Chongqing Hongyadong In-Depth Tour Guide | Encounter the Real Secret Realm of Spirited Away

In Chongqing, a three-dimensional city surrounded by mountains and rivers, Hongyadong is undoubtedly one of the most recognizable landmarks. This stilted building complex built against the mountain and by the river perfectly integrates the traditional architectural style of Bayu with modern lighting art. During the day, it is a simple and profound symbol of old Chongqing; when night falls, it turns into a gorgeous and dazzling fantasy secret realm, allowing countless tourists to experience the dreamlike scene like “Spirited Away”. Whether you are yearning for unique architectural scenery, loving authentic food, or wanting to capture the three-dimensional urban charm of Chongqing, Hongyadong is a must-visit check-in place. Next, this detailed Hongyadong tour guide will take you to fully understand this Bayu wonder and plan a pleasant journey.

Core Highlights of Hongyadong: Fall in Love with Bayu Style at First Sight

The core charm of Hongyadong is reflected in multiple dimensions, and each highlight shows a unique Bayu style:

• Integration of History and Architecture: Its roots can be traced back to Hongya Gate, an ancient city gate of Chongqing during the Ming and Qing Dynasties, which was once an important water-land transportation hub and military fortress. Today, it is reconstructed with 11 layers of scattered stilted buildings, ascending along the steep slope of the Jialing River. The 11th, 7th and 1st floors can all directly connect to the ground roads, perfectly interpreting the three-dimensional characteristics of the mountain city. The structure combining solid wood and stone, with blue tiles, overhanging eaves and carved window lattices, reproduces the essence of Bayu stilted buildings. The ancient shops and folk exhibitions along the bluestone paths make people feel as if they have traveled back to the market time of old Chongqing.
• Dual Scenery Wonder Day and Night: It is quiet and simple during the day. The sunlight sprinkles on the blue tile and wood walls, creating dappled light and shadow. It is suitable for wandering slowly to appreciate the architectural texture or resting in the folk square; at around 6 p.m., the lights are turned on one after another. The warm yellow and vermilion light and shadow outline the outline of the building complex, forming a pleasant contrast with the reflection of the Jialing River, like the fantasy bathhouse in “Spirited Away”. 7-9 p.m. is the golden hour for taking photos, with soft light and good light and shadow layers, resulting in excellent photos.
• Multi-Layered Thematic Layout: The 11th floor is the Folk Customs Street, which gathers intangible cultural heritage exhibitions and traditional handicraft stalls, and occasionally has folk performances such as Sichuan Opera Face-Changing; the 9th-10th floors are characteristic souvenir shops, where you can buy Hongyadong-themed peripherals and Chongqing characteristic souvenirs; the 7th-8th floors are the food and leisure area, gathering local restaurants and Internet-famous snack bars, where you can taste hot pot, small noodles and other foods; the 1st-4th floors focus on riverside leisure, and the ground floor corridor is adjacent to the Jialing River, allowing you to enjoy the river view and the urban skyline on the opposite bank at close range.

Night view of Hongya Cave, Chongqing

Practical Tour Guide for Hongyadong: Enjoy a Worry-Free Trip Without Pitfalls

Best Visiting Time

Combining the landscape characteristics and passenger flow of Hongyadong, two golden visiting times are recommended for tourists with different needs:

• 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM: The scenic spot has just opened, with few tourists and a quiet overall environment. Suitable for tourists who like quiet visits and in-depth photography, they can calmly take photos of the architectural details of the stilted buildings, and also slowly feel the Bayu cultural atmosphere in the Folk Customs Street without being disturbed by the crowd.
• 6:00 PM – 10:00 PM: The best time to enjoy the night view. The lights are turned on one after another at 6 p.m., the light and shadow effect is the best from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., and the lights gradually dim after 10 p.m. Warm Reminder: The night on weekends and holidays is the peak of passenger flow. There may be congestion around the scenic spot and you may need to queue up to enter. It is recommended to go on working days first, or arrive 1-2 hours in advance to avoid the peak.

