【Chongqing travel guide2026】
Why should you choose to travel to Chongqing?

Is this your first time in Chongqing? Get the comprehensive travel guide to Chongqing, including airport transfers, must-try hot pots, mind-blowing 8D attractions, and the best places to stay in this mountain city!

What transportation options are available in Chongqing

Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport (CKG) / High-speed Railway

Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport (CKG)

Chongqing has only one Jiangbei Airport, which is divided into two terminals, T2 and T3. There are light rail lines near the airport: Line 10 (both T2 and T3), Line 3 (T2)

Chongqing Special Bus Lines at Jiangbei International Airport

A must-read for first-time flyers

The Essential Guide for First-Time Flyers (Airport Procedures)

The first time I came to Chongqing by high-speed train:

Key Chongqing Railway Stations

It is advised to use the official 12306 website or app to purchase tickets.
Reservations in Advance: 15 days before to travel, tickets go on sale; during busy times, purchase in advance.
Documents Needed:
Adults: passport or ID card.
Students: To receive discounted tickets, present a valid student ID.
Children: Passport or household registration (in the absence of an ID card).

2. Security Check & Station Entry

3. Restrictions on carrying-on luggage

• Sprays and liquids: No more than 150 milliliters per item (e.g., perfume, hairspray).
• The total volume of all liquids cannot be more than 600ml.
• Mobile power and batteries: 100Wh lithium batteries (no authorization needed).
• standard 20,000 mAh power packs, which are typically compatible.
• Batteries that are damaged or unlabeled are prohibited.
• Boarding time: Please arrive on time, as the gate closes three to five minutes before departure. This is one last reminder.

Chongqing's primary modes of transportation are light rail, buses, taxis, and online cars.

1. Bus 🚌

• about $2 (RMB ¥2-3)
• Payment method: You can use “Ride Code” or cash coins.
• Notes: The bus is crowded during peak hours (7:30-9:00 / 17:00-19:00) and is not recommended for tourists.

2. Metro🚇

• about $2-$7 (depending on distance)
• Most of the popular attractions in Chongqing can be reached.
• We recommend using the “Ride Code” to scan the code to take the train, which is convenient and fast.
• Advantages: fast, avoiding traffic jams, cost-effective, and the preferred mode of transportation for tourists.

🚕 3. Taxi (cab)

• Starting price: Daytime: $10 / 3km, Nighttime: $11 / 3km

Where to stay in Chongqing is more suitable?

Jiefangbei

The benefit of choosing the Jiefangbei neighborhood is that it's easy to get to the center of the universe, especially the Yuzhong District attractions, and the food is also very convenient, especially the fire and ice soup dumplings, Chongqing Xiaomian, and wontons, which are very delicious!
Lazy people's first option is Jiefangbei, which is ideal for first-time visitors who wish to see the main attractions of Chongqing (Hongyadong, Yangtze River cableway). They enjoy the vibrant atmosphere, and while taking a taxi is convenient, there are more traffic jams. It still depends on individual taste.

South Binjiang Road

The major reason to live in the South Binjiang Road neighborhood is to enjoy the scenery!
It's a decent room with a river view and floor-to-ceiling windows, perfect for friends who enjoy taking photos.
Sisters, it's a little pricey, but honestly, it's not appropriate for students. The transit is inconvenient—you essentially take a taxi!

The view of the river from South Riverside is unstoppable, and across the street you can see Raffles. The skyline pool offers the greatest nighttime camera location. Eating is especially convenient, with a selection of eateries within 3 kilometers!

Guanyinqiao

Guanyinqiao is a foodie's paradise, ideal for hot pot enthusiasts, night owls, and those who wish to enjoy Chongqing's nightlife. The Yaddo hotel room is tidy, and it takes approximately five minutes to walk to the vibrant Nine Streets Bar, which is a great place for young people to have fun times.

Chongqing features of lodging: During this trip, Golden Lake as well
There is no need to make a reservation, don't worry about holiday pricing increases; feel free to eat anything you want.

Where to eat food in Chongqing?

Chongqing locals recommend local Delicious, not step on mine! Delicious and inexpensive, foreign friends must look at the list of food that must be used!

