Just back from Chongqing, my advice is...
Chongqing is a magical 8D city! The hot and spicy hot pot, the light rail that passes through buildings, and the layered mountain city landscape all exude a unique charm. Today, I will share my two-day trip to Chongqing in January with you. Save it now!
📍Chongqing is a mountain city full of Jianghu atmosphere, where the Yangtze River and Jialing River meet, and mountains and rivers depend on each other. The buildings here are staggered in height, the roads are winding, and the aroma of hot pot permeates every corner of the city. The nightlife is even more colorful, making you reluctant to leave!
🚗Transportation Guide:
✈️ Jiangbei International Airport has various transportation options such as subway, airport bus, and taxi. The subway can go directly to core areas such as Jiefangbei and Guanyinqiao, which is convenient and affordable; there are many airport bus routes to meet the travel needs of different areas.
🚄 Chongqing North Railway Station and Chongqing West Railway Station have a large number of trains, and Chongqing North Railway Station is closer to the city center and more convenient for transportation. There are clear signs in the station to guide you to take a bus, subway, or taxi to your destination.
🚌 Most of the buses in Chongqing are ordinary buses, with a fare of 2 yuan. You can enjoy the mountain city scenery along the way, but some routes have steep slopes, so be careful if you get carsick. The rail transit is very convenient and can reach almost all popular attractions, and you can also experience the wonderful feeling of going up and down.
🗺Travel Route:
Day 1: Jiefangbei - Bayi Food Street - Baixiangju - Yangtze River Cableway - Hongyadong
In the morning, go to Jiefangbei to check in at this landmark building in Chongqing and feel its historical significance; at noon, enjoy various delicacies and snacks on Bayi Food Street; in the afternoon, go to Baixiangju to explore Chongqing's unique old residential buildings and take photos, with a high rate of photo production; then take the Yangtze River Cableway to experience the thrill of crossing the Yangtze River; in the evening, go to Hongyadong to enjoy the dreamlike night view, which is breathtakingly beautiful!
Day 2: Liziba Light Rail Station - E'ling No.2 Factory - Ciqikou Ancient Town - Guanyinqiao Pedestrian Street
In the morning, go to Liziba to see the light rail passing through the building and experience the magical transportation of Chongqing; then go to E'ling No.2 Factory, where there are many literary shops and graffiti walls, which are very suitable for taking photos and checking in; have Chongqing noodles for lunch nearby; in the afternoon, go to Ciqikou Ancient Town to visit the ancient streets and buy specialties; in the evening, go to Guanyinqiao Pedestrian Street to experience the bustling nightlife of Chongqing, where you can shop, eat, and entertain all in one place.
🌟Must-visit Attractions:
1. Jiefangbei: A landmark of Chongqing, it is also a historical witness of the victory of the Anti-Japanese War and the liberation of Chongqing. The surrounding area is bustling and lively, a paradise for shopping and food.
2. Hongyadong: The real-life version of Spirited Away, with brilliant lights at night, the layered stilted buildings are reflected in the river, beautiful and dreamlike, and look good in any photo.
3. Yangtze River Cableway: Take the cableway across the Yangtze River, with the surging river below, experience the unique mountain city transportation, and enjoy the best way to see the river view.
4. Liziba Light Rail Station: See the light rail passing through the building, this magical scene will definitely amaze you, a unique landscape created by Chongqing's unique terrain.
5. Baixiangju: A 24-story residential building without an elevator, full of the flavor of old Chongqing, many movies have been filmed here, and you can take retro blockbusters.
6. E'ling No.2 Factory: A gathering place for literary youth, with various creative shops, graffiti walls, and specialty cafes, full of literary atmosphere.
7. Ciqikou Ancient Town: Ancient streets with many Chongqing specialty snacks and handicrafts, although there are many tourists, it is still worth a visit.
8. Guanyinqiao Pedestrian Street: One of the most prosperous business districts in Chongqing, with shopping, food, and entertainment, it is very popular at night.
9. Chongqing China Three Gorges Museum: Free admission, you can learn about the history and culture of Chongqing and the customs of the Three Gorges region, with a rich and diverse collection of exhibits, very meaningful.
📝Practical Tips:
• You can buy tickets for the Yangtze River Cableway in advance on the WeChat official account to avoid long waiting times in line.
• There are many people in Hongyadong at night, pay attention to safety, if you want to take photos, you can go to Qiansimen Bridge, where you can take panoramic photos.
• There are many people soliciting customers to eat in Ciqikou Ancient Town, be careful in choosing to avoid being scammed.
