What to see and do in Chongqing in 1 day | The craziest city in China

What to know before you go to Chongqing, China

Before you start organizing your Chongqing itinerary in one day (or more), these are some of the things you need to know about one of the largest cities in China With almost 30 million inhabitants across its entire urban area, it seems crazy to think that more than half of Spain could fit into a single city.

How to get to Chongqing

Chongqing is the fourth largest city in China, so it has very good connections by bullet train or plane from anywhere else in the country. As a foreigner, comparing and booking trains is complicated; for us, the best option is this platform.

If you are traveling from Spain you can buscar new direct route Madrid – Chongqing with flights at a very good price, you can go direct from €300 with Hainan Airlines and start your itinerary through China from here.

In recent years, more and more tourists have been visiting Chongqing, especially those taking advantage of the 30-day visa exemption to make a a 21-day China itinerary or more. Some of the Nearby places on a route through China are zhangjiajie y fenghuang.

Where to stay in Chongqing

We have prepared an article talking in detail about the best areas and hotels for stay in Chongqing, you can stay in hotels you never imagined for less than €50.

Generally, the price-performance ratio is very good; good hotels don't cost a fortune, and if you don't need great luxuries, a normal hotel costs less than €20. The best area to stay It is in the center, for example near Luohan Temple.

But if you're going to spend time in Chongqing in one day Another good option is sleep near the train station. We arrived and left through the north station, so we took a hotel less than 10 minutes walk from it. From there it took us less than half an hour by metro to the center.

These are some hotels with very good scores:

• Home Inn: Ours ⭐️ We recommend it!
• Hotel YOLO: Hotel economical with luxurious room with private pool and river views.
• Shanchuan Private ApartmentIn the city center for less than €30.
• Somerset Yangtze River: Right in the city center, with views and facilities premium but cheap.

▷ See more hotels where accommodation to visit Chongqing in one day.

How to get around Chongqing

As is the case in all major cities in China, Getting around by public transport is easy and efficient, Especially by subway. To get to some more distant places, like Laojundong Temple, you can order a Didi (an Uber-like app).

In addition, many places What to see in Chongqing in 1 day They are close to each other, so there will also be some areas that you can explore on foot and enjoy the city.

One of the most famous and recommended ways to cross from one side of the river to the other is by using the Chongqing cable car, whose ticket can be purchased book online.

Remember ⚠️ Google Maps not working, We recommend iPhone Maps, Tecent Maps, or Amap. You can find more information in our Guide to Traveling to China Independently.

Whether to order taxis or take subways and buses you will need to use the Alipay App, we tell you everything in how to use Alipay to pay.

What to eat in Chongqing

Chongqing is located in the Sichuan region. Known for giving its name to the Sichuan pepper and for have the spiciest food in all of China. So be very careful when ordering food if you don't tolerate spicy food because we're talking about extreme levels of spiciness. Even if something doesn't seem to have to be spicy.carAsk to be sure.

The most typical dish of the region is Hot Pot Sichuan. If you haven't tried hot pot yet, it's a large pot built into the table where you cook your own food. It's a fun concept and one I love, but my goodness, in Chongqing you might need to call the fire department.

✹ For your next spicy meal Don't forget to have good Travel Insurance, we recommend Heymondo, what's wrong with it The best quality, price on trips to China. ⭐Here's a discount on Heymondo of a minimum of 5% on any policy and 15% if you travel as a family.

If you follow us on Instagram You may have already seen our mishap with the traditional hot pot; we asked that it be minimal. spicy and I can say that it's in the top 3 spiciest things I have ever eaten in my life. I think the red color in the photo speaks for itself.

We went to the world's largest Pipa Yuan Shiweixian restaurant, but it's quite far out of town. One of the most highly recommended in the city center is "Hotpot 黄家码头老火锅(解放碑旗舰店").

It is difficult to go if you visit Chongqing in just 1 day, but here are the 2 longest restaurants in the world (built inside old bunkers). And of course, there's also the restaurant Hot pot biggest in the world, where more than 5.000 guests can fit.

