Budget Student Travel in Mountain City: The Ultimate 3-Day Chongqing National Day Guide for 500 RMB (Including Accommodation and Meals)

Chongqing, a modern foggy city full of charm. From "Better Days," "I Belonged to You," "Chongqing Hot Pot" to hot pot, mountain city, beauties, and mahjong... it truly stirs an irresistible urge to explore. Recently, I went on a three-day trip to Chongqing with my bestie. Since we're both students with limited funds, we made some plans and strategies beforehand, ultimately enjoying a super fun and cost-effective Chongqing trip! As National Day is approaching, this guide might be helpful for those planning to visit Chongqing.

I highly recommend writing a travel plan before you go, even if it's just a simple daily itinerary. Otherwise, you might waste a lot of time and feel lost, making the long-awaited holiday less enjoyable. Don't let that happen!

My bestie and I set off together. We searched for travel tips related to Chongqing online and found many useful insights. However, most itineraries were quite packed, making them seem exhausting—visiting four or five spots a day would be tiring!

For us, that wouldn't work. The purpose of travel is to have fun, so we summarized and planned a more relaxed yet distinctive route. Here's our itinerary:

Day 1: Riverside Day Trip

Jiefangbei — Bayi Delicious Street — Raffles City — Hongyadong

Day 2: Artistic & Niche Tour

Railway Village No. 4 — Eling Er Factory

Day 3: Nostalgic Retro Tour

Dongjiaxi Flea Market — Huangjueya Old Street

With this plan, we didn't hesitate and set off immediately for a spontaneous trip.

**Jiefangbei — Bayi Delicious Street — Raffles City — Hongyadong**

We arrived in Chongqing around 8 a.m., having booked a hotel near Jiefangbei. The location was convenient—close to buses, subways, and taxis. After settling in, we rested a bit and then went out.

Following the navigation from our accommodation to the Jiefangbei monument took about ten minutes. Even in the morning, there were many people around—locals and tourists alike.

Jiefangbei, originally known as the Victory Monument of the Anti-Japanese War, is the only national monument in China commemorating the victory of the Chinese people's war of resistance against Japan, honoring Chongqing's great contribution to the country. Now, when people mention Jiefangbei, they refer not only to the monument but also to the surrounding commercial area. The business district in Yuzhong District centers here, with numerous malls, bookstores, theaters, bars, hotels, and restaurants. It's the largest pedestrian street in western China, known as "China's No. 1 Street in the West."

I had visited Chongqing several years ago. Back then, Jiefangbei was the tallest building around, visible from far away. Now, it's surrounded by towering skyscrapers, making it seem smaller, yet it still exudes its unique and solemn charm. This shows Chongqing's rapid development. We walked around the monument, took photos from various angles, and then continued. We briefly browsed the nearby malls and bookstores, but without shopping plans, it didn't take much time.

From the mall, we headed straight to our next destination—Bayi Delicious Street.

Bayi Delicious Street is very close to Jiefangbei, just a few minutes' walk. It's a paradise for food lovers!

I can handle both cold and spicy food and have a big appetite. I ate so much that I was stuffed. Let me recommend a few dishes that captured my stomach—I'm drooling just writing about them.

**【Leshan Bòbòjī】** It looks like cold pot skewers. Food is skewered on bamboo sticks and soaked in broth, topped with a layer of sesame oil and sesame seeds. Chongqing's chili is incredibly fragrant—just the smell makes you drool. The taste is numbing and spicy, but comfortable, not an irritating dry heat. Mixing a few meat and vegetable skewers is perfect! Super delicious! Highly recommend the crispy tripe and potato slices. So tasty! Average cost per person: 20 RMB.

**【Shanliren Guoba Potato】** The skin is fried until crispy, while the inside is soft and sticky. Great texture. Three flavors available: classic dry mix, sweet and sour spicy, and tomato. If you can't handle spicy, go for dry mix or tomato. If you love spicy, don't miss the sweet and sour spicy—it's a rare taste! Eat it hot; the texture suffers when cold. Average cost per person: 10 RMB.

**【A Yogurt Cow】** I'm not a big fan of milk tea; I usually order milk coffee or tea. I tried their classic—yogurt with soft purple rice. Simple ingredients combined perfectly. Thirst-quenching, refreshing, and healthy. Highly recommend. Average cost per person: 11 RMB.

