A guide to China's most extraordinary city.
Neon skylines, mountain streets and legendary food culture.
Yuzhong
Striking red-and-black lattice architecture, nicknamed the 'chopstick building,' houses cutting-edge contemporary art exhibitions downtown.
Yuzhong
Ming-inspired palace crowned with peacock-blue roofs, hosting thousands of cultural events each year alongside the adjoining square.
Jiulongpo
Large city zoo featuring giant pandas, red pandas, snow leopards, and over 250 animal species, a popular family day out in central Chongqing.
Shapingba
Well-preserved Ming and Qing dynasty riverside settlement of stone-paved lanes, teahouses, and snack stalls, frozen in time along the Jialing River.
Yuzhong
Neon-soaked stilted riverside complex of shops and restaurants carved into ancient cliffside caves, one of Chongqing's most photographed sights at night.
Yuzhong
Instagram-famous residential building with a monorail line running straight through its sixth floor, one of Chongqing's most surreal sights.
Chongqing is unlike anywhere else in China. Built into steep mountainsides where the Yangtze and Jialing Rivers meet, this is a city of stacked skylines, cable cars crossing the river at rooftop height, and roads that tunnel straight through apartment buildings. By night, the waterfront glows with some of the most striking skyline views in Asia — a reason locals and visitors alike call it a “cyberpunk” city. By day, it’s one of China’s great food destinations, home to the fiery, numbing hot pot that put the region on the map.
Despite being one of the largest cities in the world by population, Chongqing remains far less visited by international travelers than Beijing or Shanghai — which means fewer crowds and a more authentic experience for those who make the trip. ExploreChongqing is built to help you navigate it: practical, up-to-date guides to the city’s best attractions, neighborhoods, and places to stay, so you can plan a trip with confidence.
