Chongqing between rivers, culture and hotpot

In Chongqing, impressive urban stories meet riverside landscapes and a distinctive food culture. Hongyadong is located at the confluence of the Yangtze River and the Jialing River and features the traditional stilt-house architecture known as Diaojiaolou. Anyone interested in Chongqing’s architectural culture, museums and hotpot will find a wide range of starting points here for planning a trip.

Rivers, cityscapes and special views

The Yangtze River Cableway is a national 4A-rated tourist attraction and a destination for aerial sightseeing in central Chongqing. It is also a protected cultural heritage site of the city. Its location is especially easy to pinpoint: via Exit 5B, the cableway is about 20 metres from Xiaoshizi Station, served by Chongqing Rail Transit Lines 1 and 6. If you plan to visit this attraction, you can use the connection as a reference when choosing the location of your holiday apartment.

Liziba Station also offers an unusual view of city traffic: it is known for trains that appear to pass through a building. A dedicated viewing platform has photo spots, a glass walkway and pedestrian access. At Liziba, the focus is therefore not only on the railway station itself, but also on the remarkable sight. The Chongqing bus network “Urban Sightseeing · Roaming Chongqing” connects several popular attractions, including Jiefangbei, Hongyadong, Chaotianmen, Ciqikou and Nanbin Road.

Historic neighbourhoods and Chongqing food culture

Ciqikou Ancient Town is a destination for anyone who wants to discover traditional Bayu residences, folk customs and local life. It was among the first Chinese historic and cultural neighbourhoods to be placed under national protection by the State Council. Ciqikou Ancient Town is accessible via Ciqikou Station on Chongqing Rail Transit Line 1.

Chongqing hotpot is also part of the city’s character. Its history dates back to the late Ming and early Qing periods (1600–1644), when it began as a simple meal for boatmen and trackers along the banks of the Jialing River and at Chaotianmen Wharf. Today, visitors can also enjoy hotpot in Hongyadong. Anyone who wants to explore local eating habits through the cuisine can make hotpot a focus of their trip.

Museums and cultural discoveries

The Chongqing China Three Gorges Museum is a comprehensive history and art museum. Its themes include Bayu culture, Three Gorges culture, wartime culture, migration culture and urban culture. Together with the neighbouring Chongqing People's Square and the Chongqing Great Hall of the People, it forms a particularly significant urban cultural complex. The museum also includes four other institutions: the Chongqing Baiheliang Underwater Museum, the Chongqing Soong Ching Ling Memorial Museum, the Tushan Kiln Ruins Site and the Chongqing Three Gorges Cultural Relics Science and Technology Protection Base. Travellers who want to explore several cultural themes will find a range of historical and urban perspectives here.

The Chongqing Natural History Museum is a multidisciplinary museum dedicated to the study and communication of the natural sciences, and is a national 4A-rated tourist attraction. Its new building houses six permanent exhibitions highlighting the relationships between natural resources, the environment and human activity. A different kind of museum experience is offered at Huguang Guild Hall, where the Immigration Museum and the Museum of Commemorative Plaques are open to the public.

Which location suits your trip?

When choosing a holiday apartment in Chongqing, it helps to first decide which experiences you want to shape your trip: riverside attractions and the Yangtze River Cableway, historic architecture and Ciqikou, museums or local cuisine. The specific transport information for Xiaoshizi and Ciqikou provides different reference points, while the bus network connects other attractions mentioned here. When choosing a location, consider which of these destinations matter most to your plans.

For a broader travel overview: Chongqing.