Chongqing重庆
A vertical mountain city at the meeting of the Yangtze and Jialing rivers: neon-lit cliffs, monorails through buildings and the start of Yangtze cruises.
Photo: Yumeto · CC BY-SA 4.0 · via Wikimedia Commons
- Time needed
- 1–3 days
- Best time
- Spring and autumn
- Sights covered
- 5 must-sees
Why visit Chongqing
Chongqing is built on steep hills where two rivers meet, which gives it an extraordinary, layered skyline. Roads run over roofs, metro lines tunnel through hills and Line 2’s monorail passes through a residential building at Liziba station.
It was China’s wartime capital from 1937 to 1946, and is now one of the country’s four directly administered municipalities. Most visitors come for one or two nights — for the night views, the hotpot and the start of a Yangtze cruise — and many leave wishing they had stayed longer.
Must-see in Chongqing
- Hongyadong — Stilt-house complex best seen lit up after dark.
- Yangtze River Cableway — Short crossing with great views; expect queues.
- Ciqikou Ancient Town — Old riverside town on the Jialing.
- Liziba monorail station — Watch Line 2 trains pass through the building.
- Three Gorges Museum — Good introduction before a cruise; free with passport booking.
Getting there, getting around, staying
- Best time to visit
- Spring and autumn. Summer is very hot (often 35–40 °C); winter is foggy and damp.
- Getting there
- Jiangbei International (CKG). High-speed trains connect with Chengdu (about 1–1.5 hours), Guiyang and Zhangjiajie. Chongqing is a 240-hour transit port.
- Getting around
- Metro and monorail; DiDi for short hops. Maps can mislead you here — a place “next door” may be five floors above.
- Stay: Jiefangbei
- Central, close to Hongyadong and the river cable car.
- Stay: Chaotianmen
- Where the rivers meet and where many cruise ships depart.
What to eat in Chongqing
- Chongqing hotpot with beef tallow broth.
- Xiaomian — spicy breakfast noodles.
- Suanla fen — hot and sour sweet-potato noodles.
Day trips
- Dazu Rock Carvings (UNESCO), about 1.5 hours away.
- Wulong Karst — natural bridges and the Furong Cave.
Field notes
- Wear comfortable shoes — Chongqing is a city of stairs.
- Cruise ships often board in the evening; leave time for the night views before boarding.
FAQ
Is Chongqing worth visiting if I am not doing a Yangtze cruise?
Yes. The city itself is one of the most striking in China, and Dazu and Wulong are excellent side trips.
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