Chongqing Photo: ESB Professional/Shutterstock.com Chongqing is one of China's major municipalities; a cultural and historical city with many unique traits. Besides its unique geographical conditions – is is surrounded by rivers and mountains – it has been filled with skyscrapers, making for a mesmerising landscape, both during the day and at nighttime.
HelloRF Zcool / Shutterstock.com Top 5 Mountain City by Night The city's unique geographic features make for a unique and picturesque skyl... Chongqing Guotai Artistic ... Chongqing Art Museum is an artwork in itself. Its unique architectural style... Wulong Karst BigGabig / Shutterstock.com The Wulong Karst is the real life equivalent of a Chinese painting. The intr... The Three Gorges Beginning at Baidi City, the Three Gorges – comprising the Qutang, Wu, and X... Chaotian Gate Square Chaotian Gate is a great place to have a glimpse of the confluence of the Ya...
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Updated 14 May 2019 Destination: Chongqing Publishing date: 2019-05-14
THE CITY Mountain City by Night The city's unique geographic features make for a unique and picturesque skyline at night. When night comes, the lights from tens of thousands of households take over the whole city. There are three prime spots to get immersed in the night landscape of the city: the Sean Pavone / Shutterstock.com One-tree Outlook Platform, the Golden Eagle
Chongqing is situated in the upper reaches of Statue in South Mountain Park and the China's longest river, the Yangtze, at its Kansheng Tower in Erling Park. A boat tour can conuence with the Jialing River. Most of its be arranged at Chaotian Gate. roads meander around the rivers or through the Photo: Songquan Deng / Shutterstock.com mountains, and old houses still remain among Address: Jialing River, Chongqing the skyscraper jungle. The major tourist attractions gather in Yuzhong, Shapinba and Chongqing Guotai Artistic Center Nan'an Districts. At night, the city lights take Chongqing Art Museum is over the sky. The climate is mild with warm an artwork in itself. Its winters, hot summer days and rainy nights. unique architectural style was developed to DO & SEE recreate the appearance of a lit bonre. Exhibitions feature artwork by both local artists and famous classic Chinese painters, making it an essential stop on any art-lover's tour of the city.
Photo: 广州阿沾 / Wikimedia Commons (image cropped) Address: No.1 Linjiang Road, Chongqing Opening hours: Sun–Sat 10am–6pm cq19690527/pixabay Phone: +86 23 6386 0599 Email: [email protected] A few of the city's major scenic spots include the Jiefangbei and Chaotian Gate Plaza, the Three Gorges Museum and the Ciqikou ancient town. The highlight of the touring section of the Three Gorges is also located in Chongqing. Destination: Chongqing Publishing date: 2019-05-14
Wulong Karst Three Gorges Museum The Wulong Karst is the All the cultural relics real life equivalent of a excavated from the Three Chinese painting. The Gorges area and other intricate blend between historical collections of natural elements and the original city museum carefully man-made are housed here. With architecture is perfect for a day-long hike away high-tech facilities, the museum vividly displays from the city's fast pace. the geologic features, species, changes in local culture and customs, as well as models of the Photo: Pises Tungittipokai / Shutterstock.com massive Three Gorges Dam Project. Address: Wulong Karst National Geology Park, Chongqing
Photo: Hans Wagemaker / Shutterstock.com The Three Gorges Address: No.236 Renmin Road, Chongqing Beginning at Baidi City, Opening hours: Sun–Sat 9am–5pm the Three Gorges – comprising the Qutang, The Dazu Rock Carvings Wu, and Xiling gorges – The Dazu Rock Carvings, have been described by sculpted between 9th to many poems since 13th centuries, are an ancient times. You can contemplate its natural expression of the greatness from two of the most famous scenic harmony between spots, the Fengdu Ghost City and the Sibaozhai Buddhism, Confucianism Pagoda. and Taoism. The largest clusters of this carvings can be found on Mount Baoding and Mount Photo: Lao Ma / Shutterstock.com Beishan. Address: Sibaozhai, Chongqing
