Chongqing Tours & Travel Guide
The mountain megacity where trains pass through apartment blocks, streets stack up the cliffs, and hotpot was perfected.
Why visit Chongqing
Chongqing is the China trip for people who think they've seen Chinese cities. Built on cliffs at the meeting of two rivers, it layers roads, railways and neighbourhoods in three dimensions — the internet's "cyberpunk city" label undersells how fun it is to navigate with a local.
Top sights
Hongyadong at night
Hongyadong stacks 11 storeys up the cliff, so you can walk in on the top floor from the street and find the river at the bottom.
Liziba monorail
The train that passes through a residential building — ride it, then photograph it.
Yangtze cable car
The city's original commuter crossing, now its best cheap thrill at sunset.
Hotpot, at origin
Chongqing claims hotpot's birthplace. Nine-grid pot, full mala — pick your chilli level with care.
Sample itinerary — 2 days in Chongqing
This is a sample itinerary, so you can see what each day actually looks like — the scenery, the meals and where you sleep. On a private trip the order and pace are adjusted to your dates; your confirmed day-by-day plan, with named hotels, comes with your quote.
- Day 1
Hongyadong & hotpot — Chongqing after dark
Arrive, check in, and take the city at its best hour: Hongyadong stacks 11 storeys up the cliff, so you can walk in on the top floor from the street and find the river at the bottom. Its stilt-house restaurants and bars glow over the Jialing River. Then hotpot at its birthplace: nine-grid pot, full mala, no regrets (some regrets).
- Day 2
The layered city & departure
A morning of Chongqing's three-dimensional puzzles: the Liziba monorail passing through a residential building (ride it, then photograph it), the Yangtze cable car at its best light, and Ciqikou's old lanes above the river. Your driver handles the navigation — this city defeats map apps for sport. Transfer out.
How many days?
Two days, or one very full one. Chongqing pairs with Chengdu (about 1–1.5 hours by fast train) and is the upstream start of Yangtze cruises — ask us to add it to Pandas & Peaks or any custom route via the inquiry form.
Getting there & around
Fast trains from Chengdu (~1–1.5 hrs) and Xi'an; a major flight hub. Inside the city, let the driver handle it — Chongqing defeats navigation apps for sport.
Best time to visit
Spring and autumn. Summer earns its "furnace city" nickname honestly.
Chongqing FAQ
Chengdu or Chongqing if I only have time for one?
Pandas and slow life: Chengdu. Urban spectacle and hotpot maximalism: Chongqing. With 3+ days in Sichuan, do both — they're about 1–1.5 hours apart by fast train.
Can I start a Yangtze cruise here?
Yes — most Three Gorges cruises board in Chongqing. Tell us your dates and we'll align the city days with sailing schedules.