City in the Sky (Part 1): The Cloud-top Beauty of Chongqing's Mother City in the Spring Festival Gala
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Majestic and dynamic
When you give a thumbs-up for Chongqing,
the skyscrapers in the mother city Yuzhong also deserve such praise.
It is these tall buildings that allow us to stand at the commanding heights of the city,
gain insight into the full panorama of the city,
look horizontally at the drifting clouds,
and chase the sunrise and sunset.
Cloud-top, literally understood, is the depths of white clouds floating in the blue sky, the peak of clouds where planes fly. But in Yuzhong, the mother city of Chongqing, the term "cloud-top" has been given more meanings.
As is well known, Chongqing is a mountain city, especially the mother city Yuzhong. It is a three-dimensional city, and the terrain endows Yuzhong with the most beautiful layering and scenery. Almost every first-time visitor to Yuzhong is shocked by its terrain: skyscrapers grow tier after tier along the mountains on the banks of the Jialing River and the Yangtze River, stacking layer upon layer, reaching into the clouds; bridges over the rivers and overpasses on land crisscross and spiral upward, dizzying yet forming a unique landscape.
And these skyscrapers standing at the core of the city form the skyline of Yuzhong. Standing on top of them, looking far into the entire Yuzhong, your chest is instantly filled with boldness and tenderness. By day, you look up at the vast blue sky and bow your head to see the continuous buildings; by night, you have brilliant stars above your head and myriad lights at your feet. Standing here, it feels as if the whole Yuzhong is under your feet.
This is the cloud-top of Yuzhong District, and it is also the cloud-top described in this article.
Image provided by United International
At the 2022 CCTV Spring Festival Gala, the Cloud Top Eye observation deck located at Chongqing United International Building appeared in the landscape Tai Chi program "Flowing Clouds and Flowing Water." This martial arts program, with its swift movements and turns, was filmed at iconic landmark skyscrapers in China's most representative international metropolises. The three filming locations were Chongqing Cloud Top Eye, Shanghai Tower, and Canton Tower.
Beside the flowing clouds, ahead of the flowing water, Tai Chi circles turned on the top floor of United International Building. Yang Dezhan, founder of Shadow Jianghu and the 13th-generation inheritor of Chen-style Tai Chi, performed the vigorous Tai Chi martial arts, while the magnificent mountain city scenery was presented in front of the camera. Standing on the "cloud-top" overlooking Chongqing, the view is wide, the scenery is spectacular and magnificent, and the integration of mountains, waters, and the city feels extraordinarily gentle amid the grandeur.
Image provided by United International
United International, Raffles City, WFC... These absolutely beautiful cloud-top landscapes in the eyes of outside tourists are the daily life of Chongqing people.
The skyscrapers form the cloud-top pearl chain of Yuzhong—one super-tall building after another, like pearls strung together, forming the entire skyline of Yuzhong. Whether it's their modern and gorgeous facades, the observation decks overlooking the rivers and mountains, or the restaurants and hotels scattered among them, all showcase the city's temperament and style.
As we described earlier, when you give a thumbs-up for Chongqing, the skyscrapers of the mother city Yuzhong also deserve such praise.
It is these tall buildings that allow us to stand at the commanding heights of the city, gaining insight into the full panorama of the city.
From then on, we look horizontally at the drifting clouds, chasing the sunrise and sunset.
Now, welcome to cloud-top Yuzhong.
The Excellent Scenery of Cloud-top Yuzhong
1. United International – Cloud Top Eye in the Spring Festival Gala
Core Tip: Cloud-top in the main city core, Cloud Top Eye·High-altitude Observation Deck, filming location for CCTV Spring Festival Gala "Flowing Clouds and Flowing Water"
Number of physical floors: 67 floors
Height of love: 520 meters
Image provided by United International
Located at 201 Xinhua Road, Jiefangbei, Yuzhong District, United International is one of the three national stages for the 2022 CCTV Spring Festival Gala program "Flowing Clouds and Flowing Water." It is a Grade A office building, with an altitude of 520 meters.
The CCTV Spring Festival Gala crew laid tracks and rocker arms on the high-altitude Cloud Top Eye, combining high-altitude and ground shooting forms, taking three full days to shoot. During those days, although Chongqing was rainy and overcast, the "cloud-top" was shrouded in clouds and mist, giving it a unique charm.
If other skyscrapers are far away in the clouds, away from the hustle and bustle of the city, and are otherworldly, United International is completely different—it is worldly, reflecting the city's development and prosperity.
Strictly speaking, this is the second time it has captured attention—when it officially debuted in 2009, with its 67 floors and altitude of 520 meters, it occupied the headlines of major media outlets that year.
