A November Field Test: Complete Guide to Chongqing & Chengdu's Most Instagrammable Photo Spots

During the pandemic, we toured domestic cities, picking the internet-famous Chongqing and Chengdu, and scoured Douyin for all the trending spots. With photography in mind, we personally tested these photo spots across both cities.

Dates: November 14–21, 2020, 8 days total

D1 (Nov 14): 17:55 departure from Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport T3, arrival at Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport T3 at 20:40, Tianjin Airlines GS6582. Tickets sold under a low-cost carrier model: checked luggage and meals cost extra; one piece of carry-on baggage allowed, roughly a small suitcase or similar. Stayed at a homestay near Jiaochangkou metro station.

D2 (Nov 15): Line 1 light rail. Mafangwan Colorful Alley – Luo Lizhong Art Museum – Ciqikou Ancient Town – Chaotianmen – Hongyadong

D3 (Nov 16): Line 2 light rail. Liziba Station – E'ling Second Factory – Sichuan Fine Arts Institute Huangjueping Graffiti Street

D4 (Nov 17): Baixiang Street Historical and Cultural Area – Baixiangju Residence – Gangyu Plaza – Dongyuan 1891 Time Avenue (Classic Bookstore) – Longmenhao Old Street – Qiansimen Bridge night photography of Hongyadong, etc.

D5 (Nov 18): Kuixinglou – Qianye Art Museum (glasses shop) – Former Sino-British Liaison Office; then Line 1 light rail to Shapingba Railway Station, train to Chengdu East (14:13-15:50) 1.5 hours. Stayed at a homestay near Chunxi Road Exit A; visited Chunxi Road and Taikoo Li.

D6 (Nov 19): Kuanzhai Alleys – Jinli – People's Park – Eastern Suburb Memory – Perfect World – Taikoo City to see the naked-eye 3D display.

D7 (Nov 20): Fanmu FLYing – Eastern Suburb Memory (second visit) – CRRC Shared City, evening accommodation near the airport.

D8 (Nov 21): 06:55 Shuangliu Airport (T2) to Xiaoshan Airport flight MU6069, arrived back in Hangzhou around noon.

【Mafangwan Colorful Alley】A new internet-famous landmark. The Colorful Alley is created by painting several rows of old houses in graffiti—red, green, blue, yellow—bold colors collide to inject this lane with vivid charm. Look: on an egg-yolk yellow wall, a wide-eyed cute cat lies prone, peeking out as if it’s broken through the white wallpaper; and at the most conspicuous corner, a French bulldog cranes its neck to gaze at young ladies posing for photos, its adorable expression drawing visitors’ attention; on a purple wall, a greedy Shar-Pei stares at food on a spoon, a long string of drool already dripping. These daring, bright hues and fresh, buoyant atmosphere make you feel you’ve stepped into a rainbow world—eye-catching and mentally refreshing. Address: next to No. 66 Mafangwan Jianghu Restaurant, Shapingba District. Photo rating: ★★★★

【Luo Lizhong Art Museum】The entire exterior of the building is pieced together with countless colorful broken tiles—not paint. These tiles are all discarded tiles collected by Sichuan Fine Arts Institute from various factories. The outer walls are completely covered in vivid, leaping, dynamic colors and patterns depicting animals, plants, people, and architecture, some realistic, some abstract. These form a sweeping, undulating scroll around the facade—the stunning effect can only be experienced on site. You might not find another museum in the world entirely covered in colorful patterns like this; its exterior wall itself is a gigantic artwork. Address: Sichuan Fine Arts Institute, Shapingba campus. Photo rating: ★★★★★

【Ciqikou Ancient Town】Once prosperous, with 'a thousand hands clasping in salute by day, ten thousand lanterns glowing by night.' Bayu culture, religious culture, Shaci culture, Hongyan culture, and folk culture each have their own charms. A single flagstone road, a thousand-year-old Ciqikou, epitomizes and symbolizes old Chongqing, praised as 'Little Chongqing.' Ciqikou features traditional performances like oil pressing, silk reeling, sugar making, dough figurine crafting, and Sichuan opera, as well as numerous traditional snacks and teahouses. The annual Ciqikou Temple Fair during Spring Festival is the most characteristic traditional event, drawing tens of thousands of citizens. Direct access via Line 2 light rail; visit early in the morning to avoid crowds. Photo rating: ★★★★

【Chaotianmen】Located at the confluence of the Jialing and Yangtze Rivers on the Yuzhong Peninsula in Yuzhong District, where the Jialing, one of the Yangtze's nine major tributaries, merges with the main stream and flows thousands of miles to the East Sea. The famous Three Gorges lie along the Chongqing–Yichang stretch, making Chongqing the best starting point for a majestic Three Gorges tour. Photo rating: ★★★★