Convenient Transportation Methods

There are various transportation options to Hongyadong. Public transportation is preferred, and self-driving requires advance planning. The specific guide is as follows:

• Subway Travel (Recommended): The most convenient way is to take Metro Line 6 to Xiaoshizi Station, exit from Exit 5, and walk along Zourong Road for about 10 minutes to reach the iconic building of Hongyadong; you can also take Metro Line 2 to Linjiangmen Station, exit from Exit D, and walk along Linjiang Road for about 15 minutes to arrive.
• Bus Travel: Many bus routes such as No. 111, 112, 135 and 461 can directly reach Hongyadong Station. After getting off the bus, you can walk 2-3 minutes to the entrance of the scenic spot, which is suitable for short-distance travel nearby.
• Self-Driving Travel: There are a small number of parking spaces in the underground parking lot of Hongyadong, with a charging standard of 8-10 yuan per hour. Parking spaces are tight on holidays, so it is recommended to plan the time in advance. It should be noted that many roads around such as Cangbai Road and Linjiang Road are one-way streets. Be sure to pay attention to traffic signs to avoid violations and fines.

Efficient Tour Route

To allow everyone to visit all the core scenic spots of Hongyadong in limited time, a tested and efficient route is recommended. You can visit in the following order:

1. Entrance and First Stop: Enter from the main gate of Hongyadong (on the side of Cangbai Road, near the 11th floor), directly go to the 11th floor Folk Customs Street, visit the Bayu Intangible Cultural Heritage Exhibition, enjoy folk performances, and feel the authentic Bayu culture.
2. Souvenir Shopping: Take the escalator or walk down to the 9th-10th floors, wander around the characteristic souvenir shops, and choose Hongyadong-themed peripherals or Chongqing characteristic souvenirs.
3. Food Supply: Continue to go down to the 7th-8th floors, choose a restaurant or snack bar with a good reputation, and taste authentic Chongqing food such as hot pot and small noodles to replenish energy for the tour.
4. River View Appreciation: After eating, go down to the 4th floor viewing platform to enjoy the Jialing River view and take photos with the river view.
5. Panoramic Photography: Leave from the 1st floor exit, cross the road to the approach bridge of Qiansimen Bridge. This is the best position to take panoramic photos of Hongyadong. When the lights are on at night, you can take the same style of photos as “Spirited Away”.
6. Route Description: The whole route takes about 2.5-3 hours, with a slow and unhurried rhythm, allowing you to fully feel the charm of Hongyadong.

Extended Experiences Around Hongyadong: One-Stop Check-In for Food and Scenery

Authentic Food List: Unlock the Fireworks Around Hongyadong

Hongyadong and its surrounding areas gather many authentic Chongqing foods. From spicy hot pot to characteristic snacks, every bite is full of strong Bayu flavor. It is recommended to focus on tasting these:

• Chongqing Hot Pot: First, recommend “Hongyadong Hot Pot City” on the 7th floor of Hongyadong and “Old Chongqing Old Stove Hot Pot” nearby. The signature butter red soup base is spicy, fragrant and fresh. It is matched with classic ingredients such as tripe, duck intestines, yellow throat and fresh duck blood. The tripe should be blanched according to the “seven up eight down” skill, with a crispy and tender taste; if you can’t eat too spicy, you can choose clear soup pot or mandarin duck pot. The clear soup base is fresh and mellow.
• Chongqing Small Noodles: Recommend “Old Ma Wonton and Small Noodle Shop” and “Mountain City Small Noodle King” near Hongyadong. You can choose mild spicy, medium spicy or extra spicy according to your taste. Adding minced meat or peas will make the taste better. The noodles are smooth and chewy, with a strong aroma of seasonings, which is a standard breakfast for Chongqing people.
• Characteristic Snacks: Sour and Spicy Noodles, Mountain City Glutinous Rice Balls and Chen’s Fried Dough Twists are a must-try. Sour and Spicy Noodles are sour, spicy and appetizing, with chewy noodles; Mountain City Glutinous Rice Balls are soft, glutinous and sweet, and super healing with peanut crumbs and sesame; Chen’s Fried Dough Twists are crispy and delicious, with various flavors such as original, salt and pepper, and sweet, suitable as souvenirs.