Chongqing traditional snacks

Jiefangbei

• Linjiangmen Dumplings 💰 $3
• Hot and sour noodles 💰 $10
• Hutchison's dried potato skin and beans 💰 $10+ (good for afternoon tea, there are chairs by the cliff, and you can sit all afternoon.)

Seven Star Gang

• Chunyang Restaurant 💰 $10 (cheap, serve yourself)
• Lin Hua Noodle Shop 💰$12 (noodles with shredded pork and fish)
• Fatty Chen's Hot Pot Restaurant 💰$60 (main store)

3. Delicious desserts and drinks

Right near Jiefangbei

• Li Ruotao glutinous rice yogurt 💰 $10+
• Port Chai Cake 💰 $30
• Dengchao Dessert 💰 $25
• Lotus Pond Community Cold Shrimp 💰 $7 (this is how you add cold shrimp with brown sugar water)
• Sanzang Dessert 💰 $20

Right near Guanyinqiao:

• Hong Erma Stinky Tofu 💰 $20 (next to Ninth Street)
• Taro dumplings 💰 $10+ (in the Taping neighborhood)

If you're tired of walking, book a Thai massage at Siam Island near Jiefangbei.

Hotpot recommendations!

• Zili Hot Pot: This ancient hot pot with three towers is packed and opened in a Qixinggang residential building. Dozens of yuan can be eaten to full satisfaction of each person, business is excellent, people are waiting even on weekdays, the setting is unimpressive, but the food is also delicious!
• Instrument Factory Hot Pot (General Store): a difficult-to-find but incredibly tasty traditional Chongqing hot pot! There's no setting, but the flavor is delicious and spicy, and the more you eat, the more you enjoy the neighborhood and the rich atmosphere of life!
• Hongyadong, Daijia Lane is home to Sister Li Hot Pot Q (Hongyadong shop), a hot pot restaurant near Jiefangbei where many residents are playing cards while fireworks are in the sky.
  Curiosity! Meat dishes start at $5.8 and vegetarian dishes from $1.8. Both are reasonably priced!
• Branch of Jiefangbei's Dinghan Hot Pot: Nestled in the heart of Daijiaxiang, Jiefangbei, is the place to try traditional Chongqing hot pot.
  Across from the Cat Wall, it's a fantastic restaurant! A wall! You can take pictures once you've finished eating.

What's the weather like in Chongqing☀?

Chongqing is an amazing mountain city, but the weather conditions are changeable. Chongqing is foggy and cold all year round, so it's best to wear sneakers! 20,000 starts per day, traveling back and forth between the mountains!

Chongqing Weather + What to Wear

Temperatures stay in the 20s to 30s, with little difference between morning and evening, but Chongqing's weather is changeable, so it's advisable to carry an umbrella and remember to bring anti-mosquito spray! Remember to bring mosquito spray and Windex!

You can wear short sleeves + jeans, skirts, suspenders + sunscreen + jeans (perfectly suited for summer, but still a bit cold on rainy days, so bring a thin jacket).

How do I use my eSIM card in Chongqing?

Staying online is crucial whether you're ordering hot pot to be delivered to your hotel, accessing navigation, or using translation tools.
Instant activation eliminates the need to swap out the actual card.
booths for China Unicom and China Mobile at the airport.
Carrying Wi-Fi: Available but more cumbersome to transport, portable Wi-Fi is ideal for large gatherings.

What to Prepare for a Trip to China?

• Visa & Entry Tips China’s ​240-hour visa-free transit policy now covers ​54 countries, incl. the US, UK, Canada, and Brazil, allowing up to 10 days during layovers. Learn more about China Entry Tips to land in China easily.
• Getting Connected to VPNs is vital for accessing Google, WhatsApp, Instagram, etc in China. Set one up before arriving.  China eSIMs are the easiest option for data and bypassing restrictions. Pocket Wi-Fi devices work best for groups but are pricier and require pickup/return.
• Money Exchange & Tax Refunds Exchange money in China banks (better rates than airports). ATMs accept foreign cards but notify your bank first. For tax refunds, spend over ¥500 at stores with a "Tax-Free" sign. Keep receipts and get forms stamped at customs before departure.