Photo: Truthven/Wikipedia Commons (image cropped) Chaotian Gate Square Address: Dazu Rock Carvings Scenic Spots, Chongqing Chaotian Gate is a great Opening hours: Sun–Sat 8:30am–6pm place to have a glimpse of Phone: +86 23 4378 5774 the conuence of the Chongqing Zoo Yangtze River and Jialing River. During early The stars of the summer or mid-autumn, Chongqing Zoo are denitely the Giant the contrast between the muddy Yangtze and the Pandas. This zoo does not clear waters of Jialing becomes clear. Close to only serve as an the river, you will nd the dock for the many tour important base for boats that travel along the city landmarks. protection and research of wild animals like Photo: Tauno Tõhk / 陶诺 (image cropped) Tibetan bears, tigers, hippos, monkeys and birds, Address: Changjiang Binjiang Rd, Chongqing but also provides a beautiful and comfortable Phone: +86 23 6371 2870 Destination: Chongqing Publishing date: 2019-05-14
setting for you to experience the wildlife. Jinyun Mountain Natural Reserve For those looking for an Photo: atlassb/ickr (image cropped) escape from the hustle Address: No.25 Xijiao Road, Chongqing and bustle of the city, Opening hours: Sun–Sat 8am–6pm Jinyun Mountain Natural Phone: +86 23 6842 2285 Internet: www.cqzoo.com Reserve is the ideal spot. Situated in the outskirts Hongya Cave of this busy city, it is a perfect place to unwind This site once was a while contemplating the nature and wildlife. military fortress and then became the rst and most Photo: Seasonsinthesun / Wikicommons (image cropped) Address: Jinyun Road, Chongqing advanced pier in ancient Opening hours: Sun–Sat 7am–6am China. Nowadays, it has Phone: +86 23 6822 4497 been turned into a 75-metre tall building on the margin of the Huayan Temple of Chongqing Jialing River packed with many restaurants, The golden Buddha cafes, temples and craft stalls. statue grants this temple When the sun sets, the building illuminates the its own magic and vibe. surroundings, making them look dream-like. The balance of the ancient architecture with Photo: Sean Pavone / Shutterstock.com the surrounding garden Address: No.88 Binjiang Rd, Chongqing provides the perfect conditions for a calm and Phone: +86 23 6303 9999 relaxing walk. The Dragon Boat Festival is held Fengdu Ghost City here annually. Hidden between the Photo: Skreidzeleu / Shutterstock.com mountains and the Address: Huayan Scenic Resort, Chongqing Yangtze River, the Opening hours: Sun–Sat 8am–6pm Fengdu Ghost City Phone: +86 23 6525 0932 reects Chinese views on afterlife. As a tribute to Nanshan Botanical Garden the ancestors, you can nd Buddhist, Taoist and Nanshan Botanical Confucian sculptures and carvings in any of the Garden is an oasis in the more than 27 temples. The view of the Three middle of the always Gorges from the top of the mountain is also crowded Chongqing worth a visit. where you can have a glance of a wide range of Photo: justdentist / Shutterstock.com plants, from roses to cactuses. During Address: Fengdu, Chongqing springtime, the whole park is painted by a sea of Opening hours: Sun–Sat 6:30am–5:30pm peach and cherry blossoms.
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Address: No.101 Nanshan Park Road, Chongqing DINING Opening hours: Sun–Sat 9am–5:30am Phone: +86 23 6247 9135
Jindao Canyon Scenic Area One-hour drive along sharp curves from Chongqing lies the Jindao Canyon. Here you can enjoy the scenic view either by by walking TYSB / Shutterstock.com through the narrow gorge or taking a boat As a branch of Sichuan cuisine, the one of through its crystal clear river. This canyon Chongqing is known to have chili pepper and remains one of the city's hidden gems, so expect bean paste as two of its key dish ingredients. it not to be crowded. There are many dierent types of avors, but the
Photo: Andrey Bocharov/Shutterstock.com predominant one is the numbingly spicy. Address: No.38 Jiefang Road, Chongqing Chongqing is the hometown of hotpot, a Opening hours: Sun–Sat 8am–6pm continuously simmering spicy broth, in which the Phone: +86 23 6360 2777 diners cook an assortment of meat and vegetables themselves. Restaurants are usually People's Assembly Hall open until 10:00pm. With architectural characteristics Chen Mahua resembling Beijing's Mahua is a twisted strip Temple of Heaven, of dough fried in peanut People's Assembly Hall oil. You can try it at Chen serves as a symbol of Mahua after you visit the China's modern history and politics. For a small nearby Hongya Cave. entrance fee, you can enter the building and Beware of the long enjoy the beautiful auditorium. queues.
