Kuan Zhai Alley

Location: East of Tongren Road, West of Changshun Street, Qingyang District, Chengdu

Reason to visit: An unique commercial street with rows of ancient buildings, epitome of Chengdu Life

Our ratings: ★★★★★

Entrance fee: free

Opening Hours: All Day

Kuan Zhai Alley is also known as Wide and Narrow Alley, which is actually consisted of three parallel alleys: Kuan Alley, Zhai Alley, and Jing Alley (Well Alley). Kuan Zhai Alley is one of the three historical and cultural reserves in Chengdu, together with Daci Temple Reserve and Wenshu Monastery. Tourists can enjoy and experience the Chengdu lifestyles of leisure, laid-back, and modern, and also taste various delicious local food and snacks at the Kuan Zhai Alley.

Kuan Zhai Alley is a national AA-class tourist attraction. It has won the title of "Chinese Commercial Pedestrian Street" in 2009, Sichuan Provincial Historical and Cultural Street, 2011 New Ten Scenery in Chengdu, and Top Ten Most Beautiful Streets in Sichuan.

History of Kuan Zhai Alley

In the fifty-seventh year of Kangxi in Qing Dynasty (1718), the government has sent about 3,000 soldiers to Tibet. After the war was stopped, over one thousand Baqi Garrison and their families have stayed in Chengdu forever. Kuan, Zhai and Jing Alleys were included in the 42 alleys for soldiers. However, the process of urbanization gradually swallows up the historical relics of old Chengdu, and nowadays only three out of 42 alleys, that is, Kuan, Zhai and Jing Alleys have been remained with reserve of the past signs.

Main Attractions in Kuan Zhai Alley

Kuan Alley

Kuan Alley is an area with Chengdu's ancient culture and leisure lifestyle. It is the representative of the very local culture in Chengdu. Local presidents, phoenix trees, inns and the old tea houses, all of these make Kuan Alley become a unique site. Kuan Alley is a symbol for modern people to remember the past Chengdu.

In the traditional courtyard houses, people can savor the classic private kitchen cuisines, walk into the teahouse and enjoy the leisure or the dramatic performance. At sides of the street, the night snacks and barbecue under old trees at night make Chengdu people's night life accompanied with delicacies. Visiting the "Chengdu's Real-Life Experience Hall" is like travelling back in time and you will feel that you are a guest of a Chengdu family in 1935.

Zhai Alley

Zhai Alley is an area with Chengdu's slow lifestyle. It is interesting that the Zhai Alley is in fact wider that the Kuan Alley, because 'Zhai' means 'Narrow' in Chinese and 'Kuan' means 'Wide' in Chinese. Western food, Coffee, retails and themed culture salon can be found in the courtyard and the long alley are injected with elegant ambience and taste of fashion. There are various beautiful scenes in the courtyard at Zhai Alley.

Jing Alley

Jing Alley is an area with Chengdu's modern life. The goal to renovate Jing Alley is to build up a modern area for Chengdu people. Jing Alley is now a multi-culture area. People can enjoy the delicious food in the most beautiful historic street in Chengdu. The bars of various kinds fully express the modernity of Jing Alley at night. People can enjoy the multicolored night here.

How to get to Kuan Zhai Alley

By bus: Take buses 5, 13, 43, 47, 58, 64, 78, 81 or 163, and get off at Jinhe Road stop.