Chongqing Qing Yu Yan Imperial Feast Experience

Qing Yu Yan turns dinner into a palace show: costumed servers present a long, carefully staged meal while dancers and musicians bring Bayu stories to the room. I like the pre-meal market games and the way performances are paired with dishes, so you have more to watch than the menu.

I also like that you can add ancient costume styling for a fuller, photo-friendly outing. The trade-off is that the food is less consistent than the show, and the meal can feel rushed if you try to eat every course while watching every performance.

• Yongle Market comes first: Play simple games with exchange coins before lunch, and allow more time than the stated half-hour if you want to try them.
• Food and stage action share the evening: Each course is paired with a dance or music segment, with titles including The Amazing Dazu and The War Drums of Fishing Town.
• The menu is a generous set feast: Expect dishes such as golden-broth chicken hot pot, golden-silk ribs, grouper, mushrooms, and shrimp rice.
• Costumes are an add-on, not a separate visit: Book a seat with the costume experience if you want styling; children under four cannot take part.
• The show is the safer bet than the food: Performances and atmosphere draw the strongest praise, while opinions on the meal range from delicious to average.
• Seats and timing matter: Seating is limited, and the lunch show runs from 12:30 to 14:00. Reserve at least a day ahead.

A palace dining room with a stage at its heart

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Qing Yu Yan is not a quiet restaurant meal with a little music in the background. It is a themed banquet where the room, staff costumes, serving rituals, music, and dance all work together to make dinner feel like a court occasion. The premise is theatrical rather than a claim to recreate a precise historical banquet, so come for the spectacle and Bayu cultural references, not a lesson in imperial dining etiquette.

That distinction helps set expectations. The experience draws on Chongqing’s Bayu culture and combines it with a palace setting, ceremonial service, and a set menu shaped by local flavors. The result gives you a lively evening in one place, with food arriving between stage performances instead of a conventional sequence of courses.

The production is a major part of the appeal. The dances are choreographed, and lighting and sound help give each segment its own mood. A host playing Li Bai is part of the program, adding spoken introductions and some improvisation. If you enjoy live performance, the meal gives you a convenient way to see several short pieces without booking a separate show.

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Start with the games at Yongle Market

For lunch, the market activity is scheduled from 11:40 to 12:10, followed by the banquet from 12:30 to 14:00. You are asked to arrive half an hour early, but I would aim for about an hour before the meal if the games interest you. That gives you room to play rather than glance around and hurry inside.

The market uses game coins, described as a silver exchange ticket, for its simple booth activities. It gives the outing a playful opening and can help fill the wait before you sit down. Some visitors also enjoy complimentary tea outside while waiting. Do not mistake this for a full market or a major attraction on its own: it is a pre-show activity, best treated as a pleasant extra.

Dinner is also offered, but a matching market schedule is not specified. If the games are important to you, check the timing for your chosen session before booking rather than assuming the lunch timetable applies.

A long meal paced by dance and ceremony

Once seated, expect the banquet to unfold in stages. A serving ritual introduces the dishes, with a dance or music performance associated with each course. That pacing is the experience’s central idea: the food and stage action take turns, and you watch the room as servers bring out the next plate.

The program includes The Amazing Dazu, Bring in the Wine, Fei Zi Xiao, Moon Worship, The War Drums of Fishing Town, and Glorious旋舞. The titles point to a mix of cultural themes and dramatic performance, rather than one continuous story. The result is variety: dance, music, and ceremonial presentation keep the meal moving.

For the best view, request a front-row seat when you reserve. Front-row seating can put you close to the performers and reduce the chance of someone blocking your view. Seat placement is not guaranteed by the details provided, so ask in advance and be ready for the possibility that the room’s arrangement or availability may affect where you sit.

The lunch session lasts 90 minutes. That is enough time for the set meal and show, but it can feel brisk when you want to focus on both. The food arrives during the program, so you may find yourself choosing between watching a dance and finishing a dish. Come ready to enjoy the rhythm rather than expecting an unhurried, course-by-course restaurant dinner.

What lands on the table

The sample menu is extensive. It begins with assorted appetizers and includes Phoenix Chicken Hot Pot in Golden Broth, Imperial Court’s Buddha Jumps Over the Wall, Golden Silk Ribs, assorted mushrooms, braised dragon grouper, braised tendon, and wild rice pilaf with shrimp. Royal dessert and Tieguanyin tea round out the meal, with a plum drink listed as part of the pouring ritual.

This is a substantial dinner, not a small tasting menu. Arrive hungry, but do not assume you will need to order more food. Portions are often described as generous, and the rich dishes can be filling well before the final course. The menu also puts several elaborate, banquet-style preparations in front of you, making it a chance to sample a range of flavors in one sitting.

Food quality is the least predictable part. Some diners find the meal delicious and full of local character; others consider it average, with a few dishes more successful than the rest. One practical detail: some dishes can be spicy, so tell the restaurant about dietary restrictions at least a day in advance. The kitchen will try to provide alternatives, but substitutions are not guaranteed, and seasonal changes or menu updates can alter what appears on the table.

Tieguanyin tea is included. Alcohol is available only to adults, and the plum drink, called Drunken Plum Dream, is not served to minors. If you are booking for children or anyone avoiding alcohol, this is straightforward to manage, but do not expect alcoholic drinks to be part of the child’s meal.

