Chongqing is one of the largest cities in China with a metropolitan population according to different sources of 5 to 7.5 million people (2010).
If I had to choose just one word to describe Chongqing, it would be “spicy”. This is due to the fact that Chongqing is famous for its culinary specialty: hotpot…and spicy, beautiful girls!
Many believe that Chinese hotpot originated from this area, where it was popular with boatmen working on the Yangtze River. From here it spread to Sichuan and other neighboring counties and then made its way to the rest of China.
Today you can find many restaurants in China and around the world that serve this dish with an unforgettable spicy flavor. Generally speaking, it consists of a broth filled with chili and other spices and many different side dishes (meat, poultry, vegetables, mushrooms, tofu, etc.) that are immersed in the hot soup and kept for some time before being removed and accomplished.
Due to the way hot pot is eaten, it is more than just food: it is a social event: the pot with the broth is placed in the middle of the table with coals (or an electric unit under the bottom) constantly heating your contents. and diners are seated from time to time grabbing a piece of meat or vegetable from the pot with their chopsticks.
And I don’t know of a better place to enjoy the authentic taste of hot-pot than Chongqing, which has thousands of places ready to serve you this wonderful dish. But it is not just a specialty for tourists. Chongqing residents themselves are crazy about hot pot. Although you can find streets with few hot food restaurants next to each other, they will never be empty.
I remember how a friend of mine returned home after spending time in another province. He immediately called me and some other mutual friends and arranged a meeting at the hot pot restaurant. While she was sitting there, she shared that on the way back from her there was only one thought in her head: what kind of dishes will she order for her stew…
But there is one more thing that makes Chongqing famous: its beautiful girls. Many people (both Chinese and foreign) are ready to testify that the most beautiful Chinese girls come from Chongqing. There is a joke that married men who come to Chongqing start to regret getting married.
Perhaps the reason for the high concentration of beauties here is the high humidity and the characteristic mist that prevents the girls’ skin from being exposed to the sun and dry air. Or maybe it’s spicy food that “burns” fat and improves blood circulation. Whatever the reason, Chongqing girls boast that they can eat a lot of hotpot without harm to their slim figures.
Also, the temperament of Chongqing girls is often compared to the spiciness of a hot pot. Funny and outspoken, they easily show their short temper, but are also known to be loyal to their family and friends. If you fall in love with a girl from Chongqing, it is as incurable as falling in love with a hot pot.
If you visit Chongqing, go to its central boulevard. You are guaranteed to have a delicious experience, whether it is eating a hot pot or watching the beautiful girls go by.