Chongqing Noodles

Nearby Scenic Spot Tour: Check In Characteristic Landmarks of the Mountain City on the Way

Hongyadong is located in the core of Yuzhong District. Many well-known scenic spots around can be reached on foot or by short-distance transportation. After visiting, you can take a tour of these scenic spots on the way to enrich your journey:

• Liberation Monument: About 1 kilometer away from Hongyadong, it can be reached on foot in 15 minutes. As a landmark of Chongqing, it not only has the towering Liberation Monument, but also is a prosperous business district in the southwest. There are many shopping malls and characteristic restaurants around. You can feel the charm of modern cities and continue to look for food at the same time.
• Qiansimen Bridge: It can be reached by crossing the road from the 1st floor exit of Hongyadong. This bridge connects Yuzhong District and Jiangbei New Area. It is not only a transportation artery, but also the best position to take panoramic photos of Hongyadong. The middle section of the bridge can overlook the stilted building complex, Jialing River view and Jiangbeizui CBD. The photo taking rate at night is extremely high.
• Liziba Light Rail Station: About 3 kilometers away from Hongyadong, it can be directly reached by taking Metro Line 2. Here you can witness the strange scene of the light rail passing through the building, feel the unique transportation culture of Chongqing’s “3D magical city”, and there is also a viewing platform in the station for taking photos.

Hongyadong Tour Notes: Travel Safely and Worry-Free

Ticket and Experience Project Fee Instructions

Warm Reminder: It is recommended to check the opening hours and fee details of the projects on the official WeChat public account of the scenic spot in advance.

Safe Tour Guide

Safety Reminder: Hongyadong is a typical three-dimensional building built against the mountain. When visiting, you need to focus on the following safety points:

• Pay Attention to Walking Safety: The internal stairs and escalators are interleaved, and some stairs are steep and narrow. When walking, you must keep an eye on the road conditions under your feet, avoid crowding and pushing, and pass in an orderly manner.
• Prepare for Anti-Skid: After the lights are on at night, the riverside corridor is prone to slippery conditions due to the humidity of the river wind. It is recommended to wear non-slip flat shoes in advance to reduce the risk of falling.
• Take Good Care of Accompanying Family Members: Tourists traveling with the elderly or children need to take care of their family members throughout the trip and try to avoid narrow passages with dense crowds; if you encounter limited flow or congestion in the scenic spot, you can follow the guidance of the staff to wait in an orderly manner, or choose to visit at off-peak hours to ensure travel safety.

Consumption Pitfall Avoidance Suggestions

When traveling and consuming in Hongyadong, you can refer to the following suggestions to make consumption more assured and cost-effective:

• Souvenir Shopping: When purchasing Bayu handicrafts, characteristic souvenirs and other items, you can negotiate prices friendly with merchants, especially small non-chain stalls, which have more room for negotiation and higher cost performance; it is recommended to prioritize souvenirs with packaging and brand logos for better quality assurance.
• Notes on Catering Consumption: Prioritize regular restaurants with complete certificates, good hygiene conditions and many diners. Such restaurants have more reliable food freshness and taste. Ask about the price of dishes in advance when ordering, clarify the charging standard, and avoid hidden consumption; when tasting snacks, prioritize stalls with open kitchens and dust-proof measures, and avoid food placed in the open air to reduce the risk of gastrointestinal discomfort.

Chongqing Hongyadong is a vivid business card of mountain city Chongqing, with both historical heritage and modern charm. Whether you are checking in the fantasy night view or tasting Bayu food, you can gain a unique travel experience. It is hoped that this concise guide can help you easily plan your trip and fully appreciate the unique charm of Hongyadong.