What to see in Chongqing in 1 day

Now that you know how to get there and get around Chongqing, let's get to the fun, what to do in Chongqing, the craziest city in China. Keep in mind that it's a very comprehensive itinerary, so you might not have time to visit some of the places. When we went at the end of June, it was very hot; by midday it was impossible to be outside, so we had to take refuge in shopping malls.

Eling Park, one of the best viewpoints to see in Chongqing

We started the morning strolling through Eling Park, some very well-kept gardens where walking is a pleasure and which has spectacular panoramic views of Chongqing. You can go up to its Pagoda for free, but you have to scan a Chinese ID, so you will have to sneak through the turnstile or ask someone to pass it to you.

After exploring the park, continue your walk towards Liziba. It takes about half an hour in total and is all downhill. Along the way, there's a small, lively shopping area. It's a great way to experience Chongqing's chaotic urban design and try to understand its buildings, because You will pass through streets at different elevationsvery humble alleyways and skyscrapers.

Liziba Metro Station, the craziest thing to see in Chongqing

Once in Liziba you will be able to see one of the most iconic postcards of Chongqing, The subway passing through a residential building. It happens every few minutes, so in a little while you will be able to see it several times. Right in front of the building there is a very large piece of sidewalk overlooking the river from where everyone can watch it.

To continue touring Chongqing in one day you can go up take the famous Liziba metro. It is still a normal metro line, but all things considered, as it is outside, the views along the way are very cool.

Apart from having a residential part, there are also many shops with souvenirs from the region and typical food. It is a very good place if you want to buy something or to take a walk in search of a sample of local food. Most things were spicy though!

✹ This interests you! Best Travel Insurance for China, Comparison + Prices

Datang Plaza, the famous 22nd floor plaza

Possibly The place that is bringing the most fame to Chongqing, and it's no wonder. It is nonsense no matter how you look at it, you go from the exit of a subway to being on the 22nd floor. You take an elevator to go down a few floors and you are back at street level. We have a real where you can see a little of the madness that is Datang Plaza.

You can find it on Google Maps as Datang Plaza, but for better directions, search for the building in the map app you're using. Kuixinglou Building and Linjiangmen subway stop. When you leave there are a few stairs that go up the side and take you to the square.

How could we not include the 22nd floor space in the must-see places in Chongqing in 1 dayYou can't miss it!

Jiefangbei Commercial Zone

Around midday, we recommend heading to the Jiefangbei shopping district for a stroll and lunch. It's not a must-do in Chongqing in one day, but we recommend it.carI'll see the outside of Chongqing Art Museum, a super curious building. He too Liberation Monument, an obelisk commemorating the victory in World War II and the liberation of Chongqing from Japanese occupation.

Hongyadong, one of the most popular areas to see in Chongqing

In the afternoon, head to Hongyadong Cave, an architectural complex that imitates a traditional Chinese village hanging from a cliff. It is at different levels imitating the construction on the side of a mountain, so the best plan is to get lost up the stairs, down the alley, looking for the most beautiful corners.

It is popular for its mix of modern shops, typical restaurants and traditional architectureAlthough at slightly higher prices carWhile the city average is also a good place to try some local dishes.

Arhat Temple or Louhan Temple

The Arhat Temple is one of those places of calm in the midst of chaos. Completely surrounded by skyscrapers and next to the most commercial street in Chongqing is this architecturally beautiful temple both from the outside and the inside.

It was founded during the Song dynasty, although it has been rebuilt several times over the centuries. This temple is famous for its 500 statues of Arhats, each with a unique expression.

Price: 40¥ – 6€ (half students)

By the way, to refreshcarTo escape the infernal heat and humidity, we went up to the shopping center right behind it and were surprised to discover a large window with amazing views of the temple. There are plenty of places to eat on the ground floor.

