Plan Your First Trip to Chongqing: A Complete Guide (2026)

Welcome to Chongqing, a cyberpunk world with 8D city layouts, legendary hotpot, and futuristic night views. It's one of the most talked-about cities in China right now, especially on social media.

I visited Chongqing in mid-November 2025 and experienced the city's autumn charm firsthand. Here I will share my personal discoveries and practical tips to help you plan your perfect first trip to Chongqing in 2026.

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• Best Time
• What to See
• Hot Pot
• Itinerary
• Where to Stay
• Costs

When to Visit Chongqing? Not too Hot and Crowded

Spring and autumn are the best times to visit Chongqing, especially from March to May and October to November. These seasons are comfortable and great for first-timers.

On our visit in mid-November, temperatures hovered around 17℃, cool for walking Chongqing's hilly streets.

Yes, mornings were foggy, and the air was moist with drizzle. However, it barely affected our visit, and the night views were still illuminated. So, just come!

Just a heads-up, though: if you've booked a high-floor viewing, you might get a "fog-view room". The buildings and the Yangtze River are hidden by the mist.

Foggy window view during the day

And if you don't bear the heat, avoid summer. Chongqing is a furnace city in China, and 40℃ is very normal in summer. Visiting at that time, you'll be miserable.

Will Chongqing feel overwhelmingly crowded?

Yes, Chongqing gets plenty of visitors, especially at major attractions like Hongya Cave. So avoid public holidays like Chinese National Day (October 1-7), May Day (May 1-5), and New Year's Eve.

Go off-season or on a weekday, and it's a totally different story. Most spots were less crowded and had no queues when we visited.

Top Attractions You Can't Miss: See It, Snap It, Love It

1. Hongya Cave - The world of Spirited Away

• Free | Night scene time：6:30 pm-11pm

Hongya Cave. We viewed from Qiansimen Bridge

Ever seen a photo of a glowing, multi-tiered building that looks straight out of a sci-fi movie? Stunning, right? That's Hongya Cave, Chongqing's most photographed landmark.

For the best photos, head to Qiansimen Bridge. This is the closest vantage point, and the photos come out bright and clear.

If you want to capture both Hongya Cave and the bridge in one frame, walk to Jiangtan Park on the opposite bank. But be prepared for a 20-minute walk with stairs and uphill sections.

Timing matters: Hongya Cave lights up at 6:30 pm (off-season), but Qianximen Bridge doesn't illuminate until 7:30 pm. Arrive around 7:30 PM to see both in their full glory.

Want to catch the exact moment the lights turn on? Listen for the announcement. The lights come on right after the broadcast ends.

2. Yangtze River Cableway - Fly Over the Yangtze

• ¥30 one-way, ¥50 round trip | 8 am - 10 pm | About 1 hour including queuing

We took a one-way cableway to Longmenhao Old Street

This 5-minute cable car ride across the Yangtze offers spectacular city views. Locals used to actually commute this way. Now, it's mostly tourists taking over.

I visited on a weekend when the autumn school holiday ended, and still waited 40 minutes. On weekends and holidays, expect at least 2 hours. The waiting area has seats, which is thoughtful, but the wait can still test your patience.

Worried about not getting a window spot? Don't be. Everyone knows to stand by the windows for the best views, but the cable car packs in dozens of people, so you can't choose your spot.

Stand on the left side, and you'll see Huguang Guild Hall (the yellow building)

Here's the trick I discovered: be the last to board and stand right by the door. Once the door closes, you'll have an unobstructed view through the glass, just like those at the side windows.

Avoid weekends if possible. Weekdays (Monday-Thursday) have significantly shorter queues.

3. Liziba - Monorail through Residences

• Free | 30 minutes

Liziba Light Rail Station

Chongqing's most surreal sight: a metro train running straight through the middle of a residential building. It's exactly as wild as it sounds.

Don't take the metro to Liziba Station if you have mobility issues. Getting from the platform down to the viewing area requires descending 6 floors of stairs. Even the elevator takes 15-20 minutes due to crowds.

Better option: Drive or taxi directly to the observation platform below. You'll see a train pass through every 2-4 minutes, and the visual impact is much stronger from the outside than riding inside the train.

4. Shancheng Lane - Best City Walk

• Free | 1-1.5 hours

Shancheng Lane, I captured it at a less-crowded side lane

After exploring both Shancheng Lane and 18 Steps, I have to say, Shancheng Lane is my top pick for a city walk. The experience here is like unwrapping a series of surprises. Every turn reveals something different.

