Hot on the trail

Visitors hike the long path that clings to the sides of the cliffs in the Jinfo Mountains.[Photo by Yang Feiyue/ China Daily]

Chongqing proves a cool destination even as the mercury soars. Yang Feiyue reports.

The oven was baking full blast - so I stepped inside.

Visiting Chongqing in the summer seemed crazy, since the city is colloquially known as one of China's four "ovens" for its searing temperatures.

It was 40 C when I arrived in early July.

It was a bit difficult to even breathe.

While it may seem counterintuitive, hotpot is the best way to beat the heat in Chongqing, and the local version is indeed hot in every sense.

Scalding copper cauldrons bubble with spicy, oily, crimson broth.

I found it to not only be mouthwatering but also to help perspiration flow.

And that's no accident.

The fiery flavors are meant to produce perspiration that cools the body. I found it's not unpleasant, since the sweat mixes with the air's humidity that seems to stick to you.

Shirtless men belly up to tables, their torsos slick with sweat.

A local saying declares diners don't have to watch their weight since "calories go in your mouth and out your pores".

I bought the myth and ate maybe more than I should have.

Chongqing's hotpot is also known for its variety of ingredients, among which tripe, fish and vegetables are some of the most popular. It's also believed to be best washed down with beer.

The municipality's undulating topography makes a bus journey feel like a roller-coaster ride.

"We don't use east, west, south and north here when asking for directions," a local tour guide tells us.

"We use left and right, and up and down, since sites are at different altitudes on mountains."

We drove to Nan'an district to take in the night view of downtown Chongqing across the Jialing River from Yikeshu's mountainside viewing deck.

It struck me as the municipality's answer to Shanghai's Bund - but perhaps with more layers, created by the hilliness.