Chongqing, China

Chongqing, China

People's Concert Hall in Chongqing, China

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Chongqing Travel Guide

Introduction

Chongqing is a big, bustling city in southwest China, with a well-deserved reputation as one of the country's "Three Furnaces" – Wuhan and Nanjing, both on the Yangtze, being the other two – mainly due to its stifling heat and humidity during the summer months. It is the industrial powerhouse of inland China and, located at the confluence of the Yangtze and Jialing rivers, a major departure point for downstream cruises through the Three Gorges. The city itself is not without character, for it has narrow alleyways alive with local flavor, streets lined with fiery hotpot restaurants, and no dearth of temples, pagodas and busy, colorful markets where you can get a lick of authentic China. But for the most part, Chongqing is a modern megalopolis, crammed with skyscrapers, with its fair share of museums and galleries and a good selection of hotels and shopping venues for visitors. Be forewarned though, that this is no place for summer tourism, with fall and spring presenting the best options.

Location

Chongqing is situated in the Yangtze Basin in southwest China, at the confluence of the Yangtze and Jialing rivers.

How to Get There

Sightseeing

Neighborhoods

How to Get Around

Where to Stay

Where to Eat

Where to Party

Essential Information

Nearby Destinations

How to Get There

Sightseeing

Among Chongqing's main points of interest are the Luohan Temple and the new Three Gorges Museum. Also, nearby at Dazu, just two hours away, are exquisite Buddhist cave carvings, which are well worth the effort to see.

Main Neighborhoods

Yuzhong / City Center - This is Chongqing's principal district, wedged between the Jialing and Yangtze rivers, where you can search out the city center, focused mainly on the Victory Monument Jiefangbei. It includes the main business and shopping districts as well as a majority of the good hotels.

Renmin Square - Renmin Square is located on the west side of the peninsula, and has on it the new Three Gorges Museum and the People's Concert Hall.

Chaotianmen Docks - The Chaotianmen Docks, from where the cruise boats and ferries depart, is on the east side of the peninsula and is a generally a hub of activity.

How to Get Around

Where to Party

Where to Eat

Where to Stay

Know Before You Go