From the Bustling 'Mountain City' to the Tranquil 'Wilderness': A Chongqing Guide for You [Raffles City Chongqing + Wulong]

In this city,

people come and go, busy and bustling.

Some hustle through the concrete jungle, while others wander through the wilderness.

Return to nature in heart? Or return to nature in body?

Choice is not your only worry.

City and wilderness were always meant to be dialectically unified.

And in Chongqing, you will find the answer you seek.

« Setting Sail: Raffles City Chongqing »

So what is Chongqing?

The latest issue of the Institute for Planetary Science gave the most professional answer.

But for ordinary people,

it is simply a city of mountains and rivers, a land of beauty.

Today we share a representative and authentic travel guide:

Raffles City + Wulong.

« Raffles City Chongqing »

Chongqing is a mountain city, surrounded by mountains and rivers, embraced by two rivers.

Chaotianmen, at the confluence of the Jialing and Yangtze Rivers,

was once a ceremonial site for welcoming officials and emperors,

blessed with favorable timing, geographical advantage, and human harmony.

The tides of the era surge like the converging rivers.

Time turns, stars shift.

Chaotianmen has undergone generation after generation of urban renewal.

Thus a new landmark of the era—Raffles City—rose abruptly.

Chaotian sails have officially set forth.

« Image Source: Raffles City Chongqing »

Occupying Chaotianmen's extraordinary momentum of 'traveling a thousand miles to reach greatness,'

and commanding the superb scenery of 'City of Mountains and Waters, City of Charm,'

It shoulders the mission of being a new landmark for Chongqing's urban community and renewal.

With the 24-hour cultural corridor connecting Jiefangbei CBD and Chaotianmen as the main axis,

it tirelessly writes, presents, and promotes Chongqing's history and culture.

Raffles City Layout:

B1, B2, B3 Parking Garage

LG Floor: Airport City Terminal, High-Speed Rail Waiting Hall, Yuzhong Peninsula Tourist Center, InterContinental Chongqing Raffles City, Ascott Raffles City Chongqing

L1-L5: Chaotianmen Square (Outdoor), Exploration Deck Viewing Gallery Entrance, Chongqing Cuisine, Cartoonie Land, Chaotianmen Cultural Exhibition Area, International Fashion, Family & Children's Entertainment, KTV, Cinema, Trendy Novelty, Big Era Food Court, Chongqing Historical Scroll

L1 (Mountain City Garden Level): Art Sculptures 'Bloom' and 'Confluence Whispers', City Fountain, Ascott Service Apartment Entrance

L1: Leisure, Entertainment & Dining

Driving to Raffles City mall, you can take Jiesheng Road directly to the underground parking garage (3 levels, parking fee 5 yuan/hour, max 20 yuan). After parking, take the elevator to L1. Exit the mall to reach 'Chaotianmen Square'. You can also take Metro Line 1 or Line 6 to 'Xiaoshizi Station Exit 8' and walk. Buses and ferries are also available.

Chaotianmen Square was built in 1998. The five characters 'Chaotianmen Square' in front were personally inscribed by then General Secretary of the Communist Party of China Jiang Zemin. The back of the inscription records the square's construction process.

Walking to the center of the square, you'll see a marker with a diameter of 5 meters, inlaid with a dot 1.5 cm in diameter—this is Chongqing's Zero Kilometer, symbolizing the city center. China's 'Zero Kilometer' marker is set at the central axis of Tiananmen Square in Beijing, while Shanghai's is at People's Square.

In the past, you could take boats from here to various places. Now, Chaotianmen Wharf is also the starting point for the Two Rivers Tour and the Three Gorges Tour. When night falls, boarding a cruise from this dock lets you experience Chongqing's extraordinary momentum and beauty of 'traveling a thousand miles to reach greatness.'

After exploring the outdoor part of L1, enter the building. The lobby is used for various exhibitions. Surrounding it are: Chongqing local specialty gift area, famous local snacks, including time-honored brands like Bafang Pin, Yuji Laopu, Wanqian Tang, Tang Gaozu, etc. So after touring all of Raffles City Chongqing, you can take away the most memorable taste of Chongqing.

