Nanchuan's Huahao Yueyuan offers cool, free summer night out

Huahao Yueyuan, a cultural tourism project in Shanwangping town, Nanchuan district, southwest China's Chongqing, sits at an elevation of 1,200 meters, where summer temperatures average around 20 degrees Celsius.

The Huahao Yueyuan cultural tourism project in Shanwangping town, Nanchuan district, southwest China's Chongqing. [Photo provided to China.org.cn]

The attraction features three themed streets — Tianjie, Huajie and Shijie — and is open from 10 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. with free admission. Located about 2 kilometers from the south gate of Shanwangping Karst National Ecological Park, it has drawn over 1 million visitors since opening on June 29, 2026, with daily attendance peaking at more than 50,000.

Visitors tour the Huahao Yueyuan cultural tourism project in Shanwangping town, Nanchuan district, southwest China's Chongqing. [Photo provided to China.org.cn]

Tianjie Street features traditional Bayu-style architecture blended with cyberpunk-inspired neon lighting, creating a fusion of traditional culture and modern visual elements. A traditional Chinese gatehouse marks the entrance, while oversized flowers, animal sculptures and other playful installations add a lively touch.

A street view of the Huahao Yueyuan cultural tourism project in Shanwangping town, Nanchuan district, southwest China's Chongqing. [Photo provided to China.org.cn]

Huajie Street is lined with hydrangeas, crape myrtles and bougainvillea, complemented by three-dimensional flower stands and soft lighting to create a year-round floral landscape. The building facades feature murals of blue skies, white clouds and sunflowers, along with doors and gateways inspired by local cultural motifs.

Huajie Street at the Huahao Yueyuan cultural tourism project in Shanwangping town, Nanchuan district, southwest China's Chongqing. [Photo provided to China.org.cn]

Shijie Street recreates a man-made stone landscape inspired by the distinctive scenery of southwest China. Stone pillars and lanterns are scattered throughout the area, while at night, illuminated strips embedded in the rock formations and laser projections create an immersive walking experience. The street also features "81 Workshops," an interactive attraction inspired by the classic Chinese novel "Journey to the West."

The Yingshanhong Theater, built into the natural contours of the mountains, stages an outdoor show based on "The Cuckoo Weeps Blood," a famous Chinese idiom. Holographic lighting and mountain projections supply the visual effects. Visitors can also watch regular performances, including Yingge dance, Sichuan opera face-changing, firework-powered puppetry, bonfire parties and water-splashing events.

Local specialties on offer at the Huahao Yueyuan cultural tourism project in Shanwangping town, Nanchuan district, southwest China's Chongqing. [Photo provided to China.org.cn]

With more than 100 shops, Huahao Yueyuan offers local specialties and popular dishes from across China. Nanchuan specialties include chicken with square bamboo shoots, the jiudawan (nine-bowl) banquet, cured pork ribs, youcha (oil tea), mai erduo (ear-shaped wheat pasta) and Nanchuan rice noodles. Other popular choices include grilled fish, chuanchuan (skewers) and bingfen (ice jelly).