# Things to do in Chongqing: top sights and where to go > Chongqing is a hill city where the Yangtze meets the Jialing: the lit-up stilt houses of Hongyadong, the Jiefangbei monument and the Shibati quarter sit within a 20-minute walk on the Yuzhong peninsula, with the Yangtze cable car and the monorail that runs through a block of flats at Liziba close by. Spend the first day in the centre; give a second day to the Dazu rock carvings or the natural bridges of Wulong. Web page: https://yesgo.io/china/chongqing ## Ready itineraries - [One day in Chongqing: an itinerary in the best order](https://yesgo.io/china/chongqing/in-1-day.md): The train through a building at Liziba, the Shibati stairway, Jiefangbei, the arhat temple, Hongyadong's lights and the Yangtze cable car — in order. - [2 days in Chongqing: an itinerary day by day](https://yesgo.io/china/chongqing/in-2-days.md): Liziba, Shibati, Jiefangbei, the arhat temple, Hongyadong and the cable car first; then the UNESCO Buddhist rock carvings of Dazu from the 9th–13th centuries. ## All 10 places with the YesGo score - [Jiefangbei](https://yesgo.io/china/chongqing/jiefangbei.md): YesGo score 45/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 30 min · Free, open 24 hours. Jiefangbei is Chongqing's pedestrian downtown, built around a 27.5-metre octagonal monument with clocks on four sides. It's free and open… - [Hongyadong](https://yesgo.io/china/chongqing/hongyadong.md): YesGo score 44/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h 30 min · Free. Hongyadong (洪崖洞, Hongya Cave) is an 11-storey complex of stilt-style houses on a cliff above the Jialing River in central Chongqing… - [Shibati](https://yesgo.io/china/chongqing/shibati.md): YesGo score 43/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · Free. Shibati (十八梯, Eighteen Steps) is a rebuilt old-style quarter along the stone stairway that once linked Chongqing's upper and lower town… - [Liziba Station](https://yesgo.io/china/chongqing/liziba-station.md): YesGo score 42/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 30 min · Free; metro ride ≈ ¥2. Liziba is a Line 2 monorail stop in Chongqing built into floors 6–8 of a 19-storey apartment block — the train runs straight into the… - [Luohan Temple](https://yesgo.io/china/chongqing/luohan-temple.md): YesGo score 38/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 45 min · ¥20, incense included. Luohan Temple is a working Buddhist temple founded in the 11th century, a 10–15-minute walk from Jiefangbei in central Chongqing. Its… - [Eling Park](https://yesgo.io/china/chongqing/eling-park.md): YesGo score 38/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h 15 min · Free; tower ¥0–10. A former private garden on the highest ridge of central Chongqing, with a seven-storey tower that looks over the Yangtze and the Jialing… - [Yangtze River Cableway](https://yesgo.io/china/chongqing/yangtze-river-cableway.md): YesGo score 38/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 45 min · ¥30 one way, ¥50 return. Chongqing's 1987 aerial tramway carries you 1,166 m over the Yangtze between Xinhua Road in Yuzhong and Shangxin Street on the south bank… - [Three Gorges Museum](https://yesgo.io/china/chongqing/three-gorges-museum.md): YesGo score 38/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 2 h · Free, no booking, passport. The Three Gorges Museum is Chongqing's main history museum, facing the Great Hall of the People across People's Square. Entry is free with… - [Dazu Rock Carvings](https://yesgo.io/china/chongqing/dazu-rock-carvings.md): YesGo score 21/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 3 h · ¥115; with Beishan ¥140. The Dazu Rock Carvings are UNESCO-listed Buddhist cliff sculptures from the 9th–13th centuries, about 80 km west of central Chongqing. The… - [Wulong Karst: Three Natural Bridges](https://yesgo.io/china/chongqing/wulong-karst.md): YesGo score 16/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 4 h · ¥125–155 incl. shuttle and lift. The Three Natural Bridges are the highlight of Wulong Karst, a UNESCO site 120 km from Chongqing: three limestone arches 223–281 m high… ## Chongqing travel guide Before you