Why go
Chongqing's geography defeats ordinary maps — buildings have floors on several 'ground' levels, and the GPS is often wrong. Use the monorail, the cableway and your feet, and accept that the 'short walk' is a 200-step climb.
The food is extreme even by Sichuan standards: hotpot in a nine-grid pot, noodles that will wake you up, and cold dishes that arrive before you order them.
- Hongya Cave at night — the cliff-hanging bar district glowing gold
- The monorail through the building at Liziba station
- Spicy xiaomian noodles for breakfast — Chongqing's daily ritual
- Yangtze cableway across the river for the classic postcard view
Where to go
Day one: Liziba station photo stop, the Yangtze cableway, and Hongya Cave after dark (the crowds peak at 20:00 — go at 18:30 instead). Day two: Ciqikou old town in the morning, then the Three Gorges Museum if you're doing the cruise.
The Yangtze cruise
Chongqing is the main boarding point for the Three Gorges cruise to Yichang — the classic 3-day, 2-night river journey. Book a ship with a balcony cabin; the gorges are best seen in the early morning.
Getting there
- Monorail Line 3 from Jiangbei Airport to the centre in ~45 min
- Role
- Municipality (one of four)
- Population
- ~32 million (municipality)
- Nickname
- Mountain City