Image provided by United International
Now, this building named United International continues to record the glory of Yuzhong's cloud-top. The design of its observation deck "Cloud Top Eye" is very contemporary. As you gradually ascend along the newly built red staircase on the rooftop, the higher the building, the more obvious the sensory stimulation, and the more you feel the amazement of the Yuzhong Peninsula.
Jiefangbei is right below your feet, and from the top of the building, you can see the undulations of the city more clearly. More than ten years ago, this place awakened all the eyes that wanted to see Chongqing.
Image provided by United International
Unlike observation decks built in recent years, the circular "Cloud Top Eye" offers a broader view from above. A 360-degree bird's-eye view of Chongqing is a special experience. Below is the Yuzhong Peninsula, facing the Twin Towers across the river, and the prosperity of Jiangbeizui is in full view. Gaze down and you can see the whole picture. These buildings combine to form countless urban details. Overall, the new has the avant-garde of the new, and the old has the tranquil beauty of the old, with nothing to add or subtract.
Compared with the more popular glass curtain walls or steel railings today, the protective railings on the top of United International Building have a special industrial style. The green ground is matched with red railings, bright in color, simple in form, and does not block the wind. The high-altitude wind sweeping over the skirt gives a different kind of thrilling floating sensation.
Image provided by United International
Many photographers include the red railings in their shots when taking pictures on the rooftop, making them the foreground of the city's brilliant lights or the stunning glow of dawn and dusk, dyeing all times of Chongqing with a strong urban feel.
This is probably the skyscraper observation deck that has received the most tourists. It is the only "suspended" panoramic view of the city in Chongqing's main urban area. The city unfolds like a scroll; the great beauty is beyond words, and the insignificance of travelers can never describe it. The mountains, rivers, and emotions are intertwined; clouds roll and unfold, standing shoulder to shoulder with the building.
Consumption Guide——
Observation location: United International Building, 201 Xinhua Road, Jiefangbei Business Circle, Yuzhong District
Observation deck attraction: Jiefangbei Pedestrian Street
Business hours: 9:30-22:00, last entry at 21:30
Price: Ticket 68 yuan/person (take the elevator inside the building directly to the 47th floor ticket level, then transfer)
Note: Be careful when taking photos on the internet-famous red staircase of the observation deck
Best shooting position: The corner of the internet-famous red staircase + green ground with red railings at eye level
2. On WFC – Gaze at the World Unobstructed 360°
Core Tip: Cloud-top of the tallest building in the west, Picking Stars at Huixian Building
Number of physical floors: 75 floors
Altitude: 590 meters
Image provided by WFC Observation Deck, Photo: Bubble
In 2012, WFC was grandly completed and became the tallest building at that time. In 2017, the WFC Observation Deck officially opened to the public.
High-rise buildings for Chongqing are a condensed urban tour project. Climbing a high-rise building requires no narration of past history, no entertainment projects. It is exquisite and calm, not exaggerated, not embellished. The grand landscape is presented directly and without concealment. Different from other tourism projects, you don't need to say anything, don't need to do anything, and it is enough to make people fascinated, scream, admire, and linger.
Like WFC, on the 74th floor, Huixian Building, high-performance telescopes are set up in all four directions. In clear weather, you can see the two rivers and four banks of Chongqing; in rainy weather, you can enjoy the magical mountain city shrouded in clouds and mist. Looking down at the new Chongqing from the four directions of east, south, west, and north, you can see Jiangbeizui, Chaotianmen, the Yangtze River Cableway, etc. On the 74th floor, there are precious old photos showing the past and present of Huixian Building and Chongqing maps from the early Qing Dynasty, worthy of careful appreciation.
This is the unique glory of WFC. This building stands at the very center of the city, shining particularly brightly amid the cluster of skyscrapers. The passion and love at the top of Chongqing are the billions of cityscape flowing lights, the green mist and starry clouds held in your arms.
Photo by Fan Xiaodong
Pure white spiral staircase, pure white angel wings, the newly opened 75th floor with a 590-meter altitude and vast view, 360° unobstructed gaze at Chongqing... all are the best choices for "posing."
Embrace the confluence of the two rivers, look directly at Jiefangbei, it is the heart of Chongqing, the most prosperous place. Looking far into Chongqing, the mountain shapes are gracefully winding, the flow of the river is also interesting, the natural scenery and the growth of the city blend together, yet exquisitely gorgeous.
