Chengguan Qu
Getting around
Chongqing is built on hilly terrain, and short distances on a map often turn into stairs, slopes and winding detours on the ground. Walking between sights is generally not advised; plan on using wheels for most journeys, even short ones, and treat walking as a way to cover a single area once you're there rather than as a way to link different attractions.
The metro is the backbone for most sightseeing, connecting the major attractions, the airport and the railway stations, with trains running from early morning until late evening. City buses fill in the gaps, though they run along winding mountain roads with sudden stops and can be uncomfortable if you're prone to motion sickness. Themed sightseeing buses cover the landmarks: the T480 Classic Landmark Route links the Jiefangbei CBD, Huguang Guild Hall, the Yangtze River Cableway and Hongya Cave; the T032 Panda-themed Route covers city landmarks and Chongqing Zoo; and the T041 Night Tour Route takes in Xiahaoli Old Street and Hongya Cave after dark. Direct tourist buses run from the Jiefangbei CBD to the Wulong Karst and the Dazu Rock Carvings, returning to Jiefangbei in the evening, and long-distance buses serve the surrounding districts, counties and neighbouring cities as a fallback when train tickets are unavailable.
- Two cross-river options double as sightseeing: the Yangtze River Cableway and the Two Rivers Ferry, with evening ferry rides particularly noted for their night views.
- The Crown Escalator, one of Asia's longest, connects the foot of a hill to the top and is reached via Metro Line 1 or Line 3 to Lianglukou Station.
- On Line 2, the light rail at Liziba Station passes straight through a residential building.
- Taxis, nicknamed "Yellow Ferraris," are metered and are the best choice when you have luggage or are travelling as a family group; avoid trying to hail one near Hongya Cave or Liziba, where congestion means a long walk to pick-up.
- Metro tickets are sold at station counters, and city buses require exact change. Day passes are sold at metro station service counters, and a sightseeing bus pass covering the sightseeing buses, regular city buses and airport express lines is sold at the red booth near Lailongxiang Bus Stop in the Jiefangbei CBD or through the WeChat mini-program "Chongqing Tourist Sightseeing Bus." The night sightseeing route and the panda-themed route require separate tickets.
- For phone payment, activate a Chongqing transit QR code in Alipay or WeChat Pay, noting that the metro and buses use separate codes; with NFC you can add a Chongqing Payeasy Card or a China T-Union Card and tap to pay on both.
Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport is the city's main air gateway and is connected to the metro network, the straightforward way into the city; airport express lines are also covered by the sightseeing bus pass. If you arrive by water on a Yangtze cruise, you'll dock at Chaotianmen Dock. By rail, Chongqing North Railway Station is the more central of the two main hubs and the one tourists tend to prefer, with a short subway ride to Hongya Cave; Chongqing West Railway Station is the alternative.
Three days in Chengguan Qu
Day one: Start in Jiefangbei CBD, the commercial heart of the city, and use it as your base for walking. From there, the Classic Landmark Route takes you to the Huguang Guild Hall and on to the Yangtze River Cableway for views across the water. In the evening, head to Hongya Cave, where the stacked buildings light up after dark along the riverbank.
Day two: Take the Panda Route to Chongqing Zoo to see the animals, then continue on the Night Tour Route. Xiahaoli Old Street is worth a wander for its old-town atmosphere. For getting around, the Crown Escalator and the Two Rivers Ferry are attractions in their own right, and Metro Line 2 links Lianglukou Station with Liziba Station, where the train runs through a building. Taxis, known locally as Yellow Ferraris, are another way to cross the city.
Day three: Head further afield to Wulong Karst or the Dazu Rock Carvings for a full day out. Back in the city, the Chongqing Tourist Sightseeing Bus stops at Lailongxiang Bus Stop and is a straightforward way to reach the main sights. For payments, set up Alipay or WeChat Pay on your phone before you go, since QR codes are widely used.