Xiahao Old Street is a historical residential block on the south bank of the Yangtze River in Chongqing. [Photo by Tan Yingzi/China Daily]

Climbing the stone steps by a hotpot restaurant onto the bustling Nanbin Road, walking up the hill for five minutes felt like traveling back in time to a simpler era.

It was a sunny afternoon, with hardly any people walking about on the paved street. Only some cats and dogs were milling around. Though the traditional houses with gray tiled roofs were a bit tumbledown, the street was clean with lots of trees and lush plants.

Xiahao Old Street, now a tranquil and historical residential block on the south bank of the Yangtze River, has begun to draw people's attention as a place to go and reminisce about the past.

Chongqing, the mountainous metropolis by the Yangtze River in Southwest China, has long been famous for its unique landscape, stunning night views and spicy hotpots. Many tourists are amazed by the number of highrises in the downtown area and the pace of urbanization of this historic industrial place.

But the ancient city with over 3,000 years of history has many legacies that should not be forgotten.