We spent several days exploring Chongqing and its outer districts. This guide covers the best things to do in Chongqing, and we recommend them to anyone planning a visit. To the Chinese, Chongqing is the country’s top holiday destination, a well-kept secret which is now ready to be shared with the world.
Go panda spotting at the Chongqing Panda House, see the ancient Dazu Rock Carvings or go shopping in the rabbit warren of laneways in Ciqikou Ancient Town. Prepare to be dazzled by the spectacular Chongqing drone light show, unwind in the warmth of the hot springs and sample the city’s famous spicy hot pot.
We visited Chongqing as guests of Wendy Wu Tours to discover the highlights of Chongqing and its surrounding districts and counties. All opinions are our own, and you can read our honest Wendy Wu Tours review for the full story on how they operate.
Things to Do in Chongqing
Chongqing continually surprised us with a mind-blowing assortment of attractions in and around the city. We begin with the two icons every visitor asks about, then work through the experiences that made our trip.
1. Hongya Cave (Hongyadong)
Hongya Cave is Chongqing’s most photographed sight. This eleven storey stack of traditional stilt houses clings to a cliff face between the city streets above and the Jialing River below. After dark the entire complex glows gold, and it is one of those places that genuinely looks as good in real life as it does in the photos.
We admired Hongya Cave from the water on our Yangtze and Jialing River night cruise. This allowed us to take in the beauty of Hongya Cave without fighting the crowds. Passing under the Qiansimen Bridge we came into full view of the dazzling golden sweep of Hongya Cave. The complex lights shimmered across the water creating a truly magical sight.
If you visit on foot, entry is free and the levels inside are packed with souvenir shops, snack stalls and restaurants. This is one of the most crowded spots in Chongqing after dark, so make sure to arrive around dusk. That way you can enjoy the buildings by day and lit up by night before the evening crowd’s peak.
The classic street level photo can be taken from across the Jialing River near Qiansimen Bridge. The lights do get switched off later in the evening, so do not leave it too late to visit.
2. Liziba Monorail Station
Liziba is the station made famous by millions of social media videos, where the Line 2 monorail passes straight through the middle of a nineteen storey residential apartment building.
During our trip, we ran out of time to visit Liziba Monorail Station. There is so much to see in Chongqing, and we have put it on the top of our list for our return visit.
There is a viewing platform at street level just below the station, and it is free. Trains run every few minutes in both directions, so you will not have to wait long to catch a glimpse of one gliding out of the building.
Allow twenty to thirty minutes, which makes it an easy add-on rather than a half day commitment. Liziba is on metro Line 2, a short ride from the Jiefangbei area. If you are travelling with a tour group, ask your guide whether a quick stop can be squeezed in, as it is close to several attractions the tours already visit.
3. Yangtze and Jialing River Night Cruise
Nothing can prepare you for the beauty of Chongqing by night and one of the best ways to see it is from a Yangtze and Jialing River Night Cruise.
Watch the city skyline turn into a wonderland of light as you drift past the glitzy Raffles City Complex to where these two mighty rivers meet. Pass under colourfully lit bridges and admire the glittering golden skyline of Hongya Cave (Hongyadong).
4. Chongqing Drone Light Show
If you are visiting Chongqing, make sure to be there on a Saturday night to see the Chongqing Drone Light Show. The Yangtze and Jialing River Night Cruise offer an uninterrupted view of this spectacular drone light show.
With a distant hum, the sky fills with the twinkle of thousands of multi coloured lights as the drones take to the sky. Suddenly the drones merge to create an image of a Sichuan opera face-changing performer, a staple of Chongqing culture.
The drones continue to separate and transform into an assortment of characters and subjects unique to Chongqing, our favourite was the panda. You will find that the show is continually evolving, changing themes throughout the year.
5. Dazu Rock Carvings
The Dazu Rock Carvings are a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the Dazu District of Chongqing. This massive collection of 9th to 13th century religious idols and symbols are deeply carved into towering rock faces across seventy sites.
