4 must-see attractions and 5 total things to do.
Chongqing is a city you experience through your senses — and none more so than taste. Beyond the 5 attractions listed here, the food scene deserves a category of its own.
I recommend at least 2–3 days in Chongqing. You can comfortably cover the 4 must-sees in 2 days, then explore at leisure.
洪崖洞
A 12-storey stilt-house complex built into a cliff face — golden-lit at night and absolutely magical.
长江索道
A 5-minute cable car ride across the Yangtze River — the world's longest urban river cable car.
解放碑
Chongqing's commercial heart — a pedestrian square surrounded by glittering skyscrapers.
磁器口
A restored Ming-Qing Dynasty old town with narrow alleys, street food, and souvenir shops.
长江夜游
A 1-hour cruise from Chaotianmen Dock with stunning views of the illuminated skyline.
In Chongqing, the food is an adventure in itself. Here are my picks for what to eat — if you skip these, you haven't really been.
重庆火锅 · ¥60–120 per person
The fiercer cousin of Sichuan hotpot — cooked in beef tallow with heaps of dried chilli and Sichuan pepper.
where Local hotpot street near Jiefangbei
重庆小面 · ¥8–15
Spicy noodles in chilli oil — a simple breakfast that defines the city's bold flavours.
where Any street stall in the morning
China's most dynamic city — futuristic skyline meets old-world charm
Shared interests
The crossroads of China — Yangtze river views, breakfast culture, and resilient spirit
Shared interests
China's most flavour-obsessed city — spicy food, fiery energy, and a night that never ends
Shared interests
The birthplace of dim sum and China's window to the world for 2,000 years
Shared interests
I'd been to China before on group tours. This was completely different. Peng designed a Chengdu trip focused entirely on food — we ate at places I never would have found on my own. The hotpot recommendation alone was life-changing.
Diego
Buenos Aires, Argentina
I run a TCM clinic in Melbourne and wanted to see the real thing — herbal markets, acupuncture hospitals, the whole ecosystem. Peng arranged visits to clinics in Chengdu and Chongqing that most foreigners never see. Her knowledge of Chinese medicine is legit.
Dr. Helen
Melbourne, Australia
I've helped hundreds of travellers plan their perfect Chongqing trip.
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