Thread by @Colum_M

THREAD: (1/8) I just got back from #Chongqing where everything in a word was HOT. It was 40-degree Celsius (104 Fahrenheit) for most of the week and the hot pot lived up to its name. PLUS this Chinese megacity is a hot spot for tourists. bloom.bg/3vkrYfd

(2/8) Implementation of Covid rules seem relaxed compared to other cities in China and domestic travelers are poring into the city, which mostly doesn’t require quarantine on arrival. Although some tourist spots did require a scan to enter. bloom.bg/3vkrYfd

(3/8) In Chongqing, signs of China’s signature pandemic policy disrupting daily life are hard to find. Tourists snapped selfies at an ancient fortress while hundreds of partygoers packed into a gay bar this week, with barely a mask in sight. bloom.bg/3vkrYfd

(4/8) I tried one of the city's hottest snacks for cooling down. Some call it muzhi shengjian, I’m going with zhimu shengjian, more of a brand of mini-sized fried dumplings set atop a refreshing cool drink. A delicious if not exactly healthy snack! bloom.bg/3vkrYfd

(5/8) Now that it’s been discovered by China’s equivalent to Instagrammers, lots of pretty shops, restaurants and spots are appearing, ready to be snapped and shared online. bloom.bg/3vkrYfd

(6/8) I met a bunch of recent high-school graduates from nearby Chengdu, who traveled to the Chongqing for a holiday, before they fan out across the country in the fall for their university studies. bloom.bg/3vkrYfd

(7/8) One locally born advertising executive told me the city’s attraction was simple. “People come to Chongqing because they can. Chongqing’s approach is more people-friendly,” he said. bloom.bg/3vkrYfd

(8/8) Wang Yuanling, an art curator, said the people of the city are resilient and have a history of taking things in their stride. “We have adapted and found our ways to deal with Covid,” he said. “Such is the spirit of the city,” he added. bloom.bg/3vkrYfd ENDS