go: Hongyadong and the night skyline, the monorail through a building, the Yangtze cable car, Dazu and Wulong, hotpot. ## Trip essentials - How many days: 3 days: city plus Dazu or Wulong - When to go: April–May and October–November - Visa: Depends on your passport — many get 30 days visa-free - Paying: Alipay or WeChat Pay with a foreign card - Airport: Jiangbei (CKG) ≈ 20 km, Metro Line 10 - Terrain: A hill city: stairs, bridges, lifts - Summer: One of China’s hottest cities, ≈ 35° - To Chengdu: ≈ 1–1.5 h by high-speed train - Internet: Google, WhatsApp, YouTube blocked — roaming eSIM - Time zone: UTC+8 all year ## Key facts - **1999** — the Dazu Rock Carvings joined the UNESCO list (source: UNESCO World Heritage List, No. 912) - **2007** — Wulong’s karst and natural bridges joined the UNESCO list as South China Karst (source: UNESCO World Heritage List, No. 1248) - **Two rivers** — the centre sits on a peninsula where the Yangtze meets the Jialing (source: Wikipedia, “Chongqing”) - **Liziba** — the station where the monorail runs through an apartment block (source: Wikipedia, “Liziba station”) ## Things to do in Chongqing The top things to do in Chongqing are Hongyadong lit up on the riverside cliff, Jiefangbei, the old Shibati stairs, Liziba station where the monorail passes through a building, the Yangtze River cable car, Eling Park’s city view and the Three Gorges Museum. Further out are the Dazu Rock Carvings and Wulong’s natural bridges. Every place with its YesGo score is in the list above. | Where | What to see | Time | | --- | --- | --- | | **Jiefangbei** | [Square](https://yesgo.io/china/chongqing/jiefangbei), [Hongyadong](https://yesgo.io/china/chongqing/hongyadong) | evening | | **Old town** | [Shibati](https://yesgo.io/china/chongqing/shibati), [Luohan Temple](https://yesgo.io/china/chongqing/luohan-temple) | 2 h | | **Over the river** | [Yangtze cable car](https://yesgo.io/china/chongqing/yangtze-river-cableway), [Eling](https://yesgo.io/china/chongqing/eling-park) | 2 h | | **Monorail** | [Liziba station](https://yesgo.io/china/chongqing/liziba-station) | 30 min | | **Museums** | [Three Gorges Museum](https://yesgo.io/china/chongqing/three-gorges-museum) | 2 h | | **Day trips** | [Dazu](https://yesgo.io/china/chongqing/dazu-rock-carvings), [Wulong](https://yesgo.io/china/chongqing/wulong-karst) | 1 day | Rather not plan it yourself? The list above has ready itineraries for 1–2 days, with places in a sensible order. ## Chongqing airport to the city Jiangbei International (CKG) is ≈ 20 km north of the centre. International flights use Terminal 3, where Metro Line 10 starts; with one change you reach Jiefangbei in about 50 minutes. A DiDi taxi takes 30–40 minutes without traffic. | How | To | Time | | --- | --- | --- | | **Metro Lines 10 + 6** | Jiefangbei | ≈ 50 min | | **DiDi taxi** | Centre | ≈ 30–40 min | | **High-speed train** | Chengdu | ≈ 1–1.5 h | Navigation apps often get levels wrong here: many streets and stations sit on different tiers of the hill. ## Chongqing weather by month The best time to visit Chongqing is spring and autumn, ≈ 22–27 °C by day. Summer is very hot and humid at ≈ 34–35 °C. Winter days are ≈ 10–12 °C, damp and foggy — it is called the Fog City. - **January in Chongqing**: day ≈ 10°C, night ≈ 6°C, rainy days: 9. About 10°, foggy. - **February in Chongqing**: day ≈ 13°C, night ≈ 8°C, rainy days: 9. About 13°, Spring Festival. - **March in Chongqing**: day ≈ 18°C, night ≈ 11°C, rainy days: 12. About 18°, warming up. - **April in Chongqing** (best time): day ≈ 23°C, night ≈ 15°C, rainy days: 14. About 23° — a great time. - **May in Chongqing** (best time): day ≈ 27°C, night ≈ 19°C, rainy days: 15. About 27°, warm. - **June in Chongqing**: day ≈ 30°C, night ≈ 22°C, rainy days: 15. Hot and humid. - **July in Chongqing**: day ≈ 34°C, night ≈ 25°C, rainy days: 12. Heat ≈ 34°. - **August in Chongqing**: day ≈ 35°C, night ≈ 25°C, rainy days: 10. The hottest month. - **September in Chongqing**: day ≈ 29°C, night ≈ 21°C, rainy days: 12. About 29°, easing. - **October in Chongqing** (best time): day ≈ 22°C, night ≈ 16°C, rainy days: 15. About 22°, rainy. - **November in Chongqing** (best