Chongqing is renowned for its enchanting mountain city architecture and mouthwatering cuisine.
This guide will introduce you to the city's top attractions, the ideal times to visit, suggested days to visit, and tips for transportation and accommodation.
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Top 8 Things to Do in Chongqing
You could read these highlights featuring the unique characteristics of Chongqing to get some inspiration for your trip to the city.
1. Enjoy the Neon Cyberpunk Nightscape of Hongya Cave
Hongya CaveHongya Cave is a signature landmark of Chongqing. It allows you to experience both Chongqing's magical 3D charm and its enchanting nighttime scenery at the same time.
If you want to capture the moment when Hongya Cave lights up, it's recommended to arrive before the illumination time (7:30pm in summer and 6pm in winter).
Three recommended spots for photos:
1. First floor of Hongya Cave (most classic but crowded): To capture the full night view of the site from below at close range. (It's recommended to visit on non-holiday days.)
2. Qiansimen Bridge: Best point for capturing the full night view of Hongya Cave from a distance (less crowded).
3. Riverfront Grand Theater: Offers a quieter atmosphere and allows you to capture both Hongya Cave and the illuminated Qiansimen Bridge in one shot.
2. Watch the Light Rail Pass Through a Residential Building in Liziba
LizibaThis is a rare and unique sight not only in Chongqing but also around the world. It is also one of the best places to experience the magical 3D urban construction of Chongqing.
You could take the light rail and experience the moment of passing through a residential building, and you could also go down to the viewing platform to watch and film the scene where the light rail seems to be 'swallowed' by the building.
3. Savor Chongqing's Cuisine
Chongqing Hot PotAs one of the gastronomic capitals, Chongqing is a place where you simply couldn't miss out on a culinary adventure.
Chongqing hot pot, spicy noodles, Chongqing Jianghu-style dishes, grilled tofu sheets, grilled sweet potato starch sheets, etc. are all specialties of Chongqing.
Here are some of the most popular Chongqing snack streets and night markets:
- Bayi Food Street: The most well-known but highly commercialized and relatively pricey. Not recommended.
- Guanyinqiao Food Street: Quite famous as well but less commercialized, with reasonable prices. Recommended.
- Jiaochangkou Night Market: Popular and located near the city center. While somewhat commercialized, the food quality is decent.
- Minxin Jiayuan Night Market: A local and budget-friendly option but it's farther from the main city area.
Insider tips:
To find an authentic hot pot in Chongqing, we suggest looking for restaurants located in communities or residential buildings. These spots have often been running for years and are frequented by local residents, offering genuine flavors at affordable prices.
If you can read Chinese and use apps, try searching on Dianping for restaurants that have been listed for over 5 years with ratings between 3.5 and 3.9. These are usually reliable choices for good-tasting food.
4. Experience the Yangtze River Cableway
The Yangtze River CablewayThe Yangtze River Cableway is one of the best ways to experience the unique charm of Chongqing. Soar above the mountain city in the "airbus" and take in breathtaking views of the mighty Yangtze River below.
During peak tourist seasons, we recommend starting from the south station as the queues tend to be shorter.
5. Take a Yangtze River Cruise
Yangtze River CruiseChongqing is the departure port for a 4-day, 3-night Yangtze River cruise.
You could drift downstream and fully enjoy the magnificent scenery of the Three Gorges.
Along the way, you would have the opportunity to visit several famous attractions, such as Fengdu Ghost City and the world's largest hydropower station, the Three Gorges Dam.
6. See the Cute Pandas in Chongqing Zoo
Chongqing Zoo is one of the few zoos in China where visitors could see panda mothers playing outdoors with their cubs.
You could also see the famous twin pandas, Yu Ke and Yu Ai, who are celebrities in the panda world.
7. Explore a Stunning Karst Landscape in Wulong
WulongIn Wulong, you could witness a rare karst landscape where the Xiaozhai Tiankeng sinkhole and three towering natural stone bridges come together.
This awe-inspiring site offers a direct glimpse into millions of years of geological evolution, allowing you to marvel at nature's grandeur while reflecting on the insignificance of humanity.