【Hongyadong】A must-visit landmark in Chongqing. During holidays, Hongyadong is an undisputed traffic magnet. Originally named Hongyamen, one of old Chongqing's city gates, the rebuilt Hongyadong features stilted houses (diaojiaolou) typical of Bayu architecture, built along the mountain slope and riverside, creating a unique 'vertical aerial pedestrian street.' Within just a few floors, it gathers six major industries: dining, entertainment, leisure, and specialty cultural shopping. When night falls and lights blaze, it glitters brilliantly, unquestionably the most layered and textured urban scenic commercial center. The most familiar side of Hongyadong is at night—the moment its lights switch on, it's as if layers of golden paint are brushed on, evoking the dreamlike feel of Spirited Away, transporting you to a two-dimensional world. This photo scene is from ground level. Photo rating: ★★★★★

【Hongyadong ‘Reunion 1980’ Zone】With stilted-house architecture typical of Bayu tradition as the main body, using hillside construction techniques like tiered platforms, stilts, overlapping, and cliff-side building, it organically integrates dining, entertainment, leisure, wellness, hotels, and specialty cultural shopping into a one-of-a-kind 'vertical aerial pedestrian street,' creating a layered, textured urban attraction and commercial center. The 'Reunion 1980' zone, revamped around the theme of 1980s–90s Chongqing street life with a total floor area of about 3,100 square meters, artistically presents period living scenes, character role-play zones, and interactive experience areas. Photo rating: ★★★★

【Liziba Station (Line 2)】The first elevated rail transit station (straddle-type monorail) in China to coexist with a commercial-residential building, completed in March 2004, covering 3,100 square meters with a floor area of 6,000 square meters. Located on floors 6–7 of No. 39 Liziba Main Street on the southern bank of the Jialing River, it has become an internationally known ‘internet-famous station’ because the monorail train ‘passes through the building.’ On Line 2 between Linjiangmen and Fotuguan, both front and rear carriages have large glass windows for tourists to film videos, like an urban roller coaster. Video rating here: ★★★★★

【E'ling Second Factory Cultural and Creative Park】Perched on E'ling Hill, it was originally the banknote printing factory of the Central Bank of the Republic of China. As urban progress gradually reached E'ling, a difficult choice between reconstruction and preservation was made—retaining the original appearance and renovating on its basis. It later served as a filming location for the old industrial plant hidden in the big city in the movie I Belonged to You. E'ling Park has become almost a must-visit spot in Chongqing, yet it retains a strong artistic vibe that enchants many young people, making it an outstanding choice for photos—good from any angle. Photo rating: ★★★★

【Sichuan Fine Arts Institute Huangjueping Graffiti Street】Stretching 1.25 km, the entire block is coated with graffiti on residential building walls, brimming with artistic flair. Every casual snapshot becomes a scene; those who love vibrant, pretty photos should start shooting. Take Light Rail Line 2 to Yangjiaping station, then transfer to bus 223 or 823 to Huangjueping Main Street, or take a taxi (minimum fare). Photo rating: ★★★★

【Transportation Teahouse】A 5-minute walk from the east gate of Sichuan Fine Arts Institute's Huangjueping campus. A filming location for the movie Crazy Stone and variety show Go Fighting, this old shop is steeped in grassroots atmosphere. The entrance is very low-key; after a short corridor, you see a somewhat dilapidated wooden-beam structure house, wooden benches, mottled square tables, covered-bowl tea, and elderly regulars, giving a sense of traveling back in time. Photo rating: ★★★★

【Baixiang Street Historical and Cultural Area】Baixiang Street features historical buildings such as Chongqing's earliest wired telegraph office, the Medicinal Materials Union, Li Yaoting Mansion, and the private Huaxing Primary School. Especially after Chongqing opened as a port, Britain, the US, Japan, and other countries set up foreign firms here, creating a once-thriving 'Financial Street.' The Wanglongmen cableway at the top of Baixiang Street led directly to the wharf. People from across the river would take a ferry, then ride the cableway to Baixiang Street, making it the bustling hub of late-Qing and Republican-era Chongqing. After 1949, Baixiang Street slowly fell behind the times, and Chongqing's commercial center gradually shifted elsewhere. Photo rating: ★★★★

【Baixiangju Residence】Located at the intersection of Baixiang Street and Jiefang East Road, from which its name is derived. This residential building is peculiar: 24 floors but no elevator. Designed in 1983 and completed in 1992, Baixiangju unexpectedly became an internet sensation, drawing many visitors. It ingeniously uses the 38-meter height difference within the site, introducing concepts like 'sky passage floors,' 'multi-level entries,' 'public interaction corridors,' and 'turning a high-rise into a multi-story,' pioneering a high-rise residential form without elevators between floors 4–25. The building's silhouette is vivid and undulating, with rich outdoor spaces and distinct mountainous architectural character. Photo rating: ★★★★