Laojundong Temple Viewpoint

To see the sunset, I can't think of a better plan than climb up to Laojundong Temple Perched atop one of the hills, the temple is free to enter and surrounded by beautiful natural scenery. The air is filled with the scent of incense from the devotees who visit the temple. From the viewpoint, you can see the Yangtze River winding its way around the skyscrapers.

We took a bus from the city center, guided by iPhone Maps, which dropped us right at the door. But if you're visiting Chongqing for a day, we recommend ordering a Didi; it will cost you around €3-4 and you'll get there much faster.

The enclosure is gigantic, we only walk to the The first viewpoint area is about 15 minutes from the entrance.But there's much more to explore. From there, we walked down a maze of stairs, mostly used by locals, for about 40 minutes until we reached a main street with a subway station. The other option is to order a Didi from the temple entrance to a traditional restaurant for dinner; now's the time to try the dreaded and spicy Sichuan Hot Pot.

Skyline from Dongshuimen, an essential thing to do in Chongqing at night

To finish visiting Chongqing in one day you cannot miss the Night view from Dongshuimen Bridge or from their famous night cruisesIt has one of the most impressive skylines we've seen around the world, and we've seen quite a few. What stands out most is the light show constant that skyscrapers make. Together with the illuminated bridge and the super illuminated Hongyadong complex, they create a very cool effect.

Apart from the views, there is a lot of atmosphere in the area. When we went there were even some street concerts. To have The best views you have to see it from Longmenhao Old StreetYou can go down to the riverbank where there is a promenade, or you can cross the bridge towards Hongyadong and take the opportunity to see the illuminated area.

This is the itinerary we would follow in Chongqing for one day, but there's much more to see in Chongqing. Do you have a little more time before continuing your trip through China? Below you'll find recommendations on what to see in two days.

What to see in Chongqing in 2 days or more

Do you think Chongqing in one day is too short? We do too, but there's so much to see in China that it's hard to decide where to spend your time.carMore or less a few days. If you choose to spend several days in Chongqing, here are some ideas:

• Temple and park Hong'ensi Forest Park: One of the essentials in Chongqing, but somewhat far from the center.
• Huguang Guild Hall: This is an architectural complex of several buildings that was built during the Qing dynasty in 1759. It served as a cultural and social center for immigrants from southern provinces like Guangxi.
• Great Hall of the People: other black of the city that stands out for its traditional Chinese architectural design.
• Go to Chongqing Chuan Opera to see a typical Chinese opera, they say that it is quite a spectacle and that this style originated in this region.

Day Trips (or Longer) from Chongqing

• El day trip most popular: Go to National park Wulong Karst Geology. Located about three hours from Chongqing, it is known for its natural bridges, caves and karst formations that are UNESCO heritage sites. It looks spectacular!
• Dazu Sculptures: About two hours away, this UNESCO World Heritage site features thousands of Buddhist, Taoist, and Confucian sculptures and engravings dating back to the 7th century.
• 1-2 day cruise on the Yangtze River: One of the most spectacular river routes in the world to see the Three Gorges, between cliffs and mountains.

Do you dare to add the craziest city in China to your itinerary? You've already seen that there are many What to see and do in Chongqing in one dayAny questions or contributions, please let us know in the comments 😊

To see our experience in the Asian Giant you can see the featured stories of Instagram and read our Guides for traveling to China.

Remember not to travel to a country as different as China without good travel insurance, here you have discounts from the insurers we trust the most. Heymondo Discount, Iati Insurance Discount y 7% Chapka discount code.

Start preparing your trip to China

These are our favorite websites to do so. Plus, if you use our links you support all the content about China at no extra cost to you.

Find hotels in China
on Trip.com

Book trains and internal flights
on Trip.com

Find cheap flights to China
on Skyscanner

VPN to access Google
with NordVPN

Travel with Insurance
-5% in Heymondo

Backpacks, down jackets and much more
at Decathlon

Avoid commissions when paying in Yuan
with TradeRepublic

Mobile Internet + integrated VPN
-5% with Holafly