Testbed 2, formerly the Chongqing No. 2 Printing Factory, was originally the Central Bank’s currency printing facility during the Republic of China era. The printing plant relocated entirely in 2012, and renovation began in 2014, finally opening to the public in mid-2017. This place seems to have gained fame from the movie “I Belonged to You,” becoming a popular Instagram-worthy spot in Chongqing. Compared to other tourist spots, the advantage here is that you can at least eat, drink, and stroll around… Amidst the trend of converting old factories into creative parks, every city should probably have a place like this.
This location is situated on the hill right next to Liziba Station. After watching the monorail pass through the building at Liziba, you can conveniently take a ride-hailing car to get here; it’s very close. However, walking would be quite strenuous—it’s nearly a 2km uphill trek, and with the hot weather, taking a car saves a lot of effort.
The entire area has the vibe of an old film set. Some parts are honestly a bit excessively dilapidated: falling tiles, mottled exterior walls, overgrown weeds, and broken glass. It’s great for photography but feels somewhat unsafe, as if a piece of glass or tile could fall from above at any moment…
Wozi Chuan Bistro
We had lunch inside the park at a small Sichuan restaurant. The air conditioning was broken at the time, but fortunately, the weather wasn’t too hot… The landlady was arguing loudly with the AC repairman right next to us. Despite that, the bistro had a nice atmosphere, complete with resident cats, and the prices were affordable. Red Oil Wontons were only 10 RMB, and their signature dish, Chopped Chili Pig Trotters, was delicious—though much spicier than expected. Even after requesting less spice, it was still extremely hot. Friends who can’t handle spicy food should be careful when visiting Chongqing~~
Dandy Art House
Looking for a cafe to relax in within the park, we found this one had the highest ratings on Dianping. The space is massive, with each seating area being incredibly spacious. It features floor-to-ceiling windows with river views and a post-modern minimalist style. The walls are adorned exclusively with their own photography, which is also available for purchase via their WeChat official account. Their website showcases even more works, and it appears they rotate the photo collection from time to time.
The menu is accessed via WeChat. The most recommended item on Dianping is their signature drink, the Coffee Experiment Tea. It comes with a bottle of black coffee and black tea blend, a bottle of sugar and milk mixture, a cup of ice cubes, and a small glass. You can freely mix the ingredients in various ratios to experience completely different flavors… But I have to say, this is the most complicated beverage I’ve ever had. Because the small glass is so tiny, finishing everything requires pouring about 20 rounds… Still, it’s quite fun…
Photos in this post taken with SONY A5100 + 16-50 f3.5-5.6, post-processed in Lightroom.
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