Photo: Sean Pavone / Shutterstock.com Photo: Yuangeng Zhang / Shutterstock.com Address: No.173 Renming Road, Chongqing Address: No.88 Jiabin Rd, Chongqing Opening hours: Sun–Sat 8:30am–5pm Phone: +86 23 8652 7617 Blue Olive If you are tired of Chinese cuisine and are looking for some Western food, Blue Olive is the place to go. They oer ne wine and authentic Destination: Chongqing Publishing date: 2019-05-14
Mediterranean and Aussie dishes like salmon Ciqikou Old Town with avocados and potatoes and chocolate The 1700-year-old fondant for dessert. historic town of Ciqikou is well known for its ancient Photo: DronG/Shutterstock.com Sichuan-style buildings Address: No.66 Liziba Main St, Chongqing surrounded by Opening hours: Sun–Sat 11am–9pm mountains. Here you can Phone: +86 23 6373 3950 Email: [email protected] witness the well-preserved local customs, as well as sample some of the traditional snacks and Hao Youlai Suanla Fen delicacies, such as the ubiquitous mao xue wang With a few stalls (a spicy stew). dispersed all over the city, including the very Photo: Gisling/Wikipedia Commons (image cropped) Address: Ciqikou, Chongqing central Jiefangbei, this Opening hours: Sun–Sat 12am–12am local chain serves one of the local food staples: hot CAFES and sour noodles. For those who might nd it too spicy, there is always the glutinous rice cake – served cold – to diminish the eect of the chilli oil.
Photo: Alpha / Flickr.com (image cropped) Address: No.12 Minquan Rd, Chongqing Opening hours: Sun–Sat 8am–10pm Phone: +86 40 0023 2628
Kichigin/Shutterstock.com Chongqing Shiqimen Huoguo
This restaurant is proof Most of Chongqing's cafes are located in busy that long queues out front central areas such as Jiefangbei, and serve both are often an indicator of Chinese and western style drinks and foods. The delicious food served usually cozy environments make them appealing inside. Oering a wide to a young crowd. They generally open at 9am range of broths and and many keep going till 1am, just in time for a ingredients, the hotpot restaurant oers a late night drink. chance to cook a dish that most suits your taste. Fan Tai Si Coffee RiJi Photo: ukmng / Shutterstock.com With classic Chinese Address: No.200 Zhongshan 1st Rd, Chongqing interior design, Fan Tai Si Opening hours: Sun–Sat 9am–11:30pm Phone: +86 23 6390 0194 provides a range of drinks and both Western and Chinese food, including steak and Destination: Chongqing Publishing date: 2019-05-14
Chongqing dishes. Costumers are encouraged to Jiaotong Teahouse write a comment or even a secret in a notebook. The Jiaotong Teahouse started as a canteen for Photo: Wiro.Klyngz/Shutterstock.com transport workers in the Address: No.188 ZhongShan 3rd Road, Chongqing 1970s and eventually Opening hours: Sun–Sat 9:30am–12am turned into a popular Phone: +86 23 6360 1955 gathering spot for local North Latitude 29 Degree Lobby Bar artists. Its walls remain the same as they were Situated in the Le originally, with paintings depicting life in the city Meridien Hotel, Latitude hanged on the exposed brick and crossbeams. It 29 is a commodious cafe is said to be the most authentic place to ideal for a warming and experience what Chongqing used to be. luxurious drink, paired Photo: HelloRF Zcool / Shutterstock.com with a slice of cake of Address: 20 Huangjueping Main St, Huang Jue Ping, your choice. Chongqing Opening hours: Sun–Sat 7am–7pm Photo: weedezign / Shutterstock.com Address: No.10, Jiangnan Ave, Chongqing Ridge Top Teahouse Opening hours: Sun–Sat 10am–12am Ridge Top Teahouse is Phone: +86 23 8638 8888 the perfect place to have The Corner a sip of Chinese tea while Whether you are looking reading or relaxing. You for a cocktail, a cup of will be served some coee or a full meal, The traditional snacks along Corner will satisfy your with the hand-made tea. Either you go alone or needs. The intimate with company, Ridge Top Teahouse will provide atmosphere and the late you a complete and authentic Chinese tea opening hours are also some of the strong points experience. of this cafe. Photo: gowithstock / Shutterstock.com Address: No.1 Eling Main St, Chongqing Photo: HelloRF Zcool / Shutterstock.com Opening hours: Sun–Sat 10am–10pm Address: No.166 Minzu Road, Chongqing Phone: +86 1777 2422 712 Opening hours: Sun–Sat 9:30am–1am More Info: A several minute walk past the park entrance, Phone: +86 23 6373 5933 next to the refurbished art galleries. Destination: Chongqing Publishing date: 2019-05-14
BARS & NIGHTLIFE Photo: gyn9037 / Shutterstock.com Address: Nan Bin Road, Chongqing
Chuanju Opera Theater Chongqing Municipal Chuanju Opera Theater is internationally well-known for its stagings of Chinese Opera plays. Here you Alexander Mueller/ickr (image cropped) will be able to see some remarkable performances of classical Chinese Opera. There are hundreds of bars in Chongqing, all of
