🔥 Ultimate Guide to Exploring Chongqing | Mountain City, Delicious Food & Famous Landmarks 🏮🏙️
Chongqing, also known as the “Mountain City” or “Foggy City”, is a city full of charm. It boasts spicy hotpot, magical 8D overpasses, Hongyadong night views, Yangtze River Cable Cars, and Jiefangbei Pedestrian Street… Whether you’re a foodie, an adventurer, or a social media enthusiast, Chongqing can fulfill all your fantasies!
📅 Best Time to Visit
🌸 Spring & Autumn (March-May & September-November) — Pleasant weather, perfect for exploring ancient towns and the mountain city
🔥 Summer (June-August) — Extremely hot! But the night views are more beautiful, and you can try thrilling rafting (Wujiang, Qijiang)
❄️ Winter (December-February) — The best season for hotpot! You can also soak in hot springs and enjoy a romantic winter vibe
💡 Tip: Chongqing is foggy year-round, and hot and humid in summer. It’s recommended to avoid the May Day and National Day holiday crowds!
🚄 How to Get to Chongqing?
✈️ By Air: Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport (CKG) — Offers numerous domestic and international flights, with subway access to the city center
🚄 By High-speed Train: Chengyu High-speed Railway (Chengdu-Chongqing 1 hour), GuiGuang High-speed Railway (Guiyang-Chongqing 2 hours)
🚇 Public Transportation in the City:
✔ Rail Transit (Light Rail) — Recommended subway + walking for avoiding traffic jams
✔ Cable Cars / Gondola — The Yangtze River Cable Car and Crown Escalator are must-try experiences
💡 Tip: The Chongqing light rail runs along the river and offers beautiful scenic views! Recommend Line 2 (LiZiba Station, where the train goes through a building)
🏙️ Must-Visit Landmarks in Chongqing
🌆 1. Famous Instagrammable Spots
📍 Hongyadong — The most famous night view spot in Chongqing, perfect for taking photos📸! When the lights come on, it looks like a scene from a Studio Ghibli anime
📍 Jiefangbei Pedestrian Street — The bustling commercial center of Chongqing, great for shopping and buying souvenirs
📍 LiZiba Light Rail through Building — The light rail on Line 2 goes through a building, offering a stunning visual experience! (Subway Station: LiZiba Station)
📍 Yangtze River Cable Car — The “Chongqing version of an aerial bus”, take a cable car to cross the Yangtze River and enjoy the mountain city scenery
🏞️ 2. Breathtaking Natural Scenery
🌄 Wulong Three Natural Bridges — A UNESCO World Heritage site and filming location for the movie Curse of the Golden Flower, a majestic natural wonder
🌊 Wujiang Gallery — Known as the “Small Three Gorges of Chongqing”, perfect for boat tours with picturesque views along the way
🛶 Youyang Taohuayuan — A paradise-like, ancient town with stunning seasonal views
🏛️ 3. Cultural History & Ancient Towns
🏯 Baigong Guan & Zhazidong — Experience Red Culture and learn about China’s War of Resistance history
🏘️ Ciqikou Ancient Town — Chongqing’s most famous ancient town, great for trying Chongqing noodles, buying local snacks, and watching Sichuan opera face-changing performances
🏮 Hong’an Ancient Town — A border town with Ba-Yu charm, you can step into three provinces (Chongqing, Guizhou, Hunan)
🍜 Must-Try Foods in Chongqing
🔥 Chongqing Hotpot (A Must-Try!)
✅ Recommended Restaurants: Peijie Hotpot, Qin Ma Hotpot, Ba Nu Mao Du Hotpot, Qiaotou Hotpot
💡 Tip: Be sure to order Mao Du, Huanghou, Duck Blood, Crispy Meat, Tofu Skin, Red Sugar Rice Cake!
🍜 Chongqing Noodles (Perfect for Breakfast)
📍 Recommended: Erliang Noodles, Huashi Wanza Noodles, Zeng Sanxian Noodle Shop
🌮 Sour and Spicy Vermicelli (Tart and Appetizing)
📍 Recommended: Wu Chao Shou, Dongting Zhang Liang Fen
🐟 Jianghu Cuisine (Extremely Spicy)
✅ Paper-wrapped fish, Spring water chicken, Spicy chicken, Grilled fish
☕ Old Tea House Experience
📍 Jiaotong Tea House — With a retro style, it offers an authentic experience of local Chongqing street life
💡 Tip: Chongqing locals love spicy food! If you’re not used to spice, be sure to request mild or less spicy when ordering!
🚉 Unique Transportation Experiences in Chongqing
🛤️ LiZiba Light Rail through Building — Line 2 of the light rail goes through a building, experience the “Magical 8D Mountain City”
🚠 Yangtze River Cable Car — Ride the cable car across the Yangtze River for an amazing night view!
🎢 Crown Escalator — The longest escalator in Asia, enjoy the thrill of vertical ascent and descent
🛍️ Chongqing Souvenirs & Shopping Guide
🎁 Souvenir Recommendations
✅ Hotpot Base — Take some home to make your own hotpot
✅ Chen Mahua — A crispy, sweet local specialty from Ciqikou Ancient Town
✅ Chongqing Noodle Seasoning — Take it home to make authentic Chongqing noodles
🛍️ Shopping Spot Recommendations
📍 Jiefangbei Shopping District — Luxury brands and department stores
📍 Guanyinqiao Pedestrian Street — Trendy destination for young people, great for clothes, trendy shoes, and electronic products
💡 Travel Tips & Budget Saving Strategies
✔ Transportation: Purchase the “Chongqing Transportation Card”, which works for subway, light rail, and buses
✔ Accommodation: Stay near Hongyadong or Jiefangbei for convenience and enjoy the night views
✔ Avoid Peak Times: Visit Hongyadong before 10 AM or after 9 PM to avoid crowds
✔ Hotpot Wait Times: Popular hotpot restaurants can have long queues, so it’s best to book online in advance!
✔ Payment Methods: Chongqing largely supports WeChat/Alipay payments, so there’s little need for cash
🎯 Summary: Why You Should Visit Chongqing?
🏙 Magical 8D City: Light rail trains going through buildings, cable cars crossing the Yangtze River, experience the unique mountain city vibe
🔥 Hotpot Capital: The spicy, flavorful hotpot will have you hooked
🎡 Instagrammable Paradise: Hongyadong, LiZiba, Yangtze River Cable Car, perfect for capturing stunning photos
🏞 Natural Wonders: Wulong Three Natural Bridges, Wujiang Gallery, Jiuzhaigou-level landscapes
📌 Chongqing, a city that will make you never want to leave!
💬 Which unique feature of Chongqing would you like to experience the most? Drop a comment and let me know! 🚀