🍱Local Food Recommendations:
• Chongqing Hot Pot: The soup base is spicy and fragrant, and the ingredients such as tripe, duck intestines, and tender beef are dipped in sesame oil and garlic paste after being cooked in the pot, and the hot and spicy taste instantly blooms on the tip of the tongue, making people unable to stop, the more you eat, the more addictive it becomes!
• Chongqing Noodles: The noodles are chewy, the seasoning is rich, and the spicy taste is strong. Have a bowl in the morning to start a day full of energy. Remember to mix well when eating, so that every noodle is covered with seasoning.
• Hot and Sour Rice Noodles: The rice noodles are smooth and tender, sour and spicy, and the soybeans and pickled mustard greens inside add to the richness of the taste. One bite, sour, spicy, numb, and fragrant, is very satisfying!
• Mountain City Small Glutinous Rice Balls: Sweet but not greasy, the glutinous rice balls are soft and glutinous, and the sesame filling is fragrant, eating them is a great way to relieve the spiciness after eating spicy food.
• Spicy Duck Blood: Duck blood, tripe, luncheon meat, and other ingredients are gathered in one pot, spicy and rich, and the soup with rice is a must, every bite is super satisfying.
• Grilled Brain: After grilling, the brain becomes delicate and smooth, with chili, green onions, and other seasonings, the taste is rich, and it melts in your mouth, a must-try for those who like to eat brain.
🏠Hotel Accommodation:
• Near Jiefangbei: Ji Hotel (Chongqing Jiefangbei Pedestrian Street), with a superior location, within walking distance to Jiefangbei, Bayi Food Street, and other attractions, convenient transportation, clean and tidy rooms, and high cost performance.
• Near Hongyadong: Chongqing Hongyadong Hotel, some rooms can directly see the night view of Hongyadong, the hotel facilities are complete, and the service is thoughtful, but the price is relatively high.
• Near Guanyinqiao: Holiday Inn Express Chongqing Guanyinqiao, with many surrounding food options, convenient shopping, convenient transportation, and comfortable rooms, is a good choice for experiencing Chongqing's nightlife.
Tips:
• The weather in Chongqing in January is relatively cold, so bring a thick coat, but there is usually air conditioning indoors, so pay attention to adding or removing clothes.
• The terrain in Chongqing is undulating, it is recommended to wear comfortable sports shoes when going out, otherwise, your feet will hurt after a day.
• Chongqing people speak fast and have straightforward personalities. If you encounter problems, feel free to ask locals, they will be very enthusiastic to help you.
The charm of Chongqing can only be experienced by coming in person, so pack your bags and start your Chongqing trip according to this guide!💕
This is definitely one of Chongqing's must-visit spots! I boarded at the South Station, and since it was a weekday, there weren't many people, and the queues were minimal. There's only one carriage that can hold 60 people, not the usual smaller ones. You can't sit inside; everyone has to stand. Those near the door can see the scenery outside – the river view and the houses are all visible. It's worth a try if you're interested. There's also a photo platform nearby; it should be quite photogenic on a clear day.
We managed to visit here in the morning. It was a spacious car so it carried quite a lot of people. If you had no chance to stand right at the window, it would be difficult to get the view outside. However, since it was a bright and sunny day, we could take nice pictures at the landing spot provided for the visitors
Overall, the queuing situation was quite good. Although there were many people in the queue (around three people), the flow of people was orderly, and the staff were very friendly. The scenery was also quite beautiful, and it was worth the price.
The Yangtze River Cableway, located in Chongqing, runs between Xinhua Road in Yuzhong District and Shangxin Street in Nan'an District. It is the first large-scale cross-river passenger cableway designed and manufactured in my country. It is known as the first "sky corridor" of the Yangtze River and the "Skybus" of the city. It was listed as a cultural relic protection unit of Chongqing in 2009, and was rated as a national AAAA-level tourist attraction in 2018. It was selected as the "New Trendy Landmark of Chengdu-Chongqing" in 2020. It is the only urban cross-river sightseeing cableway in China.