Costume styling makes it a different kind of evening

You can add an ancient-costume experience with professional makeup and a selection of traditional-style outfits and accessories. It changes the outing from dinner and a show into a dress-up occasion, with time to take photos before or after the meal. A photography booth is also mentioned, with one complimentary photo reported as part of the experience.

The styling appears to vary in time and finish. Some people enjoy choosing from the costumes and appreciate careful makeup; others find the selection limited or the application rushed. If you want a particular look, speak up clearly with the stylist. The available options may not suit every size, and it is sensible to ask what is included before paying for the add-on.

You must book the costume experience with a banquet seat. It cannot be reserved on its own, and it is unavailable to children under four. Children aged four and older pay the adult price. Families should also weigh the show’s music and ceremony against the needs of very young children: the event is not recommended for infants.

Price, location, and the small details that matter

Prices depend on the session and package. Standard lunch and dinner options are listed from US$58.15, while group-discount packages are listed from US$43.19 for lunch and US$47.65 for dinner. A separate summary price starts at US$47.49, so check the exact date, meal, and package before you commit. The value is strongest if you want a full evening of performance, a multi-course meal, and the market activity in one booking. If your main goal is a top-tier dinner, the mixed opinions on food make this a less certain choice.

The venue is given as Qing Yu Banquet (Imperial Cuisine Show), at No. 25, Annex 3, Dashiba Second Village, Dashiba Street, Jiangbei District, Chongqing, within the Yangpaoju 1862 Project. There has been confusion between the booking address and the actual venue address, so confirm the location directly with the contact details on your confirmation before setting out. Keep your phone accessible: a trip butler is supposed to contact you by email within two hours after a successful booking.

The booking is tied to a specific date and, where applicable, time. You need to give staff the reservation holder’s name on arrival. Seats are limited, so reserve at least one day in advance. If you need to cancel, the stated full-refund deadline is at least 72 hours before the activity, using Chongqing local time.

A few practical points are worth knowing before you go. The venue may substitute dishes of equal value if seasonal or other unforeseen conditions affect the menu. Some utensils have been noted as chipped, so take care when handling bowls and pouring drinks. One visitor also reported squat toilets, which may matter if that setup is uncomfortable for you. These are not reasons to avoid the experience, but they are useful details to factor in.

Who will enjoy Qing Yu Yan most

I would choose Qing Yu Yan for an evening when the show matters as much as the meal. It suits couples, groups of friends, and families with older children who enjoy costume, dance, and a little theatrical ceremony. The pre-meal games add a light, interactive start, while the performances give the dinner a sense of occasion that a standard restaurant cannot match.

It is less suited to anyone who wants a quiet meal, needs a slow dining pace, or is choosing solely for the food. You may enjoy the dishes, but their quality is not as dependable as the entertainment. If you have dietary needs, contact the venue early rather than relying on a last-minute change.

Should you book this Chongqing banquet?

Book it if you want a polished, highly visual night out and are happy to treat dinner as part of the show. The strongest reasons are the professional dance program, the palace-style setting, and the chance to add costumes and photos. I would arrive early for lunch to make time for the market games, ask for a front-row seat, and go with a light schedule afterward so the meal does not feel like a race.

Skip it if you are seeking a quiet, food-first restaurant or a detailed historical reenactment. For most people who want one memorable, distinctly theatrical meal in Chongqing, the combination of Bayu-themed performance, ceremonial service, and a large banquet is good value, especially at the group-discount price.

FAQ

How much does the Qing Yu Yan experience cost?

Prices vary by meal and package. Standard lunch and dinner options are listed from US$58.15, with group-discount lunch from US$43.19 and dinner from US$47.65. Check the price for your selected date and package.

Where is Qing Yu Yan?

The address provided is No. 25, Annex 3, Dashiba Second Village, Dashiba Street, Jiangbei District, Chongqing, in the Yangpaoju 1862 Project. Confirm the exact venue address using the contact details on your booking confirmation.

What time is the lunch experience?

Lunch runs from 12:30 to 14:00. The Yongle Market activity is scheduled from 11:40 to 12:10, and you are asked to arrive half an hour before lunch. Arriving earlier gives you more time for the games.

What performances are included?

The program lists The Amazing Dazu, Bring in the Wine, Fei Zi Xiao, Moon Worship, The War Drums of Fishing Town, and Glorious旋舞. Dance and music performances accompany the banquet service.

What food is included?

The sample menu includes appetizers, chicken hot pot in golden broth, Buddha Jumps Over the Wall, golden-silk ribs, assorted mushrooms, braised grouper, braised tendon, shrimp pilaf, dessert, and Tieguanyin tea. The dishes may change with the season or menu updates.

Is the ancient-costume experience included?

Costume styling is an add-on and must be booked with a banquet seat. It cannot be booked separately. Children under four cannot take part.

Can children attend, and do they pay less?

Children four years and older pay the same price as adults. The costume experience is unavailable to children under four, and the event is not recommended for infants because it includes music, performances, and ceremonial service.

Can the restaurant accommodate dietary restrictions?

Tell the restaurant about dietary restrictions at least one day in advance. It will try to replace unsuitable dishes, but specific alternatives are not guaranteed.

Are alcoholic drinks included?

Alcoholic beverages are available but are not provided to minors. The plum drink called Drunken Plum Dream is for adults only.

What is the cancellation policy?

A full refund is available if you cancel at least 72 hours before the activity date, using the destination’s local time.