Discover the best places in Chongqing

Chongqing is situated in southwest China at the meeting point of the Yangtze and Jialing rivers. The city has the largest population in China, and it has the largest administrative area of any municipality in the world, covering an area roughly the size of Austria. Built across a landscape of steep hills and deep river valleys, Chongqing is known as China’s ‘Mountain City’ and visitors are often captivated by the city’s mind-bending multilayered architecture. It is a lively, rapidly modernising economic centre with a significant history of over 3000 years. The area was once the centre of the ancient Ba Kingdom and later developed into one of inland China’s most important river ports, and served as the nation’s wartime capital during the Second World War.

Within the city, visitors can explore historic districts such as Ciqikou Ancient Town, admire the illuminated riverside architecture of Hongya Cave, or witness the famous monorail passing through a residential building at Liziba Station. Towering hills, winding rivers and dense forests surround the urban area, while the nearby Wulong Karst National Geology Park is celebrated for its spectacular limestone formations, including massive limestone archways that function as natural bridges over the valley floor. Travellers can take a scenic boat trip down the Yangtze River through the famous Three Gorges. In the west, the Buddhist Dazu Rock Carvings showcase thousands of intricately carved statues and reliefs dating from the 9th to the 13th centuries, and are recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Chongqing is culturally and linguistically Sichuanese with a primarily Han population. There is a considerable population of Tujia and Miao people. These communities have helped preserve distinctive traditions through their colourful festivals, folk music, dance, embroidery and traditional architecture, particularly in the rural counties surrounding the municipality. Travellers can visit the rural Tujia and Miao villages, with stilted buildings leaning on the mountainside.

The cuisine is characterised as bold and fiery, with heavy use of chili oil and Sichuan pepper which creates a numb, tingling sensation that is unusual at first but quickly has you coming back for more. The city’s most famous dish is Chongqing hot pot, whose rich beef tallow broth is available in spicy and mild varieties, or as a split pot allowing diners to cook the meat and vegetables in whichever broth they prefer. Other staple dishes include Chongqing small noodles (with garlic, vinegar and chili oil), deep-fried spicy chicken, and suan la fen (tangy, sour and spicy sweet-potato glass noodle soup).

Boasting one of China’s most remarkable cityscapes, Chongqing offers travellers a blend of vibrant culture, dramatic geography and bold cuisine making it an unforgettable destination.