For our tenth episode, we head to Chongqing with native Yao Zhao. We talk about Yao’s Sichuan pepper oil company, 50Hertz, his favorite dishes and restaurants in Chongqing, and of course, local tips on unique points of interest and the best hotels in the area.
Nestled atop steep hills at the confluence of two major rivers, Chongqing is one of four municipalities controlled directly by the national government (the other three are Beijing, Shanghai, and Tianjin) and is China’s—and the world’s—fastest growing city. It was separated from neighboring Sichuan province as a municipality as recently as 1997, motivated in large part by the area’s poverty and need for accelerated development.
Today, with the help of massive government investment, it is slated to become China’s “gateway to the West,” an economic powerhouse linking the wealthy cities of China’s eastern seaboard to the less developed interior. Already, with the completion of the Three Gorges Dam downriver, the once treacherous passage along the Yangtze has developed into a major artery for trade, opening China’s inland markets to the world.
Famous for its sweltering tropical heat, spicy hot pot and beautiful women, the city of Chongqing also has a thumping nightlife, a thriving art and music scene, and scenic old alleys.
Listen to Episode 10:
Episode Overview:
- 00:50 – Introduction to Zhao Yao
- 02:04 – Overview to Chongqing
- 06:18 – Chongqing cuisine
- 12:00 – A little about 50Hertz
- 07:00 – Sichuan peppers
- 15:28 – How to use Sichuan pepper oil
- 18:25 – How to source Sichuan peppers
- 20:31 – Origins and types of Sichuan pepper
- 23:58 – Where to get fresh Sichuan pepper in the US
- 25:23 – Chongqing travel trips
- 30:03 – Yao’s Chongqing restaurant and hotel recommendations
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Places, resources and tips mentioned in the podcast:
Chongqing dishes
- Gele chicken (歌乐山辣子鸡)
- Chongqing hot pot
- Chongqing xiaomian (small noodle) (重庆小面) similar to dandan mian (担担面), but with the use of garlic and ginger which are staples in Chongqing cuisine
- Soy milk (豆奶)
- Qinghuajiaoyu (green Sichuan pepper fish) (青花椒鱼)
Chongqing “small noodle” recipes (重庆小面):
Yao’s Chongqing travel tips :
- Stay at least 2-3 nights
- Visit the subway that goes through a building (liziba station (李子坝站)）
- Food food food!
- Outside of Chongqing city, Dazu Grottoes and Wulong Karst Geological Park
- Joseph Stilwell Museum
Yao’s Chongqing restaurant recommendations :
- Hot Pot Mountain (火锅山) at Nanshan
- Chongqing Small Noodle – anywhere and everywhere
- Waipoqiao (外婆桥) on the 7th floor of the Metropolitan Plaza Shopping Mall
Yao and Mei’s Chongqing hotel suggestions :
- CBD area (JW Marriott is WildChina’s pick)
- Just outside CBD area – Nicolo Chongqing (Yao’s pick)
- Bolian Resorts & Spa Chongqing (Chinese-brand luxury boutique outside the city)
- Jixiashan Sunyata Chongqing (local boutique in the city)
Further links and resources mentioned in this podcast
- 50Herts Sichuan Pepper Oil website
- Study by the UCL neuroscience department which found that the ma sensation is equivalent to 50Hertz of electricity hitting your tongue (origin of 50Hertz name)
