Chongqing 重庆
Hillside megacity on the Yangtze, lit up at night
Good forModern city, Food, Nightlife
Suggested stay2–3 days
Best timeMarch–May and October–November
A large municipality built on steep hills where the Yangtze and Jialing rivers meet. Visitors come for the layered cityscape, night views and hotpot. It is also the usual starting point for Yangtze River cruises.
Highlights
- Hongyadong — stilt-style complex on the cliff, busiest after dark
- Yangtze River Cable Car across the river
- Liziba station, where a monorail runs through a residential building
- Jiefangbei pedestrian area and the riverside night views
- Ciqikou old town
- Day trip to the Dazu Rock Carvings (UNESCO)
Food to try
- Chongqing hotpot (beef tallow broth)
- Xiaomian (spicy noodles)
- Spicy chicken (la zi ji)
- Suanlafen (hot and sour glass noodles)
Getting there
Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport (CKG). About 1–1.5 hours by high-speed train from Chengdu.
Train times are typical; check current timetables on 12306 or Trip.com.
When to go
Best: March–May and October–November. Avoid or plan for: Very hot, humid July–August; frequent fog in winter.
Good to know
- The terrain is steep and multi-level; map apps can be confusing because street levels stack. Allow extra time.
- Popular night spots such as Hongyadong get very crowded on holidays.
Visa notes
- Visa-free entry: citizens of 79 countries can visit China for up to 30 days or more without a visa. Check your passport →
- 240-hour transit: Chongqing is inside the area you may visit on China's 240-hour visa-free transit (for 57 nationalities, flying on to a third country).