Old Town Chongqing and Hot Pots

Today we took a bus about a half hour out of town to 'Old Town.' Chongqing was the capital of China during WWII and was heavily bombed. Old Town is the only portion of the original Chongqing that remains. It's a quaint little area that looks like a stereotypical Chinese town. However, now the streets are lined with vendors catering to tourists like us. It very much had a flee market feel and we got to practice our bartering skills. I must admit, I am seriously lacking in this skill. We had a great time picking out gifts and keepseeks for Chloe and the girls. We're making an attempt to buy enough keepsakes for Chloe that we can give one to each Gotcha Day celebration until she's 21. We're about half way there, but sure is fun trying to find things for her for a variety of different ages. We boughts some dresses, fans, placemats, and Greg got a silk shirt.

Sights around 'Old Town'

Some shop owners we bought from.

Chongqing is known for it's hotpot cooking. All around China you can see Chongqing Hotpot restaurants. If it says Chongqing hotpots, then you know they will be good. Greg got to go with the group tonight to experience this authentic Chongqing specialty. They recommended keeping the babies at home, because the air in the restaurant gets so spicy from the boiling pots, that it can burn your eyes. At each table there is a pot boiling in the middle with spiced broth. Greg chose to eat at the mild table and to call it mild would not quite be acurate. You cook your own food in the boiling broth one bite at a time a lot like fondue. He tried things like beef, pork, lamb, quail eggs, bamboo shoots, leeks, and rice noodles. After each bite was cooked, you could dip it in oil with fresh garlic.