Along the way, you'll pass: Cartoonie Land, a collaboration with Chongqing Natural History Museum, perfect for children to learn and play.

L2-L3: Shopping & Entertainment

Starting from the L1 entrance, a specially built 24-hour passage extends from Xinhua Road to Chaotianmen Square. It is highlighted with custom blue-gray stone. The passage is about 273 meters long, spans 4 floors, connects the L4 mall entrance and the L1 Chaotianmen Square entrance, and has a total of 108 steps. The design of the large staircase incorporates Chongqing's characteristic terrain of climbing slopes and the upward spirit of the mountain city people. Previously, people had to reach Chaotianmen Square via Changbin Road or Jiabin Road; now visitors can walk through the mall anytime to reach the square and enjoy the beautiful views of the two rivers.

Walking along the 24-hour passage, you'll arrive at the Chaotianmen Cultural Exhibition Area on L2 of the mall. To better present Chongqing's history and culture to the public, four glass screens combine relief art with LED transparent screen technology to showcase Chaotianmen's distinctive culture:

« Welcoming Officials and Emperors », « Deng Xiaoping Leaving Sichuan », « Modern Commercial Economy », « Traditional Folk Culture ».

L2-L4: The mall area covers 235,000 square meters. With five floors above ground starting from LG, each floor has planned entrances, integrating the 3D magical city features of Chongqing and effectively distributing visitors.

« Image Source: Raffles City Chongqing »

There are over 400 brand stores, many of which are first stores, flagship stores, or concept stores. These include CGV Cinema's national flagship store, the first Suning Jiwu flagship store in Southwest China, the first Starbucks Reserve® Coffee & Wine Bar in Southwest China, experiential store Cartoonie Land, and more. Additionally, we have specially introduced Singaporean brands like TWG Tea, aiming to create an interactive international social destination that integrates diverse tourism resources, historical and cultural heritage, and Sino-Singaporean art and culture.

« TWG Tea »

« CGV Cinema »

Next, we come to the entrance on L4 of the mall. We pass by the 'Chongqing Historical Scroll,' where five scrolls depict representative historical stories of Chongqing:

« Chongqing Resistance », « Zou Rong », « Sichuan River Shipping », « Sichuan River Boatmen's Chants », « Ba Culture—Ba Manzi ».

L5: City Garden

Next, we go to the Mountain City Garden on the right. Located on the rooftop of the mall podium, it features a city oasis meticulously designed by world-renowned landscape consultant WAA, as well as cascade waterfalls showcasing Chongqing's characteristics, art sculptures 'Bloom' and 'Confluence Whispers,' and a city fountain.

« Image Source: Raffles City Chongqing »

Now looking up, you see the first horizontal skyscraper in China, spanning 4 towers and connecting 6 towers—a 250-meter-high, 300-meter-long 'Crystal Corridor.' It has set many precedents in architectural history and attracted global media attention, making it a 'world internet celebrity.' Covering over 10,000 square meters, it includes sky garden restaurants and bars, a club, and the Exploration Deck Viewing Gallery.

L1-L47: Exploration Deck Viewing Gallery

After visiting the 'base part' of Raffles City, we return to L1 and embark on our space journey. Every city has an observation deck for gazing afar, and Raffles City Chongqing's high Crystal Corridor—the Exploration Deck Viewing Gallery—has become a hugely anticipated and popular check-in spot. Here's a video:

EXPLORATION DECK VIEWING GALLERY

Exploration Deck Viewing Gallery | Raffles City Chongqing Crystal Corridor

Entrance Location: L1, Raffles City Chongqing Mall

Theme: 'Exploration,' integrating urban human geography and sci-fi future.

The Exploration Deck is IP-supported by National Geographic, blending urban human geography and sci-fi future. The indoor part is designed as a Mars exploration observation station. Five 5D somatosensory Mars-themed exhibition areas will gradually showcase how humans plan to transform Mars and make it the second habitable 'Earth.'

—————— 6 Exhibition Areas with Many Treasures —————

« Tracing Chongqing's Origins »

The Exploration Deck Viewing Gallery actually has two floors: the first on L1 of the mall, and the second on L47, i.e., the side of the Crystal Corridor facing the Jialing River at 250 meters high.

