Chongqing Handbook All essential information you need to know about Chongqing Presented by Chongqing Expat Club www.cqexpat.com Copyright 2008. All Rights Reserved. Table of Contents CHAPTER ONE - ABOUT CHONGQING Page 3 CHAPTER TWO – THE CITY HUBS Page 3 CHAPTER THREE – CITY TRANSPORT Page 4 CHAPTER FOUR – ATTRACTIONS Page 6 CHAPTER FIVE – NIGHTLIFE & ENTERTAINMENT Page 16 CHAPTER SIX – ACCOMMODATION Page 18 CHAPTER SEVEN – INTERNATIONAL FOOD Page 21 CHAPTER EIGHT– SHOPPING Page 24 CHAPTER NINE - EDUCATION Page 27 CHAPTER TEN – HEALTH CARE Page 29 CHAPTER ELEVEN – EMBASSIES & CONSULATES Page 31 CHAPTER TWELVE – USEFUL CONTACTS Page 32 CHAPTER THIRTEEN – USEFUL WORDS and PHRASES Page 32 CHAPTER ONE - ABOUT CHONGQING Chongqing is the economic hub of southwest China and the fourth Municipality in China (after Beijing, Shanghai and Tianjin). Chongqing is situated in the east of southwest China, about 2,500km up the Yangtze River from Shanghai. Under its jurisdiction there are 40 districts, cities and counties. It covers an area of 82,000 square kilometres with a total population of 31 million. An estimated 6 million people live in urban Chongqing city. Downtown Chongqing lies at the point where the Yangtze River and the Jialing River merge. Known as the Mountain City, the whole city is built against a backdrop of hills and rivers, characterized by zig-zagging roads and overlapping houses. It is also known as one of the four Furnace Cities for its hot summers and the Foggy City for its misty winters. CHAPTER TWO – THE CITY HUBS Chongqing has five major business and shopping precincts - the oldest and most important being Jiefangbei situated within what remains of the Old Walled City. Shapingba, Yangjiaping, Guanyinqiao and Nanping complete the picture with large Walking Malls, Shopping Plazas, Hotels and Business and Trade Centres. In each of these centres you’ll find restaurants, bars and boutiques, cinemas and many other attractions some unique to each. 1. The focal point of Jiefengbei 解放碑 is the cross shaped Walking Mall which radiates from the Liberation Monument. The area has been the site of a massive modern makeover in recent years and boasts a plethora of new and huge Shopping Malls, International Hotels and Business Towers and high rise apartment blocks. 2. Shapingba 沙坪坝 with its massive Three Gorges Square 三峡广场 San Xia Guang Chang at its centre is the second most popular business and shopping hub and home to several of the city’s oldest middle schools and universities. 3. Yangjiaping 杨家坪 completes the triangle with one of the largest round-abouts that encompasses much of the shopping precincts. Yangjiaping is home to several important colleges and universities as well as the city zoo. 4. Guanyinqiao 观音桥 in Jiangbei District is the only large centre on the north side of the city and includes Yang Guang Cheng or Sunshine City with the massive Paradise Walk Shopping Mall 北城天街 Bei Cheng Tian Jie and the Golden Resources Hotel 金源大酒店 and the Underground Entertainment Mall ‘Sleepless City’ 金源不夜城 amongst its attractions. 5. Nanping 南坪 as its name suggest is on the south bank of the Yangtze River and is a vital southern transport, trade and business centre with much the same to offer as all the 3 Copyright 2008. All Rights Reserved. Chongqing Expat Club www.cqexpat.com other hubs with the edition of Underwater World and several large Trade and Exhibition Centres. CHAPTER THREE – CITY TRANSPORT Chongqing has a diverse and comprehensive transport system which includes some interesting modes of transport found in very few of China’s major cities. A visit here should include a ride by cable car across either the Yangtze or Jialing rivers. TAXI 出租车 Flag fall Y5 (Y1.20 per km) is the cheapest of any major city of this size. The distinctive ‘bee’ yellow of the regular Chongqing taxi is a rather appropriate colour as they work hard to move people around the city. Beware of the swarms that hover around bus stops or stations, especially after dark looking for multiple long distance fares which don’t require using the meter. Chongqing’s taxi fleet is gradually being updated with the introduction of the new Suzuki this year, which offers a very smooth and comfortable ride. More recently a larger White Taxi was introduced to service the Airport and can most likely be found around major International Hotels. Tips: Taxis will often be hard to find from about 3.00pm until 5.00pm which is when they are returning to base to refuel for a change of shift and unless you are going where they are headed you may have to wait for some time and fight for your turn. BUS 公交车 Three grades of buses service the