-Asia.China.Chongqing-
It’s December and temperatures are dropping to an uncomfortable level in Europe. We are looking forward to spending time in warm South East Asia. Our first stop however will be a visit to China. While many head straight to the giants like Beijing or Shanghai, I was determined to include a stop in Chongqing, the world’s most “3D” city, for a walk-about and a taste of that legendary spice.
Note: This post contains affiliate links where I may earn a commission from at no extra cost to you. I promise that I am only endorsing products I use myself and trust in. This support in turn helps me sustain this website to bring you more travel tips. Let’s win together!
Table of Contents
Entry into Chongqing
It’s been almost 30 years since I visited China – Beijing and so it was with both apprehension and curiosity to make another visit. I was then impressed with the structures and architectures in Beijing but not so much the way of life and the feeling of having be to careful and watchful of doing something wrong for fear of the repercussions.
The nervosity I felt of course was when we had to pass through passport control upon arrival. I got out all my documents ready to be shown (Hotels booked, booked flights out of Chongqing) . To my surprise nothing was required as I had pre-filled the arrival documents before arrival. It was a fast and easy process.
Just like that we were in China – no visa required ! After collecting our baggage we were more than ready to head to our Hotel and recover from the jetlag. Read about our experience to get from the airport into the city here.
First Impressions of Chongqing
Thankful to arrive at our Hotel, I had booked an extra day before : in order that we can have breakfast after arriving and then going to the room to nap and rest.That is indeed what we did, we were the first ones at the buffet and had a fulfilling breakfast with views to boot! Then we were back up in the room , showered the travel grime off and just shut the blackouts and went to sleep.
I didn’t plan any schedules for Chongqing, it was meant to take it easy and recover a little from our hectic lives easing into vacation. However in not planning anything, meant that I still did a lot of research to know what our options are should we decide to visit something…
We slept into the late afternoon and we decided to start our exploration of Chongqing by walking.
Places visited in Chongqing
I didn’t plan any schedules for Chongqing, it was meant to take it easy and recover a little from our hectic lives easing into vacation. However in not planning anything, meant that I still did a lot of research to know what our options are should we decide to visit something…
We woke in the late afternoon and decided to start our exploration of Chongqing by walking to the famous Pedestrian Street.
JieFangBei Pedestrian Street
Located in the heart of the Yuzhong District, the Jiefangbei Central Business District (CBD) is the beating heart of Chongqing, centering around the iconic People’s Liberation Monument. This historic 27.5-meter-tall landmark, originally built in 1940 to commemorate victory in the War of Resistance, now stands as a symbol of the city’s resilience and modern economic boom. As the first commercial pedestrian street in Western China, Jiefangbei is a paradise for shoppers, blending high-end luxury flagships like LV and Gucci with modern malls and bustling theaters.
This area is a good place as any to start immersing in the Chongqing vibe, the heritage and modern co-existing together giving a sneak peak of the rest of Chongqing.
What we ate at Bayi Road Food Street Chongqing
Just a short 300-meter walk from the monument lies the legendary Bayi Road Food Street (Haochi Street), where the city’s fiery culinary identity comes alive.
So many options exist and we walked into one shop housing many different stalls. As soon as we stepped in we heard the hawkers using loudspeakers to grab attention to their stalls. It was actually pretty loud – but we tried to focus on what the stalls were offering. It was a little bit difficult as we were not able to read the menu.A few had English translations – and it took some time to look and decide and order our first Chongqing meal.
We ended up with spicy Mala noodles, Egg fried rice and tofu. We ordered and paid at the stall, found a seat nearby on a small table with benches. When the food is ready we collected , it was served in disposable paper bowls. No napkins were provided, we used our own. I found out that each of the food although different had an underlying mala flavour and on the spicy side. Total of the 3 things we ordered came to 51 CNY (apprx. 6,50 Euros / 7.50 USD) for 2 persons.
Kuixinglou
Metro Stop: Linjiangmen (Line 2)
Often referred to as a “3D” or “8D Magic City,” Chongqing is famous for its mind-bending urban layout where skyscrapers are built directly into steep limestone cliffs. This unique geography forces the city to grow vertically rather than horizontally, resulting in an “urban lasagna” of overlapping roads. The Kuixing Building is the most iconic example of this topographical chaos; while its main plaza appears to be at ground level, it is actually perched on the 22nd floor of a massive complex. Visitors often experience a sense of “flat-ground acrophobia” here, standing in a bustling square only to look over a railing and realize they are hundreds of feet above the streets below.
Having seen this on all you-tuber’s video who visited Chongqing- of course we had to see it for ourselves. Now we have a video of it too. The surrounding skyscrapers provide a great photo backdrop too.
*Useful Tip: Parkour enthusiasts DO NOT do your thing here…
Liziba Train
Metro Stop: Liziba (Line 2)
The Liziba Metro Station is perhaps the most famous symbol of Chongqing’s “8D” urban architecture, where Line 2 of the monorail passes directly through a 19-story residential building. To ensure the comfort of residents, the station is equipped with specialized noise-reduction technology.
