With its unique skyline and astonishing cityscapes, Chongqing, China, is now an internet sensation boasting futuristic architecture, and more. Here’s all the best things to do there.
Chongqing is known as ‘Mountain City’, ‘Fog City’, ‘River City’, or ‘One of China’s Four Furnaces’, indicating its geography. In reality, it is a massive metropolis filled with skyscrapers and ancient monuments perched on steep hills. It is one of the largest cities in China, set against the confluence of the Yangtze and Jialing Rivers, boasting a lush valley that has been an important part of the country’s history. Discover the excitement of Chongqing, China, and explore why this dynamic city has captured the world’s attention.
Chongqing has become one of the most beautiful places to visit in China, drawing curious travellers eager to experience the city’s remarkable marvels firsthand.
What makes Chongqing in China unique?
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Chongqing’s claim to fame is not its size or rapid industrial development but its mind-blowing design and structure, which piqued the interest of travellers. Short videos on social media platforms made the destination viral, showcasing ordinary city squares on top of skyscrapers and mini-towns at great heights, almost like the futuristic cities portrayed in sci-fi films.
Best time to visit Chongqing, China
Chongqing is often called the ‘Fog City’ due to its over 100 foggy days annually, but it will not affect your travel experience. A year-round destination, Chongqing’s tourist attractions are open throughout the year.
The best seasons to visit Chongqing are Spring (March to May) and Autumn (September to November). The weather is pleasant and cool during these periods, allowing you to enjoy the outdoors comfortably.
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How to reach Chongqing in China
By air: Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport is the main airport.
By rail: Chongqing, Chongqing North, Chongqing West, and Chongqing Shapingba are the major stations.
By water: Chongqing Chaotianmen Dock is where major cruise ships are docked.
Getting around Chongqing, China
By metro: Chongqing Light Rail Transit is both a metro system and a tourist attraction! The city’s unique structure allows the metro to pass through buildings and bridges, not on the ground or underground.
By cable car: The Yangtze River Cableway transports locals across the river and doubles as a tourist attraction, offering stunning bird’s-eye city views.
By bus or taxi: Buses and taxis are readily available.
Things to do in Chongqing, China
Marvel at the Dazu Rock Carvings
The only UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site in Chongqing, Dazu Rock Carvings, is the finest example of Chinese cave temple art between the 9th and 13th centuries. The complex has 75 cave temples with over 50,000 statues preserved for their artistic and historical value. This area is divided into five spaces: Beishan, Baodingshan, Nanshan, Shizhuanshan, and Shimenshan. Entry to these zones is different, with separate tickets.
Timings: 9 am to 6 pm.
Peruse this China vs Japan guide before choosing your next Asian adventure.
Learn about the unique geography at the Three Gorges Museum
The largest museum in Chongqing is dedicated to the magnificent Three Gorges, which share the history, culture, and economic significance of the Mountain City and the Yangtze River Valley. The Three Gorges are Qutang, Wu, and Xiling, which are essential to China’s history. The dam submerged several archaeological sites, and its relics are stored in the museum.
Timings: 9 am to 5 pm
Entry: Free
Address: 236 Renmin Rd, Daxigou, Yuzhong District, Chongqing, China, 400015.
Book your stay at JW Marriott Hotel Chongqing via Booking.com
Book your stay at JW Marriott Hotel Chongqing via Agoda
Witness Chongqing’s Hongya Cave dazzle at night
Travel back in time to the Hongya Cave, a picturesque landmark that has caught the internet’s attention for its aesthetics. This ancient stilt building rests on a cliff along the banks of the Yangtze River, representing Chongqing’s history through its traditional Bayu architecture. The complex has now become a leisure and cultural centre, with hotels, shops, markets and restaurants, maintaining the traditional exterior of Hongya Cave and creating an entertainment centre. The beauty of the landmark is when it lights up at night, making it stand out from the cityscape with its dazzling colours.
Address: Yuzhong District, China, 400011
Explore the ancient town of Ciqikou
Aerial photos show Ciqikou ancient town in Southwest China’s #Chongqing municipality. Located by the Jialing River in Chongqing, the ancient town of Ciqikou was first built in the Northern Song Dynasty (960-1127). pic.twitter.com/rO11nKeqhg
— China Daily (@ChinaDaily) October 11, 2024
Discover the charms of old Chongqing in the ancient city of Ciqikou. Also known as ‘Little Chongqing’, the old town was famous for its finest porcelain, which led to its name, Ciqikou, where ‘ciqi’ means porcelain in Chinese. The remnants of the traditional village are now known for their lip-smacking delicacies, porcelain and souvenirs. Tourists can browse through folk houses, temples, teahouses, and speciality stores and even catch folk performances like Sichuan Opera or Sichuan Qingyi.
Address: Shapingba District, China, 400038.
Visit the Fengdu Ghost City
Located on the Ming Mountain, this large complex of temples, tombs, and monasteries is dedicated to the afterlife. Following Chinese mythology, the city is modelled after Youdu, the capital of Underworld Diyu, with statues, structures, and dioramas related to Diyu and Naraka. While part of the ancient city was submerged during the construction of the Three Gorges Dam, a few temples remain safe and open to visitors.
Address: Fengdu County, Chong Qing Shi, China, 408299
Spot rare animals in Chongqing Zoo
Timings: 7 am to 4 pm
Entry: Starts at CNY 20 (THB 93)
Address: Jiulongpo District, Chongqing, China, 400051
Book your stay at Hilton Chongqing via Booking.com
Book your stay at Hilton Chongqing via Agoda
Cruise the Yangtze River in Chongqing
Enjoy a luxury cruise along the Yangtze, the world’s third-longest river. Enjoy a three- to five-day vacation starting in Chongqing, offering breathtaking views of the Three Gorges Dam. As the cruise navigates the valley, once the cradle of Wu culture, you’ll experience one of the most scenic and relaxing ways to explore the region. You can pick a luxury cruise from this Yangtze cruise website.
Visit the Great Hall of the People and Chongqing People’s Square
The Great Hall of People is a government building and architectural symbol of Chongqing. The Chongqing People’s Square is right before the establishment, acting as a communal space where locals gather for leisure. Here, enjoy performances and cultural events.
Address: Yuzhong District, Chongqing, China, 400015.
Indulge in Chongqing’s spicy street food
The local food is known for its bizarre hot flavours and extreme spice. Try out popular delicacies like the Chongqing Hot Pot, Chongqing Noodles (Chongqing Xiao Mian), Spicy Wontons in Chili Oil (Hongyou Chaoshou), Chongqing Chicken with Chilies (Chongqing La Zi Ji) and more.
All currency conversions were done at the time of writing
(Feature image credit: Albert Canite/Unsplash)
This story first appeared on Travel + Leisure Thailand.
Frequently Asked Questions
Chongqing Light Rail Transit and Yangtze River Cableway are popular public transport modes that help you get around Chongqing.
Mandarin is spoken in Chongqing.
Chongqing is famous for its seamless blend of modern and traditional, with futuristic building and ancient towns.
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Priyaja took her love for reading to the next level by majoring in English and minoring in Journalism at Lady Shri Ram College For Women (DU). She is extremely curious about the world and wishes to visit all the countries once in her life. She identifies as a foodie and loves to spend her free time exploring different cuisine and curating new dishes. As a former Food Writer at NDTV, she can help you find the best places to eat in Delhi!
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