(This guide has been written by the creator of the China online travel guide, YenKid In China, who last visited Chongqing in 2024. It covers the urban areas of Chongqing, but not the rural areas like the Wulong Karst Scenic Area).

Key Contents: attractions + activities + itinerary + directions + where to stay + what to eat + where to eat

Introduction

Chongqing is best known for

Its dramatic skyline and steep rising mountain backdrop
Being a 8D city where buildings can be on the ground floor on one side and many floors up on the other side
The longest monorail system in the world

A Few Facts about Chongqing

The wartime capital during the War of Resistance Against Japan
Used to be part of Sichuan Province until 1997 - you’ll see close similarities between Sichuan and Chongqing cuisine.
Has two classic nicknames - Mountain City and Fog City

What I liked particularly about Chongqing 👍🏻

The multiple layers of the city. It really is mountain city.
The nighttime atmosphere is electric. Like no other city I’ve been to.
Taking the monorail. Feels like I’m taking a rollercoaster around the city.

3 Things To See + Photographic Spots Not To Be Missed 📷

Seeing the beautifully illuminated Hongya Cave close up and from afar
Looking over the edge of Kuixinglou where you’re simultaneously at ground floor and the 22nd floor.
Viewing the iconic monorail trains entering the building at Liziba

3 Things To Do 🚶🏻

Taking the cable car across the Yangtze River
Cruising on the river at night with stunning views of the Chongqing skyline
Getting lost in the endless and exhausting levels of cyberpunk city

Unique Experiences to Consider ⭐

Walking along Qiansimen Bridge with the metro trains beneath you.
Going down into the deepest metro station in the world. Hongyancun is 40 floors underground. See how long it takes you!

Points of Interest / Attractions to Visit 🌆

Hongya Cave 洪崖洞 + Daijiaxiang Cliff Path - this is the famous illuminated stilted 11-story structure in front of the cliffs. The lighting gives it both an animated and a cyberpunk vibe if you ask me. Definitely the most recognisable icon of Chongqing.
Qiansimen Bridge + Dongshuimen Bridge, 千厮门大桥 + 东水门大桥 - these dazzling bridges are actually twins. Qiansimen Bridge is the bridge next to Hongyadong. Dongshuimen Bridge crosses the Yangtze on the south side.
Raffles City Chongqing, 来福士广场 - an iconic landmark with eight skyscrapers and a horizontal skybridge. It looks like the sails mounted on masts, which allow the ship to be propelled by wind. A very fitting design that faces the flow of the Yangtze River. Go to Chaotianmen Square, which will give you close up views of the skyscraper facade and the two rivers converging.
Jialing River + Yangtze River, 嘉陵江 + 长江 - The Jialing River flows into the Yangtze River right in front of Raffles City Chongqing. The Yangtze River continues through Central China, flowing through the Three Gorges dam, Wuhan, Nanjing, and finally into the Pacific Ocean near Shanghai.
Two Rivers Cruise - a spectacular cruise along the junction of the Jialing and Yangtze Rivers, with stunning views of the Chongqing skyline at night. This is the main one you see on videos.
Kuixinglou Building, 魁星楼 - the famous square located on the roof of a building, 22 floors above ground level. It looked like a fairly normal square to me until I peered over the side and walked across the skybridge. Unsurprisingly, the floor numbers can be really confusing. The mind-bending perspectives make this a place that you must record on video.
Jiefangbei 解放碑 - a historic monument to commemorate the victory against Japan. It’s located in the centre of a square in the main commercial district.
Chongqing People’s Auditorium, 人民大礼堂 - an iconic structure. I took one of my best photos at night when the full moon moved in line with the tip of the auditorium. I get the feeling that a lot of tourists aren’t aware of this building.
Hong’en Temple Pagoda, 鸿恩寺 - a majestic temple located at the top of a park located west of the central districts. The building looks stunning any time of day, but is spectacular with the lights on at night. However, due to its location, I suggest you visit only if you have a few hours to spare during your trip.