which contribute to the city's vibrant nighttime Photo: Fer Gregory / Shutterstock.com atmosphere. Nighttime entertainment in Address: No.76 Jintang Street, Chongqing Chongqing is centered around Jiefangbei and the Phone: +86 23 6383 4146 venues are open until around 2am. Nuts Live House Cruise Ship night tour Nuts Live House is home Another way to see the to the best live music in brilliant city lights Chongqing and hosts reecting against the Chinese local Indie bands river is to take a night every weekend. Cold cruise. You can choose to beers, whiskey tastings embark on a splendid and powerful music shows are the key elements river cruise along the Yangtze River where the that make this place a meeting point for a colourful lights shimmering on the water are younger, energetic crowd. simply breathtaking. Photo: Annette Sha / Shutterstock.com Address: Deyi Fashion Mall, Chongqing Photo: Prof.Chen Hualin/Wikimedia Commons (image Opening hours: Sun–Sat 7pm–3am cropped) Phone: +86 133 5037 9029 Address: Yangtze River, Chongqing Opening hours: Tours depart from 7pm–10pm The Harp Irish Pub Nan Bin Road If you are craving any Chongqing's nightlife hub western comfort dishes or is without a doubt Nan beverages, The Harp Irish Bin Road. Here you can Pub is the place to go. nd a huge number of Pick from their great bars, pubs, cafes and tea foreign beer selection and houses along the Yangtze accompany it with a western dish or snack, all River. This street is illuminated by thousands of the while catching a sporting event being lights at nighttime. screened. Destination: Chongqing Publishing date: 2019-05-14
Photo: Pressmaster / Shutterstock.com Paradise Walk Shopping Mall Address: Hongyadong, Chongqing The biggest malls in the Opening hours: Sun–Sat 3pm–1am city, Paradise Walk Phone: +86 23 6303 8655 Shopping Mall oers a SHOPPING rst class international shopping experience. It hosts an extensive assortment of stores, including a rock climbing centre, a gym, a cinema complex, outdoor cafes, restaurants, stores and boutiques.
Photo: Chen Hualin/Wikipedia Commons (image cropped) Address: No.6 Bei Cheng Tian Street, Chongqing Phone: +86 23 6787 5783
leungchopan / Shutterstock.com CBEST Department Store
Despite being a modern city, Chongqing oers Do not miss CBEST you the chance to buy all kinds of goods, Department Store, one of traditional to new-fashioned, small local brands the oldest and most to huge international brands. Either if you are popular department looking forward to buy some souvenirs or simply stores and supermarket trying to diminish the empty space in your chains in Chongqing. It luggage, you will denitely nd anything you sells a wide variety of local products and snacks want. that can serve as a souvenir from the city.
Metropolitan Plaza Photo: Power best/Shutterstock.com Address: No.121 Zourong Road, Chongqing Pacic Department Store, Phone: +86 23 6371 8283 exclusive international Email: [email protected] shops and trendy clothing boutiques meet here. Deyi Fashion Mall There are many In case you want to see restaurants and theatres, modern Chinese style of a skating rink, bowling alley, video game centres shopping, you cannot and banks housed here, oering everything for miss Deyi Fashion Mall. everyone. Children especially enjoy the musical From KTV (Chinese-style fountain. karaoke) and cafes to clothing shops and convenience stores, this lively Photo: Bobex-73/Shutterstock.com mall will provide you with a unique shopping Address: No.68 Zourong Road, Chongqing experience. Phone: +86 23 6372 6271
Photo: xujun / Shutterstock.com Address: Jiaochangkou, Yuzhong district, Chongqing Destination: Chongqing Publishing date: 2019-05-14
Opening hours: Sun–Sat 10am–9pm Chile, Iceland, Japan, Macedonia, Mexico, Phone: +86 23 6473 6285 Monaco, Montenegro, New Zealand, Qatar, Russia, South Korea, Switzerland, Ukraine, and Jiefangbei United States) are eligible for a transit visa. For This district takes its longer stays, a visa must be pre-arranged in name from the People’s advance, so consult your local embassy for Liberation Monument, a details. monument built in the
city's heart as a You must bring your passport at all times and all commemoration of the hotels will insist on seeing it for check-in. It is Chinese victory in the Second Sino-Japanese mandatory to present your passport when buying War. It is surrounded by a large shopping and train tickets; you will also need it for using nancial square packed with tall skyscrapers and internet cafes that accept foreigners. department stores. You can easily spend a day
lost in the many malls of this district. The Chinese government requires that your passport must be valid for at least six months Photo: Baycrest/Wikipedia Commons (image cropped) Address: No.177 Minzu Rd, Chongqing when entering the country. You will need at least one entire blank page in your passport for the TOURIST INFORMATION visa.