Image provided by WFC Observation Deck, Photo by Wang Zhi
Looking down at this city from WFC, you feel that the lights and night scenery of the Yuzhong Peninsula are endlessly enchanting. The city is three-dimensional, the outline is deep, the terrain endows Chongqing with the most beautiful layering and scenery. The high-altitude observation deck uses the latest steel frame construction technology, with no glass obstruction around. Leaning your body slightly over, you can immerse yourself in the cloud-top, thrilling, trembling, and this cloud-top experience is full of ethereal romance.
Image provided by WFC Observation Deck
When the lights first come on, you can see the brilliant lights on both sides of the two rivers and four banks, the flickering neon lights, the flowing river of cars merging with the waiting streetlights along the way, pulling out silk-like arcs of fire, and you finally seem to stand outside the world to gaze at this city,
So beautiful it makes you scream!
Image provided by WFC Observation Deck, Photo by Zhang Kunkun
Consumption Guide——
Observation location: WFC Observation Deck, 188 Minzu Road, Yuzhong District, Chongqing
Observation deck attraction: Entire Yuzhong Peninsula, Two Rivers and Four Banks, Nanshan Mountain
Business hours: 9:30-21:30 (last entry at 21:00)
Price: 120 yuan/person
Best shooting position: WFC 73-74th floor Huixian Building spiral escalator + glass curtain wall + 75th floor fully open-air high-altitude platform
Core Tip: Cloud-top at the confluence of two rivers, Crystal Corridor, Walk on the Cloud, Confluence of Two Rivers
Number of physical floors: 73 floors for residential, observation deck on the 42nd floor
Altitude: 450 meters
Image provided by Raffles City Exploration Deck·Observation Deck
On January 14, 2019, with the successful lifting of the last section of the curtain wall to a height of 250 meters, the Raffles City Crystal Corridor was fully connected. It is not only a skyscraper but also a horizontal skyscraper on top of a skyscraper. Since the first section of steel structure hoisting of the Crystal Corridor began at the end of 2017, domestic and international media such as CCTV, France 2, and the British Daily Mail have paid close attention, because the construction difficulty and engineering highlights of this building have repeatedly set precedents for high-rise buildings in China.
Image provided by Raffles City Exploration Deck·Observation Deck
This building has a unique charm—the vast sky above surrounds you 360 degrees, and the rolling river below flows eastwards 270 degrees. Only at this moment do you more deeply understand the two characters "Chaotian" in Chaotianmen.
The arc-shaped crystal corridor lying on top of the four main buildings of Raffles City connects the four buildings. Nearly 50 species of tropical and subtropical plants are mixed together, with the tallest reaching 9 meters, giving a strong rainforest atmosphere. Five Mars-themed exhibition areas, when viewed from high altitude, look particularly technological and contemporary. However, these are just appetizers; the outdoor observation deck is the last stop of the exploration deck.
Image provided by Raffles City Exploration Deck·Observation Deck
The approximately 410-square-meter terrace is the best viewing point of the city's skyline. Here, you can not only overlook the entire city's skyline but also see the lush Nanshan Mountain opposite and the confluence of the two rivers below your feet.
An exhibition about the origin and changes of Chongqing city is at the entrance of the observation deck, where the origins of ancient place names like the nine opened and eight closed seventeen gates begin. Many people bring their families to explore Chongqing's ancient secrets here.
Image provided by Raffles City Exploration Deck·Observation Deck
If you want a thrill, Skywalk is enough to make your heart pound and your adrenaline surge—many brave challengers and extreme sports enthusiasts gather here, practicing dizzying high-difficulty moves above the cloud-top of Yuzhong.
Stepping on the top of the city, looking from near to far, below your feet is the two-river confluence, the Grand Theatre, Nanbin Road, Hongya Cave; further afield are Nanshan Mountain, Chaotianmen Bridge; the endless roads with flowing vehicles.
Photo by Fan Xiaodong
This is a brand new experience of Chongqing. The semi-circular suspended glass 250 meters above the ground allows you to take in the most prosperous urban landscape of Chongqing—under the glass, the Yangtze River and Jialing River meet here, clear and distinct, skyscrapers rise beneath your feet, the main roads of Jiefangbei are like dense blood vessels, radiating in all directions, traffic flows like ants on the ground, and huge cruise ships are docked at Chaotianmen Wharf.
You seem to see all this, and yet more.
Image provided by Raffles City Exploration Deck·Observation Deck
You see the clouds in the sky drifting to someplace and then dissipating, see the faces of the mountains, the skeleton of the river, see the insignificance of humans, see your own past life weaving through those cobweb-like city roads, empathizing with every moment of your own growth.