Each wall is sculpted with faith and devotion combining Buddhist, Taoist and Confucianist teachings. When you walk along the trails you will find a newfound respect for the magnitude of work it took to create them.
Together with serene depictions of Buddha are a collection of moral stories that are a pathway to Nirvana, the supreme religious goal of the Buddhist religion.
While you are there, the Dazu Rock Carving theatre screens a fully immersive 8k Dome Film featuring these striking carvings. The movie took us on a journey high up into the caves and cliff ledges to get a bird’s eye view of the carvings. We were engulfed by the intricate details and the sheer scale of the rock carvings, a perfect introduction to this outstanding UNESCO World Heritage Site.
6. Ciqikou Ancient Town
Leave Chongqing’s futuristic skyline behind and take a step back in time to Ciqikou Ancient Town. The town was once a thriving porcelain manufacturing centre for the Ming and Qing dynasties and is now one of Chongqing’s most charming districts.
Shopaholics will be squealing with delight as they wander through character filled laneways lined with traditional timber shophouses. A place jampacked with souvenir shops, street food vendors, jewellery shops and traditional arts and crafts.
7. Chongqing Panda House
Giant Pandas are the national treasure of China and a visit to the Panda House at Chongqing Zoo is an absolute must.
In the wild pandas are notoriously picky when it comes to breeding, often preferring to eat and sleep over creating the next generation of pandas. Thankfully Chongqing Zoo is a panda breeding centre that houses over twenty pandas including a set of twins.
It is a fabulous place to observe the antics of these adorable animals. Whether playing, munching on bamboo or sleeping, seeing the pandas will be a lasting memory of your trip to China.
8. Yangtze River Cableway
The Yangtze River Cableway opened in 1987 and was originally built as an easier way for locals to cross the river before Chongqing became the “City of Bridges”.
The Yangtze River Cableway drifts slowly across the Yangtze River offering a brilliant view of the city’s skyline as it makes its way between the Yuzhong and Nan’an districts of Chongqing.
9. Chongqing Eye of the Cloud Observation Deck
For the best views in Chongqing make sure to visit the Eye of the Cloud observation deck. Here you have the choice of staying in air-conditioned comfort on the 67th floor or head up to the 68th floor to the open-air platform.
From the 68th floor you will get a 360-degree uninterrupted view of Chongqing, the Yangtze and Jialing Rivers. The Eye of the Cloud is the best place to take panoramic skyline photos of Chongqing.
10. Ronghui Hot Springs
The Ronghui Hot Springs is home to fifty-five hot springs including a massive indoor pool and landscaped outdoor pools. The hot springs are rich in minerals with therapeutic properties that promote wellbeing, relaxation and family fun.
After a busy day of sightseeing, it was pure heaven to chill out and soak our aching muscles in these soothing thermal springs.
11. Sichuan Opera Performance
Sichuan opera is an exciting mix of music, singing, acrobatics and fire breathing. Performers show off their talents dressed in dazzling costumes, bold makeup and elaborate headdresses.
A highlight of Sichuan Opera is the Bian Lian face changing performance. In the blink of an eye the face masks change, revealing a new colour and character. I was fascinated by this performance and no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t figure out how they changed the mask with such speed.
12. Chongqing 1949
Chongqing 1949 is a powerful stage musical set against the historical backdrop of the Chinese Civil War.
During the play both stage and audience rotate 360 degrees, drawing you into the action and making you feel like you are inside the story and not just watching from the audience.
13. Zhou Junji Hot Pot Seasoning History and Culture Museum
Long before modern transport the Yangtze River was Chongqing’s lifeline to the world. Enter a brave bunch of boatmen who risked their lives dragging cargo laden boats along the turbulent waters of this mighty river.
Needing something cheap, filling and fast, the hot pot was a quick and nourishing meal that satisfied the belly and gave them the much-needed energy to continue their backbreaking work.