city and prices range from Y1 to Y3 for across town routes. The smaller 700 buses and some of the small 800 buses run as late as midnight. The cheaper buses tend to be very crowded mornings and evenings as people commute to work but are less so at noon and later in the evenings. Frequently updated city maps, Y5 from street stalls, have most bus routes clearly marked. IC Cards can now be used on the majority of bus routes. Cards which offer discounted fares can be purchased for Y20 non-refundable deposit from IC Card booths/sales centres that are located at larger bus stops and interchanges. MOTOBIKES and THREE WHEELERS 摩托车和三轮车 Motorbikes are an ideal mode of transport for this city of narrow windy streets that often choke with traffic jams. Fares are negotiable for one or two passengers. 4 Copyright 2008. All Rights Reserved. Chongqing Expat Club www.cqexpat.com LIGHT RAIL 轻轨 The Qinggui or Light Rail is a combination of above ground monorail and underground metro system that will one day in the future alleviate much of the road congestion caused by buses and taxis. This first line runs partway along the Jialing River and has become a popular sightseeing ride for both locals and tourists. Running from Jiaochangkou on the peninsular to Xinshancun in the western suburbs, this line covers tourist attractions such as the Peoples Great Hall, Three Gorges Museum, the new Olympic Sports Centre at Yuanjiagang and the Zoo at Yangjiaping. New lines currently under construction will run across town from the airport in the north to Nanping in the south crossing both the big rivers. Another is scheduled for Shapingba District. In all 7 lines are planned in the years ahead. The service is clean, efficient, punctual and uses a swipe card fare system with a maximum fare is Y5 CABLE CAR 索道 Two pairs of Cable Car cross each of the Rivers that carve up the city and are an excellent way to get a bird’s eye view of them both. Yangtze River Cable Car - Y2 each way This is located on Xin Hua Road opposite the bus stop not far from the Metropolitan Plaza and up the hill from the Carrefour. Southbank terminal is in Nanan District just above Nanbin Road at Long Men Hao Docks. It’s a short walk up the hill to Shangxinjie with buses to Nanshan Park or down the hill to Nanbin Lu. Tip: some maps are unclear as to the street entrance of the Jiefangbei terminal Jialing River Cable Car - Y2 each way This is located on Cang Bai Road across from Hongyadong with the northern terminal in Jinagbei Cheng where there is very little to see as this section of the city is currently being redeveloped to house a new entertainment complex. BRT 快速公交车 Bus Rapid Transit is a new express bus service initiative of the Central Government for several major cities in China. The first and rather limited route through Daping opened in January 2008 and the buses are distinguished by bright orange on white paint work. Line 801 Shapingba to Jiangbei opened recently. Line 888 Shapingba to Yuanjiagang due to open soon (Shapingba Zhan Xi Lu to YiKe YiYuan) 5 Copyright 2008. All Rights Reserved. Chongqing Expat Club www.cqexpat.com FERRY 渡轮 Two ferry services cross the river from Chaotianmen to Nanbin Road in Nanan District. Please refer city map. ESCALATOR 电动扶梯 Chongqing is home to one of the longest escalators in Asia. Located in Lianglukou on the corner of Chang Jiang Yi Road it descends to the Train and Bus stations at Caiyuanba saving pedestrians a long climb up or down the stairs. ELEVATOR 电梯 This elevator is located beside the Chongqing Daily Newspaper on the corner on Xin Hua Road at Chuqimen beside the Chuqimen stairs. Lower access is from Jiefang Xi Road. AIRPORT SHUTTLE SERVICE 机场往返车 This is a 24 hour service from the Airport to Shangqingsi on Meizhuanxiao Street very close to the CAAC office. From Shangqingsi the service departs every thirty minutes on the hour and half hour and picks up at the CAAC office in Haiguan and the Yutong Hotel opposite Jiazhou California Gardens. From the airport the service leaves when full and drops off at all three locations. CHAPTER FOUR – ATTRACTIONS 1. Night Lights By night Chongqing looks like a giant fairyland. The entire city is lit up by a sea of coloured lights reflecting in the waters of the Yangtze and Jialing rivers. There are several vantage points for observing this mountain city by both day and night: the Red Star Pavilion 红星亭 Hong Xing Ting in the Pi Pa Shan Park 枇杷山公园 Pi Pa Shan Gong Yuan and the Kan Sheng Pavilion 瞰胜楼 Kan Sheng Lou in Goose Neck Park 鹅岭公园 E Ling Gong Yuan in Yuzhong District 渝中区 Yuzhong Qu but the favourite is One Tree Hill 一棵树 Yi Ke Shu on South Mountain 南山 Nan Shan.