The city of Chongqing China is renowned for the natural beauty that sits on its doorstep. Our outer Chongqing Travel Guide will take you beyond this dynamic cyberpunk city to the outer districts and counties of the municipality of Chongqing.
Here you will discover ancient villages, meet the Tujia and Miao minority groups and walk amid the dramatic scenery of the Three Natural Bridges.
Chongqing City Tourist Attractions
Before you head to the outer districts of Chongqing, make sure to take a few days to explore the city and its surrounding attractions.
When you visit Chongqing China, the Dazu Rock Carvings, Ciqikou Ancient Town and the Giant Pandas should be on the top of your list of places to see in Chongqing.
In the evening watch the Chongqing skyline light up on a Yangtze and Jialing River night cruise and marvel at the Chongqing Drone Lightshow which is held every Saturday night.
Wendy Wu Tours
Wendy Wu Tours visit these famous Chongqing city attractions on their New Horizons of China tour, the Inspiring China tour and the Christmas on the Yangtze & New Year in Hong Kong tour.
These tour itineraries offer a fabulous selection of destinations across China. Visit Beijing and the Great Wall of China, the Terracotta Warriors in Xian or enjoy a Yangtze River cruise before discovering the wonders of Chongqing. To see what touring with this company is really like, read our honest Wendy Wu Tours review from our time in Chongqing.
Christmas on the Yangtze & New Year in Hong Kong Tour
The Christmas on the Yangtze & New Year in Hong Kong Tour is an unforgettable holiday season extravaganza. Highlights include celebrating Christmas Day on a Yangtze River cruise and New Years Eve with champagne and fireworks on a Hong Kong Harbour cruise.
From start to finish Wendy Wu tours will have you falling in love with the history, landscapes and culture of China.
Check here for details on the range of Wendy Wu China Tours
Chongqing China Attractions Further Afield
Our outer Chongqing Travel Guide will take you to the Dazu District, Tongnan District, Wulong District, Shizhu and Pengshui Counties.
Here you will walk amid charming ancient villages, view picturesque natural landscapes and learn about the culture and lifestyles of the Tujia and Miao minority groups.
Dazu District
On the top of an outer Chongqing travel guide is the Dazu District. Here you will find one of Chongqing’s most intriguing attractions, the historic Dazu Rock Carvings.
The distance from Chongqing to the Dazu Rock Carvings is 105km (65 miles) with a journey time of around 2 hours by car.
Dazu Rock Carvings
The Dazu Rock Carvings sit in Chongqing’s Dazu District and are a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Stretching across more than seventy locations, these impressive sculptures date from the 9th to the 13th centuries and include thousands of religious figures carved deep into cliff faces.
Three different religious practices are brought together in one place. Buddhist, Taoist and Confucian beliefs stand side by side. Along with peaceful Buddha carvings you will find scenes that share moral lessons and spiritual philosophies.
As you walk through the site, it’s hard not to be awestruck by the effort and craftsmanship that went into creating something this massive so long ago.
Dazu Rock Carvings 8K Dome Film
When visiting the Dazu Rock Carvings it is well worth watching the 8K dome film on show at the visitor centre. Soar high within the carvings to get a closer view of the majesty etched into the cliff walls.
Being surrounded by the images really helps you understand just how detailed and enormous the carvings are. It’s a great way to get a feel for the site and appreciate what you’re about to see before setting off to explore it yourself.
Check here for more information on a Dazu Rock Carvings tour
Tongnan District
One of the gems of an outer Chongqing travel guide is Shuangjiang Ancient Town in the Tongnan District of Chongqing.
The distance from Chongqing to Shuangjiang Ancient Town is 160km (99 miles) and travel time is around 2 ½ to 3 hours by car.
Shuangjiang Ancient Town
Our first glimpse of Shuangjiang Ancient Town was accompanied by the rhythmic beat of drums and cymbals. The square was filled with excitement as folk dancers wished us a warm welcome.
Walking around we could not help but admire the decoratively carved wooden archways and exteriors of this ancient Qing Dynasty town. The Yang Family Residence will have you stepping back in time as you explore its rich interiors swathed in red and dark wood furnishings.
Outside you will find vendors selling local sweet treats and delicacies. One talented vendor was making toffee lollipops. It was fascinating to watch him craft animals and insects out of a thin stream of sticky toffee. With a smile he handed me a beautiful butterfly which I greatly treasured.
Before we left, we enjoyed a rousing Sichuan Opera Performance which was accompanied by musicians playing traditional Chinese instruments.
Wulong District
An outer Chongqing travel guide would not be complete without a trip to the Wulong District to see the breathtaking scenery of the Three Natural Bridges Scenic Area.