At the L1 Exploration Deck entrance, there are four automatic ticket counters at the main entrance.

On L1, the exhibition halls include: City Origins, Discovering Chongqing, Modern Era, Gate to the West, Opening Eyes to the World, and Participating in the Future—six themed exhibition areas.

Numerous archived humanistic images, through different eras and documentary angles, recreate the historical imprints of Chongqing's urban development, allowing visitors to look back at Chongqing's history, feel its humanistic charm, and understand the city's changes and development. On the way to the time-space door, we pass through a magical space tunnel.

Only now have we truly finished touring the first-floor exhibition hall. So we take the 'Time-Space Elevator' to L47.

This is a very 'wow' elevator, designed like a rocket. At this moment, you can shout loudly:

'Let's go! Exploration Deck!'

Riding the Exploration Deck elevator, after traversing the vast 'universe' for 50 seconds, we land on 'Mars' at 250 meters high and begin the 'Mars' exploration journey.

—————— Tropical Rainforest in the Sky —————

« Mars Journey »

Stepping out of the space capsule, it's time to witness the magic. The Exploration Deck has brought a 'tropical rainforest' inside the Crystal Corridor.

Exploration Deck Viewing Gallery L47

Over 110 adult trees up to 9 meters tall are planted throughout the corridor, making you feel as if you've time-traveled—unsure whether you're in the 'sky' or a 'tropical rainforest.'

In the Mars-themed exhibition area, we can get up close to understand Mars's historical evolution, current state, and the entire process of nurturing life in the future. Interactive installations in the exhibition area make visitors feel as if they are on-site, experiencing the charm of Mars, which may become humanity's 'second home.'

Mars Exploration Observation Station

—————— Panoramic Views of Chongqing —————

« God's Perspective »

The cantilevered transparent glass floor at the end of the corridor is a true 'game for the brave.' Here, capturing a 'group photo' with the two rivers and four banks from a different perspective will be an unforgettable journey memory exclusive to Chongqing.

Chongqing's scenery takes on different flavors from different angles, and the observation deck offers an unprecedented experience.

The confluence of the two rivers stretches before your eyes; in one second you can switch between the views of Yuzhong District, Jiangbei District, and Nan'an District. The internet-famous Hongya Cave, Jiangbeizui Grand Theater, Yikeshu Observation Deck... East Water Gate ahead, Thousand Si Gate behind—calling this 'Chongqing's God's perspective' is no exaggeration.

And the most thrilling part is the adventurous heartbeat-racing 'brave' game on the observation deck! The transparent glass floor lets you feel as if you're standing on a cloud.

Stepping out that difficult step—oh my god, the feeling is both exciting and exhilarating! Tremble! The Jialing River is right under my feet!

Moreover, any casual photo taken up here instantly becomes a blockbuster! Well, happy moments are always short; we take a couple of photos and leave time for other visitors. You might think it's over, but the entire tour route is one-way; we take another 'wow' elevator to return to Earth.

After landing on Earth, we have special souvenir shops with very Chongqing-style merchandise.

« Eating at Raffles City »

After all this, you must be hungry! Chongqing's food district is located in the Yangtze River area on the south side of L1 of the mall. You can see many internet-famous Chongqing delicacies.

For example, Chongqing internet-famous restaurants like Liziba Liangshan Chicken, Jiucun Roasted Brain Flower, Wu Chao Shou (Chongqing Intangible Cultural Heritage), Ci Ji Grandma's Bridge Snacks, and over 20 other traditional specialty foods.

« Staying at Raffles City »

Raffles City offers accommodation for different needs. 'Ascott Raffles City Chongqing Service Apartment' has its entrance next to the fountain on L5.

The apartment features 201 luxurious and elegantly decorated guest rooms ranging from executive studios to 3-bedroom deluxe executive suites. Each room includes a separate living and dining area, fully equipped kitchen, and high-quality household appliances.

Some high-floor rooms offer stunning views of Chongqing's unique landscape. Whether for long-term stays or short trips, it provides an extraordinary and noble experience.

