National Day Trip to Chongqing
On October 2, 2019, in this hot season, we chose to go to hot Chongqing.
The meal on Sichuan Airlines was pretty good, and they even provided brown sugar guokui (a type of baked pastry). (My phone was in the overhead bin...)
We arrived in Chongqing that evening. From the airport, we took the light rail and quickly reached the city center. The scenery along the way was fantastic!
We chose a hotel near Jiefangbei, but I wouldn't recommend the hotel we stayed at—it was expensive and small, with no advantage except its great location.
There were so many people at Jiefangbei that day, truly a sea of people. But I have to give credit to the Chongqing Tourism Bureau—they did an excellent job managing the crowds. It felt crowded but orderly. When we asked for directions, people patiently explained. I appreciate the staff who guided us, and the police were everywhere on duty, making us feel very safe.
That night, we greeted our stomachs with a bowl of hot and sour noodles (suān là fěn), signaling that we had arrived in Chongqing! The famous Haoyoulai brand hot and sour noodles had an incredibly long line, but they were deliciously spicy and flavorful, with chewy noodles. It was so good I couldn't stop eating, but the spiciness drove me to need a bowl of bingfen (ice jelly) to soothe my stomach. Then we busily ate various snacks and queued up, so we forgot to take photos. (All the delicious food was in an alley near Jiefangbei; we just followed the huge crowds without choosing the Bayi Snack Street.)
Near Jiefangbei, we randomly picked a youth hostel and joined a group tour to Wulong. The price was a bit high, but it was National Day after all.
The next day, we set off at 7 a.m., so we bought a bag of bread for breakfast. Big mistake! It was totally unnecessary—the breakfast at the meeting point was excellent. Noodle shops were open in the morning, and you could choose various breakfast items from food carts.
The tour bus recommended snacks, but we planned to buy specialties at Walmart later, so we didn't buy any. They smelled okay.
We arrived at Wulong around noon. I recommend everyone have the group meal—the dishes were varied and tasty, with both meat and vegetables, fast service, reasonable price, and great value.
There were many people at the Wulong scenic area that day; we kept queuing, queuing, and queuing. But we told ourselves, “This is a unique experience—others haven't seen so many people. It's self-hypnosis.”
The glass bridge (viewing platform) at the entrance is not recommended—it's small, crowded, and not convenient for photos. Not worth the extra money.
The guide said the downhill elevator would require a two-hour wait, so we didn't take it and walked down instead. It wasn't far, just a bit of exercise. (A friend went in April and said there weren't many people.)
The film studio in the canyon looked beautiful, but with so many people, it didn't feel like a fairyland. I couldn't squeeze past the Transformers—it was all children, and queuing for entry drained all patience.
Looking up in the canyon was stunning; I admired the wonders of nature. Truly deserving of its reputation as a “heavenly pit and earthly fissure.” This scenic spot is worth visiting—fresh air and pleasant scenery.
Make sure to wear sports shoes! Also bring a hat and a waterproof jacket; some physical effort is needed. Carry water and snacks, as there is no food inside the scenic area.
We returned to the city around 8 p.m. The bus stopped at Jiaochangkou Night Market, where we discovered there were many snacks. I recommend Xiaopao's freshly fried crispy pork—crispy outside, soft inside, and full of peppercorn aroma. We even had some vacuum-sealed to take home.
For dinner, we chose Wushan Paper-Wrapped Fish (Jiefangbei branch). The shop was in an alley, a bit hard to find, and not too crowded (compared to other hot pot places). The fish was fresh, well-seasoned, crispy outside, and tender inside. I especially recommend the pickled radish—sour and spicy, and the restaurant gave us a free extra portion.
When we returned home after dinner, the area around Jiefangbei was finally less crowded, so we could take photos and get right in front of the Jiefangbei monument.
On the third day, we did a proper check-in tour. Chongqing's public transport is very convenient—we took the subway everywhere, no traffic jams, fast. It's a city suitable for public transport. Try sitting at the front or back of the subway car for a unique experience.
We started with breakfast at Pangmei's small noodles (xiǎomiàn) and pea-and-pork noodles (wānzá miàn). We went at 7 a.m. when it wasn't crowded. The noodles were numbing and fragrant; we still miss the taste after returning home. (This standalone Pangmei noodle shop was better than the one at Bayi Snack Street.)
We took the subway to the Crown Escalator to check in. It costs 2 yuan each time, so prepare coins. (No need to specifically check in; personally, I felt nothing special.)
At the Crown Escalator station, we transferred to the subway to Ciqikou.
That day, it was raining heavily in Chongqing, but the tourists' enthusiasm was unstoppable. Even entering Ciqikou required queuing; it felt like shoulder-to-shoulder.
Ciqikou's small streets have interesting shops, some worth browsing for trinkets. There are also many bars, and from the windows, we saw young guys playing guitar and singing. (It was pouring, so we couldn't take photos; we recorded the handsome faces with our eyes.)
For lunch, we decided to eat at Yangma'er Hot Pot around 11 a.m., so the wait time was shorter. Rainy days go perfectly with hot pot!
The hot pot was delicious—the duck blood was very tender. Bravely, we tried pork brain—it was so fragrant, opening a new world. My favorite was goose intestine, which had a nice chew. The shrimp balls were full of shrimp. I recommend the sour plum juice—it was great. Overall, it was good! (The heavy rain nearly collapsed the ceiling.)
After hot pot, we thought of using yogurt to cut the grease. Nearby was Gesang's Yogurt, a Tibetan yogurt shop. It tasted good, with a nice environment and Tibetan-style decor, but the drinks were a bit pricey, offering low value for money.
