Next Stop: Chongqing, Mountain City – A 3-Day, 3-Night Photo, Explore, Climb, Eat Adventure

📍 Chongqing · 👁 9146 reads · ❤️ 39 likes

Chongqing – a mountain city, a river city, a fog capital. That was my first impression stepping off the plane, truly. After being taken around by a local friend for three days, I developed a special feeling for it.

"A thousand li of mountains and waters make Chongqing a city of layered landscapes." The unique beauty of Chongqing lies in its form. The Chinese have always loved mountains and rivers; Chongqing is both a "river city" and a "mountain city," a perfect embodiment of "mountains and rivers as one."

An 8D city – in the same building, entering from the east is the first floor, but exiting from the west is the 18th floor. In a shopping mall, you must check which floor you're on when you enter; otherwise, you might not know which floor button to press when you want to leave. That was the advice from a local Chongqing person on my first day.

Chongqing, you are a city where in the city center you see both trendy new buildings and old houses side by side. An outsider is always puzzled: shouldn't they just knock down the surrounding old buildings when constructing new ones? Amidst towering skyscrapers, there are still old streets and houses from the 1980s. For instance, at the end of Chaodong Road stands Chongqing's iconic landmark "Raffles City" – modern, upscale, luxurious. Yet right at the foot of Raffles City, shirtless men carrying bamboo poles ("bangbang"), trucks, and buses weave through every gap.

Chongqing – a city where the aroma of food fills the streets at meal times. Unlike other places where you can resist, here the smell of the extremely fragrant, numbing, and spicy hotpot makes it impossible to move a single step. Who can ignore it? Just thinking about it makes your mouth water.

Chongqing's main urban area stretches nearly a hundred kilometers along the two rivers and four banks. The Yangtze and Jialing Rivers meet here, forming a natural port. Where there's a port, there are docks. Chongqing has been a major dock city since ancient times, so the locals have the character of mountain people – natural, straightforward, and simple. They speak and act directly. During my few days here, the biggest impression I got of Chongqing people was their boldness and frankness. Ask anyone, and they'll tell you that the frankness of Chongqing people is famous nationwide.

Besides being frank and straightforward, Chongqing people are also fiery and outgoing. They start climbing uphill as soon as they step out, boarding buses is like charging into battle, and driving is like going to war. The speed limit in the city is 70 km/h, but as long as there are no cameras, they can drive up to 100 km/h.

I've written quite a lot, but visiting a city is not just about checking in; you need to understand it, like getting to know your secret crush, then immerse yourself. Only then is the trip worthwhile.

Words are not enough; here are the pictures.

- Hangzhou ✈ Chongqing

- Nanbin Road, Ciyun Temple (a fusion of ancient architecture and modernity; under renovation – unfortunate)

- Eling Park (Overlooking the River Terrace, sunset)

- Down the mountain for dinner, learning about Chongqing along the way.

- Hotpot (fresh, aromatic, numbing, spicy)

- Eling Park Factory 2 (Second Factory), the rooftop from "I Belonged to You"

- Nanshan One Tree (night view)

- Teahouse (all the winding mountain roads were worth it; a sudden glimpse of paradise)

- Chongqing small noodles (fragrant)

- Flower Market (antique style, Republican-era style. Great for photography)

- Light Rail Line 2 sightseeing tour (walking was too tiring; sitting and enjoying the Chongqing scenery is also nice)

- Get off at Huanghuayuan Light Rail Station, walk down the mountain steps to the riverside, then walk along the river to Hongya Cave (was tricked by Gaode map; recommended to get off at Linjiangmen Metro to go directly to Hongya Cave, but walking by the river was also nice; ate a lot at night)

- Hongya Cave (night view)

- Qiansimen Jialing River Bridge

- View Hongya Cave from the riverside at Chongqing Grand Theatre

- Food stalls, Chongqing beer

- "Cockroach restaurant" (hole-in-the-wall place for fish – good food is always in hard-to-find places)

- Chongqing Three Gorges Museum (a museum is a city's calling card, bearing human memory, the accumulation of history, and the witness of civilization)

- Gangyu Square (8D city, Raffles City)

- Yangtze River Cableway (3 minutes)

- Egongyan Bridge (light rail, bridge, elevated road running parallel)

- Sichuan Fine Arts Institute (Huxi Campus) and Luo Zhongli Art Museum (unfortunately closed)

- Jianghu cuisine (family gathering at home)

Not a single moment was wasted in three days. Every day felt like 48 hours. I walked over 20,000 steps daily and went to bed at 2:00 AM. At midnight, I was still out admiring the river view and eating late-night snacks.