【Dongyuan 1891 Time Avenue】A riverside cultural and commercial plaza, Dongyuan 1891 Time Avenue lies on Nanbin Road in Nan'an District, near the landmark Sheraton Hotel with its twin-tower glass facade. Boasting a prime location and beautiful environment, it comprises five large halls (A through E), creating sophisticated riverside art spaces. Photo rating: ★★★

【Classic Bookstore】Located in Zone D of Dongyuan 1891 Time Avenue, it covers 1,600 square meters over two floors. From the entrance on the first floor, an elegant antique wooden staircase leads to the main second-floor area designed like a 'stilted house,' evoking a 'winding path leading to secluded beauty.' Sitting on the semicircular steps in the style of Plato's Academy, you'll find Möbius strips, Klein bottles, hypercubes, and other scientific apparatus resting quietly alongside classic books. Wasting the most beautiful moments begins at the Classic Bookstore in Dongyuan 1891 Time Avenue. Photo rating: ★★★★

【Longmenhao Old Street】Facing the Huguang Guild Hall in Yuzhong District, beneath the south side of the Dongshuimen Yangtze River Bridge, and adjacent to Mishi Street on Nanbin Road, it showcases the cultural features of port opening, city founding, Republican-era style, and wartime history. Old buildings are well-arranged on a hillside with 40 meters of vertical rise, near the Yangtze River Cableway, Xiahao Old Street (part of the Longmenhao historical district), the Starlight Viewing Platform above Jianye Gang sign, a 180-degree unobstructed view of the Yuzhong Peninsula, and a unique vista of Light Rail Line 6 entering the Nanshan Mountains. Longmenhao Old Street combines substance and style—come discover its hidden highlights and grasp the essence behind this 'internet-famous old street.' Photo rating: ★★★★★

【Qiansimen Bridge Night Photography】For photographing Hongyadong, the Qiansimen Bridge offers a superb vantage point. Take the light rail to Grand Theater Station at the other end of the bridge, then walk onto the bridge and proceed above Hongyadong to shoot. Photo rating: ★★★★★

【Kuixinglou】In the movie poster for Better Days, the spot where Xiaobei walks alone is Kuixinglou at Linjiangmen. It became an online sensation and a new ‘internet-famous’ attraction after two new suspended bridges connected it to an adjacent new high-rise. The sky bridge is on the 22nd floor of Gaosheng Building; from the building's ground floor exit, it's just a short walk to the famous Hongyadong. Address: No. 17 Datang Plaza, Linjiangmen, Yuzhong District. Photo rating: ★★★★

【Qianye Art Museum】A non-profit art institution jointly established by the Art and Social Innovation Center of Sichuan Fine Arts Institute and Qianye Glasses. It integrates new art exhibition with commercial space in a novel art operation model. The gallery serves both as a venue for cutting-edge art and new art releases and as a fashionable commercial space. The commercial aspect provides ongoing support for art display, while art creates a fresh experiential model for business operations—the two complement each other. As a newly merged iteration, Qianye Art Museum pioneers urban art-commerce innovation through its creative art-business space. Address: next to Jiefangbei (Monument to the People's Liberation). Photo rating: ★★★★★

【Former Sino-British Liaison Office】A three-story French-style small building in the core area of Jiefangbei business district, Yuzhong District, built in 1910, designed and constructed by French architects in a brick-and-wood French style. After World War II broke out, it was used by the British Jardine Matheson company; China and the UK exchanged wartime intelligence here, sharing the latest wartime news between East and West. According to plans, it will be transformed into a fun, visually appealing, interesting, high-quality, and valuable cultural and artistic space through exhibitions, academic exchanges, and art salons. Photo rating: ★★★★

【Chunxi Road and Taikoo Li】Chunxi Road is one of Chengdu's oldest commercial streets, ranking third on China's 'Commercial Street List.' At Chengdu IFS (International Finance Square), the huge panda sculpture on the exterior wall draws the most attention. Sino-Ocean Taikoo Li is a fashion landmark near Chunxi Road, backed by Daci Temple, an open area integrating shopping, dining, leisure, and entertainment. Photo rating: ★★★★★

【Kuanzhai Alleys】Located near Changshun Street in Qingyang District, Chengdu, it consists of three parallel alleys—Kuan Alley, Zhai Alley, and Jing Alley—all lined with antique-style courtyard houses in blue-grey brick and tile. This is a surviving and fairly large-scale historic Qing Dynasty street district in Chengdu, recognized alongside Daci Temple and Wenshu Monastery as one of the city's three major historical and cultural preservation blocks. Kuanzhai Alleys is a national AA-level tourist attraction, having won titles such as 'China's Characteristic Commercial Pedestrian Street' (2009), Sichuan's Historical and Cultural Famous Street, one of Chengdu's New Top Ten Scenes (2011), and one of Sichuan's Top Ten Most Beautiful Streets. Photo rating: ★★★★