Having worked as a tour guide for many years, every time I lead tourists through this mountain city, telling the stories of Chongqing, sharing the passion of hot pot and the boldness of the riverside, I can feel a kind of energy and enthusiasm from within.
When leading a group, I often describe Chongqing as follows, "Chongqing looks just like a hot pot! Surrounded by two rivers, the Yangtze and Jialing Rivers converge, like a boiling hot pot soup". No wonder Chongqing hot pot is famous worldwide, the city's appearance and the temperament of hot pot are simply a match made in heaven.
Hi, I'm Peter. Originally an English teacher, my passion for travel led me to become a tour guide. Since then, I've traveled far and wide, leading countless tourists to explore the wonders of the world. I started on Yangtze River cruises and have since led tours abroad. Nowadays, I focus on Chongqing, using my expertise and enthusiasm to showcase the unique allure of this magical mountain city—from the bold flavors of spicy hotpot to the dazzling night views of Hongya Cave. On every journey, I hope to make you feel like an old friend, experiencing the most authentic side of Chongqing.
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- Hot Pot: A Taste of Home, Family, and Passion in Chongqing
- The Cultural Significance of Hot Pot
- The Origins of Chongqing Hot Pot
- The "Hidden Function" of Hot Pot
- Characteristics of Chongqing Hot Pot
- Types of Chongqing Hot Pot
- Top Recommended Hot Pot Restaurants in Chongqing
Hot Pot: A Taste of Home, Family, and Passion in Chongqing
As a native of Chongqing, I have a deep affection for hot pot. When I was a child, life was not as affluent as it is now, and hot pot was not something we could have at any time. Only on special days would my family make a delicious hot pot meal at home.
The "peerless martial arts" of Chongqing people eating spicy food was cultivated from childhood in this way. Sitting around the hot pot, eating and chatting, the warm and lively atmosphere is something I still miss today.
Enjoy hot pot with families or friendsNow, with improved living conditions, hot pot has become a staple of everyday meals. But every time I eat hot pot, I still remember the anticipation and satisfaction I felt as a child. I can still vividly recall the first time I ate spicy hot pot and how it made me jump.
Hot pot is not just a delicacy, but also a repository of emotions. It carries our nostalgia for home, our cherishing of family, and our passion for life.
Now, as a tour guide, every time I take foreign friends to eat hot pot and see them go from being cautious at first to not wanting to stop, I feel incredibly proud. Hot pot is not just the taste of Chongqing, but also its soul.
Chongqing's mountains, water, climate, and culture have nurtured the unique charm of hot pot. The climate here is humid, and the spicy hot pot not only dispels cold and dampness but also stimulates the taste buds, making it irresistible.
And the boldness and enthusiasm of Chongqing people are just like the spicy and fragrant hot pot - direct, passionate, and full of vitality.
Recommended Tour: 5-Day Chongqing and Yangtze River Cruise Tour with Hot Pot
The Cultural Significance of Hot Pot
Hot pot is more than just a delicacy; it's a microcosm of Chinese culture. It embodies the Chinese philosophy of "harmony in diversity": a single pot of broth embraces all ingredients; different food items mingle in the pot, yet each retains its unique flavor.
Hot pot, with water as its medium, nourishes everything without contention or competition, much like the character of Chongqing people - warm, straightforward, yet all-embracing.
Hot pot is also a highly social form of dining. It breaks down barriers between people, as everyone's chopsticks reach into the same pot, sharing food and joy.
As one tourist put it, "Hot pot is a bond of emotions. It turns strangers into friends and friends into family."
Whether it's a family reunion, a get-together with friends, or a business banquet, hot pot always makes for the warmest choice.
The Origins of Chongqing Hot Pot
There are many theories about the origins of Chongqing hot pot, none of which are definitive. The two most mainstream theories are as follows.
The Street Vendor Origin Theory:
This is the viewpoint of the renowned Sichuanese writer Li Jieren, who had run a restaurant and served as the deputy mayor of Chengdu. Li Jieren mentioned in his article that the origin of eating hot pot with beef tripe can be traced back to Jiangbei, across the river from Chongqing.
Initially, it was some peddlers who bought the innards of water buffaloes, cleaned them, boiled them, and then cut the liver and stomach into small pieces. They placed them in a small clay stove on their shoulder poles. A large iron basin on the stove was filled with a spicy, numbing, and salty seasoning.
Hot Pot with beef tripes and duck intestinesAt the bridgehead by the river, many hard-working laborers and meat-craving beggars would gather around this pole, beginning to enjoy this delicacy. Everyone could choose a seasoning compartment, blanch their food in it, and eat. They were charged by the piece, making it both affordable and warming.
For many years, this delicacy went largely unnoticed. It wasn't until around the 21st or 22nd year of the Republic of China that a small restaurant on a commercial street in Chongqing elevated this hot pot to a more upscale level, moving it from the shoulder pole to the table.
The Boatman Origin Theory:
This theory is quite prevalent, and many hot pot restaurant owners support it. The gist is: Chongqing is a major port with many boatmen.
For convenience, boatmen would set up a pot at the bow of the boat or by the river, pick up or buy some unwanted bovine innards from the slaughterhouse, boil them in a spicy soup base, and thus, hot pot was born.
The "Hidden Function" of Hot Pot — An Excellent Choice for Dating
The atmosphere of hot pot is inherently suitable for dating. The red soup in the pot is boiling, with steam rising, and the air is filled with the spicy and numbing aroma, instantly making people feel warm and relaxed.
