Chongqing is a multi-dimensional city boasting both natural wonders and cultural heritage. Its unique mountainous terrain and Bayu culture blend to create diverse signature experiences. From karst canyon adventures and nostalgic Republican-era town vibes to spicy local delicacies and thrilling high-altitude activities, this guide sorts out practical details like transport, budget and clothing, helping you avoid travel pitfalls and fully immerse in the city’s charm.
Natural Wonders Experiences: Exploring Chongqing’s Mountain and River Secrets
Ayi River Bamboo Rafting & Miao Folk Custom Experience
Ayi River, located in Pengshui Miao and Tujia Autonomous County, is a popular destination combining natural scenery and folk customs in Chongqing. The canyon here is quiet and beautiful; drifting downstream on a bamboo raft allows you to admire the strange peaks, rocks and dense vegetation on both sides, while listening to Miao girls singing folk songs along the way. The scenic area offers rich folk activities—visitors can try on Miao costumes, learn to sing Miao songs and experience the making of intangible cultural heritage silver crafts, to deeply feel the Miao culture.
Practical Info: Entrance ticket 100 CNY per person; bamboo rafting ticket 150 CNY per person; recommended visiting time 4–5 hours; take a high-speed train from downtown Chongqing to Pengshui Station, then transfer to the scenic area shuttle bus (about 1 hour ride); Miao-style homestays nearby cost 150–300 CNY per night.
Ayi River
Jindaoxia Canyon Exploration
Jindaoxia is a classic canyon scenic area in Chongqing, renowned for its steepness, grandeur, serenity and beauty. It is divided into Upper Gorge and Lower Gorge. The Upper Gorge features cliffside plank roads and scenic spots like the One-Line-Sky and Natural Bridge, ideal for hiking enthusiasts. The Lower Gorge has gentle water flow, where you can try canyoning and boating—especially cool in summer. The canyon has a high vegetation coverage rate and abundant negative oxygen ions, serving as a natural oxygen bar away from urban hustle and bustle.
Practical Info: Entrance ticket 80 CNY per person; canyoning experience 120 CNY per person; recommended visiting time 3–4 hours; self-drive from downtown Chongqing takes about 1.5 hours; parking fee 20 CNY per time at the scenic area parking lot; there are few dining options inside the scenic area, so it’s advisable to bring your own snacks and drinking water.
Tongjing Hot Spring Wellness Resort
Known as the “Top Hot Spring in Southwest China”, Tongjing Hot Spring has 25 natural hot spring outlets, with water temperature constantly around 52℃ and rich in various minerals. The scenic area has hot spring pools with different themes, including traditional Chinese medicine wellness pools, children’s splash pools and infinity pools, for visitors to choose from based on their needs. After soaking in the hot spring, you can also take a cruise to explore Tongjing Gorge River and admire the canyon scenery on both sides.
Practical Info: Adult ticket 120 CNY per person; half price for children under 1.2 meters; recommended visiting time 2–3 hours; take a tourist bus from downtown Chongqing to Tongjing (about 1.5 hours ride); hot spring hotels inside the scenic area cost 300–800 CNY per night, including two hot spring tickets.
Historical and Cultural Experiences: A Nostalgic Journey Through Time
Chongqing 1949 Grand Theatre Immersive Performance
Chongqing 1949 Grand Theatre takes Chongqing’s history on the eve of liberation as the background, adopting a 360° rotating stage and immersive narrative techniques to reproduce the heroic deeds of revolutionary martyrs. The performance lasts about 90 minutes; the audience seats rotate with the plot, allowing you to enjoy different scenes from different angles, bringing a strong visual impact and emotional resonance. The theatre is located near Ciqikou Ancient Town—you can visit the town after watching the performance.
Practical Info: Performance ticket 198–580 CNY per person (prices vary by seat); showtime 19:30 daily, with additional afternoon shows on weekends and holidays; take Metro Line 1 to Ciqikou Station and walk 10 minutes to reach; it’s recommended to arrive 1 hour in advance to avoid missing the opening.
Two Rivers International Film and Television City Republican-Era Check-In
Two Rivers International Film and Television City restores Chongqing’s urban style in the Republican era. Retro rickshaws, trams and Republican-style clothing stores can be seen everywhere on the streets, making you feel like traveling back to the 1930s and 1940s. The scenic area has multiple film shooting sets; visitors can rent Republican-style costumes for photos and watch the live performance Republican Past to experience the lifestyle of old Chongqing.