Hangzhou ✈ Chongqing: ¥190

Chongqing ✈ Hangzhou: ¥545

Didi 🚕 + accommodation & meals: Since I have friends in Chongqing, they covered my accommodation and meals for the few days, so I can't provide a reference.

Most attractions in Chongqing are free:

Nanshan One Tree: ¥30 (peak season ¥30, off-peak ¥15)

Yangtze River Cableway: one-way ¥20; round-trip ¥30 (purchase via WeChat official account)

Transportation: Light rail, bus, Didi.

The light rail system is extensive, convenient, and fast. You can scan the QR code directly with Alipay. However, it gets very crowded during rush hours. Line 2 is mostly above ground, offering views of the scenery. It's also quite stable. And importantly, it's affordable. If you're tired of climbing Chongqing's steps, you can take Line 2 to experience the city. Many of the photos in my article were taken on Line 2 – a pure tourist perspective.

Bus: There are really many cars during rush hours. Taxis and buses are about the same. But when Chongqing is stuck in traffic, it's moving slowly, not completely stopped.

Didi & Taxis: Chongqing taxi drivers have the best driving skills; private cars usually stay out of their way. They dart through city roads fearlessly, and their speed is especially fast, but their skills are top-notch.

Chongqing is a mountainous area, so in older neighborhoods, you'll find steep slopes – locals say they can be nearly 80 degrees. Yet car owners still park on those slopes. Their driving skills are impressive.

I arrived in Chongqing around 1:00 PM and immediately felt the foggy weather. Walking out of the airport with the anticipation of a new experience, I saw the city's symbol – rows of little yellow taxis neatly lined up on the road.

A small tip: There are many touts outside the airport trying to pick up passengers; try not to engage with them, or you'll get ripped off. Also, as a foreigner taking a taxi from the airport, you might get cheated, like I did. My Chongqing friends later told me that they usually pay around 40 to 50 yuan from the airport to the destination, but I paid over 60, and the driver took a long detour. To avoid this, my friend recommended using Didi, which shows the fare directly and allows you to get a car right at the airport. The airport expressway has no tollbooths, so don't be fooled by anyone.

Hopped into a little yellow taxi and rushed to meet my beautiful Chongqing friend, haha. First, catch up on old times. Then my friend set off to take me on my Chongqing journey~

Following my planned itinerary, the first stop: Nanbin Road, Ciyun Temple.

This is a temple. I heard from my friend that this temple used to house both monks and nuns. Unlike ordinary temples that are primarily yellow, here besides yellow, some walls are concrete-colored. I saw online photos of someone wearing a cheongsam or Hanfu in front of the yellow-orange temple, with the modern Raffles City in the background – it had a special vibe.

But when I got there, it was under renovation, so I couldn't go up. I only saw the outer perimeter. However, there is a riverside observation deck, and the river view and the cityscape of Chongqing came into sight instantly~

That was a disappointment, so we quickly moved on to the next stop: Eling Park.

This is one of the highest points in Chongqing, so you can get a panoramic view of the city's great rivers. Free entry, wear a mask, go straight through the main gate. The park's flowers, grass, and trees vie for attention. Continue upward to the "Kansheng Tower" (Overlooking Victory Tower), and next to it a red building called "Feige" (Flying Pavilion; now converted into a teahouse, serving both tea and coffee; the owner said they may host banquets in the future; it's a nice place to rest if you're tired). This was once the residence of Chiang Kai-shek and Soong Mei-ling in Chongqing. Seeing the beautiful scenery here, and because Soong Mei-ling loved plane trees, Chiang Kai-shek planted many plane trees here – such devotion to his wife, enviable indeed.

Nearby is an observation deck specially built by Chiang Kai-shek, named "Overlooking the River Terrace." Watching the sunset here, the golden slanted light reflects on the river, making everything golden.

Strolling in the park is also very pleasant; it's next to residential neighborhoods, so many local residents come here. It's full of the atmosphere of daily life.

Leaving Eling Park, my stomach was growling non-stop. The first meal in Chongqing had to be hotpot.

Down the mountain for hotpot. A friend knew an old hotpot restaurant right at the foot of the mountain. I ordered "slightly spicy," a bit ashamed. The bubbling red oil rolled in the pot; dip some tripe and duck intestines, pick them up after a few seconds – they're especially crispy. Chongqing hotpot is all about tripe, duck intestines, pig brain – a mouthful of happiness.