General Attractions

Chongqing Rail Transit Line 2 - this monorail line is an attraction by itself. To me, it felt like riding a gentle rollercoaster with the train hovering over the edges of the track. If you’re going to Liziba, you’ll be taking it anyway.
Liziba 李子坝 - The famous “monorail through a building”, where almost everyone comes to get a video. There’s a viewing platform, where you can see trains enter and exit the station from both directions. As a transport engineer, it still looks incredible to me.
Three Gorges Museum 三峡博物馆 - I was pleasantly surprised by this museum and learned a huge amount about Chongqing’s geography, history, and critical importance during the War of Resistance Against Japan. If you only have time for one museum, I recommend you visit this one.
Deyi Shijie 得意世界 - an extremely alluring street with cyberpunk lights and billboards. Definitely not a location to miss for photos. There’s bars and restaurants too.
Yangtze River Cableway 长江索道 - this is your opportunity to take a cable car over the Yangtze River. Unfortunately, there was a massive 1 hour queue when I went so I ended up going somewhere else instead. But it’s worth travelling across the river on it.
Shibati 十八梯 - the name is literally “18 staircases”, but I didn’t count! A lot of stairs though. I had a great time eexploring this cultural and commercial area with lots of little cafes and restaurants. Several great photo spots.
Nanbin Lu 南滨路 - an underrated riverside promenade on the east side of the Yangtze River, with a different view of Chongqing’s skyline. I discovered some unexpected restaurants and cafes along the way. A few unique buildings too.
Longmenhao 龙门浩 - this area was an unexpected gem that my friend introduced me to. It has many historical structures, walls, and alleys which you can wander through.
There are several spots to capture amazing photos, including the coffee shop that’s on an elevated platform. One of my favourite viewing spots is next to Dongshuimen Bridge where you can see the trains running along the bridge at night.
Xiahaoli下浩里 - old traditional architecture, similar to Longmenhao. It’s extremely aesthetically pleasing at night. The narrow alleys give a different kind of vibe, and you can find cafes, teahouses, restaurants here. Pair this with Longmenhao at the same time.
Shancheng budao 山城步道 - if you like hiking and want a bit of a break from the tourist areas, I recommend you come here. It is a walking trail with spectacular views of the skyline and some little neighbours along the way.
Huguang Guild 湖广会馆 - you’ll find temples, halls, and courtyards. A culturally important landmark. The most memorable aspect for me is the striking yellow facades, which stands out from Chongqing’s other landmarks.

Skyscrapers

International Land-Sea Center, 陆海国际中心 - this building was just completed in 2025. It’s now the tallest building in Chongqing, and one of the top 10 tallest buildings in China. If you want to see it up close, take Line 9 to Hualongqiao station.

Chongqing World Financial Center (WFC), 环球金融中心 - this is the tallest building behind Hongyadong. It’s in the middle of the central district. There’s also an open air platform on the 75th floor, which provides outstanding views of Chongqing from above.

My favourite vantage points

On the Jialing River Stone Beach, north-side of the river (the most iconic shot in my opinion)
Walking along Qiansimen Bridge
Northern end of Qiansimen Bridge on the bend facing Hongyadong
The western approach to Hongyadong at street level
Top of Longmenhao Old Street next to Dongshuimen Bridge

My Suggested Itinerary

Day 1 - Liziba ➡️ Kuixinglou ➡️ Chaotianmen Square ➡️ Hongyadong ➡️ Jialing River Beach ➡️ Daijiaxiang Cliff Path ➡️ Jiefangbei ➡️ Deyi Shijie
Day 2 - Three Gorges Museum ➡️ Chongqing People’s Auditorium ➡️ Shibati ➡️ Huguang Guild Hall ➡️ Longmenhao Old Street ➡️ Xiahaoli ➡️ Nanbin Road Promenade