Ciqikou is also known for its dazzling array of snacks, which was our main target.
From grilled rice cakes (gǔzhèn kǎo cíbā), crispy outside and chewy inside—it was my first time eating this, with a roasted fragrance. Loved it. And these white, plump ones... hmm, kind of cute.
First time eating bean cake (dòugāo)—sweet but not cloying, melts in your mouth, especially nice when hot.
We bought one of each flavor to try, but why did they all taste similar? (If you're not many, just buy two pieces; don't buy too many.)
While pushing through the crowd, we spotted baked ice cream—tried it for novelty. It looked pretty and cute, but they didn't have my favorite chocolate flavor, so the value wasn't great.
After we were full and satisfied, we passed by Liziba on the way back to the hotel to check in.
On the way back, we also visited the Art Museum. It was close to our hotel and we passed by often, but it wasn't open. It looked better at night.
That evening, we planned to see the night view of Hongya Cave, but the line to enter was terrifyingly long, so we didn't go inside. Instead, we went to the opposite bank to see the view. (A bit regrettable.)
I have to praise again—the crowd management in Chongqing was excellent; orderly, no queuing, we just strolled to the opposite bank.
It looked just like a scene from a Hayao Miyazaki anime—Chongqing's night view is truly amazing.
Since there were so many people taking boat tours, we didn't join them; just viewing from the bank was nice.
Because it had rained during the day, we were surprised to discover another beautiful scene. Chongqing truly is the “City of Fog”—tall buildings rose into the mist, reminding me of the line “deep in the clouds, I know not where.”
For dinner, we went to another snack street (not Bayi; it's next to Bayi). Grilled ribs, grilled trotters, bingfen, Baoshifu's pork floss buns, milk tea, chicken feet—everything was available. Nothing was a disappointment; all tasty, except queuing was painful. We comforted ourselves: “I just love joining the crowd! Hmph!” (All could be ordered as group deals.)
On the fourth day, early in the morning, we chose Laojie Glutinous Rice Balls (Lǎo Jiē Nuò Mǐ Tuán). The shop had a fresh, cozy atmosphere.
It was our first time eating “wān jiǎo gǎn yóu chá” —a crispy, savory snack that warmed our stomachs. Laojie Glutinous Rice Balls had rich layers of texture, crispy and chewy, very tasty. (We saw many takeaway orders; we should have ordered takeaway, but we thought it might be too much trouble as tourists.)
After breakfast, we continued our check-in tour.
We took the subway to Zhongshuge (the bookstore). We arrived early, almost among the first. It's a great place for photos; hardly anyone was actually reading. The environment was nice, with strong design elements. They sold many journaling supplies, though a bit pricey.
We had to check in at Sichuan Fine Arts Institute (SCFAI).
Through the graffiti street, we reached SCFAI and looked around. I don't know much about art, but my friend kept taking photos.
The famous Transportation Tea House (Jiāotōng Cháguǎn), featured in many variety shows, was right on the graffiti street—exactly like on TV.
But we didn't have time to go in; we just peeked inside—it was bustling inside. You need to pay an entrance fee to enter.
At the street entrance, I couldn't resist buying another fried crispy pork for energy. It was okay, but I think the one at Jiaochangkou was better.
Then we rushed to the Museum and the Great Hall of the People.
The Great Hall looks better when photographed from a distance; we weren't allowed inside.
Entering the museum required ID; admission was free, and luggage could be stored. The museum was quite large; even a quick look took us about 2 hours. Make sure to check the schedule—they show a film, but we missed it.
For lunch, we went to Yipinxiang (other restaurants had too many people). This restaurant was right behind the Great Hall, with warm service, not too crowded, and nice decor. The portions were generous. I recommend the Sichuan pepper chicken and sticky rice ribs; they were super delicious, though the chicken pieces were small—I felt like I was looking for meat among the peppers. My friend ordered Kung Pao chicken, which was a disaster—don't order it.
Exiting the restaurant and passing the Great Hall, there was a Walmart where we bought a bunch of local specialties. I especially recommend Liupo's seasoning—it tasted the best. This Walmart could deliver some items to the hotel. After shopping, we took a bus directly back. (Recommended place to buy specialties.)
But! But! My friend left her phone at the restaurant, so we went back again to get it... (What a bustling day.)
In the evening, we went to Shancheng Trail (Mountain City Trail), a narrow stone path with some small shops along the way, each with unique decor. Worth a stroll.
After dark, the night view was different. Important tip: wear long pants; there were too many mosquitoes after dark. We only walked halfway before the mosquitoes nearly ate us, so we hurried back. In fact, we didn't know where the path ended.
On the fifth day, we got up early and went to Bayi Snack Street for a farewell food feast. (Didn't want to leave.)
Bayi Snack Street had a wide variety of delicious food, all tasty, with reasonable prices.
Finally, at the airport, we ended the trip with Starbucks! (Started with food, ended with food.)
We really loved this trip to Chongqing. Looking back at my itinerary before departure, however, plans changed—we couldn't experience some places because of the huge crowds and long queues. Chongqing has so much delicious food that it's impossible to have a bad meal; even street snacks are great. The must-eat restaurants were too crowded, so we missed them (unfortunately). If I ever go to Chongqing again, I'll avoid holidays.
Next time, I'd like to visit Guanyinqiao, Nanshan area, or Hechuan as recommended by Mizijun, and stay in a hotel with a river view. In short, we all loved this Chongqing trip.