Practical Info: Entrance ticket 40 CNY per person; Republican-style costume rental 50–100 CNY per set; recommended visiting time 2–3 hours; self-drive from downtown Chongqing takes about 1 hour; parking fee 15 CNY per time at the scenic area parking lot; there is a characteristic snack street inside the scenic area—recommended to try Chongqing noodles and hot and sour noodles, with an average cost of 20–30 CNY per person.
Pianyan Ancient Town Slow Life Experience
Located in Jindaoxia Town, Beibei District, Pianyan Ancient Town has a history of over 300 years and is one of the well-preserved ancient towns in Chongqing. Built against mountains and rivers, the town has winding bluestone paths and scattered stilted buildings, with a stream flowing through it—you can play in the stream and drink tea in summer, which is very pleasant. There are many intangible cultural heritage workshops in the town; visitors can experience traditional crafts like paper cutting and bamboo weaving, and buy characteristic cultural and creative products.
Practical Info: The ancient town is open to the public for free; some workshop experience projects cost 20–50 CNY per person; recommended visiting time 1–2 hours; take a bus from Beibei to Jindaoxia and get off at Pianyan Ancient Town Station; farm restaurants in the town offer high cost performance—recommended to try spring water chicken and stir-fried garlic sprouts with bacon, with an average cost of 40–60 CNY per person.
Pianyan Ancient Town
Authentic Food Experiences: A Spicy Feast on the Tip of the Tongue
Must-Try Chongqing Hot Pot List
Chongqing hot pot is the representative of local food, famous for its spicy and fragrant flavor. The soup base is divided into mandarin duck pot and spicy red oil pot—the latter is made with beef tallow and mixed with Chinese prickly ash and chili, becoming more fragrant as it boils. Must-order dishes include tripe, duck intestines, pork aorta and tender beef; follow the “seven up and eight down” blanching principle for the best taste. Recommended restaurants: Yuwei Xiaoyu Hot Pot, Peijie Chongqing Hot Pot, Dazhangzhuang Hot Pot, with an average cost of 80–120 CNY per person.
Practical Tips: Pair hot pot with ice jelly or cold rice cakes to relieve spiciness; order appropriately to avoid waste; some restaurants require queuing—recommended to get a number online in advance.
One-Stop Check-In for Street Snacks
Street snacks are everywhere in Chongqing, the best way to experience the city’s lively atmosphere. Recommended snacks: Chongqing noodles (spicy and fragrant, 10–15 CNY per person), hot and sour noodles (sour and spicy, 8–12 CNY per person), Chongqing small glutinous rice balls (soft and sweet, 5–8 CNY per person), roasted pig brain (aromatic, 15–20 CNY per person). Popular check-in spots: Bayi Road Food Street in Jiefangbei, Ciqikou Ancient Town Snack Street, Guanyinqiao Food Street.
Practical Tips: Snack streets are crowded—take good care of your personal belongings; some snacks are quite spicy—choose mild, medium or extra spicy according to your taste.
Local Jianghu Cuisine Experience
Jianghu cuisine is a characteristic local cuisine in Chongqing, known for its large portions and strong flavors. Recommended dishes: Spicy Chicken (crispy outside and tender inside, with more chili than chicken), Spicy Blood Curd (duck blood, tripe, pork intestine and other ingredients boiled together, spicy and fragrant), Boiled Fish with Pickled Cabbage and Chili (tender fish meat, appetizing pickled cabbage). Recommended restaurants: Laifeng Fish Restaurant, Bishan Rabbit Jianghu Cuisine Restaurant, with an average cost of 60–100 CNY per person.
Practical Tips: Jianghu cuisine portions are large—recommended to share with a group; some dishes are greasy—pair with green vegetables to cut the grease.
Modern Entertainment Experiences: A Mix of Thrills and Relaxation
Chongqing Happy Valley Theme Park Carnival
Chongqing Happy Valley is the largest theme park in Chongqing, divided into multiple areas including Happy Time, Dream Island and Hurricane Bay, with dozens of amusement facilities like roller coasters, Ferris wheels and pendulum rides. The park also hosts various performances such as float parades, fireworks shows and music festivals, suitable for visitors of all ages.