Chongqing old hotpot is indescribably delicious. Duck intestines and tripe are extremely crispy, seaweed sprouts are very fresh. Pig brain is super tender. The dipping sauce is just a simple oil dip. I thought I wouldn't get used to it, but it turned out surprisingly good. The essence of Chongqing hotpot lies in the freshness of the ingredients; no extra seasonings are needed.

We ate for a full two hours. After eating, we went back up the mountain to digest. On the way, we passed the rooftop from "I Belonged to You" and the Second Factory area, which have been used as filming locations for many movies. It was like a cultural creative park, but it seemed you needed a ticket to enter, and it was also closed due to the pandemic. I took a "I was here" photo at the entrance.

Next stop: Nanshan One Tree.

I thought both Eling Park and Nanshan One Tree offered panoramic views of Chongqing, so choosing one would suffice, but my friend took me to both. I realized they are quite different.

Eling Park is suitable for watching the sunset during the day, while Nanshan One Tree is an observation deck built specifically for night views. But it's a bit out of the way, so plan your time well.

Peak season requires a ¥30 ticket; I suggest going earlier. One regret: I couldn't go up to the top observation deck, so the ¥30 felt a bit of a rip-off.

If you can't get to the "One Tree," there's really very little to see.

Day 1 was a brief introduction; Day 2 was about truly experiencing Chongqing.

After breakfast and rest, we first drove up a winding mountain road and arrived at a place that made me exclaim, "a sudden glimpse of paradise" and "planting beans under the southern hill" – the kind of mood found in ancient poems. A courtyard where you can leisurely drink tea, away from the city's hustle, entering a slow time. The decor was inspired by nature, environmentally friendly.

The environment here is really excellent; it's also suitable for cheongsam photos. If interested, comment for the address~

Returning to the city center, Liberation Monument is a must-visit in Chongqing.

Liberation Monument is the only monument in China commemorating the victory of the Chinese nation's War of Resistance Against Japan. It was completed in 1947. The monument is 27.5 meters high, 2.55 meters wide on each side, and has a self-striking clock on the four sides facing the street. On top, there are directions (north, south, east, west) marked.

In the past, the Chongqing government stipulated that nearby buildings could not be taller than the monument, but now it's clearly the shortest building around, thanks to Chongqing's development. Nowadays, people gather here to count down on New Year's Eve.

Walking a bit further, you can see this.

Then walk a little more to a flower market. And this place,

Looks ordinary, you'd think it's just a flower market, but inside there's a hidden world. Another great place for artistic young people to check in. You can drink tea, eat hotpot, or have a drink. Take Republican-era photos, read books, and so on. No matter your personality, if you bring friends, you can stay here all day.

Tired of walking, take a ride on Chongqing's characteristic light rail. Most cities have subways running in dark tunnels, but Chongqing's unique geography creates a different type of rail: some run underground, some above ground as light rail. Line 2 is mostly above ground. So when you're tired, you can sit and experience Chongqing's different transportation, slowly feeling the train passing through buildings, and seeing different views of Chongqing along the way.

The famous station "Liziba" is on Line 2. You can feel Chongqing's light rail weaving between buildings. A single track can be elevated high, and at some points it turns, the train tilts, like riding a roller coaster (suspended above ground).

Also, get off at Huanghuayuan Station, walk down the hill via the side path (steps), then walk along the river for about 40 minutes to reach Hongya Cave.

Taking a walk by the river with the river breeze is also nice. And it's all flat, so it's comfortable walking.

After dinner, enjoy the night view of Hongya Cave.

* Hongya Cave has an observation elevator that goes up to the 9th floor; then take two more elevator rides to reach near Liberation Monument. So Hongya Cave is on the 1st floor, and Liberation Monument is on the 12th floor – do you understand the height of Chongqing now? Ha.

* After taking the observation elevator down to the 1st floor, exit and walk towards the river to reach the Hongya Cave viewing platform; don't leave through the main entrance.

* Then go to the opposite side of Hongya Cave to see the river view. If you go too late, the lights on Qiansimen Bridge will go out, and Hongya Cave lights also go out at 11:00 PM. Since it was March-April, the river had receded a lot, so we could walk directly to the riverbank. Many people were fishing late at night; find a rock, sit for a while, enjoy the river breeze, chat – pure happiness.

Every city seems to have its own beer. Chongqing has one too: Guobin Beer (Chongqing), Shancheng Beer, etc. Give it a try.

It's great to take an umbrella to the ancient town. I was especially lucky that Ciqikou was officially opened on the very day I went.

