Chongqing is China’s “mountain megacity,” stapled to cliffs where the Yangtze and Jialing Rivers meet. It rose as a wartime capital in the 1930s–40s, then reinvented itself with sky-bridges, monorails that shoot through buildings, and one of Asia’s fiercest food scenes. Expect altitude changes, escalators tunneling through hills, and views that turn electric after sunset.

Beyond the city’s neon swagger lies world-class nature. The Wulong Karst—limestone arches and gorges chiselled by time—sits to the southeast, while the UNESCO-listed Dazu Rock Carvings preserve 9th–13th-century Buddhist, Taoist, and Confucian stone art to the west. Together, they make Chongqing a rare combo: cyberpunk skyline by night, ancient and geologic marvels by day.

Practical notes: Summers are hot and humid; winters are cool and misty—pack layers and good walking shoes for stair-filled streets. Foreign cards are increasingly accepted, but mobile payments (WeChat Pay/Alipay) now work for many visitors—set up before arrival. The local palate runs spicy; order “weila” (slight spice) if you’re testing the waters.

Chongqing

Chongqing dazzles with stacked neighborhoods, double-decker bridges, and the famous Yangtze River Cableway gliding between banks. Anchors include Jiefangbei’s pedestrian core, stilted Hongyadong, Raffles City’s “Crystal” skybridge, the Liziba monorail-through-a-building viewpoint, Eling Park’s hilltop views, and Ciqikou Ancient Town’s lanes of teahouses and street snacks.

• Top sights: Jiefangbei, Hongyadong, Chaotianmen docks, Yangtze River Cableway, Liziba Station, Eling Park, Ciqikou Ancient Town, Huguang Guild Hall, Luohan Temple.
• Food to chase: Chongqing xiaomian (spicy noodles), suanlafen (sour-spicy glass noodles), chuanchuan (skewered hot pot), grilled fish (kaoyu), and canonical hot pot with beef tripe and duck blood. Sweet relief: brown-sugar rice cakes (ciba) and cooling herbal jelly.
• Fun facts: Locals call Chongqing an “8D city” for its layered roads and elevators. Foggy days paint the skyline in silver; at night, LEDs swap the mist for neon.

Where to stay (search and compare): For river views and convenience, pick Yuzhong (Jiefangbei/Chaotianmen) or Jiangbeizui; for South Bank vistas, look at Nan’an. Explore options on VRBO or Hotels.com. You’ll find riverside five-stars near Raffles City and wallet-friendly stays steps from the monorail.

Getting in: Fly into CKG (Jiangbei International). Compare fares on Trip.com Flights and Kiwi.com. From Beijing/Shanghai, flights are ~2.5–3 h (often $80–$190 one-way); from Hong Kong, ~2 h 15 m.

By train (within China): High-speed lines make regional hops easy—Chengdu to Chongqing is ~1.5–2 h (¥150–¥220), Guiyang ~2–3 h (¥120–¥200), Xi’an ~5–6 h (¥300–¥500). Check schedules on Trip.com Trains. Airport to downtown takes ~45–60 min by taxi, ~50–70 min by metro depending on your stop.

Day 1: Arrival, Jiefangbei First Bites, and a Yangtze Night Cruise

Morning: Travel to Chongqing. On the way, glance over this itinerary and save pinned spots. If you land before noon, grab an easy bite at the airport—soy milk and a warm youtiao or a quick bowl of suanlafen to set the tone.

Afternoon: Check in near Jiefangbei for a walkable start. Stroll Bayi Food Street for your first Chongqing xiaomian (ask for “weila” if you prefer mild), and try cooling grass jelly if the heat kicks. For a caffeine reset, pop into a specialty café around IFS (Seesaw Coffee and other third-wave spots often have single-origin pour-overs and a view toward the river).

Evening: Board a riverboat where the Yangtze and Jialing meet; the skyline lights are the city’s true welcome mat. Book the Chongqing Yangtze River Cruise and Illuminated Night Tour (typically 60–90 minutes on the water, then night views on land). Expect choreographed bridges, neon-clad facades, and photo stops at Chaotianmen.

Post-cruise, head to Nanbin Road’s riverside for late snacks: chuanchuan skewers dipped in peppery broth, charcoal-grilled squid, and hawker-style desserts. If jet lag lingers, ride the monorail back—night tunnels and lit bridges are part of the fun.

Day 2: City Icons, Stilt Houses, and a Skybridge (Full-Day Tour)

Cover a greatest-hits loop with the Private Customized Tour: Chongqing City Highlights in One Day. With hotel pickup, you can shape the day around the Yangtze River Cableway (about ¥20 one-way; 4 minutes of pure panorama), Hongyadong’s wooden stilt architecture, Jiefangbei’s plaza, Eling Park’s hillside lookout, Liziba’s monorail-through-a-building viewpoint, and Ciqikou Ancient Town for tea and snacks.