Chongqing hot pot is known for its spiciness, which can stimulate taste buds, accelerate the heartbeat, and even cause blushing and sweating. This physiological response is very similar to the palpitations felt in love.
Eating hot pot is an interactive process. You can help your date pick up a piece of beef or mix a bowl of dipping sauce. These small acts of care and sharing can make your date feel your attentiveness and consideration.
If your date is not very good at eating spicy food, you can thoughtfully prepare a bowl of iced jelly or sour plum soup for him/her, which not only shows your care but also creates more opportunities for interaction.
Hot pot represents a "slow food" culture, distinct from Western fast food culture. From boiling the soup to swishing the ingredients, and then slowly savoring the food, the entire process can last several hours. This time is enough for you to talk about many topics, from hobbies to daily life, and even future plans.
Characteristics of Chongqing Hot Pot
Authentic Chongqing hot pot is mainly characterized by its spiciness and numbing sensation. The pot base is made with beef tallow, Sichuan peppercorns, chili peppers, and various spices, resulting in a rich and aromatic flavor.
Many tourists visiting Chongqing want to experience the authentic hot pot culture, but are worried about the overly stimulating spicy and numbing pot base. Don't worry. Chongqing hot pot is extremely inclusive, and even if you don't eat spicy food, you can find a delicious way to enjoy it.
Below, I will introduce a few compromise methods for you to easily enjoy the charm of Chongqing hot pot.
Choose a Yin-Yang Hot Pot
The Yin-Yang hot pot is a classic design of Chongqing hot pot, with half of the pot being a spicy (numbing and hot) soup base, and the other half a clear soup base (such as mushroom soup, tomato soup, or bone broth).
Tourists who don't eat spicy food can focus on the clear soup base, which allows them to enjoy the fun of hot pot without being overwhelmed by the spiciness. The clear soup base is also delicious and suitable for blanching vegetables, tofu, seafood, and other light ingredients.
Yin-Yang Hot PotTry a Mildly Spicy Soup Base
If you have a certain tolerance for spicy food, you can choose a "mildly spicy" soup base. Chongqing's "mildly spicy" may already be considered "medium spicy" in other places.
Compared to the extremely spicy soup base, the mild one is easier to accept. When blanching food, you can pair it with a seasoning of sesame oil and minced garlic to reduce the spiciness while enhancing the savory flavor of the ingredients.
Choose a Clear Oil Hot Pot
Clear oil hot pot replaces beef tallow with rapeseed oil, resulting in a relatively refreshing taste that is spicy but not greasy. Compared to the traditional beef tallow soup base, clear oil hot pot is more suitable for tourists who can't handle too much spiciness.
Types of Chongqing Hot Pot
Traditional Old Hot Pot:
- Characteristics: Primarily uses a beef tallow soup base, spicy, numbing, savory, and rich in flavor.
- Cultural background: Originated from the dock culture, initially popular among dock workers and sailors.
Clear Oil Hot Pot:
- Characteristics: Replaces beef tallow with rapeseed oil, relatively refreshing taste, spicy but not greasy.
- Suitable for: Diners who do not like the heavy feel of beef tallow.
Skewered Hot Pot:
- Characteristics: Ingredients are skewered and blanched in the pot, with billing based on the number of skewers.
- Advantages: Convenient and flexible, suitable for individual or small group dining.
Skewered Hot PotFish Hot Pot:
Characteristics: Uses fish as the main ingredient, with the soup base often flavored with pickled vegetables and pickled peppers, creating a sour and spicy appetizer.
Chicken Hot Pot:
- Characteristics: Uses chicken as the main ingredient, with the soup base often made by simmering medicinal herbs, nourishing and healthy.
- Signature dishes: Free-range chicken, black chicken.
Tripe Hot Pot:
- Characteristics: Features tripe as the main dish, with a spicy, numbing, and savory soup base that highlights the crisp and tender texture of the tripe.
- Cultural background: Tripe hot pot is a classic representative of Chongqing hot pot, deeply loved by diners.
Top Recommended Hot Pot Restaurants in Chongqing
When you visit Chongqing to try an authentic hot pot, it's not just about tasting the food, but also about experiencing the warmth and enthusiasm of Chongqing. I hope that your hot pot adventures in Chongqing will become the most cherished memories of your journey.
Here are some of my top recommendations:
- Yuwei Xiaoyu Hot Pot (Main Branch)
- Pipa Garden Shiweixian Hot Pot (Guinness World Record)
- Underground City Old Hot Pot - The Second Largest Air-raid Shelter Hot Pot in the Universe
- Sister Pei's Old Hot Pot (Hongya Cave Branch)
- Yinghua Crossing Hot Pot - A representative of high-end hot pot in Chongqing
You can click on Top Hot Pot Restaurants in Chongqing to learn more about these restaurants and the authentic eating tips. I hope that through these hot pot restaurants, you can fully experience the enthusiasm and deliciousness of Chongqing."
Discover Chongqing's Diverse and Flavorful Cuisine with China Highlights
A culinary adventure offers a unique window into the city's vibrant culture and history. At China Highlights, we are committed to providing authentic and unforgettable experiences.
Our Chongqing tours are designed to introduce you to the heart of Chongqing including the culinary scene. We invite you to join us and savor the warmth, enthusiasm, and deliciousness that Chongqing has to offer.
Contact us and the culinary delights of Chongqing await you.