Top 5 Must-Do Activities In Chongqing

Chongqing is often dubbed the "Mountain City," it is a vibrant metropolis in southwestern China, nestled where the Yangtze and Jialing rivers meet. It’s a city where modernity meets tradition in the most delightful ways.

You may have seen Chongqing go viral in the past couple of years because of its cyberpunk neon aesthetic. It is also the only place in the world where you can enter the building at ground level go up 10 floors, exit, and still be on ground level.

It really is a one-of-a-kind city so, if you’re planning a trip there, here are the top five things you simply can’t miss!

1. PUBLIC TRANSPORT

Now this may sound like a strange one, as you often can't go to a city and not use public transport but here in Chongqing rather than it just being a convenient way to get around, it’s a landmark itself.

Because of Chongqing’s interesting terrain, the transportation here is different to any city I've been to. The monorail (especially line 2) feels more like a rollercoaster and offers stunning views of the river. There is even a famous station, Liziba that goes through a building. You can hop off and take a look as there is a viewing platform.

Another form of transportation in the city we loved taking is the Yangtze River Cableway a cable car which goes across the river. It offers amazing views both in the day and at night.

The rivers in Chongqing really shape the city you can find many river cruises that you can enjoy, but when we went we decided to skip the tourist boats and get the public ferry across instead for a fraction of the price.

We loved the infrastructure in Chongqing so much we even made a video about it. 

2. GET HIGH

Chongqing is a city of views there are so many levels to it. No matter where you are in the city, get high (off the ground) and appreciate the views - you will be impressed.

One of the best places to see the city is from Eling Park. It offers 360 panoramic views from the Pagoda which is situated in a beautiful tranquil park what more could you ask for?

We went in the day, but the park is open till late so I'm sure it would be amazing at night when Chongqing is filled with neon lights. On the way back down head to the nearby Testbed 2 to grab a beer or some food to end your day.

3. RIVER VIEWS AT NIGHT

Chongqing is a tale of two cities, the mountainous day city, and the cyberpunk night city.

At night, the city transforms into this Blade Runner-esque city with neon light displays on every building. Head to the river to see the city in all of its glory.

If you aren’t scared of heights (or glass floors) then Raffles City has an amazing glass viewing platform where you can look out or even under your feet to see some incredible views.

Raffles City itself is a landmark to see at night. The best place is to head to Nanbin Road to get some great views over the water.

One of the city’s most iconic buildings has to be Hongyadong at night. Be prepared though, this area gets super busy with people taking photos and can be a bit chaotic trying to navigate.

4. JIATONG TEAHOUSE & HUANGJUEPING GRAFFITI STREET

I just love visiting an old tea house in China and Jiaotong Teahouse does not disappoint. Walking back in time to the 80s, this local haunt feels like it hasn’t changed in decades. A popular place to meet Chongqing locals who come to spend the day chatting with friends and playing games.

The tea house is on Huangueping Street which is a famous street in Chongqing because it is covered in murals - hence the name graffiti street. This street might not be for everyone but for me it was one of my favourite things to do. It's a little far out but I thought it was worth the taxi ride. I love street art and I couldn't believe that there was a whole residential street that had been painted in huge murals thanks to the nearby Fine Arts University.

Check out our video about it here…

5. EAT HOTPOT

Hotpot is life in Chongqing, you can’t come to the city and not try this delicious dish.

Although you can find hotpot all across China, Chongqing is famous for its numb and spicy hotpot using lots of Sichuan pepper in the broth. It is also the home of where this very famous dish originates from. Hotpot is a staple here and you can find it pretty much on every corner, Chongqing has more hotpot restaurants than any other city in the world, I’m sure wherever you go it will be amazing.

We combined two historic things in Chongqing and ate hotpot in a disused air raid shelter. In WWII Chongqing became the temporary capital of China and built lots of shelters to save its people. Now many are abandoned and being turned into interesting things.

We also had a drink at Caver Bar (near Liziba station) which is a cool craft brewery built into an air raid shelter.

Want to learn more about Chongqing Hotpot, watch this video…

WHERE TO STAY

I think the Jiefungbei area is the best place to stay in Chongqing, everything is pretty close to this area or easily accessible on the metro line. This is a great starting base to see the city and you are in the middle of all the action.

We stayed at the ATour which is a chain you will find all over China it was nice, simple and in a great location.

This area was one of my favourites in the city, although there wasn't anything specific to see it focussed on local life and the smaller details which I find more interesting when exploring a new city.

So, there you have my top 5 things to do in the city.

These places are also super convenient and you could fit them into a weekend or shorter itinerary if you only had a few days in the city. Chongqing really did blow our minds when we went and we had such a fun time. Whether you’re a foodie, history buff, or architecture enthusiast there is something for everyone. Happy travels!

Check out our video to see more…

If you need some help planning your itinerary for your Chongqing (and China) trip then get in touch I can help you!