Chongqing: Your Ultimate Guide
Updated: Sep 20, 2023
All the awesome things to do in the unique, spicy-food-filled, multi-level city of Chongqing!
Chongqing, in Sichuan Province, is a city that typically doesn’t feature on tourist itineraries, but anyone who has lived in China and has been to Chongqing says it’s their favorite Chinese city. It’s such a unique city, famous for its hotpot, spread across many, many mountains, and split by a few huge rivers. This makes for really interesting architecture and somewhere really fun to explore.
So many people had recommended it to me, so I had a feeling that it might not live up to what was in my head… but it did and I loved it!
How many days?
Doable in 1.5 to 2 days.
So, why visit?
Unique city-scape and beautiful views
Hotpot, with over 50,000 hotpot restaurants to choose from (and other delicious foods)
Stunning graffiti-lined streets of the art district
Old-school traditional teahouses
Best things to do
Take the Metro
This may sound absurd, but taking the metro is an awesome way to get river-side views and experience the 'famous' metro running through the center of an apartment block.
I recommend starting at Huanghuayuan Station and catching the metro to Liziba Station. Once at Liziba Station, head down the stairs (follow the crowds) to the Liziba Dangui Chuanlou Sightseeing Platform, which is sitting halfway up a mountain. Below you, there will be two massive double-decker highways, and above you will be the metro track, cutting through an apartment block.
Apparently, when building the metro track, the city made plans to move the tenants from the building, but the tenants chose to stay – lucky for them because the presence of the metro line has shot building prices through the roof.
Tickets:
Buy metro tickets from the ticket window at the metro station.
Enjoy the Graffiti murals in the art district
Head to the art district to see incredible multi-floor murals, and even get involved, and add your personal touch to a building.
Graffiti is definitely not a common occurrence in China, but when they do it, they do it well! There are multiple streets to walk along and enjoy the graffiti – some are massive murals and some are decorated buildings and storefronts.
You can even get a brush and paint from one of many art-supply stores and make your mark - take a look at my recommendation below.
Aim for Chongqing 501 Art Base or the Sichuan Fine Arts Institute Huangjueping Campus entrance on Huangjueping Main Street, from there, walk along Huangjueping Main Street towards where it intersects with Youdian Road. While walking along Huangjueping Main Street, keep an eye out for the huge murals spread across many of the buildings (you may need to look backward, up the street to see some of them). Once you get to Youdian Road, walk up the road, and possibly get your own brush and paint to add to the graffiti along the street.
Walking along Huangjueping Main Street you will notice a beautiful mural of a teahouse (located near Youdian Road) – it’s one of the Oldest Teahouse in Chongqing – just a two-minute walk from the mural. I highly recommend popping into the teahouse for tea (I’ve included a bit more info about it below).
Get a brush and paint to add to the graffiti in the art district
While you spend time exploring the Art District (my recommendation above), pop into one of the many, many art supply shops to grab yourself a paintbrush and paint. You can paint just about anywhere along Huangjueping Main Street or Youdian Road that takes your fancy.
Experience the history of Chongqing’s oldest teahouse
This was probably my favorite thing in Chongqing! Get yourself a cup of tea (RMB 10), some snacks, and even some playing cards from Chongqing’s oldest teahouse. It was opened in 1987, and not much has been done to it since. It is really rustic and has an awesome vibe!
Grab a table, get some tea, snacks, and cards, and while away some time!
The teahouse is in the art district area (it’s along the same road that is filled with beautiful murals). In fact, one of the murals is of the teahouse – and even includes the same man currently working there! I highly recommend exploring the area before enjoying your tea.
Address:
Chen’anjian Jiaotong Tea House,
No. 4 Huangjueping Main Street,
Juilongpo
Eat hotpot and other amazing Chongqing food
Chongqing has some of the most incredible Sichuan food, making use of the incredible spices and chilies found in the area. The food here really highlights just how many ways chilies can be used, and not all of them are super spicy.
Explore the city
Chongqing is built between (and on) so many mountains, so the architecture is really interesting to see. You’ll think you're on ground level (because that’s where the skyscraper’s base is), but you’ll look down and there will be massive double-decker highways and huge apartment blocks below you.
To get a feel for the city, I recommend walking around the Jiefangbei area, including People’s Liberation Monument, Chongqing Art Gallery, Arhat Temple, Hongya Cave Yejing, Raffles City, and the area along the Jialingjiang River.
Visit the Hongya Cave at night
Be warned – the crowds are insane! We didn’t actually end up doing this, because I didn’t feel like stomaching the crowds, but my brother did it, and apparently, the view is stunning. So it’s your call!
The Hongya Cave is a complex of silt houses that were built for a military fortress. It’s built into the mountainside along the river, so it’s possible to explore the complex and then go down into the riverbed to look back up at it – a very impressive sight! To do this, head to Hongya Cave Yejing Sightseeing Platform, and then follow the crowds. Depending on the time of the day, the police create barriers for crowd control.
Best areas to stay
I recommend staying in the Jiefangbei area – it’s a nice area, pretty central, and it's an interesting area to walk around and explore.
Getting around
Getting around the area
Aside from taking the metro to see the view, taxiing is probably your best bet. Walking is also a nice way to see everything and get an idea of the different levels of buildings, etc. I’m guessing due to the hilliness, bikes aren’t a thing in Chongqing.
Just to note – because the rivers split up the city, there can be quite a bit of traffic to get to different areas (particularly when crossing bridges), so if you need to get somewhere by a specific time, I recommend leaving a bit earlier than you would usually.
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