From the ancient carvings at Dazu to the neon-lit alleys of Hongyadong, Chongqing’s attractions span thousands of years of history and some of the most striking urban scenery in China. Browse the full list below to start planning your visit.
33 places to explore
Yuzhong
Striking red-and-black lattice architecture, nicknamed the 'chopstick building,' houses cutting-edge contemporary art exhibitions downtown.
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.
Yuzhong
Ming-inspired palace crowned with peacock-blue roofs, hosting thousands of cultural events each year alongside the adjoining square.
Yuzhong
Tomb of Ba Manzi, a semi-legendary Ba kingdom general who sacrificed himself to spare his city during the Warring States period, over 2,000 years ago.
Yuzhong
Historic riverfront plaza marking the point where the Yangtze and Jialing rivers meet, once the site of Chongqing's ancient main city gate.
Chengdu (day trip)
Home to over 150 giant pandas in a world-class conservation and breeding facility just outside Chengdu, a rewarding day trip from Chongqing.
Jiulongpo
Southwest China's largest mosque, rebuilt in 2020 with striking architecture blending traditional Arabic and Hui Chinese Islamic design elements.
Jiangbei
Hands-on science museum with interactive exhibits, an IMAX cinema, and over 400 displays, a great rainy-day activity for families.
Dazu
UNESCO World Heritage cliff carvings spanning five centuries of intricate Buddhist, Confucian, and Taoist religious artistry across several nearby sites.
Yuzhong
Classical Chinese gardens atop Chongqing peninsula's highest point, with sweeping 360° views over both rivers and the surrounding city skyline.
Nan'an
Whimsical riverside sanctuary where visitors can meet and interact with hundreds of rescued cats, with ticket proceeds funding their ongoing care.
Yuzhong
Legendary food street packed with stalls serving Chongqing snacks, street food, and local specialties, popular with locals well into the night.
Yuzhong
Wartime Communist Party headquarters and safe house, now a museum with restored period rooms documenting Chongqing's revolutionary history.
Yuzhong
Four interconnected temple complexes built by Qing dynasty merchants from other provinces, showcasing some of China's finest traditional architecture.
Yuzhong
A working Buddhist temple with centuries of history, tucked incongruously between the glass skyscrapers of downtown Chongqing's business district.
Yuzhong
Sobering memorial museum on the site of a WWII air-raid shelter tunnel, commemorating a tragic wartime bombing disaster and its victims.
Nan'an
Chongqing's largest green space, with themed gardens, flower displays, and walking trails spread across 550 hectares of forested hillside terrain.
Yuzhong
Known locally as Jiefangbei, this clock tower monument is Chongqing's best-known historic landmark, at the heart of its busiest shopping district.
Yuzhong
Glass-walled observation deck 250 meters above the ground, offering unobstructed 360° views across the city and the river confluence below.
Yuzhong / Jiangbei / Nan'an
Free weekly aerial light show featuring hundreds of synchronized drones lighting up the night sky above the river, best viewed from the waterfront.
Yuzhong
Stepped walkway winding through Yuzhong's old town, lined with historic sites, traditional hillside houses, and sweeping city views along the way.
Yuzhong
Historic stone staircase that has connected Chongqing's hillside upper city to its riverside lower city for centuries, now lined with shops and cafes.
Yuzhong
Gothic-style Catholic cathedral built in 1891, still an active place of worship and the seat of the Diocese of Chongqing today.
Yuzhong
World-class museum covering 3,000 years of Yangtze River history, geology, and the story of the Three Gorges Dam construction.
Yuzhong
Ancient city gate with restored stone ramparts, offering elevated views over the remnants of Chongqing's old walled town below.
Yuzhong
45-minute evening boat tour past Chongqing's illuminated skyline and landmarks, cruising the point where the Yangtze and Jialing rivers converge.
Wulong District (day trip)
UNESCO-listed park featuring three colossal natural stone bridges, carved by underground rivers over millions of years of erosion.
Yuzhong
Iconic cable car in operation since 1987, crossing the Yangtze River in around four minutes with panoramic views of the city skyline.
Nan'an
Hillside terrace widely considered the single best spot in Chongqing to take in the city's famous night skyline, especially after dark.
Zigong (day trip)
Asia's first dinosaur museum, built directly atop an active fossil bed with walkways over real excavation sites still being studied today.
