Chongqing重庆

Overview

Chongqing is China's largest municipality by area. Built on mountains with staggered buildings, monorails through buildings, and roads winding around hills — it's called a 'magic 8D city'. Hongyadong's stilted buildings are brilliantly lit at night like an anime scene. Yangtze River Cableway is unique urban transport. Jiefangbei and Guanyinqiao are shopping and food paradises. Chongqing hotpot is legendary for its numbing spice.

Key Facts

Top Attractions

Hongyadong

Iconic Chongqing attraction, stilted buildings on a hillside, brilliantly lit at night like a Ghibli anime. Dining and shopping inside.

5

Yangtze River Cableway

Unique urban transport across the Yangtze River, 1166m long, ~4min one way. Featured in the film 'Crazy Stone'.

4

Ciqikou Ancient Town

Thousand-year-old town from Song Dynasty, preserved Bayu traditional architecture. Try Chen Mahua and Maoxuewang.

4

Jiefangbei / Chaotianmen

Jiefangbei is the commercial heart, shopping and food paradise. Chaotianmen is where Yangtze and Jialing Rivers meet.

5

Food & Snacks

Chongqing Hotpot

Chongqing's favorite, nine-grid beef tallow hotpot, numbing and spicy. Must-order: tripe, duck intestine, aorta.

Chongqing Noodles (Xiaomian)

Classic Chongqing breakfast, alkaline noodles with spicy sauce. Wanza mian (pea and minced pork) is classic.

Maoxuewang (Blood Curd Hot Pot)

Famous Chongqing dish, duck blood, tripe and spam in spicy broth. Ciqikou's Chen Maoxuewang is the most famous.

Festivals & Events

World & Intangible Heritage

• Dazu Rock Carvings (1999) — UNESCO listed 1999. Started in late Tang Dynasty, 50,000+ carvings, represents late Chinese grotto art. 1.5h from downtown.
• Chuanjiang Haozi (Yangtze Boatmen's Chant) (2006) — Millennium-old Yangtze boatmen's work chant, bold and rousing, national intangible heritage since 2006.

Practical Tips