Jinli Ancient Street

Why it's worth it

A street whose name is 1,800 years old, rebuilt as Qing-dynasty wooden shopfronts — and it works: red lanterns over bluestone, sugar artists spinning dragons from caramel, shadow-puppet theatres and Sichuan snacks from one end to the other. Night is when Jinli becomes Jinli.

Don't miss

• The full lantern-lit street after dark, crowd-noise and all — this is the photo
• San da pao: glutinous rice balls thrown from distance onto a board of soybean flour, for show as much as taste
• The stage shows — shadow puppets, face-changing mini-performances, woodcarving stalls

Getting there

Metro Line 3 to Gaoshengqiao, Exit D; five minutes' walk to the west gate next to Wuhou Shrine.

Tips

• Come at 6pm, eat your way through dinner, stay for the 8pm lanterns
• It's tourist-priced — set a snack budget or you'll spend a week's noodle money on sticks
• Pair with Wuhou Shrine next door in the afternoon; the combined exit route drops you into Jinli