Summary of Attractions 🎟️

Attraction | Ticket Price | Metro Station Exit

Two Rivers Cruise | around 138-199rmb | Line 1/6, Xiaoshizi, Exit 9
Hongya Cave | free to enter | Line 1/6, Xiaoshizi, Exit 9
Chaotianmen Square | free | Line 1, Chaotianmen, Exit to the mall
Kuixinglou | free | Line 2, Linjiangmen, Exit 2
Liziba | free | Line 2, Liziba, Exit 1
Three Gorges Museum | free | Line 2/10, Zengjiayan, Exit 3
Yangtze River Cableway | 20rmb | Line 1/6, Xiaoshizi, Exit 5B
Shibati | free | Line 1/2, Jiaochangkou, Exit 4/11
Shancheng budao | free | Line 1/2, Jiaochangkou, Exit 5
Huguang Guild Hall | 25rmb | Line 1/6 Xiaoshizi, Exit 7

Note: most museums closed on Mondays. Even if the attraction is free, it is likely to require online booking. Please check the official museum mini-program for info.

(Information last checked in Sept 2025)

Recommended Days in Chongqing 📅

2-3 days for the city, at least 1-2 extra days if you want to visit major attractions in the rural areas.

Best Time to Visit ☀️

March to May + September to November.
Incredibly hot and humid during the summer. Can get to 40C or higher on a few days.
See my Weather Dashboard for temperature ranges by month.

How to Get There ✈️

By air

Land at Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport
OR
land at Chengdu Tianfu International Airport + take the train to Chongqing North or West (limited trains) OR take the metro to Chengdu East and take the train to Chongqing North / Chongqing West.

By land

Take the high speed train to Chongqing North, Chongqing West, or Chongqing East depending on the availability and journey times.

How to Get Around 🚇

The most convenient way is Chongqing Rail Transit, which has the world’s longest monorail network and a standard underground metro with a total of 12 lines.
City taxis or DiDi are widely available.
Do not assume that something is close on a map, because it can be very misleading! It could be down a cliff face with no quick way of getting down there. If you’re walking uphill, it may be worth getting a cab because it could tire you out. Elevators are available in a few places.
Check out these articles if you’re stuck:
How to Ride the Metro in China: Ultimate Guide to Getting Around the City (2025)
How to Hail a DiDi Driver in China (2025 Guide)

Where Should You Stay 🛏️

Yuzhong district is the most central district, sandwiched between the Jialing River and Yangtze River. Most of the attractions are located here.
Jiangbei district is also suitable, as long as you live right opposite Yuzhong district across the Jialing River.
Nan’an district is possible but it’s a huge district. Choose the area along Nanbin Lu along the eastern shore of the Yangtze River.

Check out my articles Things To Consider When Booking a Hotel in China and How to Get The Best Deal For Hotels in China.

What Should You Eat 🥢

Major Chongqing specialties are:
- Chongqing hotpot | chóng qìng huǒ guō | 重庆火锅
- Dry chili chicken | là zǐ jī | 辣子鸡
- Chongqing noodles | chóng qìng xiǎo miàn |重庆小面
- Fish with pickled mustard greens | suān cài yú | 酸菜鱼
Check out my list of 33 spicy dishes here - you’ll find practically all of the Sichuan dishes since Chongqing used to be part of Sichuan province.

Where Should You Eat 🧑🏻‍🍳

Hongyadong has a lot of street snacks with reasonable prices (last time I went).
You can find hotpot restaurants everywhere in the central districts.
There’s a large concentration of restaurants and food stalls in the central district all around Jiefangbei.
Raffles City for a mall experience with food courts.
Xiahaoli (next to Dongshuimen Bridge east of the Yangtze River) has some great options.

You can use Dianping to check out the food and reviews. Check out my article How to Find Great Restaurants in China - A Simplified Guide to Dianping and RedNote.

Best Places to Relax ☺️

There are some fantastic promenades along both sides of the Yangtze River, especially Nanbin Lu.
Eling Park is the biggest park a few stops away from the central district. It has a pavilion which provides a different view of the city.

Some Extras

Dazu Rock Carvings and Wulong Karst Scenic Area are two of the most popular attractions in the rural areas. I haven’t been there myself yet, but two of my friends rate them highly.