Day 1 – Welcome to Chongqing
Most travellers arrive in Chongqing by high-speed train, where a private driver will be waiting to take you to your hotel. From the outset, the city’s scale is impressive. Older neighbourhoods sit alongside gleaming high-rises, connected by elevated roads and a monorail that weaves through the skyline. Built on steep hills between the Yangtze and Jialing rivers, Chongqing is a city of constant climbs and descents. In the sultry summer heat, you will soon feel the effort, despite the city’s clean and orderly feel.
This evening, you will stay in a cosy, Chinese-style hotel, a peaceful haven in the heart of the city with plenty of restaurants nearby. For a first exploration, head to Hongya Cave, a lively riverside complex inspired by traditional stilt houses and filled with restaurants and souvenir shops. It is atmospheric by day and especially striking at night when the lights come on. From here, you can stroll across the bridge, wander along the opposite bank, or take to the water on an evening boat cruise.
Day 2 – Discover Chongqing with a guide
Spend this morning exploring some of Chongqing’s most striking highlights with an English speaking guide. Begin at Luohan Temple, a tranquil Buddhist sanctuary hidden among towering skyscrapers, offering a peaceful start to the day. From here, experience one of the city’s most surprising contrasts at the so called 22nd Floor Building, where you emerge onto what feels like the 22nd floor without climbing a single step, a perfect reflection of Chongqing’s dramatic landscape.
Continue to Liziba Station, where the monorail runs directly through the centre of a residential building, purpose designed with shops below, apartments above and the station in between. If time allows, visit a viewpoint on the opposite riverbank, ideal for fun perspective videos with the city skyline. The tour ends around 12.30 pm in the city or at your hotel, using public transport in keeping with Chongqing’s urban character.
The rest of the day is yours to continue exploring Chongqing at your own pace. The Liberation Monument is a favourite photo spot with locals and marks the city’s victory over Japan in the Second World War. Just nearby, Jiefangbei is a lively area packed with snack stalls and shops, perfect for soaking up the atmosphere.
For a different perspective, take a gondola ride across the Yangtze River and enjoy sweeping views of the city. Alternatively, visit the 18 Steps district, known as Shibati, a newly rebuilt neighbourhood in a traditional style with narrow alleys, stone stairways and historic apartment buildings. It offers a glimpse of old Chongqing, blending nostalgic charm with modern life, and is an ideal place for a relaxed walk and panoramic city views.
Day 3 – Onward journey from Chongqing
Chongqing has many more facets to discover, and additional nights can be arranged on request. Otherwise, today marks the continuation of your journey, leaving this dynamic riverside city behind as you travel on to your next destination.
Accommodation
