are planted with maples that turn brilliant red in autumn. The park is phenomenally popular with local families on weekends, but weekdays are relatively quiet. Everything in the park is free except for a few premium attractions — making it one of the best-value family destinations anywhere in Chongqing.
Bishan Ancient Town is a recently reconstructed traditional district that brings the architectural and cultural heritage of old Sichuan back to life. The complex features beautiful wooden pagodas, stone-paved streets, traditional courtyard houses, and a series of arched bridges over ornamental canals. While primarily a modern creation, the town draws on authentic historical references and traditional building techniques. The centerpiece is the "Bishan Pavilion," a three-story wooden tower offering panoramic views of the surrounding area. The district comes alive in the evening when thousands of traditional lanterns illuminate the rooftops.
Within the ancient town, visitors will find numerous shops selling traditional crafts, local snacks, and souvenirs. The "Sichuan Opera Theatre" hosts daily performances including face-changing (bianlian) and puppet shows. Several restaurants specialize in Bishan's famous rabbit dishes, offering everything from spicy rabbit hotpot to stir-fried rabbit with chilies. Traditional teahouses provide a welcome respite, serving local green tea with snacks like candied dates and sunflower seeds. The ancient town is particularly lively during traditional festivals like Chinese New Year and the Mid-Autumn Festival, when special performances and lantern displays are organized.
Qinglong Lake (Green Dragon Lake), nestled in the forested hills west of Bishan town, is a serene natural reservoir surrounded by lush subtropical forest. The lake gets its name from its serpentine shape, which resembles a green dragon winding through the hills. This is nature at its most tranquil — the area is remarkably quiet, with only the sounds of birdsong and rustling bamboo to accompany your exploration. The lake's crystal-clear waters reflect the surrounding forest, creating a mirror-like effect that is particularly stunning on calm, overcast days.
The area around Qinglong Lake has been developed into a modest eco-tourism zone with wooden boardwalks that circle the shoreline, small pavilions offering rest and shade, and a handful of lakeside restaurants serving fresh local fare. Fishing is permitted with a license (available at the entrance), and rowboat rentals (¥20 per hour) allow visitors to explore the lake's hidden coves and inlets. Several hiking trails lead into the surrounding hills, offering moderate exercise with rewarding views. The "Dragon's Head Observation Deck" provides the best panoramic view of the lake and surrounding mountains. This is an ideal destination for nature lovers seeking solitude and fresh air.
The Bishan Rabbit Cultural Center is a unique attraction dedicated to the district's most famous culinary ingredient — rabbit meat. Housed in a charming traditional-style building, the center tells the story of rabbit farming in Bishan, from its origins to its current status as a $100 million industry. Interactive exhibits trace the history of rabbit consumption in Sichuan cuisine, showcase the different breeds raised in the region, and demonstrate traditional butchery and cooking techniques. The center features a small museum with antique rabbit-shaped pottery and historical farming implements.
The highlight of the visit is undoubtedly the cooking demonstration and tasting area, where chefs prepare various rabbit dishes right in front of visitors — from classic "lazhi tu" (spicy rabbit) and "jiangbao tu" (sweet and sour rabbit) to innovative modern creations like rabbit dumplings and rabbit meatballs. Visitors can also purchase vacuum-packed rabbit products and specialty sauces to take home. The center offers cooking classes where you can learn to prepare authentic Bishan rabbit dishes (advance booking required). Even if rabbit isn't your thing, the cultural context is fascinating and well-presented.
Bishan's most famous dish, rabbit is prepared in countless ways throughout the district. The most popular version is "lazhi tu" (辣子兔) — crispy fried rabbit pieces buried under a mountain of dried chilies and Sichuan peppercorns. Another beloved preparation is "jiangbao tu" (酱爆兔) — tender rabbit stir-fried with fermented bean sauce, giving it a savory, slightly sweet glaze. Rabbit hotpot (兔子火锅) is also popular, featuring pieces of rabbit simmered in a spicy broth with vegetables. Locals claim that Bishan's rabbits are extra tender because of the pure water and fresh greens they are fed.
A street food classic, Bishan meat pies are flaky, pan-fried pastries stuffed with seasoned minced pork and spring onions. The pastry is made with a special laminated dough that creates dozens of paper-thin layers, each crisp and golden. The filling is seasoned with ginger, soy, sesame oil, and a hint of Sichuan pepper, creating a savory, aromatic experience. Vendors sell these fresh from the griddle for ¥5–8 each — perfect as a quick breakfast, afternoon snack, or accompaniment to a bowl of hot noodles.
This dish, originating from the Laifeng town in Bishan, features fresh river fish cooked in a fiery broth of pickled chilies, Sichuan peppercorns, ginger, and garlic. The fish is cut into thick steaks and simmered until incredibly tender, absorbing the complex flavors of the broth. Unlike the famous Chongqing "Laifeng fish," the Bishan version uses a distinctively sour pickled chili preparation that adds a tangy dimension to the heat. Served in a large clay pot with fresh coriander and spring onions on top, it is a meal designed for sharing.
The district's fertile soil produces excellent vegetables that are transformed into pickles using time-honored techniques. Bishan pickles are known for their perfect balance of saltiness, sourness, and mild spiciness. Common varieties include pickled chilies (泡椒), pickled cabbage (泡菜), and the famous Bishan "suan niu bai" — a local variety of pickled mustard greens. These pickles are not just condiments but essential ingredients in many local dishes, adding depth and complexity to stir-fries and braises. You can buy jars of artisanal pickles at local markets and shops near the ancient town.
The restaurants around Xiuhu Park specialize in lake fish prepared in a variety of styles. The signature dish is "lake fish in sour soup" (酸菜鱼) — tender fish fillets in a tangy broth of pickled mustard greens, enoki mushrooms, and green Sichuan peppercorns. Other popular preparations include fish head hotpot (鱼头火锅), steamed fish with black bean sauce (豆豉蒸鱼), and dry-braised fish (干烧鱼). Many of these lakeside restaurants offer outdoor seating with views of Xiuhu Lake, making for a memorable dining experience at sunset.