Chongqing (重庆) is the most unusual major city in China — a megalopolis of 32 million people built on the cliffs and ridges where the Jialing River meets the Yangtze. There are no flat streets. Roads tunnel through mountains. Monorail lines emerge from tower blocks. Bridges at different elevations cross the same river. The city’s vertical geography creates urban landscapes that seem impossible until you are in them.
Table of contents
Open Table of contents
The City Itself: Vertical Urban Landscape
Hongya Cave (洪崖洞)
The image that made Chongqing internationally famous — a 11-story complex of traditional Chinese stilted architecture built into a cliff face directly above the Jialing River, illuminated at night into a cascade of red-and-gold lantern light that has been compared to a scene from the Miyazaki film Spirited Away.
The building is a restaurant and shopping complex, not a historic structure — but the architectural concept (embedding commercial buildings into the cliff by reinterpreting the stilted house tradition) is genuine and visually extraordinary. The night view from the bridge across the river is the primary image.
Ciqikou Ancient Town (磁器口古镇)
A genuinely old section of Chongqing — a Ming Dynasty river port town on the Jialing River that served as a commercial hub for the upper Yangtze trade. The stone-paved streets, traditional shophouses, and adjacent temple complex are authentic, if now heavily commercialised.
What to eat here: Mahua (麻花, twisted fried dough), chen mala tang (陈麻辣烫, street-side numbingly spicy soup), and the famous Ciqikou fermented black bean paste (豆豉) that is the foundation of much Sichuan-Chongqing cooking.
The Monorail Through a Building (李子坝轻轨站)
At Li Ziba station, Line 2 of the Chongqing Rail Transit passes through a 19-story residential apartment building — through the 6th–8th floors — because the ridge topography made this the only viable route. The building’s residents have lived with a metro train passing through their building since 2004. An internet-famous attraction.
Mala Hotpot (麻辣火锅)
Chongqing is the undisputed capital of mala hotpot. The difference from the Chengdu version is technical: Chongqing hotpot uses a higher proportion of beef tallow (牛油) in the base, creating a richer, more intense flavour.
The broth: Red and opaque with dried chillis (辣椒) and Sichuan peppercorns (花椒) — the peppercorns produce the ma (numbing) sensation that complements the là (spicy) heat.
The ingredients: Sliced beef, tripe (毛肚), duck intestines (鸭肠), beef aorta (黄喉), brain (脑花), and various vegetables and noodles — the unusual offal-heavy menu is traditional and the textures are extraordinary when correctly cooked in the roiling broth.
Spice level: Even “medium” Chongqing hotpot is seriously spicy by global standards. First-timers should order the divided pot (鸳鸯锅) with a mild clear broth on one side.
Best hotpot areas: The Jiefangbei (解放碑) CBD district and the Nanbin Road (南滨路) riverside strip are the primary hotpot concentrations.
Three Gorges Cruise Departure
Chongqing is the upstream starting point for Yangtze River cruises through the Three Gorges to Wuhan or Yichang — a 3-day downstream journey through:
Qutang Gorge (瞿塘峡): The shortest and most dramatic — sheer cliff walls closing in on both sides, the widest less than 100 metres.
Wu Gorge (巫峡): The longest — 45 km of twisting gorge through 12 peaks (the Twelve Peaks of Wushan), traditionally associated with a Daoist tale of a goddess.
Xiling Gorge (西陵峡): The Three Gorges Dam (三峡大坝) site — the dam visitor area offers tours of the ship lift mechanism and views of the 2.3-km dam structure.
Cruise ships range from budget dormitory vessels to luxury 5-star river ships. The three gorges themselves, experienced from a slow boat at water level, provide one of the great river journey experiences in the world.
Practical Tips
Getting to Chongqing: Chongqing Jiangbei Airport (CKG) — major international hub; direct flights from many international cities. High-speed rail: Beijing (8 hrs), Shanghai (11 hrs), Chengdu (1 hr), Wuhan (5 hrs).
Getting around: Chongqing’s metro system is extensive but navigating the hills requires frequent stair climbing. Amap (高德地图) is more useful than standard navigation here because it accounts for vertical distance.
Best season: Autumn (September–November) — the summer fog lifts, temperatures moderate, and the hillside vegetation turns. Chongqing is notoriously foggy in winter and spring.
Last updated: May 2026