The lane starts with authentic local life: old residential buildings where locals still live, creating a genuine neighborhood atmosphere. Then you encounter historical layers, stone tablets recording the area's past, a French church, and old medical clinic ruins.

My favorite discovery was a vintage newspaper photo booth where you can print your photo onto a replica newspaper front page. It's such a unique, nostalgic way to commemorate your visit.

The Newspaper Photo Booth, very old-time style

As you continue, the lane opens up to stunning river views with the Yangtze and bridges stretching before you. The left side has cafes and snack shops, while the right offers wide-open vistas, perfect for photos.

Why it beats 18 Steps: Shancheng Lane has mostly gentle slopes, easier for walking and stopping to take photos. 18 Steps is mostly stairs, which get tiring and make it harder to photograph safely when crowded.

Plus, Shancheng Lane's narrow width creates that gradual reveal effect. You don't see what's coming until you're there, making the experience more exciting.

5. Eling Park (Goose Neck Park) - Panoramic Views

• Free | 30 minutes to 1 hour

The elevated walkway at Eling Park

Eling Park offers a refreshing Chongqing's elevated views, combining classical Chinese garden aesthetics with sweeping Yangtze River panoramas. The park's famous aerial walkway provides incredible photo opportunities with natural frames from trees and traditional architecture.

If you're not up for a long walk, just stay in the garden area near the viewing platform. You'll still get amazing views and can photograph the walkway from above.

Hidden gem: Local elderly photographers set up in the gardens offering professional photos for just ¥2 per print. Their equipment is way better than the tourist photographers at other spots, and the price is unbeatable.

6. Drone Show - Cyberpunk Firework Visual Feast

• Free | 20 minutes
• Show time: Saturday, 8:00 pm (Sometimes there are extra shows on other days too)

Drone Show. We viewed at Changjiahui Shopping Park

Chongqing's drone light show features hundreds of drones creating patterns, characters, and animations over the Jialing River. It's spectacular and a must-see if you're visiting when shows are scheduled.

Best viewing spot: Changjiahui Shopping Park offers the front-facing view. Arrive by 7:00 pm to secure a front-row spot, but be prepared to stand for 1.5 hours until the show starts at 8:30 pm.

Alternative option: Raffles City Intercontinental Hotel area. You'll see the show from behind (text appears reversed), but it's still impressive and less crowded.

Local trick I learned: Bring a folding stool if you want to arrive early but don't want to stand the whole time. That's what locals do. Trust me, we stood for an hour and a half trying to snag a good spot, and yeah… it got tiring.

Transportation warning: After the show ends, it's extremely difficult to get a taxi due to crowds. The nearest metro station is a 2km walk. Plan accordingly.

Experience Chongqing Hotpot: Spicy & Addictive!

Chongqing Nine-Grid Hot Pot

Don't Just Visit Chongqing! Experience Its Hotpot Soul. You haven't truly visited until you've tried the legendary hotpot. This isn't just a meal, it's a cultural ritual and the city's most famous export.

Chongqing is the birthplace of hotpot, and the local version is intense: a bubbling cauldron of bright red oil infused with Sichuan peppercorns (numbing) and dried chilies (spicy).

The traditional nine-grid pot divides the pot into sections with different heat levels, allowing precise cooking control.

How to Survive the Spice

Let's be honest, Chongqing food is really SPICY. But don't worry, cause you have options.

Order a Yuan Yang split pot (spicy on one side, mild broth on the other). Ask for "wēi là" (微辣), which means "mildly spicy" (though it's still pretty spicy!). If your mouth is on fire, drink some peanut milk (local often pair it with hotpot). Water makes it worse!

The dipping sauces here are basically all red oil, with some scallions, garlic, and fried soybeans. Add that to the super spicy hot pot soup and… let's just say our stomachs were not happy afterward. If you can't handle it, just ask for some soy sauce instead.

Budget: ¥50-100 per person for a satisfying hotpot meal.

Top Hot Pot Restaurants You've Gotta Try

These are Chongqing's most iconic hot pot restaurants, also recommended by our local guide.

• Yuwei Xiaoyu Hot Pot-Featured in a Chinese food documentary
• Pipa Garden Shiweixian Hot Pot-Holds a Guinness World Record, the largest hot pot spot
• Underground City Old Hot Pot-You may want to try Hot Pot on Air-raid Shelter
• Sister Pei's Old Hot Pot -Hongya Cave Branch, easy to find
• Yinghua Crossing Hot Pot- High-end hot pot in Chongqing

How Long to Stay & Itinerary Suggestions

We spent a week in Chongqing, 3 days in central downtown, and 4 days venturing out to Wulong and the Wujiang Gallery.

