【阿丙】成都周边慢时光里，一座低调松弛的宝藏小城｜老城区散步 四川 崇州 A laid-back hidden gem near Chengdu. Chongzhou, Sichuan, China.

崇州市，古称蜀州，四川省辖县级市，由成都市代管。崇州是古蜀文明的源头之一，是长江上游农耕文化的发祥地。崇州的可考文明史达4300余年，汉高祖元年（前206年），置江原县，此为崇州建县之始。几经更迭，1994年，撤县设市。
作为离成都主城区车程仅1小时的小城，崇州的节奏竟出奇得慢。这里不太能见着主城区的忙碌与快节奏，更多的是一种从容与松弛。走在崇州街头，会让我想起千禧年的老家县城。老城区不大，有不少千禧年时期的建筑。一座蓝色的钟楼却格外引人注目，当钟声响起时，思绪也仿佛被拉回到千禧年。
崇州市的历史底蕴还是很深厚的，保留了不少古建筑，仅市区就有始建于唐代的川西园林代表作——罨画池，以及毗邻罨画池的崇州文庙。令人欣喜的是，城区内还有一段古城墙。罨画池旁就是崇州的美食一条街——小东街，逛累了便可到此品尝美食。小东街不同于一般特供游客的美食街，来此消费的大多都是本地人，因此这里的小吃大多都还是挺好吃的。
而城区的西边，还有一条西河。我始终认为，有江有河的城市会格外舒服。下午，人们在西河边喝茶、打牌，又或者吃完晚饭，在河边吹风、散步。在小城，日子不用忙，什么都是慢慢的。而时光，也就这样慢慢过去了。

Chongzhou, historically known as Shuzhou, is a county-level city in Sichuan Province under the administration of Chengdu. As one of the birthplaces of ancient Shu civilization, it is also the origin of agricultural culture in the upper reaches of the Yangtze River. Its recorded history spans over 4,300 years. In 206 BC, during the early Han Dynasty, Jiangyuan County was established here, marking the beginning of Chongzhou’s history as an administrative county. After several transitions, it became a county-level city in 1994.

Located just an hour’s drive from downtown Chengdu, Chongzhou moves at a surprisingly slow pace. The hustle and rapid rhythm of the city feel distant here, replaced by a sense of calm and relaxation. Walking through its streets took me back to my own hometown as it felt in the early 2000s. The old town is compact, with many buildings from that era still standing. A striking blue clock tower dominates the scene—when its bell rings, it’s as though time turns back to those millennial years.

Chongzhou is rich in historical heritage and preserves numerous ancient structures. In the city center alone, you’ll find Yanhua Pond, a classic Western Sichuan garden dating back to the Tang Dynasty, and the adjacent Chongzhou Confucian Temple. Delightfully, a section of the ancient city wall also remains. Right next to Yanhua Pond lies Xiaodong Street, a food street where visitors can sample local snacks after sightseeing. Unlike many tourist-oriented food streets, this one is frequented mostly by locals—so the snacks are genuinely good.

To the west of the city flows the Xi River. I’ve always believed that cities with rivers have a special charm. In the afternoons, people gather along the Xi River to drink tea, play cards, or take a leisurely stroll after dinner. Here, life doesn’t need to be rushed—everything moves slowly. And so, time passes, gently and unhurried.