**【Haoyoulai Hot and Sour Noodles】** Known as the most popular hot and sour noodles. Made with sweet potato vermicelli, topped with crispy minced pork that adds a meaty flavor. Spicy, numbing, and appetizing. The spiciness is intense and addictive! Average cost per person: 9 RMB.

There were many other delicious foods. We only stopped when we couldn't eat anymore. What a satisfying food journey! I wished I could take the whole street home and enjoy different flavors every day.

In the afternoon, it was time for the riverside.

If you have plenty of time like us, you can walk directly from Bayi Delicious Street to Raffles City. It's like a post-meal stroll. The total distance is 1.7 kilometers, about half an hour if walking straight. We took our time, stopping along the way, and it took 40-50 minutes.

Raffles City, opened in 2019, is a landmark commercial building in Chongqing. Before Raffles City, this area—Chaotianmen and Xiaoshizi—was a wholesale market for clothing, bedding, small decorations, all cheap. A local we met while asking for directions told us this. Chongqing people are really warm. The city feels bold and modern, while the people are friendly and straightforward. No wonder people say dealing with Chongqing folks is refreshing.

Taking photos in front of Raffles City is a must. Place the camera low and shoot upward to get a cyberpunk-style shot. Dense clusters of buildings, old Chongqing architecture, and the landmark building in the background create a compact cityscape.

Also, the steps at Yugang Square give a sense of old-world charm and everyday life.

Head down to Chaotianmen Dock, enjoy the river breeze, admire the river view, and take photos. The afternoon was truly pleasant.

Chaotianmen Dock is clean, simple, cool, and stylish—perfect for Japanese-style or cool photos.

Then came the highlight of the day—Hongyadong.

While searching for Hongyadong tips, we found a popular Instagram spot: the "Reunion 1980" block on the fifth floor of Hongyadong. Many girls said it's a must-visit. Knowing it's a photo paradise, we brought two sets of nice clothes to change into for photos.

The Reunion 1980 block focuses on Chongqing's local atmosphere and old alley scenes. It features custom-branded shops that recreate the 1980s city life in Chongqing. Every street and scene is filled with old Chongqing vibes. The block is quite large, with plenty of food, fun, and shopping. It's divided into an outer city and an inner city. The outer city mainly consists of fruit wholesale market, Bayi Road Tongzilou, Dacheng Street, Taipingmen Street, and Dayangou Market. The inner city includes Chongqing Station, Zou Rong Road, and the city center square.

We entered through a mahjong wall and strolled through the outer city, stopping to take many photos. After finishing the outer city, we bought tickets for the inner city—a combo ticket including entry to the inner city and a Teresa Teng concert, costing 39 RMB per person, a good deal. Let me share some great photo spots:

**【Disco Square】**

"Hey, sis, wanna dance? Disco?" Whether you'll get lost in the flashing lights and dynamic music, I started moving right away.

The square is vibrant, with a giant neon tape recorder background, multiple spinning colored lights overhead, and a radio station nearby. When happy, just jump like a carefree child, forgetting all worries.

That day, we saw a "little teacher" in a red scarf and school uniform leading a group of "elementary students" in calisthenics. The square was packed—some seriously learning, others looking around—it was hilarious! I heard that after official opening, there will be vintage dance troupes and internet celebrity performances, offering immersive interactive experiences while reminiscing. Dancing to disco, forgetting worries—so fun!

**【Shancheng Cinema】**

Near the cinema, a Teresa Teng poster caught my eye. Although I'm not from the 70s or 80s, I love her songs—her gentle voice, catchy melodies, sweet and simple lyrics. Classics don't need much embellishment to endure.

Many are captivated by her soft singing, leaving a lasting warmth, yet regret never seeing her perform live.

At Shancheng Cinema, without any equipment, I enjoyed a live Teresa Teng concert. During one song, I interacted with her on screen—it felt like touching distance, like a real person. Although virtual, I couldn't help being nervous and excited. This cross-time duet left an indelible memory.

Remember old black-and-white TVs? I saw one in my hometown—an antenna on top to receive signals. No remote; you changed channels with buttons on the TV. Volume up to the right, down to the left. Unlike modern HD TVs, the picture was grainy and colors dull. Poor signals caused static. To me, it seemed boring.

