Shibati

Shibati — literally “Eighteen Steps” — is a roughly 400-meter stone staircase, made up of over 200 steps, that has connected Chongqing’s hillside “upper city” to the riverside “lower city” for centuries. The steep, layered geography that gives Shibati its name is also what makes Chongqing famously disorienting to walk around, and this stretch of steps is one of the clearest, most photogenic examples of that vertical city layout.

The surrounding district fell into disrepair over the 20th century and was long considered one of the city’s roughest, most neglected quarters, before a major redevelopment project ran from 2017 to 2021. The rebuilt area now spans traditional stone stairways and alleyways alongside restored historic buildings — including the former French Consulate and a protected wartime tunnel site — combined with new shops, bars, and restaurants designed to evoke the district’s older character rather than erase it. It’s a deliberate blend of heritage preservation and modern commerce, and reactions from long-time residents have been mixed, but it remains one of the more visually striking places to feel Chongqing’s layered, hillside geography up close.

Entry is free, and it connects easily to nearby Jiefangbei and the Hongyadong area.