At the Zhou Junji Hot Pot Seasoning History and Culture Museum, we learnt the history of the hot pot, discovered the spices that flavour this delicious dish and sampled a range of products within the gift shop.
We also left the city behind to visit the stunning natural scenery and ancient villages of Chongqing’s outer districts and counties. You can read all about those in our outer Chongqing travel guide.
What to Eat in Chongqing
When you visit Chongqing China, be prepared to loosen your belt as you sample a delicious range of dishes and delicacies. Although the locals like things on the spicy side, you will still thoroughly enjoy the wide variety of flavours that showcase the fresh produce of the region.
We savoured so many incredible meals on our Wendy Wu Tour. Eating communally, we were thoroughly spoiled as dish after dish was presented to us.
Each dining venue we visited in Chongqing served a mouthwatering selection of food, but there are two places that stand out as memorable dining experiences.
Hot Pot at Baren Hongding
When you visit Chongqing China, you cannot leave without tasting hot pot, the city’s most iconic dish. Historically hot pot began as a cheap and nourishing meal for the hardworking Yangtze River boatmen who spent their days hauling boats upriver.
Today sharing hot pot with family and friends is a Chongqing institution. Nothing beats this relaxed style of dining, sitting around a table of bubbling red-oil hot pot soup, choosing your preferred meats and vegetables, having a laugh and a beer with your friends.
During our visit to the restaurant our hot pot was divided into spicy and non-spicy soup base options. The table was set with a medley of meats and vegetables. There was also another section which had desserts and a further assortment of meats, seafood and cooked vegetables such as corn and sweet potato.
Hot pot is a fabulous way to sample the local produce. Some of my newfound favourite vegetables include lotus root, fresh seaweed and wood ear mushroom. Best of all, hot pot allows you to be as adventurous as you like, as you choose your own set of ingredients and soup base.
Li Yan Ba Guo Panoramic Immersive Cultural Show
If you have ever wondered what it was like to feast like an Emperor of the Han, Tang, Song or Ming dynasties, the Chongqing Li Yan Ba Guo Panoramic Immersive Cultural Show will give you an idea.
The luxurious Ba Kingdom banquet hall is swathed in deep red lighting and a warm dark wood décor. Our servers were dressed in traditional costumes, the food was beautifully presented, and we really felt like royalty.
Between each course we were entertained with a lavish musical dance performance that told the history and traditions of Chongqing. Everybody on our tour agreed that the Li Yan Ba Guo Panoramic Immersive Cultural Show was a truly outstanding event.
Planning Your Visit to Chongqing
Where is Chongqing?
Bordered by scenic mountains, Chongqing sits at the meeting point of the Yangtze and Jialing Rivers, a landing port for Yangtze River Cruises. The city is home to around 32 million people, yet surprisingly it has a less crowded, more laid-back feel than other cities of its size.
Sitting in the southwest of China, Chongqing is 1,694 km west of Shanghai and 1,761 km southwest of Beijing, and both cities are well connected to Chongqing by air and train. As well as being a major city, Chongqing is also a municipality which covers twenty-six districts and eight counties.
Best Time to Visit Chongqing
Spring and autumn are the most comfortable times to visit, with mild temperatures that suit long days of sightseeing.
Summer is another story. Chongqing is known as one of China’s furnace cities, and between June and August the heat and humidity are relentless.
If you do visit in summer, plan your days around air-conditioned attractions, evening river cruises and the hot pot table. Winters are mild and often misty, which gives the skyline a moody look of its own.
Getting There and Getting Around
We flew with China Eastern Airlines from Sydney Australia to Shanghai and Chongqing. This was our first time flying with China Eastern Airlines and I have to say that I was impressed with their service and would fly with them again.
We flew in both economy and premium economy seating. The economy seats were surprisingly roomy, and the overnight meal service was quick. Premium economy seats were wide, well-padded and a dream to sleep on during out overnight flight from Sydney to Shanghai.
Chongqing metro is modern, cheap and extensive, though the hilly, multi-level layout of Chongqing takes some getting used to. English signage is less common than in Beijing or Shanghai. It is one city where being on a guided tour genuinely made life easier.
