Chongqing
The 3D cyberpunk mountain city famous for spicy hotpot and futuristic skylines.
⚡ Quick Facts
Best Time
Mar–May, Sep–Nov
Suggested Stay
2–3 days
Airport
CKG
Train Hub
Chongqing North / Chongqing West
🌆 Must-See Attractions
Hongya Cave
★★★ MustA 11-story stilt house complex clinging to a steep cliff. Looks exactly like the bathhouse from Spirited Away when lit up at night. Prepare for massive crowds.
Liziba Station
★★★ MustThe famous monorail that passes straight through a residential apartment building. Watch it from the street level viewing platform.
Yangtze River Cableway
★★ RecommendedA retro cable car that glides across the mighty Yangtze River, offering spectacular views of the city's vertical skyline.
Ciqikou Old Town
★★ RecommendedA historic riverside town from the Ming/Qing dynasties. Full of narrow alleys, traditional tea houses, and hundreds of snack stalls.
🌶️ What to Eat
Chongqing Hotpot
The soul of the city. A boiling pot of beef tallow heavily spiced with Sichuan peppercorns and chilies. Dip meats and tripe, then coat in sesame oil to cool the burn.
Where: Peijie Hotpot (classic) · Zhaer Hotpot · Or any packed neighborhood spot
Price: ¥80–150 per person
Chongqing Xiaomian
A bowl of fresh noodles bathed in an intensely flavorful, numbingly spicy broth made from over a dozen seasonings. The perfect cheap breakfast.
Price: ¥10–20 per bowl
Suan La Fen (Hot & Sour Noodles)
Chewy sweet potato noodles in a vinegary, spicy soup topped with peanuts and minced pork. A popular street snack.
Where: Hao You Lai (near Jiefangbei)
Price: ¥15 per bowl
🚇 Getting Around
Metro: The lifeline of this 3D city. Trains go under rivers, through mountains, and over streets. Use Alipay transport code.
DiDi/Taxis: Taxis here are yellow and drivers are notoriously fast. However, traffic jams are common in the center.
Walking: Be prepared for stairs! ‘Walking 500 meters’ in Chongqing might mean climbing up 10 flights of stairs because your destination is directly above you.
Don’t trust 2D map navigation apps blindly in Chongqing! You might be on the 1st floor while your destination is on the 10th floor directly above you.
💡 Insider Tips
Wear comfortable walking shoes
Chongqing is built on mountains. You will climb more stairs here than anywhere else. Heels are a terrible idea.
Ask for 'Wei La' (mild spicy)
Chongqing's 'mild' is still incredibly spicy for most foreigners. Don't be a hero — order mild hotpot, or ask for a split pot (Yuanyang guo) with a non-spicy mushroom/tomato broth on one side.
First-floor illusions
You can walk out of an elevator on the 1st floor, and walk out of the same building on the 10th floor, and both lead to street levels. This is the magic of Chongqing.
Combine with Chengdu
Chengdu is just 1.5 hours away by high-speed rail. Many travelers visit both cities on the same trip to compare the relaxed vibe of Chengdu with the high energy of Chongqing.