If you're sticking to the city only, 3 days is plenty to cover most of the main sights. Here's a look at how we did it:

Day 1-3 Explore Chongqing (Main City Zone)

• Day 1: Arrived in Chongqing around 2 pm, hotel check-in, then head out for dinner and a city walk near Jiefangbei.
• Day 2: Ciqikou Ancient Town, Liziba, Ring Mall, 18 Steps, drone show
• Day 3: Kuixinglou, Shancheng Alley, Yangtze River Cableway, Guanyin Bridge, Eling Park, Hongya Cave

On day 1, if you have no idea where to go on the first night in Chongqing, you can copy a city night walk route that my Chongqing friend showed me:

• 18 Steps→ Jiefangbei → Bayi Snack Street → Deyi World → Luohan Temple

It takes about 1.5 hours, and you'll get a ton of magical Chongqing night shots.

At Ciqikou Ancient Town, you'll get a taste of one of the few places in Chongqing where traditional culture is still very much alive. Think face-changing performances, red lanterns, and stilted wooden houses clinging to the hillside.

Ciqikou Ancient Town

And if you've never seen giant pandas before, consider adding Chongqing Zoo to meet the lovely pandas.

Day 4-5 Visit Wulong Karst Region

• Day 4: Wulong: Tiansheng Three Bridges and Longshuixia Gorge.
• Day 5: Wulong: Fairy Mountain and Furong Cave.

Three Natural Bridges in Wulong

Wulong is absolutely stunning, especially Tiansheng Three Bridges, the filming location for Transformers 4. We ran into some fog and rain, but since the trails are at the bottom of the gorge, the views weren't really affected.

I'd say November isn't the best time for Fairy Mountain. The grasslands were super foggy and hard to see, even though we caught the very first snow.

And in this season, Fairy Mountain was freezing, while Furong Cave felt surprisingly hot. Dressing was a bit tricky here.

I would recommend you come in the summer to escape the heat, or in December if you want snow and skiing.

Day 6-7 Wujiang Gallery and Departure

• Day 6: Youyang, visit Wujiang Gallery and Gongtan Ancient Town
• Day 7: Chongqing departure

Wujiang Gallery and Gongtan Ancient Town

The Wujiang Gallery is gorgeous. The water is a deep, calm green, and it's super quiet and peaceful.

It kind of reminds me of Guizhou, cause the other side of the river is actually Guizhou! So, if you've got extra time in Chongqing and haven't been to Guizhou, you can still enjoy similar scenery here.

Alternatively, you can choose other destinations. Maybe add a day trip to the Dazu Caves, take a downstream Yangtze River cruise, or even combine it with Chengdu or Zhangjiajie.

Practical Planning Tips before You Go

1. Where to Stay in Chongqing?

I stayed in the Jiefangbei area. It's the best base for first-timers. Walking distance to Hongya Cave, Yangtze Cableway, and Shibati. Surrounded by restaurants, shopping, and excellent metro connections. Safe, well-lit, and tourist-friendly.

Alternative: Nan'an District across the river offers quieter accommodations with good views, still convenient to attractions.

2. How Much Does It Cost to Visit Chongqing?

Chongqing is one of China's most affordable major cities. Many top attractions are FREE (Hongya Cave, Jiefangbei, Eling Park, city walks). Street food and local restaurants are delicious and cheap.

If you want to book a private tour, the daily budget is around 200 USD per person. The cost covers hotels, meals, a private vehicle, an English guide, and attraction fees.

The price varies according to your interests and the number of people. Contact us to tailor-make your Chongqing tour and get a detailed price. The more people, the more discount you get.

3. What about the Transportation in Chongqing?

Getting around Chongqing is actually super easy. The light rail hits most of the main sights, so it's a convenient option. You can also grab a taxi. They're bright yellow here, so you can't miss them.

Worried about walking? Don't be! Chongqing's streets might look confusing, but navigation apps work just fine.

Oh, and if you're taking a bullet train, there are several stations in Chongqing. Chongqing North or Shapingba Station is the closest to the city center (Yuzhong District).

Start Your Chongqing Adventure

With good planning and the insider tips from this guide, your first trip to Chongqing will be both manageable and memorable.

Ready to experience the mountain city? Contact us for personalized itinerary planning and expert guidance tailored to your interests and travel style.