Actually, such an ancient town with souvenir shops is a common theme in many cities. Ciqikou is no exception. They sell similar stuff: Hanfu, hotpot base, small souvenirs, etc. Not particularly recommended (mainly because the university town I originally planned to visit was still closed due to the pandemic, and I was afraid they wouldn't let me in, so I changed my itinerary).

But luckily, because it was the first day of opening, there weren't many people. I saw online photos of the streets packed with people, but this time it wasn't – a small blessing.

Chongqing China Three Gorges Museum

Admission: Free; Opening hours: 9:00-17:00 (closed on Mondays)

A museum is a city's calling card, bearing human memory, the accumulation of history, and the witness of civilization. To understand a city, the easiest way is to visit its museum.

The exhibitions include: "Magnificent Three Gorges," telling the story of the unique landscape and topography of the Three Gorges region formed by hundreds of millions of years of marine and continental sedimentation under various geological forces.

"Ancient Ba Yu," with stone age and bronze age artifacts, showcasing Chongqing's ancient civilization and tracing the roots of its 3,000-year culture.

"War of Resistance Years."

Opposite the Three Gorges Museum is the Chongqing People's Great Hall, an impressive building.

Chongqing Landmark Check-in – Raffles City

Besides Liberation Monument, Hongya Cave, and Liziba, there are many other great places for photos in Chongqing. Here is a spot popularized by Japanese photographer RK, where you can capture the 8D magical feel of Chongqing.

Chongqing Raffles City is located at the confluence of the Yangtze and Jialing Rivers at Chaotianmen. As a new landmark, it was designed by a Singaporean hotel designer.

This photo was taken at the street level of Chaotianmen. If you want to go, navigate to Chaotianmen International Shoe Capital. Enter from Gangyu Square and take the elevator to the 1st floor to exit. On the 8th floor main road, you can also see Raffles City, but there are many trees and buildings blocking the view, so the field of vision is not as open. After going down to the 1st floor, walk towards Raffles City to find the spot.

The contrast between old and new buildings, the scene of Chongqing bangbang (porters) making a living on the street, and the white-collar workers in heels and skirts inside the mall – plus the magic of 8D architecture.

Walk a bit further down to Chaotianmen Dock, next to the Yangtze River, and you can also see the Yangtze River Cableway.

There is a tourist bus that goes directly to the Yangtze River Cableway. I saw the ticket price was ¥10. But due to the pandemic, there were no buses when I went. So I took a taxi and found it cost less than ¥10. Only then did I realize it was just beside Gangyu Square. So after taking your big photos, you can take the elevator back to the 8th floor, ask a local how to get to the Yangtze River Cableway, and it's just a short walk.

Originally, it was a means of transportation for Chongqing people to cross the Yangtze River between the north and south banks. Now it's developed into a tourist attraction.

Ticket: One-way ¥20; Round-trip ¥30 (purchase via WeChat official account)

Opening hours: 7:00-22:30

I saw an online photo and was led here. This photo was taken on a viaduct next to Chongqing Yucai Middle School (direct access via Light Rail Line 2).

Light rail, bridge, elevated road running side by side in orderly fashion.

"Magic City" – no exaggeration.

1. Check the local weather. Keep warm.

I went in late March. The first two days were over 20°C, the sun was blindingly bright, and it was hot enough for short sleeves.

Then it rained, and suddenly it got cold, shivering, making me want to wear a winter cotton-padded jacket. The clothes I brought weren't thick enough; luckily my friend lent me his clothes. In this season, Chongqing can make you feel all four seasons in one day, so pay attention.

* So when you travel, always check the local weather and bring extra clothes just in case. In 2020, you can't afford to catch a cold.

2. Chongqing gets dark very late in the evening. Even in spring, it's not completely dark until around 8:00 PM. In Zhejiang, it gets dark before 7:00 PM at this time. So generally, Chongqing people eat dinner relatively late; if you're not careful, dinner ends at 10:00 PM.

3. Chongqing drivers drive really fast. Don't cross the road where there is no crosswalk. Otherwise, you might break into a cold sweat.

4. Chongqing also has a bar street, and it's quite lively. There's also a late-night snack culture. Find a food stall, gather a group of friends, drink beer, eat barbecue – one of life's great joys~

Finally, I wish everyone a pleasant time in Chongqing!

Travelogue Directory:

1. Chongqing Impressions

2. Chongqing Experience (3 days, 3 nights itinerary)

3. Expenses

4. Transportation in Chongqing

5. DAY-1: Chongqing Forest

6. DAY-2: Chongqing Heart

7. DAY-3: Chongqing Culture

8. Tips

Tourism Info

Hotel Index