Consumption Guide——
Observation location: Raffles City Exploration Deck·Observation Deck + Skywalk
Observation deck attraction: Glorious City, Two Rivers Confluence
Business hours: 10:00-22:00, last entry at 21:00
Price: Raffles City Exploration Deck·Observation Deck ticket 120 yuan/person, Raffles City Exploration Deck·Observation Deck + Skywalk package 180 yuan/person (excluding holidays); children aged 6-14 enjoy discounted tickets; children under 1.2m or under 6 years old free; students with student ID enjoy discounted tickets; seniors aged 70 and above with senior card or ID enjoy discounted tickets; active military personnel can purchase military tickets on site.
Best shooting position: Observation deck + Skywalk + 42nd floor SHUA Sky Garden bar glass floor + InterContinental Hotel lobby
Cloud-top Lifestyle in Yuzhong
InterContinental Chongqing Raffles City
The InterContinental Chongqing Raffles City is located at the famous Chaotianmen Square in Chongqing, boasting views of the Yangtze and Jialing Rivers. The hotel lobby is on the 42nd-floor skybridge, connecting 380 luxurious rooms with the horizontal skyscraper "Crystal Corridor." The corridor houses a 250-meter-high observation deck and luxury dining. The 2,000-square-meter meeting space is designed with floor-to-ceiling glass, blending travelers' activities with the outdoor scenery.
Image provided by InterContinental Chongqing Raffles City
The 42nd-floor lobby is full of lush green trees, translucent and elegant. The rooms are even more romantic, with floor-to-ceiling windows offering views of the mountain city—either the rolling river or the dazzling city.
Image provided by InterContinental Chongqing Raffles City
Ascott Raffles City Chongqing
Choosing to stay at Ascott Raffles City Chongqing inside Raffles City, on one side is the Yangtze River. Above the surging river, the prosperity of Nanbin Road and the layered greenery of Nanshan Mountain create a sense of depth. Looking down at the river surface, several cruise ships are docked at the shore; on the other side is the Jialing River, with skyscrapers rising on both banks. When the neon lights shine at night, it exudes a magical sci-fi feel.
Image provided by Ascott Raffles City Chongqing
WFC Chongqing Lixiangrui Hotel, A Hyatt臻选 Brand
The WFC Chongqing Lixiangrui Hotel on the 69th floor of Chongqing World Financial Centre (WFC) is located at an altitude of 300 meters. All rooms are river-view rooms, with 270-degree floor-to-ceiling windows also showing the confluence of the Yangtze and Jialing Rivers. Its trendy design and convenient transportation make it the first choice for fashion-loving young people, often resulting in high demand.
Image provided by Chongqing Lixiangrui Hotel, A Hyatt臻选 Brand
The Westin Chongqing Liberation Square
The Westin at 222 Xinhua Road, Yuzhong District, Chongqing, is considered the flagship among domestic Westin hotels. The building height is 260 meters, with the hotel on floors 34-47, the lobby on the 51st floor, the executive lounge from the 50th floor lobby to the 52nd floor features a stunning suspended design, and the 54th floor houses the Westin hotel swimming pool. When open at night, a casual photo can be a masterpiece.
Image provided by The Westin Chongqing Liberation Square
Botanical Bistro – Sky Garden·重·林 Restaurant
This is practically a theme park, a majestic glass observation deck. The seats next to the floor-to-ceiling glass are stunning; outside the window are blue sky and white clouds, and underfoot is the vast river and layered city skyscrapers, presenting the city's prosperity in full view. It can be called the highest and best view high-altitude restaurant in Chongqing so far.
Image provided by InterContinental Chongqing Raffles City
JING Dining Room & Bar – Sky Garden·菁 Restaurant & Bar
The Chinese-style afternoon tea specially developed by a Michelin chef transforms into a bar at night. The afternoon tea at Jing Restaurant is very photogenic, with delicate and cute dim sum that can be both savory and sweet, each piece lovely and charming, with rich layers and textures. A set of over 300 yuan for two includes more than ten kinds of exquisite dim sum, carefully developed by the Michelin-starred Hakkasan chef, incorporating precious ingredients like abalone, wagyu, and Musang King durian. As night falls, it transforms into a lively bar.
Image provided by InterContinental Chongqing Raffles City
Westin Hotel Jin Yao Xuan Hot Pot
Enjoying hot pot in a suspended glass house is one of the most romantic proposal spots in the country.
The Westin Jin Yao Xuan Hot Pot spans from the 53rd floor to the 55th floor. On the 53rd floor, there is an extended glass house, all made of tempered glass structure. Couples can book a two-person set menu here, incredibly romantic.