But for my mom's generation, it was the best entertainment. Not every family could afford one; only every few households in the village had one. They'd gather together, filling small rooms with eager faces, sitting on long wooden benches, watching intently. When the picture suddenly went static during an exciting part, everyone groaned, and a child would go tap the TV's "head" to fix it. This wall of old TVs, interspersed with radios, fascinated me. I thought they were replicas, but accidentally touching a button revealed they were real and could adjust volume—amazing! My mom would surely be moved by this wall.

**【Route 5 Tram】**

Route 5 tram was the main transport for Chongqing people in the 1980s. A 1:1 replica, boarding the tram feels like riding a time machine back to the past. The body is white and blue, the interior simple. Since 2020 can't restart, let's take Route 5 tram to Reunion 1980, driving through childhood memories and reliving golden years.

Have you experienced sitting in an open courtyard, fanning with a palm-leaf fan, sipping old tea, and chatting idly with neighbors? If not, come to Ba Ba Tea here.

Ba Ba Tea is set in Taiping Street—an open-air old tea house surrounded by stone walls. Tables and chairs are old wooden tables and bamboo chairs. There's a tree nearby. Tired from walking, sit down and enjoy a cup of Ba Ba Tea, experiencing the leisure of old Chongqing and the unique life of the 1980s and 1990s.

Life was slow then—9-to-5 jobs, after-work time belonged to oneself. Have dinner with family, take a walk, then drop by a nearby tea house for a cup. Regulars had their own cups. Once the tea was brewed, it was still a bit hot—use the lid to skim off floating leaves, blow, sip, and slowly savor, letting time flow.

Besides these scenes, there are over 20 others: One-Man Alley, Supply and Marketing Cooperative, Chongqing Railway Station, Shancheng Photo Studio, Neon Street, etc. Food includes Chongqing-style noodles, hot and sour noodles, hot pot, and even hot pot ice cream I'd never heard of. Exotic foods, realistic scenes, fun interactions—it feels like being in 1980s Chongqing. Truly a must-visit!

After leaving Reunion 1980, it got dark. We found a perfect spot at Viewing Platform No. 1 to photograph Hongyadong at night. The night view was stunning—stilted buildings of varying heights, red and yellow lights, instantly reminding me of a Studio Ghibli film.

Best spots for Hongyadong night photos:

1. Hongyadong first-floor viewing platform

2. Qiansimen Bridge

3. Opposite Hongyadong

**Railway Village No. 4 — Eling Er Factory**

We started early on the second day. Today's route was artistic and niche.

From Linjiangmen Metro Station, take Line 2 to Yangjiaping Station, exit A, walk 400 meters to Yangjiaping Yixin Yi School bus stop, then take bus 438 to Railway Village No. 4 stop, walk a bit to reach Railway Village No. 4.

Railway Village No. 4 is the old site of Chongqing South Station. Here, there's the Rugao Secret Garden by the Yangtze River, the nostalgic Jungo Bookstore from old Chongqing memories, and abandoned railway tracks. You can also watch the sunset by the river, seeking peace after a busy day.

Rugao Secret Garden is a super niche artistic spot. This café boasts front-row river views on Nanbin Road, perfect for photos. Tip: wear casual or sports shoes, as it's on top of Ma'anshan Hill, requiring a stair climb. Heels might be inconvenient.

Jungo Bookstore is vintage, full of trinkets. The tea is made with mountain spring water, delicious. It's near Rugao Secret Garden, great for photos. Be polite and greet the owner before taking pictures inside.

The bookstore is next to the abandoned railway line, surrounded by houses slated for demolition. I heard the owner made a deal with the government to demolish his bookstore last, after the rest. I hope it never gets demolished.

The morning was spent immersed in Rugao's romance and then in the vintage bookstore, leaving beautiful memories. After lunch and a short break, we continued our afternoon journey.

From Railway Village No. 4 bus stop, take bus 438 to Yangjiaping Yixin Yi School bus stop, walk 400 meters to Yangjiaping Light Rail Line 2 Station, take it to Fotuguan Station, exit A, walk about one kilometer to Eling Er Factory.

This kilometer wasn't boring; there were trees along the road, perfect for fresh-style photos. We walked and took pictures. We passed Eling Park and took a quick look—maybe next time we'll climb the mountain there.

About a hundred meters from Er Factory, we saw the red "贰厂" sign far away. Everything there exudes artistry.