The distance from Chongqing to the Three Natural Bridges is 168km (104 miles) and takes approximately 2 ½ to 3 hours by car.
Three Natural Bridges Scenic Area
The Three Natural Bridges in Wulong are one of those places that will stop you in your tracks. This dramatic karst landscape is made up of three enormous limestone bridges that span a deep, mist shrouded gorge.
A tall rotating elevator takes you down to a set of pathways and stairs that twist their way past waterfalls, forested cliffs and narrow valleys. Suddenly you are engulfed by the rugged beauty of these looming natural arches.
Named after dragons, the Tianlong, Qinglong and Heilong Bridges feel almost otherworldly in their majesty, and it comes as no surprise that they are UNESCO World Heritage listed. The scenery is also famous for being the film location of Transformers: Age of Extinction.
Check here for more information on tours of the TianSheng Three Bridges
Chongqing to Shizhu County High Speed Train
Waking early, we headed to Chongqingbei Railway Station to take the high-speed train to Shizhu County.
Chongqing North Railway Station is massive and has signs in both Chinese and English which makes it easier to navigate for foreigners. Inside were a selection of eateries including a Starbucks which was perfect for that early morning caffeine fix.
The train was clean and comfortable. Our journey was smooth considering we were reaching speeds of around 193km per hour. Along the route we whizzed past small villages on our way up into the mountains of Shizhu County.
Shizhu County Attractions
Shizhu County is home to the people of the Tujia minority group. When you visit the Wanshoushan Scenic Area and Wanshou Ancient Village you will discover the history, culture and cuisine native to the region.
TIP*
When travelling in China many western websites such as Facebook, Instagram Google etc are automatically blocked. To avoid being blocked it is recommended that you pre-purchase an eSim prior to your travel.
This will ensure you can access websites as you would back home as soon as you arrive. We used a Simify eSim during our time in China which has a built in VPN and were able to access all sites without restrictions.
Purchase a Simify eSim here.
Wanshoushan Scenic Area
In Wanshoushan Scenic Area traditionally dressed locals welcomed us with a variety of snacks and rice tea. We admired their colourful costumes and watched a powerful drum and martial arts performance which depicted the history of the county.
We walked high into picturesque mountain scenery, an area that also pays tribute to heroine General Qin Liangyu who is famous for defending the Ming dynasty (1368-1644) from attack with her skills in military strategy, horseback riding, archery and martial arts.
As we looked out over the mountains, we were entertained by the joyous singing of the Tujia people. While there we listened to the gentle strum of traditional musical instruments and had our names written in Chinese calligraphy.
Wanshou Ancient Village
Lunch was served in the open-air square of Wanshou Ancient Village. Here we tasted the exceptional flavours of Tujia cuisine. Each dish served showcased the fresh produce that Shizhu County is famous for.
After drinking the last bowl of wine, it is tradition to smash the bowl on the floor. Surprise quickly turned to fun and laughter as we all took our turn smashing these shallow earthenware bowls to the ground.
The laughter continued when we surrendered to the beat of the drums and joined in the Tujia folk dancing.
Pengshui County Attractions
Pengshui County is home to the Miao minority group. Popular tourist attractions include the Miao Ethnicity Village and Chiyou Juilicheng Scenic Area.
The distance from Chongqing to Chiyou Juilicheng Scenic Area is 215 km (133 miles) and is around 3 hours’ drive from central Chongqing.
Chiyou Juilicheng Scenic Area
Chiyou Jiuli City in Pengshui County is the largest traditional Miao building complex in China. Set into the mountains, it pays tribute to Miao folk traditions, history and architecture through cultural displays and performances.
Of an evening Chiyou Jiuli City turns into a magical kingdom as these ornate buildings radiate a golden glow against the dark backdrop of the mountains.
Miao Ethnicity Village Long Table Banquet
We enjoyed a long table banquet dinner at the Miao Ethnicity Village. Here we sampled an almost never-ending assortment of delicious Miao dishes. We joined in the Miao folk dancing and had lots of fun and laughter playing Miao drinking games.
Juili Night Cruise
After dinner we watched a spectacular light and sound show aboard a Juili Night Cruise. As we made our way up the river we were entertained with musical and traditional face changing performances.
Last Words on Our Outer Chongqing Travel Guide
We hope our Outer Chongqing Travel Guide has helped you discover a new destination filled with natural beauty, cultural encounters, and some of the best foodie experiences that China has to offer.
If you have plans to visit China, make sure to put Chongqing and its outer districts and counties on your list of places to visit.
