Is the Night View the Only Thing Keeping Hongyadong's Popularity? It's 2020, What Can You Actually Do There During the Day?

Almost every Chongqing travel guide mentions Hongyadong. As a must-visit internet-famous attraction, its stunning night view has become its signature. When night falls, Hongyadong turns as dreamy as Spirited Away, with crowds gathering from all directions, bustling and lively.

Compared to the prosperity of the night, Hongyadong during the day is surprisingly quiet, and this hasn't changed since it became a hit in 2018. It makes one wonder: it's 2020, is the night view still the only thing propping up Hongyadong's internet-famous facade?

Of course not! So what can you actually do there during the day? Next, I'll peel back the outer layer of Hongyadong's night view and take you back to the old Chongqing neighborhoods of the 1980s.

This is a newly built area in Hongyadong in 2020, located on the 5th floor.

It recreates the look of 1980s Chongqing: a disco square, Route 5 trolley, supply and marketing cooperative, open-air tea house, vintage photo studio...

Whatever old Chongqing you can think of, it's all here! It's said to open to the public on August 18. I went ahead to scout it out for everyone, and here's a travel guide for your reference—I guarantee even locals will fall in love with it!

Transportation guide to Hongyadong:

1. Take Metro Line 1 or 6 to Xiaoshizi Station, exit from Gate 9, and walk 500 meters.

2. Take Metro Line 2 to Linjiangmen Station, exit from Gate B1, and walk 900 meters.

3. By bus, depending on your location, get off at Hongyadong Bus Stop, Xiaoshizi Bus Stop, or Linjiangmen Bus Stop.

Walking guide to the 5th floor of Hongyadong: Take the elevator or stairs from the entrance on the 11th floor or 1st floor to the 5th floor.

(Guide to the Reunion 1980 Block)

The Reunion 1980 Block integrates the old Chongqing market atmosphere and old alley scenery, authentically recreating the 1980s street life of Chongqing. The block is divided into an inner city and an outer city:

The outer city mainly consists of several period scenes: Fruit Wholesale Market, Bayi Road Tube Building, Dacuo Street, Taipingmen River Street, and Dayangou Market.

The inner city includes Chongqing Station, Zourong Road, and City Center Square. Enter through the vintage camera-shaped doorway, turn right to start a nostalgic journey. Every inch of air inside carries a strong vintage vibe, and every step offers a retro photo opportunity. Since 2020 can't be restarted, why not reunite with 1980? If you're interested, don't forget to visit Hongyadong in August and meet the Chongqing of 1980!

Suitable styles: Retro, Hong Kong-style, Cyberpunk. What's the point of going out without taking photos? Have fun, and don't skip photos! Whether you're doing a professional photo shoot or just tourist snapshots, the scenes here are definitely worthy. Every spot can serve as a perfect backdrop. Let me introduce a few of my favorite scenes. Enough talk—here's the good stuff!

The big light sign is the first one I'm introducing because it has the potential to become an internet-famous spot. The red, yellow, blue, and green lights are rich but not chaotic. "Reunion 1980," "Disco Square," "Zourong Road," "Supply and Marketing Cooperative"—all the scene names in the block are gathered on this sign. You can take a panoramic photo here, then throw a peace sign for a classic tourist shot, or put your hands in your pockets for a cool punk vibe. That's definitely eye-catching content for your social media!

【Shancheng Cinema】The name Teresa Teng brings back so many memories for many people. "Sweet Honey, you smile so sweetly, like a flower blooming in spring"—such simple and pure confessions, sweet to the heart. "As time goes by, I only care about you" warms the heart deeply. Anyone who has been captivated by her soft singing carries a warmth that time cannot wash away. Hearing her name evokes long-lasting longing and remembrance. At the Shancheng Cinema, sitting on a wooden bench pulls your thoughts back in time. The holographic MR interactive music show "Looking for Teresa Teng" combines cutting-edge technology. Without wearing any equipment, audiences can enjoy a naked-eye 3D performance of Teresa Teng "personally" singing classic songs, every smile and gesture instantly transporting you back to her live concert 30 years ago for a heartfelt duet across time and space.