Spring Flower Tour|Exploring the Yangtze River Cableway Fantasy Drifting in the Sea of Flowers in Spring-In-depth Exploration of the Yangtze River Cableway 🏠【Exploring Landmarks】Chongqing Yangtze River Cableway Sky Corridor Scenic Area This three-dimensional transportation hub embedded between mountains and waters is not only a unique symbol of urban transportation, but also the core landscape of the national AAAA-level tourist attraction. As the only cross-river manned cableway in the Yangtze River Basin, it connects the urban skyline of Yuzhong Peninsula and Nan'an District with a vertical drop of 30 floors and a thrilling 4-minute voyage, forming a flowing three-dimensional landscape painting. 🚗【Tracing Guide】The entrance of the space-time tunnel at No. 151 Xinhua Road, Yuzhong District This aerial station is located in the core area of the bustling city, with the precise coordinates next to the 5-kilometer golden waterway at the intersection of the Yangtze River and Jialing River. Entering the scenic area, the first thing that comes into view is the 6,000-square-meter tourist service center. The three-story Hui-style building complex is built against the mountain, and the vermilion columns and blue-gray brick walls tell the Bayu style in the swaying bamboo shadows. The smart guide screen in the ticket office displays the cableway operation data in real time, while the outdoor viewing platform provides an excellent shooting angle - the misty fairyland in the morning mist and the bright stars when the lights are on can all be seen through this "air corridor". Warm reminder: The daily operation period is from the dawn to the lights of thousands of homes, and different light and shadow poems are performed in the changing seasons. It is recommended to make an appointment in advance through the official platform of "Chongqing Cableway Company" to avoid the peak of holiday traffic and capture the most moving city silhouettes of the Yangtze River Economic Belt while shuttling in the clouds. 🏠 Attractions: Yangtze River Cableway Scenic Area 🚗 Address: No. 151 Xinhua Road, Yuzhong District, Chongqing
Yangtze River Cableway: Flying through the air, unlocking the sky corridor of the mountain city's soul Is it worth going? For travelers who are visiting Chongqing for the first time, the answer is yes! This "air bus" across the Yangtze River is by no means an ordinary means of transportation, but a core way to immersively experience the 8D magical mountain city. Alternative highlights: Overlooking the two rivers from a God's perspective: The closed carriage glides through the air, with the surging Yangtze River and Jialing River under your feet, and the building forests of the Yuzhong Peninsula and the rolling mountains on the south bank in front of you. Watch the grandeur of the confluence of the two rivers during the day, and enjoy the brilliance of thousands of lights at night. This is the ultimate concentration of Chongqing's three-dimensional transportation. City memories that travel through time and space: Since its operation in 1987, the cableway has carried the collective memory of old Chongqing. The crowded fireworks in the carriage and the mottled traces of the old residential buildings outside the window instantly pull you into the flowing city picture of the mountain city. The same magical scene in film and television: Classic shots such as "Crazy Stone" and "Hot Pot Heroes" were shot here. Being in the carriage, it feels like walking into a movie scene, and feeling the unique spatial staggered sense of the mountain city from the perspective of the protagonist. A wonderful fusion of efficiency and experience: It only takes 4-5 minutes for a one-way trip, but it is the most cost-effective choice to get the most shocking perspective in the shortest time. The queue is longer during peak hours, but the moment of flying through the air, all the waiting is worth it. Special reminder: Choose the right time to get more photos: Sunny dusk (17:00-19:00) can capture the sunset and the lights at the same time, while the rainy season may be shrouded in clouds and mist like a fairyland. Transportation card is more convenient: Swipe Chongqing bus card (including ride code) for only 20 yuan one way, and you need to queue up and buy tickets on site, which is 10 yuan more expensive. Peak avoidance strategy: There are fewer people before 8 am or after 9 pm, and the queue in Yuzhong District (Xinhua Road Station) is often longer than that in Nan'an (Shangxinjie Station). Conclusion: In just 5 minutes, the Yangtze River Cableway allows you to hang over the river and stand between buildings, touching the muscles and pulse of Chongqing from a unique angle. It may be crowded, but it is really hot - this "air corridor" flying over the two rivers is the key to unlocking the magical charm of the mountain city.
Yangtze River Cableway It should be more practical in the past when there were not many bridges. Now that the bridges have been repaired, the price should be higher than taking a taxi. However, it has now become an experience and check-in project. You need to queue up for a long time on holidays. After buying tickets, you need to wait for a number, enter the waiting area twice, and then wait for your number to be called. You can also buy tickets by mobile phone. The place to buy tickets is the departure point, such as the north bank or the south bank. The cable car can take 65 people at a time, and it is open in both directions and cannot be circulated. It can be understood as an aerial bus. The south bank of the cableway is the best place for shooting. Ticket price: 30 yuan one way, 50 yuan round trip. Disabled soldiers and police are free. Discounted provinces are half price.
I took the bus from South Bank at noon on weekdays and there was almost no queue. There were many people in the carriage but not crowded, and the scenery was quite beautiful. The locals said that it used to be a means of transportation, costing RMB 80 per trip, but now it is used for sightseeing and it is RMB 20 per trip. He has not taken it in many years.