InterContinental Chongqing Raffles City

This hotel fully interprets an enticing mountain city luxury travel experience. Located on LG floor,

it sits on the Crystal Corridor at the 42nd floor, horizontally connecting four towers. The designer ingeniously built a 300-meter-long 'city deck' at a height of 250 meters. Guests 'land' at the hotel lobby, enjoying diverse high-altitude spaces with urban luxury landscapes characteristic of the mountain city.

Besides business and socializing, you can relax at the sky pool and fitness center on the 43rd floor, finding peace away from the bustle of the Crystal Corridor. The heated standard pool facing the Yangtze River is 25 meters long, with a specially designed viewing rest area near the floor-to-ceiling windows for overlooking the beautiful river views.

Sky Garden Restaurants and Bars

Five restaurants and bars with distinctly different tones are located on the Yangtze River side of the Crystal Corridor, operated by InterContinental, inspiring entirely new five-sense experiences.

The fun interactive restaurant 'Zhong·Lin' recreates the traditional outdoor family dining atmosphere of the mountain city. Chongqing-style graffiti, street-flavored trucks, and rustic wooden tables are cleverly distributed throughout the restaurant, bringing us into the lively streets and alleys of Chongqing to experience the vibrant urban daily life.

With a fresh and elegant environment, the lobby bar 'Lan' is decorated with trees and greenery, creating a forest atmosphere at high altitude, responding to the grand momentum of 'Ascend to the summit, behold all mountains small' using modern architectural language. Enjoy a relaxing afternoon tea while overlooking the cityscape.

At Raffles City, you can capture both modern urban scenes and Chongqing's local street life. It is recommended to spend an extra day here. Nearby attractions include: Jiefangbei, Hongya Cave, Mianhua Street, Yangtze River Cableway, Huguang Guild Hall, etc.

The next day, you can go to the LG floor of Raffles City: Chongqing Jiangbei Airport City Terminal (the first in Yuzhong District), High-Speed Rail City Waiting Hall, and Yuzhong Peninsula Tourism Area Tourist Center, offering convenient services such as quick check-in, baggage drop-off, flight inquiries, train inquiries,

along with VIP lounge rest area, airport/station shuttle one-stop service, dedicated boarding area at Chongqing airport/station, dedicated reception area at Chongqing airport/station, and VIP exclusive channels at Chongqing airport/station (currently city terminal services are only for domestic flights).

Simply put, if you end your trip at Raffles City, whether you leave by plane or train, you can check in your luggage here in advance and free your hands.

If you ask: 'What fun places are around Chongqing?' Surely 9 out of 10 Chongqing locals will say 'Go to Wulong.'

Since you're already here, why not take a few days to really enjoy it? Living in another way and relieving stress is our ultimate goal.

Wulong Karst Tourist Area is located in Wulong District, Chongqing. It includes three parts: the Three Natural Bridges, Fairy Mountain, and Furong Cave. It boasts rare karst natural landscapes including caves, sinkholes, fissures, canyons, peak clusters, and alpine grasslands, with comprehensive forms. It also offers rich and diverse vacation, leisure, entertainment, and sports activities, as well as unique folk customs of ethnic minorities such as Tujia, Miao, and Gelao. In 2011, it was rated as a national AAAAA tourist area.

Yangjiao Ancient Town, Three Natural Bridges, Impressions of Wulong, Fairy Mountain, Furong Cave

Day 1: Yangjiao Ancient Town—Three Natural Bridges—Watch 'Impressions of Wulong'

Day 2: Fairy Mountain Grassland—Furong Cave

Yangjiao Ancient Town has a long history. Due to the danger of landslides, the entire town was relocated here at the end of 2017 to ensure the safety of people's lives and property.

'Five Li Beach,' the first long beach of the thousand-li Wujiang River, has dangerous rapids and swift currents. In ancient times, cargo boats unloaded here, attracting merchants and creating thriving trade. The original style has been replicated.

In the future, with Wujiang boatmen culture as the core, it will be built into a world-class boatmen culture ancient town.

Local delicacies are not to be missed: Yangjiao dried tofu, Yangjiao bowl lamb, Yangjiao aged vinegar, Yangjiao pig waist dates, and other famous specialties.