time): day ≈ 17°C, night ≈ 12°C, rainy days: 10. About 17° — pleasant. - **December in Chongqing**: day ≈ 12°C, night ≈ 8°C, rainy days: 8. About 12°, damp. ## Things to do in Chongqing at night Chongqing at night is the city at its best: Hongyadong and the riverbanks light up, the bridges glow, and the hotpot restaurants fill. Watch from Qiansimen Bridge, take a two-rivers night cruise, or ride the cable car after dark. - **Hongyadong** — stilt-house terraces lit gold after sunset. - **Qiansimen Bridge** — the classic view back to Hongyadong. - **River cruise** — an hour on the Yangtze and Jialing after dark. - **Jiefangbei** — street food and shopping until late. ## What to eat in Chongqing Chongqing is the capital of hotpot: a fiery broth of beef tallow and Sichuan pepper. Also try xiaomian breakfast noodles, fish in chilli oil and street snacks around Hongyadong and Jiefangbei. - **Chongqing hotpot** — hotter than Chengdu’s; order a split “yuanyang” pot. - **Xiaomian** — spicy noodles, the local breakfast. - **Fish in chilli oil** — a regional favourite. - **Iced rice cake** — a cool sweet for hot days. ## Chongqing ticket prices Hongyadong, Jiefangbei, Shibati, Eling Park and the Three Gorges Museum (with booking) are free. You pay for the Yangtze cable car, Luohan Temple, Dazu and Wulong. - [Jiefangbei](https://yesgo.io/china/chongqing/jiefangbei) — Free, open 24 hours - [Hongyadong](https://yesgo.io/china/chongqing/hongyadong) — Free - [Shibati](https://yesgo.io/china/chongqing/shibati) — Free - [Liziba Station](https://yesgo.io/china/chongqing/liziba-station) — Free; metro ride ≈ ¥2 - [Luohan Temple](https://yesgo.io/china/chongqing/luohan-temple) — ¥20, incense included - [Eling Park](https://yesgo.io/china/chongqing/eling-park) — Free; tower ¥0–10 - [Yangtze River Cableway](https://yesgo.io/china/chongqing/yangtze-river-cableway) — ¥30 one way, ¥50 return - [Three Gorges Museum](https://yesgo.io/china/chongqing/three-gorges-museum) — Free, no booking, passport - [Dazu Rock Carvings](https://yesgo.io/china/chongqing/dazu-rock-carvings) — ¥115; with Beishan ¥140 - [Wulong Karst: Three Natural Bridges](https://yesgo.io/china/chongqing/wulong-karst) — ¥125–155 incl. shuttle and lift ## Tips - See Hongyadong after sunset from Qiansimen Bridge — the lights come on in the evening. - The Yangtze cable car can mean an hour’s queue — go early in the morning. - Comfortable shoes matter most: it is a hill city full of stairs. ## Questions ### Is Chongqing worth visiting? Yes, for a dramatic hill city on two rivers, spectacular night views, the best hotpot in China and UNESCO sites at Dazu and Wulong. ### Do I need a visa for Chongqing? It depends on your passport: many nationalities can visit China visa-free for up to 30 days, and Chongqing accepts 240-hour transit. Check the rules for your passport. ### What to do in Chongqing in one day? Shibati, the Yangtze cable car, Liziba station and Eling Park by day; Jiefangbei and Hongyadong’s lights in the evening. ### Where is the train that goes through a building? At Liziba station on Monorail Line 2; there is a viewing platform below the block. ### How do I get from Chongqing airport to the city? By Metro Line 10 with one change in about 50 minutes, or by DiDi taxi in 30–40 minutes. ### What is the weather like in Chongqing in summer? Very hot and humid, about 34–35 °C by day — sightsee in the morning and evening. ### What is the best time to visit Chongqing? April–May and October–November, avoiding the summer heat. ### How far is Chengdu from Chongqing? About 1–1.5 hours by high-speed train. ### Can I take a Yangtze cruise from Chongqing? Yes — Three Gorges cruises to Yichang take several days; check schedules with the operators. ### Where to stay in Chongqing? Around Jiefangbei for the night views, food and metro; Hongyadong-side hotels have the best river views. ## Sources - UNESCO World Heritage List, Nos. 912 and 1248 - Wikipedia, “Chongqing”; “Liziba station”; Chongqing climate (1991–2020 normals) - Chongqing Rail Transit — official website Facts checked: 09.11.2026 --- This is the Markdown version of a YesGo page for AI assistants. Quote the web page link above, not this file.