It also served as a filming location for Transformers: Age of Extinction.
8. Admire the Magnificent Dazu Rock Carvings
The Dazu Rock Carvings stand out for their realistic depictions of everyday life, such as farming, weaving, and tool-making — scenes rarely found in other grottoes.
The Thousand-Hand Guanyin is a highlight. Each hand is intricately detailed, showcasing a level of complex, three-dimensional carving rarely found in other grottoes, making it truly one of a kind.
How Many Days Are Needed in Chongqing?
It is suggested to spend 2–5 days on a trip to Chongqing.
If you just want to focus on the highlights within Chongqing city, you need about 2–3 days.
For a Chongqing trip with a Yangtze River cruise, it would take at least 5 days. See our 5-Day Chongqing and Yangtze River Cruise Tour.
If you would like to extend your trip to the surrounding areas, you need about 4–5 days, such as Wulong (2 days) and the Dazu Rock Carvings (1 day).
Our tours are customizable. You could tell us your ideas and we would make recommendations for the itinerary based on your requirements. Feel free to contact us.
Transportation Tips
As a new first-tier city in China, Chongqing offers very convenient transportation for both traveling to and around the city.
How to Get to Chongqing
Chongqing offers many international direct flights, primarily from Southeast Asia, including destinations like Singapore, Malaysia, and Thailand.
If you're traveling from other cities in China, both high-speed trains and flights are very convenient.
If you choose to take the high-speed train, we recommend arriving at Chongqing North Railway Station, as it is closer to the city center.
How to Travel Around Chongqing
Chongqing has a highly developed rail transit system and most major attractions in the city could be easily accessed by subway or light rail.
Additionally, you could choose to take a taxi and you could also use ride-hailing apps like DiDi.
There are also several attractions in the surrounding districts and counties, such as Wulong. You could reach them by high-speed train or regular train, but the transportation in these areas is relatively less convenient and you would usually need to take a taxi to reach the attractions.
Insider tip:
In Chongqing, sometimes walking could be faster than taking a vehicle. For some routes that appear to be just a few hundred meters, driving may require a longer detour due to the city's hilly terrain.
Best Times to Visit Chongqing
If you want to look for good weather, spring (March to May) and autumn (September to October) are the best choices.
Please note that the two golden weeks in China (the first weeks of May and October) would make popular attractions in Chongqing extremely crowded.
Therefore, we recommend avoiding these periods if possible. If you have already decided to visit during this time, it's best to book your itinerary 2–3 months in advance!
Summer in Chongqing could be quite hot and it is also the peak tourist season due to the summer vacation. June tends to be less crowded compared to July and August, and the weather is relatively milder.
Winter is the off-peak season, with much cheaper accommodation and fewer tourists. However, the weather could be damp and cold, with many overcast days. If you prefer milder weather, early November would be a good choice.
Accommodation Tips
If you want to go out for a stroll in the evening and enjoy a lively atmosphere, we recommend staying near Jiefangbei. It's located in the city center, surrounded by numerous shopping malls and restaurants.
Another good option is to stay near Guanyinqiao, which is also not far from the city center and has plenty of food streets and shopping areas.
If you prefer a quieter environment and want to enjoy riverside views at night, consider staying near Nanbin Road. This area is not only peaceful but also offers the opportunity for a relaxing walk alongside the river in the evening.
Costs
The price reference we have provided is based on a private tour for 2 to 5 people.
For a trip to Chongqing, it would cost about 170–190 USD, including private transfers in Chongqing, meals, admission fees, guiding, hotels, etc.
The approximate price depends on where, when, how many people, how many days, the hotel class, and other requirements you may have. If you want to get a detailed price, just contact us.
Popular Chongqing Tours
- 12-Day Chongqing, Chengdu, Leshan, Zhangjiajie, Fenghuang, and Shanghai Tour
- 10-Day Beijing, Chongqing, Yangtze River Cruise, and Shanghai Tour
- Or you could contact us to create your itinerary based on your interests and requirements.