Practical Info: Adult ticket 180 CNY per person; night ticket 100 CNY per person; opening hours 9:30–22:00 (night session starts at 17:00); take Metro Line 6 to Happy Valley Station; recommended to avoid holidays to skip long queues.
Longxing General Airport Skydiving
Longxing General Airport is the first skydiving base in Chongqing’s downtown area. Jumping from a height of about 4,000 meters allows you to overlook Chongqing’s mountains and rivers, experiencing the thrill of adrenaline rush. The whole skydiving process is accompanied by professional instructors—no experience is required. After landing, you can get a skydiving certificate and video as souvenirs.
Practical Info: Skydiving experience 3,000–4,000 CNY per person, including instructor fee, equipment fee and video shooting fee; reservation 1–2 days in advance is required; professional training is provided before skydiving—recommended to wear comfortable sportswear and sneakers.
Raffles City Exploration Deck & Cloud Park Observation
Raffles City Exploration Deck & Cloud Park is located on the top of Raffles City Plaza, a high-altitude observation deck in Chongqing. The “Walk in the Clouds” project allows you to walk on a suspended glass plank road, overlooking Chongqing’s urban scenery 360°, including the spectacular confluence of the Yangtze River and Jialing River.
Practical Info: Exploration Deck ticket 180 CNY per person; “Walk in the Clouds” project additional 80 CNY per person; recommended visiting time 1 hour; take Metro Line 1 to Xiaoshizi Station and walk 5 minutes to reach; the best observation time is evening, to enjoy both sunset and night views.
Practical Travel Guide
Transport Guide
- External Transport: Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport is the main aviation hub, with both domestic and international flights; Chongqing North Station and Chongqing West Station are the main railway stations, with high-speed trains and bullet trains connecting to major cities across the country.
- Internal Transport: Metro is the most convenient means of transportation in Chongqing, covering most of the downtown scenic spots; bus fare starts at 2 CNY, with some routes supporting QR code payment; taxi starting fare is 10 CNY for the first 3 kilometers, 2 CNY per kilometer thereafter; ride-hailing service prices are similar to taxis, available on demand.
- Scenic Area Transport: Some remote scenic spots like Ayi River and Jindaoxia can be reached by tourist bus or self-driving; travel between popular downtown scenic spots by metro or ride-hailing usually takes within 30 minutes.
Clothing Suggestions
Basic Principles: Chongqing is mountainous—recommended to wear non-slip and wear-resistant hiking shoes or sneakers, avoid high heels; spring and autumn have mild temperatures, suitable for long-sleeve T-shirts plus thin coats; summer is hot and humid, recommended to wear short-sleeves plus shorts, with sun protection clothing, sun hats and sunscreen; winter is damp and cold, recommended to wear down jackets plus sweaters, with scarves and gloves.
Scene-Specific Suggestions: Wear quick-drying clothes and pants for canyon exploration; bring swimsuits and bath towels for hot spring soaking; wear retro-style clothes for Republican-era town check-ins.
Budget Estimate
Budget-Friendly Option (3 Days 2 Nights): Transport cost about 200 CNY per person; accommodation cost about 300 CNY per person (two nights in budget hotels); ticket cost about 300 CNY per person; catering cost about 300 CNY per person; total about 1,100 CNY per person.
Comfort Option (3 Days 2 Nights): Transport cost about 300 CNY per person; accommodation cost about 600 CNY per person (two nights in characteristic homestays); ticket cost about 500 CNY per person; catering cost about 500 CNY per person; total about 1,900 CNY per person.
Notes
- Chongqing has frequent rainfall in summer—recommended to bring foldable umbrellas or disposable raincoats.
- Some sections inside scenic areas are steep—watch your step and take good care of the elderly and children.
- When tasting local food, choose the spiciness level according to your stomach condition to avoid gastrointestinal discomfort.
- Respect local folk customs and abide by relevant regulations when participating in folk activities.
This guide covers various signature experiences of Chongqing, including nature, culture, food and entertainment. Whether you are a young person who loves adventures or a middle-aged and elderly tourist who prefers relaxation, you can find suitable activities. China Dragon Travel specializes in creating in-depth and authentic travel experiences for visitors, helping you start an unforgettable journey in this mountain city.