The Three Natural Bridges consist of Tianlong Bridge, Qinglong Bridge, and Heilong Bridge. They are grand and majestic, forming the world's largest group of natural bridges. Walking through them feels like walking underground, suddenly realizing human insignificance and fully experiencing nature's uncanny craftsmanship.

Descending into the sinkhole, the first thing you see is Tianlong Bridge. At the bottom of Tianlong Bridge lies Tianfu Official Post. As early as 2006, director Zhang Yimou's film 'Curse of the Golden Flower' shot scenes at Wulong's Tianfu Official Post, making it the only outdoor filming location for that movie. The film 'Transformers 4' also gave this place a sense of mysterious 'hidden paradise.'

Clips from 'Curse of the Golden Flower'

« Impressions of Wulong » is a large-scale mountain-and-water live-action song festival with the theme of 'Disappearance.' The program covers memories of Bayu's history and culture. By showcasing the customs of Bashu culture, endangered art forms, lifestyles, and the clash between modern civilization and traditional culture, it reflects on and calls for the inheritance of traditional culture. Venue: Taoyuan Grand Canyon, Wulong County, Chongqing.

The delicate integration of femininity with the masculine boatmen recreates a grand historical epic of Sichuan River boatmen's culture and life.

The traditional virtue of filial piety to parents leaves the audience with a profound memory and spiritual enlightenment.

In the 70-minute show, audiences not only experience Wulong's beautiful mountains and waters, misty skies, but also enjoy the customs, love, and sorrow of the Bashu land, and listen again to the heroic and magnificent 'chants.'

Fairy Mountain Great Grassland

Fairy Mountain National Forest Park is one of Chongqing's top ten tourist attractions, known for its four wonders: sea of forests, unique peaks, grasslands, and snowfields.

Climbing to the peak, you overlook the mountain plateau landforms of Fairy Mountain, undulating yet flat. The vast sea of forests is lush green, with the sound of pines.

The vast grasslands set among the forests stretch to the horizon, picturesque, combining feminine grace with masculine vigor.

Furong River is a major tributary on the left bank of the lower reaches of the Wujiang River, originating from the eastern foothills of the Dalou Mountains in Jianba Township, Suiyang County, Guizhou Province. The basin area is over 7,360 square kilometers, with a river length of about 230 km.

It features typical large-scale 'U'-shaped canyons. After the impoundment of the Chongqing Jiangkou Power Station reservoir, this section of the river has formed beautiful high-gorge flat-lake scenery on both banks.

Furong Cave formed about 1.2 million years ago. Its largest and widest area can accommodate 185,000 people, and it is known as one of the 'Three Great Caves in the World.'

Inside, there are stone waterfalls and curtains 15 m wide and 21 m high, smooth and jade-like palm-shaped stalagmites,

lustrous curly stones and stone flowers like dazzling stars. Their quantity, beauty, purity, and distribution are rare in China.

Key attractions include: Golden Palace, Leifeng Pagoda, Jade Pillar Supporting the Sky, Jade Forest and Jade Flowers, Dog-tooth Crystal Flowers, Millennium Kiss, Animal Kingdom, Dragon Palace Under the Sea, Giant Curtain Waterfall, Stone Field Pearls, Fertility God Pillar, Coral Jasper Pond, etc. Exploring Furong Cave makes you feel the magical creation of nature.

This is the best three-day itinerary recommendation for Chongqing!

« Transportation to Raffles City & Wulong »

Metro: Line 1 or Line 6, exit at Xiaoshizi Station Exit 8, then walk.

Bus: Routes 181, 382, 503, 871, direct to LG floor.

440, 414, 480, T040, Changbin Road Jiumatou Station.

Ferry: Danzishi Wharf—Jiangbeizui Wharf—Chaotianmen Wharf.

Dazhulin Wharf—Chaotianmen Wharf.

Self-driving to Wulong: About 200 km from Chongqing, about 2+ hours by car.

Public transport: All public transport goes only to Wulong county town (fare 60 yuan), requiring another transfer. Since public transport is inconvenient, it's recommended to join a tour group that includes round-trip transportation and attraction tickets.

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