2 days in Chongqing: an itinerary day by day
The essentials in 10 seconds
- Entry
- 4 of 7 free; 3 paid — see “Cost”
- Duration
- 2 days, 9:30 to 16:45 each day
- Start and finish
- Liziba Station → Dazu Rock Carvings
- On foot
- ≈ 31 min in total
- Transport
- 2 rides, ≈ 44 min
- Lunch
- around 12:09
- With kids
- fine: short walks
- Best time
- Spring and autumn.
Day-by-day plan
Times include walking and lunch. Drag a stop by ≡, remove it with the cross or add one nearby — the plan updates.
Day 1 · Chongqing09:30–16:45 · 6 places · 7 h 20 min
Liziba Station
· 30 min · Free
- 25 min · transport or taxi
Shibati
· 1 h · Free
- 14 min on foot
Jiefangbei
· 30 min · Free
- Lunch · 1 h
- 10 min on foot
Luohan Temple
· 45 min · ¥20, incense included
- 7 min on foot
Hongyadong
· 1 h 30 min · Free
- 19 min · transport or taxi
Yangtze River Cableway
· 45 min · ¥30 one way, ¥50 return
Day 2 · Chongqing09:30–12:30 · 1 place · 3 h
Dazu Rock Carvings
· 3 h · ¥115; with Beishan ¥140
Add nearby
Places near the plan — Yes puts one into the day and the times update.
What the route costs
4 of 7 are free; 3 charge entry — prices below, check them on site.
| 1 | Liziba Station | 42 | 30 min | Free |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | Shibati | 43 | 1 h | Free |
| 3 | Jiefangbei | 45 | 30 min | Free |
| 4 | Luohan Temple | 38 | 45 min | ¥20, incense included |
| 5 | Hongyadong | 44 | 1 h 30 min | Free |
| 6 | Yangtze River Cableway | 38 | 45 min | ¥30 one way, ¥50 return |
| 7 | Dazu Rock Carvings | 21 | 3 h | ¥115; with Beishan ¥140 |
| Total | 8 h | 4 of 7 free |
Tips for each stop
Day 1
- 1
Liziba Station. The monorail station on floors 6–8 of an apartment block: the train runs right through the building. Watch from the free platform across the road.
- 2
Shibati. A quarter on the stone stairway between the upper and lower city. Free.
- 3
Jiefangbei. The pedestrian centre around a 27.5 m clock tower. Free.
- 4
Luohan Temple. An 11th-century Buddhist temple: a hall of 524 clay arhats. 20 yuan with incense.
- 5
Hongyadong. 11 tiers of stilt houses on a cliff above the Jialing; golden lights at night. Free.
- 6
Yangtze River Cableway. A 1987 cable car across the Yangtze, 1,166 m, about 4 minutes. 30 yuan one way.
Day 2
- 7
Dazu Rock Carvings. Buddhist carvings of the 9th–13th centuries in the cliffs, UNESCO, ≈ 80 km from the centre. 115 yuan, 140 with Beishan.
Who this route is for
- A weekend in Chongqing
- The city and Buddhist art
- With a driver or by train
- Wulong needs another day
- A Yangtze cruise takes several days
Spring and autumn.
How the two days work
Day one is the one-day Chongqing itinerary. Day two is the Dazu trip: about 1.5 hours each way and 3 hours on site.
Remove any stop with the cross or drag it with ≡, and add another one nearby — the times recalculate.
The Dazu Rock Carvings
Baodingshan is the main site, with huge reliefs around a horseshoe-shaped valley. Beishan is smaller and older. Winter tickets are cheaper. Bring water — there is little shade.
Is 2 days in Chongqing enough?
For the city and Dazu, yes. The Three Gorges Museum covers Chongqing and the Yangtze for free; Wulong has the Three Natural Bridges, arches 223–281 m above a gorge.
How to do it right
- Go to Dazu early: last entry is 17:00.
- Book a car with driver for the day through DiDi.
- Many museums and parks in China admit visitors only with a passport booking — via WeChat, the website or a mini-app, usually 1–7 days ahead. Carry your passport.
- China runs on Alipay and WeChat Pay — link a foreign card before you go; keep some cash yuan as a backup.
- Skip Hongyadong on public holidays — it is packed.
Questions
What to do with 2 days in Chongqing?
Day one: the centre, Hongyadong and the cable car. Day two: the Dazu Rock Carvings.
How much is Dazu?
115 yuan for Baodingshan, 140 with Beishan.
How do I get to Dazu?
By train or car, about 1.5 hours.
Is 2 days in Chongqing enough?
For the city and Dazu, yes.
How much does it cost?
About 60 yuan on day one and 115–140 on day two, plus transport.
Is it good with kids?
Yes; Dazu means a lot of walking outdoors.
When is Dazu open?
Daily 9:00–18:00, last entry 17:00.
Can I visit Wulong?
Yes, as another day: it is ≈ 120 km from Chongqing.
When is the best time?
Spring and autumn.
How do I pay in Chongqing?
China runs on Alipay and WeChat Pay — link a foreign card before you go; keep some cash yuan as a backup.
Sources and fact-check
- Prices, opening hours and time on site come from each place's page, with its own sources and check date
- Dazu Rock Carvings Scenic Area
- Wikipedia: Dazu Rock Carvings
