Chongqing Travel Guide

Chongqing is a directly governed city on the upper Yangtze, sitting at the confluence of the Yangtze and Jialing rivers. Most of the municipal area is mountainous, and high-rise buildings step up the slopes in tiers, which gives the city its nickname Mountain City. Heavy river mists earn it the second nickname, Fog City.

Chongqing is the customary starting point for Three Gorges cruises: boats leave Chaotianmen Wharf and run downriver past Baidi Cheng and the Three Gorges Dam to Yichang. Within the city, the Hongyadong folk-style district — a cliffside block of stilted houses (diaojiaolou) layered along the Jialing — is the visual centerpiece, its lights reflected on the river after dark.

Ciqikou ancient town preserves streetscapes from the Ming and Qing, lined with snack shops and craft sellers. From the lookouts on Nanshan or Goosneck Hill Park, you can take in the night skyline of the two rivers framed by skyscrapers. The pedestrianized Jiefangbei shopping district stays busy late into the evening, and the monorail Line 2 threading between buildings is a Chongqing sight in its own right.

The defining dish is Chongqing hotpot: a deep cauldron of beef fat, dried chilies and Sichuan peppercorns, where ingredients are dipped and eaten with sesame-oil sauce — even in high summer. Chongqing xiaomian (spicy dry-tossed small noodles) and suanlafen (hot-and-sour glass noodles) are local favorites. Jiangbei International is the main airport; the rail hubs are Chongqing North and Chongqing West stations. Lace up sturdy shoes and walk the slopes — the city rewards every sense.