Do Australians Need a Visa for China?
At the time of writing, Australian passport holders can enter China visa-free for stays of up to 30 days, with the policy currently running until 31 December 2026. Entry rules can change, so always check the latest requirements before you book.
Staying Connected in China
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.
Where to Stay in Chongqing China
We stayed in two separate hotels during our trip to Chongqing, the Chongqing Ronghui Grand Hotel and Jiayu Emperor Hotel.
Chongqing Ronghui Grand Hotel
The Chongqing Ronghui Grand Hotel is a clean and comfortable 4-star hotel. The rooms are spacious and feature a desk and sitting area. The bathroom is roomy with separate shower, bath and toilet areas.
The hotel has a choice of restaurants, a spa and wellness centre, fitness centre and an indoor swimming pool.
The hotel is a short walk from the much-loved Ronghui Hot Springs, the perfect place to relax and recharge after a long flight or busy day of sightseeing.
Click here for reviews and pricing of the Chongqing Ronghui Grand Hotel
Jiayu Emperor Hotel
The Jiayu Emperor Hotel sits on the banks of the Yangtze River and offers clean modern rooms with river views. Our room was large with a charming Chinese style sitting area that overlooked the Yangtze River.
The restaurant has stunning views of the Yangtze River and served a large selection of delicious Asian dishes.
Click here for reviews and pricing of the Jiayu Emperor Hotel
How We Visited: Touring Chongqing with Wendy Wu
We visited Chongqing as guests of Wendy Wu Tours on a full immersion tour of the city and its outer districts. We usually spend months planning our own trips, and it was a refreshing change to sit back, relax and enjoy every moment without worrying about complicated travel details.
Chongqing is one city where a guided tour genuinely earns its keep. The city is spread across rivers, elevations and districts that do not follow a familiar layout, and having local guides and organised transport meant we saw far more than we could have managed on our own.
Several Wendy Wu itineraries include Chongqing, among them the New Horizons of China tour and the Inspiring China tour. If a festive season trip is more to your liking, our guide to guided Christmas tours for Australians covers the Christmas on the Yangtze and New Year in Hong Kong tour, which begins in Chongqing.
For more information, including the things we would want to know before booking, read our honest Wendy Wu Tours review.
FAQ: Visiting Chongqing
Two to three days covers the main city attractions, including Hongya Cave, the night cruise, Ciqikou Ancient Town and the pandas. Add another day or two if you want to reach the Dazu Rock Carvings or the natural scenery of the outer districts.
Absolutely. Chongqing offers something Beijing and Shanghai do not, a dramatic mountain city where the monorail runs through buildings and the skyline lights up like a film set. It is also noticeably less touristy than China’s better-known cities.
Spring and autumn offer the most comfortable weather. Summers are famously hot and humid, so if you visit between June and August, plan around indoor attractions and evening river cruises.
The metro is modern and cheap, but English is less common than in Beijing or Shanghai and the hilly, multi-level layout takes getting used to. It is one city where a guided tour genuinely makes life easier.
At the time of writing, Australian passport holders can enter China visa-free for stays of up to 30 days, with the policy currently running until 31 December 2026. Always check the latest entry requirements before you book.
Last Words on Things to Do in Chongqing China
We fell in love with Chongqing. We have been to Shanghai and Beijing on previous trips and cherished our time at the Forbidden City and Great Wall of China.
Although Beijing is an absolute must on a trip to China, the attractions of Chongqing shouldn’t be missed. At every turn we were in awe of what we saw and encountered. In fact, we saw so much that this is only the first instalment of our Chongqing story, and you can read the next chapter in our outer Chongqing travel guide.
If a fully guided tour of China appeals to you, read our honest Wendy Wu Tours review before you book, or browse the full range of Wendy Wu China tours here.
Disclaimer:
We were guests of Wendy Wu Tours on the Chongqing and Wuling tour. All opinions are our own.