Ask your guide to fold in the Raffles City “Crystal” skybridge (tickets usually from ~¥160–¥230, timed entry) for glass-floored river views. For lunch, let them steer you to a locals’ canteen for mapo tofu, yu xiang eggplant, or a mild broth if you need a spice break.

Dinner is a rite of passage: hot pot. Try Peijie Old Hotpot near Jiefangbei (famous for peppercorn-forward broth), De Zhuang (classic chain offering split spicy/non-spicy pots), or Qinma Old Hotpot (rich beef tallow base). Order tripe (毛肚), duck blood, potato slices, lotus root, and fried tofu skin; cool off with plum juice or snow fungus pear soup.

Day 3: Wulong Karst—Natural Three Bridges and Longshuixia (Full-Day Excursion)

Trade neon for nature with the Chongqing Wulong: All inclusive luxury private trip to 2 spots. It typically includes hotel pickup (around 7:30–8:00 a.m.), a ~2.5–3 hour drive, entry to both the Natural Three Bridges (towering limestone arches) and Longshuixia Fissure Gorge, plus the scenic elevator and a local lunch.

Trails are well-maintained but include stairs; bring grippy shoes and a light rain layer—mists add drama and slickness. Expect to be back early evening.

After return, swap to grilled fish (kaoyu): look for branch locations of Tan Yu (探鱼) or a local kaoyu house near Nanbin Road. Choose a mild or medium chili level and add sides like enoki mushrooms and lotus root to simmer in the tray.

Day 4: Dazu Rock Carvings—UNESCO Stone Stories (Full-Day Excursion)

Head west to the 9th–13th-century stone masterpieces with Echoes of Enlightenment: A Day at Dazu Rock Carvings. Guides bring context to Baoding and Beishan’s narrative reliefs—intricate scenes that blend Buddhism, Taoism, and everyday life, remarkably preserved in cliffside alcoves. Travel time is ~1.5–2 hours each way by road.

Back in the city, sample a different comfort staple: suancaiyu (sour cabbage fish). Chains like Tai’er (太二酸菜鱼) are reliably bright and tangy; pair with cold cucumber salad and rice to reset your palate after hot pot day. For a mellow nightcap, wander Testbed 2 (Eling Second Factory) for creative-park cafés and craft beer, or walk Nanbin Road for the city’s best skyline photos.

Day 5: Ciqikou Lanes, Last Views, and Departure

Morning: Go early to Ciqikou Ancient Town to beat the crowds. Duck into a teahouse for jasmine or pu’er and watch the slow parade on the stone lanes. Snack your way through: twisted mahua, ciba rice cakes drizzled with brown sugar, grilled bean curd, and peppery peanuts make ideal edible souvenirs.

Afternoon: If you missed it on Day 2, ride the Yangtze River Cableway (about ¥20 one-way; queues move faster before lunch). Alternatively, visit Huguang Guild Hall to peek at migrant-merchant history and wooden courtyards, then drop to Chaotianmen to see the river confluence. Grab a quick bowl of malatang (choose your skewers by weight) or a final serving of xiaomian before you head out.

Evening: Departure day—plan ~60–90 minutes to reach CKG depending on traffic. If you have an extra hour, sip an espresso with a view in Jiangbeizui’s business district or at a café in Raffles City, then pick up vacuum-packed hot pot base and peppercorns for home cooking.

Where to Book and Practical Tips

• Hotels and apartments: Compare locations and prices on VRBO and Hotels.com. Areas with easy transit and views: Jiefangbei/Chaotianmen (Yuzhong), Jiangbeizui, and Nanbin Road (Nan’an).
• Flights/trains: Use Trip.com Flights or Kiwi.com for air, and Trip.com Trains for high-speed rail within China.
• Local transport: Taxis and ride-hailing handle hills better than long stair climbs; metro is efficient for cross-river runs. Expect escalators/elevators in unexpected places—follow signs and enjoy the “8D” routing.
• Dining pointers: For hot pot, book or go off-peak (4:30–6:00 p.m.) to avoid queues. Order a split pot if traveling with spice-shy friends. For breakfast, xiaomian shops open early—toppings like peas, minced pork, and pickled cowpea add depth.

Optional swaps and add-ons: If you’d rather keep Day 2 self-guided, consider a guided bites-and-night-views crawl on another evening: the Chongqing Local Food Tour Adventure layers storytelling with snacks in backstreets. Or, if you want more city highlights in less time, the Chongqing private luxury city tour: Must-sees All in One compresses the icons into one afternoon-and-evening sweep.

In five days, you’ll taste the heat of Chongqing’s kitchens, float past its illuminated skyline, and walk beneath stone arches and sacred carvings that time forgot. This itinerary balances headline sights with local flavor so you leave with stories—and recipes—to bring home.