Inside, there are two or three interconnected streets. The leftmost one is the graffiti girl scene from the movie "I Belonged to You" and a "Chongqing" sign photo spot. We took many photos. Watching that movie made me long for Chongqing, and now being in the movie scene felt magical.

The area is full of industrial-style buildings, including the former "Bank of China Printing Factory" and many cafés with great photography themes. There are also many drink shops, some with rooftops. The TF family boys once took photos here.

There's food too. Although crowded, it feels quiet and deep. Since I love photography, my bestie and I wandered and snapped photos all afternoon, had dinner there, and waited for the night view. The view was fantastic—a panorama of Chongqing.

**Dongjiaxi Flea Market — Huangjueya Old Street**

Have you heard of flea markets? They're second-hand markets where old items or unwanted household goods are traded.

As a child, I went to flea markets with my dad. In my memory, they're fascinating places with few visitors, shops overflowing with goods stacked so high they spill onto the aisles. Each visit brought new, novel items—old TVs, washing machines, CDs.

Now, with e-commerce, such markets are rare, and I hadn't visited one in years. From afar, we saw "Dongjiaxi Flea Market" in old lettering. It looked old, similar to markets I'd visited. Curious, we entered.

The market has five floors; only the fourth floor has treasures. Go straight to the fourth floor! There are small electronics, clothes, household items—like treasure hunting!

Most shopkeepers are friendly; no one forces you to buy or chases you away. When we took photos, one owner even cleared space for us—so warm!

The market is dimly lit, with piles of items. The unique smell of old things fills the air, making vintage objects feel both distant and real.

Indoor, so weather doesn't matter. Visit anytime; it instantly takes you to a nostalgic retro world. Not only is it great for vintage photo shoots, but you can also find good deals!

After leaving Dongjiaxi Flea Market, it was still early, so we walked up Huangge Ancient Path. The path isn't steep, well-maintained, lined with towering trees. It's a road carved through the mountains.

Huangjueya Old Street originated from Huangge Ancient Path, part of the famous Ancient Tea Horse Road. Legend has it that it existed as early as the Tang Dynasty. Countless merchants, porters, and horse caravans used this mountain route to connect with the outside world. The mountain-top rest stop, Huangjueya, gradually developed under these conditions.

Huangjueya Old Street is 600 meters long, themed "A thousand-year-old Huangjueya, one road connecting past and present." Many distinguished historical figures once stayed here, leaving behind valuable cultural buildings like Sanmao's Former Residence and Guizhou Guild Hall.

We arrived around 5 p.m., wandered, and took photos. Most buildings are brick-and-wood structures, streets paved with stone slabs, exuding antique charm.

There are also many shops selling vintage items, toys, and food. As dusk fell, more people appeared, and lights turned on one by one. It felt like a gradual journey through time, not a sudden change.

After dark, the illuminated street was a different world—like a scene from "Spirited Away." The lighting made photos easy, without needing perfect angles; the interplay of light and shadow immediately gave a vintage feel.

I define this trip as "immersive travel"—not rushing through multiple spots like group tours, nor high-end like self-driving. My goal was to experience the real Chongqing at the best value. Expenses mainly covered accommodation, food, fun, and souvenirs.

1. **Accommodation**: We didn't choose trendy internet-famous hostels due to budget. We found a reasonably priced standard room online—100 RMB per night for 3 nights, total 300 RMB, 150 per person. Off-peak season was cheaper; peak season might cost more. Book online in advance to avoid no vacancies.

2. **Food**: We foodies didn't skimp. We enjoyed Chongqing's local cuisine daily, averaging about 200 RMB per person.

3. **Fun**: Including tickets and small games like grabbing dolls and ring tossing, about 50 RMB per person.

4. **Souvenirs**: On the last day, we bought small gifts from a specialty supermarket for friends, about 100 RMB per person.

Total per person: 500 RMB.

After three days, we were both very happy. The themed daily itineraries allowed us to see more of Chongqing, and since we didn't pack the schedule, we weren't exhausted. It felt like gently greeting this quiet city and quietly leaving, leisurely observing it like a passerby, yet like an old friend reunited. A truly wonderful trip! If you find this helpful, please like and save it. Finally, here are some beautiful photos from the trip.

Table of Contents:

1. Itinerary

2. Day 1: Riverside Day Trip

3. Day 2: Artistic & Niche Tour

4. Day 3: Nostalgic Retro Tour

5. Expenses

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