Chongqing, China: Travel Guide

Even after visiting 100 countries and more cities than we can count, we had never seen anything like Chongqing. This Chinese metropolis is home to over 31 million people with an area of 31,700 sq mi, nearly equivalent to Austria. As one of the world’s biggest cities, Chongqing has plenty to offer, but surprisingly, few have even heard of it.

No matter what kind of traveler you are, Chongqing will deliver. If you are not buzzed on tea and snacks, it’s the electrifying music and fluorescent lights. If it’s not gazillion photo ops keeping you trigger happy, it’s dizzying stairs and multi-levels that render your sense of direction useless. Or, it’s the hallucinogenic spice levels of Chongqing's food - something the Chinese will proudly quiz you about, falling into a fit of giggles when you say “spicy!” There is never a dull moment in Chongqing, home to the coolest places to visit in China.

Let us explain what makes Chongqing worth visiting and hopefully put China’s futuristic city on your radar.

Chongqing Attractions

World’s Cyberpunk City

In Chongqing, transportation is not only for getting around but also an affordable city tour and attraction. Since Chongqing is a mountainous city situated at the confluence of two rivers, Jialing and Yangtze, it needed smart transportation and infrastructure solutions to cope with the challenging landscape and accommodate the growing population. As a result, the city is covered with overpasses resembling a tangled-up den of snakes, crisscrossed with over 30 bridges, cable cars, and monorail tracks that swoosh even through residential buildings.

The buildings are constructed in levels along the hillsides, connected by a network of stairs and bridges, so when it feels like you are at ground level, the nearest exit point will reveal that you are actually 20 floors up (most notably at KuixinglouSquare). This tricky infrastructure is what earned Chongqing the title of a 3D city.

Chongqingers are used to the stairs and conserve their energy by taking hidden escalators and elevators that connect city layers. You tell apart the visitors by their shortness of breath. But, Chongqing’s popular tourist attractions are worth the effort. Check out Liziba Station, where the monorail passes through a building and the Yangtze River Cableway. The futuristic monorail is best during the day. Reserve the cable car for nightfall to catch an epic light show across every structure, which adds to Chongqing’s cyberpunk city status.

Fun fact: There are 2.58 million cameras in Chongqing surveilling the population. In case you are wondering if the city is safe – Big Brother is always watching.

Mind-Blowing Architecture

Chongqing’s surreal cityscape is made up of unbelievable architecture. Here are a few unmissable buildings when visiting Chongqing.

Raffles City may look familiar because it was designed by the same architect as Marina Bay Sands in Singapore. Here, it represents sailboats that traverse the rivers at the foot of the towers. As expected, there is a Skywalk on top that makes it one of the most popular Chongqing attractions.

Near Times Square's Chinese counterpart Jiefangbei Pedestrian Street, home to the Liberation Monument, you’ll find another masterpiece – Chongqing Art Gallery. This futuristic art museum and performance center looks like something out of the Matrix, particularly at night. Catch an exhibition, which is usually free of charge, or attempt to snap its best side.

Chongqing Grand Theater, situated right on the bank of the Yangtze River across the CBD, incorporates modern design and landscape elements. At night, the entire façade of the theater serves as a giant canvas for Chongqing’s incredible light shows. Innovative and futuristic on the outside, the theater hosts world-class cultural performances – a unique blend of tradition and modernity abundant in Chongqing.

As for traditional architecture with a controversial twist, head to Shibati – an old street also known as 18 steps lined with Bayu folk architecture. This former dilapidated residential neighborhood had been demolished and rebuilt with traditional heritage houses filled with modern shops, boutiques, tea, and coffee houses, including the most heritage-looking Starbucks we’ve ever seen.

Next is Luohan Temple, which is said to be over 1000 years old but has been rebuilt several times. It houses intricate carvings, over 500 Buddhist statues, and ancient books. The juxtaposition of the surrounding skyscrapers against its swallowtail roof is astounding. Rub the belly of the laughing Buddha for good luck before heading out to Huguang Guild Hall. The 300-year-old gathering place of merchants who immigrated to Sichuan during the repopulation and rebuilding movement after the province was struck by war, epidemic, and famine. The museum on premises tells stories of these immigrants and their hard work that shaped the province.

Visiting Hongyadong is one of the best things to do in Chongqing despite the crowds. This unique 11-story stilt-building complex is a historic landmark, commercial district, and river observation point all at once. Imagine a street food heaven, shopping, and entertainment based in a heritage building built into the side of a cliff adorned with magical neon lights – that’s Hongyadong.

Lastly, we are big fans of libraries and bookstores, so believe us when we say Zhongshuge bookstore inside Zodi Plaza is worth checking out. Its floor-to-ceiling bookshelves reachable by zigzag staircases reflected in mirrored ceilings is what made the store internet famous. The design was inspired by Rajasthan's step-wells and the resemblance is fascinating!

Walks and Vistas

With all those city layers, labyrinthine passageways, blends of architecture, and light shows, spectacular views are guaranteed. Chongqing never disappoints in this department, offering many vantage point options.

Perched up on a mountain ridge, Eling Park is not only home to Chongqing’s ancient architecture, but also offers breathtaking views of the city from the tall pagoda on its premises. The park is a peaceful oasis, so bring a book or try meditating on the lakefront bridge and gazebos.

With the rapid development of Chongqing, many of its old buildings gave way to gleaming skyscrapers, malls, and new transportation solutions. But the alleys that connected former Chongqing still remain and preserve memories and hidden gems. These pathways have been turned into trails called Mountain City Alleys, inviting visitors to explore historical traces along the way and admire the views. Use these directions to find the Shancheng Alley provided by the iChongqing Tourism Board.

Chongqing Food

A Chongqing city tour is incomplete without sampling the food. Formerly a part of Sichuan until it split off in the late 90s, Chongqing food shares the same characteristics – it’s pungent and spicy. Mouth-numbingly spicy. Chefs are happy to turn down the heat if you ask, but it will still be hot.

Start your tour at BayiFood Street, which houses a head-spinning variety of offerings. Some dishes and combinations were mindboggling, like chili-drenched soft-serve ice cream! But there are lite versions, too. We rather enjoyed a bowl of bingfen– a refreshing Sichuan dessert called ice jelly, which makes for the perfect pairing post-mouth numbing feasts. The goal here is to be curious, try things, and talk to people lining up at stalls.

Chongqing Xiao Mien – or Chongqing small noodles – is a famous dish usually eaten at breakfast. Mien stands for noodles, and xiao is little, though in the local dialect, it means plain. So traditionally, when you order the noodles, they don’t come loaded with other ingredients like beef, intestines, egg, or chickpeas with beef mince. You need to ask for that separately. The noodles are always spicy and pungent, though. The best Chongqing noodles are said to be found on this road. It’s home to the three most popular noodle houses: Zhao Wu, Wenxinyuan, and Pingyuan. Pick the one you fancy and slurp away. Hot tip: Grab soy milk to tame the heat!

Chongqing’s cuisine might scorch your mouth, but its attractions are undeniably cool!

Anytime we asked “What is Chongqing famous for” the answer was always “Hot pot!” It's the national dish and an ancient tradition that gathers people over pots of red oily broth, where you drop veggies and proteins and wait as they cook. One of the best things to do in Chongqing is to try hot pot and maybe take some home (solid and vacuum sealed). If you struggle with spice, get the kind that splits the pot in two for a spicy and non-spicy broth so you can tick off a must-do Chongqing attraction and enjoy it, too! And why not have it at the restaurant where this method was invented – Little Swan Hot Pot in Hongyadong.