Take an ID card with your photo in case you lose your passport and make photocopies of your passport as your embassy may need these before issuing a new one in case of loss. You must report the loss to the local Public Security Bureau (PSB), which will issue you with a 'Statement of Loss of Passport'.
Ditty_about_summer /Shutterstock.com Photo: TukTuk Design/Shutterstock.com
Best Time to Visit The best time to visit Passport / Visa Chongqing is from April Chongqing is one of the to May and October to Chinese cities that November, as Chongqing supports the 72-hour often experiences foggy transit visa on arrival or rainy days the rest of program, which means the year. that selected nationalities (all citizens of the European Union, as well as Photo: VectorA/Shutterstock.com several other countries including Albania, Argentina, Australia, Belarus, Brazil, Canada, Destination: Chongqing Publishing date: 2019-05-14
Airport Internet: www.cqmetro.cn Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport is Taxi located 23 km from It is convenient and Chongqing city and is simple to travel by taxi in served by the light rail Chongqing. The taxis are service. The Airport all painted in yellow. Express leaves every 30 minutes between 6am There is an additional and 10pm from the Chongqing Airline Ticket charge (15% of the Agency at Shangqing Temple. The ride takes 40 original total fee) between 10pm–7am. minutes. Alternatively, you can take a taxi to downtown. Taxis may be agged down by the road or ordered by telephone. It is advised to have a Photo: Juan Garces piece of paper with the destination written in Address: Yubei, Chongqing Chinese characters as not all taxi drivers speak Phone: +86 23 6715 2335 English. Internet: https://www.airport-chongqing.com/
Photo: ArrivalGuides Public Transport Chongqing is served by Pharmacy three railway stations. In Heping Pharmacy in 2022 a new railway will Chongqing provides you be opened. The main with dierent kinds of public transport systems western medicine. You of urban Chongqing are can also schedule an the bus and light rail transit networks. Most appointment. buses run between 6:30am–10pm (some run until
1am). The lines 2 and 3 are served by the Photo: Gemma Garner world's longest monorail service. Light rail Address: No.1 Datong Rd, Chongqing transit runs 6:30am–10pm. Phone: +86 23 6370 2900 Internet: www.hp1997.com Phone: +86 23 6800 2222
Post The unique cable car is a scenic way to cross the Post oices are scattered Yangtze. It runs 6:30am–10pm. around Chonqing.
Chongqing Post Kaixian The Crown Staircase connects the Caiyuan Dam Branch Address: No.59 and Lianglu Kou. The Kaixuan Road elevator Neixi Street, Chongqing connects Kaixuan Road and Jiaochang Kou. The Tel: +86 23 5222 operating time time is between 6:30 AM–10:00 6339 PM. Opening Time: 8:30 AM - 5:30 PM
Photo: Pierre-Luc Auclair Destination: Chongqing Publishing date: 2019-05-14
Chongqing Post Yipin Branch most malls and supermarkets are from 10am–10pm every day. Address: Yipin Street, Chongqing Newspapers Tel: +86 23 6648 0077 Chongqing News Opening Time: 8:30 AM - 5:30 PM Chongqing Globe Emergency numbers Police: 110 Chongqing Post Jinji Branch Ambulance: 120 Address: Jinji Town, Chongqing Fire: 119 Tel: +86 23 5468 0031 Tourist information Chongqing Tourism Administration Opening Time: 8:30 AM - 5:30 PM Address: No.283 Minsheng Road, Chongqing Phone: +86 23 6323 6016 There are three tourist information booths on the shopping Chongqing Post Jiangjin Branch street at the Guanyinqiao metro station. Address: No.9 Qixian Street, Chongqing Tel: +86 23 4753 0811 Opening Time: 8:30 AM - 5:30 PM
Photo: Andy Fuchs
Telephone Country code: +86 Area code: 23
Photo: Jardson Almeida
Electricity 220V / 50HZ
Photo: Stirling Tschan
Population 30.48 million (2016)
Currency Chinese Yuan (CNY)
Opening hours Office hours are 9am–5:30pm or 6pm on weekdays. Banks are open from 9am–4om weekends. The opening hours of