Tips for Visiting:
The Best View: Head to the dedicated Viewing Platform located directly across the street at ground level. You won’t miss it – there is usually plenty of people there
Arrival: Take Line 2 and get off at Liziba Station to experience the interior, then take the elevator down to the street to watch it from the outside.
Timing: Trains run frequently (every few minutes), so don’t worry if you miss the perfect shot on the first try.
The whole experience was not very comfortable not just because of the crowd but also many people are there trying to sell stuff. It made us want to just get out of there as soon as possible – which we did after the train came.
What we ate at the Liziba Station
The Liziba station is such a tourist attraction that going down the building you pass through some tourist shops – it so happens that at the ground floor, we happened to stop and a dessert caught our eyes and we decided to share one. It was very good and I really recommend it. Cost : 16 CNY (2 Euros / 2.30 USD)
Yangtze Two - River Cruise
You can get tickets here
The river cruise is really a great way to view the city skyline especially at night after the lights came on. If you have little time then you see some of the highlights of Chongqing in a compact way.
We boarded the cruise from Chaotianmen pier- there is also another option to board from Hongyadong Pier. Check the correct option for the ticket. The cruise is a popular attraction – especially the evening one. We were advised to be there early – at least half an hour before. We were there 40 minutes before and there was already a queue.
All in all I would rate it a must-do, for first-timers like us in Chongqing.
*Money $aving Tip: Instead of doing the whole cruise , you can consider taking the ferry as well. Check out the details here
Ciqikou Ancient Town
Metro Stop: Ciqikou (Line 1)
Ciqikou Ancient Town is a vibrant living museum that offers a glimpse into the city’s rich Ming and Qing Dynasty history. Originally a busy commercial port known for its high-quality porcelain production—hence the name “Porcelain Port”—this riverside town features a labyrinth of narrow flagstone streets lined with traditional timber-framed architecture. Today, it is a sensory delight where visitors can witness artisans practicing age-old crafts and sample typical Chongqing cuisine.
Drone show in Chongqing
The free drone show on Saturdays in Chongqing takes place over the confluence of the Yangtze and Jialing Rivers, right next to the distinctive Raffles City skyscraper. And…we missed it. This was something I was looking forward to but it was not in the cards as the sky got cloudier and foggier and never cleared up. The drone show for the Saturday we were there was cancelled – However I will put what information I collected about it below:
Timings of the Chongqing Drone Show
The regular show is held every Saturday night, with times changing seasonally. The performance usually lasts for about 15–20 minutes.
| Season | Start Time (Approx.) | Duration (Approx.) |
| Winter Time (October 1 – April 30) | 20:30 (8:30 PM) | 15–20 minutes |
| Summer Time (May 1 – September 30) | 21:00 (9:00 PM) | 15–20 minutes |
Viewing locations of the Chongqing Drone Show
he “best” place to watch depends on whether you prioritize the perfect angle or avoiding crowds.
Best Viewing Locations
Here are the most popular spots, along with their pros and cons:
| Location | Best For | Pros | Cons |
| 1. Changjiahui Viewing Platform (Danzishi) | The “Perfect Angle” & Photography | You get the official, postcard-perfect view with the drones flying against Raffles City and the river confluence. | Extremely crowded. You may need to arrive up to 2 hours early for a good spot. Leaving afterward can be difficult. |
| 2. Nanbin Road (Clock Tower Square area) | Panoramic Views & Photos | Offers a fantastic overall view of the river and the glittering city backdrop. The west viewing platform is often less crowded. | It can be a side-angle view, meaning some drone patterns may look slightly distorted compared to the direct frontal view. |
| 3. Jiangbei Grand Theater Platform | Less Crowded & Wide View | Less crowded than the other two main spots. You can see Raffles City, Hongyadong, and the river confluence all together. | It’s a side-angle view, so some patterns may appear flat. |
| 4. Chaotianmen Square | Easiest for Tourists | Very easy to find, especially if you are staying near Jiefangbei. It is closest to the action. | Raffles City will be behind you, so you won’t see the drones and the building in the same frame. Gets very busy. |
My Honest Opinion about Chongqing
I started out choosing Chongqing as an interesting destination to be re-introduced to China. Social media helped to sell the uniqueness of the city from its crazy terrain to its cyberpunk city image to its spicy cuisine. I was excited and nervous at the same time to explore this city which I have never heard of before it exploded in the media.
In a city where I don’t speak or read the language and who rarely accepts good old-fashioned cash and blocks apps that I am used to, I had to download new apps and make sure to have internet access via eSim . It definitely was not smooth in terms of payment or navigation.
This is where Chongqing really shines for me. At every turn , when Alipay didn’t work for me , there was always someone there going out of their way to help solve it for me ; from the hotel receptionists to metro cashiers to even random people on the street.
Story time: When we were in Ciqikou I wanted to have something to eat – the vendor punched in the price but Alipay didn’t work. A random young guy offered to pay first and I pay him back but it didn’t work either. He told me he treats me for the lunch! A random stranger! I insisted that the vendor cancelled the order in the end.
It was the people of Chongqing with their warmth and willingness to assist that made Chongqing unforgettable for me and the reason I want to go back someday soon.
Just Pin It!
Related posts you might like...