【Route 5 Trolley】The white signboard indicates the Route 5 trolley, the main mode of transportation for Chongqing residents in the 1980s. The body is white and blue, the interior simple and clean. Though it can't run again, it can bring back memories of that time, driving you through childhood memories and golden years. It's absolutely perfect for photos! You can lean against the body and put on a melancholy look, sit inside and gaze out the window, or strike a fashionable pose inside the carriage.

【Disco Square】"Whenever disco music starts playing again, we're still together." With dynamic music and colorful lights, come dance a magical disco here and experience the 80s disco vibe. When we went, we saw a social media influencer filming a dance video. We stood watching for a while—if we hadn't felt shy about interrupting, we would have joined them. I heard that after the official opening, there will be interactive performances by vintage dance troupes and influencers. Listening to the lively disco, forgetting worries and sorrows—how wonderful! Also, photos here are fantastic. The lights are mainly red, blue, and green, spinning around and hitting your face, creating a unique effect. To the right, there's a TV wall made of old black-and-white TVs and vintage radios, with grainy images and flickering mosaic screens—so authentic!

【Open-Air Tea House】The tea house is located on Taiping Street, an open-air old teahouse surrounded by stone seats. The tables and chairs are old wooden tables and bamboo chairs from the past, with a tree nearby.

When you get tired, sit down and enjoy a cup of tea, soaking in the leisurely vibe of old Chongqing while reliving the unique atmosphere of the 80s and 90s.

The immersion is so strong—I can already see people taking breaks all around: some fanning themselves with palm-leaf fans on stone slabs, some rolling up sleeves and chatting, some slowly stirring their tea lids, some listening intently to storytelling...

The Supply and Marketing Cooperative, as the name suggests, is a "cooperative specializing in supply and sales." During the planned economy era, it was a "super chain store" funded by the government. People had to deal with it for everything from food and clothing to daily necessities. The green shelves and glass display cases inside are signatures of the 80s. When we went, the display cases were empty; presumably, after the opening, they'll be filled with various goods. Buying some souvenirs there for friends would be meaningful.

Besides the Reunion 1980 Block on the 5th floor, the 6th floor of Hongyadong is expected to open the Bayu Twelve Scenes Light and Shadow Interactive Art Museum in September. It's said to use the four seasons and time as themes, combining immersive multimedia art installations with AR technology to showcase Chongqing's Bayu Twelve Scenes. There will also be original two-dimensional character guides, creating a sharp contrast with the Reunion 1980 Block on the 5th floor—one ancient, one modern—allowing visitors to experience Chongqing's culture from multiple perspectives.

Rendering of the Bayu Twelve Scenes (from Hongyadong Tourism Weibo)

Reunion 1980 1980s Life Scene Block: 29 yuan

Looking for Teresa Teng New MR Interactive Music Show: 29 yuan

Reunion Package (Reunion 1980 / Looking for Teresa Teng): 39 yuan

(Official price chart)

The Chongqing of the 1980s is a history I, a post-90s, never experienced—it's the TV show "Ling Tangyuan" on Chongqing Channel, the old popsicles you could buy for 10 cents... For those of us born in the 90s and 2000s, the 80s is both curious and appealing, with its market vibe, its smoky flavor, and its indescribable unique charm.

(Scene photo of Reunion 1980 old Chongqing life)

Before, when people mentioned Hongyadong, they only thought of the night view. Maybe from now on, Hongyadong's label will add "Reunion 1980." Enjoy the night views of the two rivers at night, and stroll through the 80s old streets during the day—this should be the coolest new way to experience Hongyadong in 2020.

It used to be said that Hongyadong was a paradise for tourists, while locals rarely visited. But now, it carries so many flavors of old Chongqing. Chongqing friends, tell me—will you fall in love with this place?

It's not open yet. After the August 18 opening, some 80s-style shops will likely move in, making the experience even better.

I'll definitely go again once it's open! If you like this style and vibe, mark it and save it!