Image provided by The Westin Chongqing Liberation Square
Skyfin – HNA Baoli Building 58th Floor
Over 170 kinds of fresh seafood are air-shipped to the restaurant daily. SKYFIN·Panoramic River View International Cuisine sits at an altitude of over 500 meters, allowing you to read Chongqing 360 degrees amid the morning and evening river sounds of Yuzhong. Over 170 kinds of seafood are air-shipped daily, mainly sashimi, basically meeting all your seafood needs.
Shen Restaurant – WFC 69th Floor
The restaurant's design extracts the green color of mountain forest vegetation from the four elements of mountain, forest, rain, and mist, giving the environment a vibrant vitality. The chandelier design is inspired by the city flower of Chongqing; as for food, there is too much to count: Iberian ham, truffle chocolate marble foie gras, caviar crispy Spanish suckling pig, white truffle cream cheese baked Australian lobster. Besides the richness of the food, what is most commendable about this restaurant is its geographical location and height naturally win, with a no-dead-angle view producing stunning photos.
Image provided by Chongqing Lixiangrui Hotel, A Hyatt臻选 Brand
Zhaoxi Lounge – WFC 69th Floor
The afternoon tea dim sum at Zhaoxi Lounge has planted a seed in the hearts of many Chongqing couples. The environment is nice, the photos are beautiful, and more importantly, the afternoon tea snacks here are particularly delicious. Personally recommended: blackcurrant Mont Blanc, matcha caramel mousse, scones, yuzu lemon puff, and even the standard three-tier afternoon tea set of Zhaoxi are all rare pastries.
Image provided by Chongqing Lixiangrui Hotel, A Hyatt臻选 Brand
WINGS·Sky Bar – WFC 70th Floor
To enjoy the night city, you must go to a high place. The WINGS·Sky Bar on the top floor of the World Financial Centre offers the best overlook perspective of this city. This is the highest bar in the west. The bar is well partitioned; one side is integrated with the stage area, with performances and games, offering moderate excitement to release passion; the other side is a quiet area for enjoying the night view, suitable for a drink and chat. There are also singer performances at 9:30 pm, and the live performances complement the night view of Chongqing city perfectly.
Image provided by WINGS·Sky Bar, Photo by Xiao Yu
Horizon – Sky Garden Restaurant
The location of Horizon Bar is right at the elevator exit on the 42nd floor. The overall environment has a Wizard of Oz feel—iron holly trees stand at the entrance, gray sofa booths are placed in front of the 250-meter glass curtain wall. This means every sip of tea and every piece of dim sum you consume enters your heart together with the stars, the sky, the river, and the city we live in. Horizon Bar mainly offers Western afternoon tea, named after the horizon, and the menu changes irregularly according to seasons and holidays, both savory and sweet. Undoubtedly, the appearance and taste of every piece of dim sum are both online—in fact, they are so beautiful that you almost can't bear to eat them.
Image provided by InterContinental Chongqing Raffles City
The MAVEN – Sky Garden Restaurant
The MAVEN is a bar, open in the night at an altitude of 250 meters. The MAVEN is divided into three areas. Entering the bar is the wine area, mainly featuring New World wines with high accessibility; the innermost is the whiskey bar, whether Scottish whiskey or Japanese whiskey, the quality is top-notch; as the night deepens, the richness and alcohol content become higher.
Image provided by InterContinental Chongqing Raffles City
Shua Bar – Sky Garden Restaurant
Shua Bar is hailed as a magical landmark for Chongqing's youth, achieving a wonderful balance between restaurant, bar, and nightclub. Shua Bar offers carefully crafted fresh food and drinks; the club's center is furnished with comfortable and stylish bar lounges, with exquisite and high-end facilities showing elegance and fashion everywhere. The interior features bright red and retro gold design, which has won awards. Its stunning terrace views, eye-catching glass walkway, and world-class sound system are all impressive.
"Shua" aims to lead the new trend of nightlife music, with handcrafted cocktails, a wide variety of whiskeys, and creative Asian continental cuisine. When night falls, raise your glass and dance to the rhythm.
Image provided by InterContinental Chongqing Raffles City
- END -
Text | Lian Er Ye
Layout | Qike Chenpi Xianhuamei
Images | Provided by United International, Raffles City Observation Deck·Exploration Deck, WFC Observation Deck, InterContinental Chongqing Raffles City, Ascott Raffles City Chongqing, Chongqing Lixiangrui Hotel·A Hyatt臻选 Brand, The Westin Chongqing Liberation Square, WINGS·Sky Bar, Li Hao, Gui Ji, Fan Xiaodong, Zhang Kunkun, A'gan, Wang Zhi, Bubble
Some images from the internet, will be deleted upon infringement
