Chongqing Travel Guide: Navigating China’s Cyberpunk City

If you’ve spent any time scrolling through travel videos lately, you’ve likely seen a monorail disappearing into a building or a glowing, gold-lit fortress that looks straight out of Spirited Away. That’s Chongqing.

Often known as the “Cyberpunk City,” Chongqing is a vertical fever dream. After spending months exploring the different corners of China, we can confidently tell you that there is nowhere else on earth like this. It’s a place where your GPS will lie to you, your legs will get a serious workout, and the smell of spicy Sichuan peppercorn will follow you into every alleyway.

Here’s our Chongqing travel guide for making the most of this chaotic, cinematic metropolis.

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Getting to Chongqing

As one of China’s four direct-administered municipalities, Chongqing is incredibly well-connected. Whether you choose to fly in or take the high-speed train, there are plenty of options available. The closest major cities to Chongqing are Chengdu and Zhangjiajie.

Fly into Chongqing

Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport (CKG) is a major hub. If you’re flying in from other parts of Asia or major Chinese cities like Guangzhou or Shanghai, this is your best bet. Like all major Chinese cities, there is a subway that connects you from the airport to Chongqing city centre. The airport station is called 江北机场T2航站楼 which means “Jiangbei Airport Terminal 2”. You can take either line 10 or line 3, depending on where you’re headed and the journey will take just under an hour. For info on how to take the metro in China, check out our blog here.

Take the High-Speed train to Chongqing

High speed trains are our preferred way to travel across China. Our trip to Chongqing was actually a spontaneous detour from our weekend in Xi’an on (what was meant to be) our way back to Chengdu. The high-speed train from Xi’an was around 5 hours and cost 300 CNY (44 USD), while the journey from Chengdu takes just over an hour.

Just a heads up: there are multiple stations (Chongqing North, West, and Central), so double-check your ticket before you head to the station! If you are not sure which station to pick, Chongqing North (重庆北站, chongqingbei) is the most centrally located station.

Where to Stay: Our Chongqing Base

The best area to stay in Chongqing is the Jiefangbei CBD near Linjiangmen Station (Line 2). This central hub provides easy access to the city’s famous “building-crossing” monorail and is within walking distance of the iconic Hongyadong stilt houses and the vibrant Bayi Road street food markets.

We spent three nights at the Bayu Impression Apartment (Jiefangbei), which we booked via Trip.com. If you’re heading to China, Trip.com is a total game-changer—it’s the most foreigner-friendly app for finding hotels that actually accept international passports. For just **$72 AUD total** ($24 AUD per night), we had a clean, functional private studio right in the thick of it.

The location was a massive win for our budget and our legs. Linjiangmen Metro (Line 2) was literally across the road, and we could easily walk to the famous lit-up bridge and stilt house area at night. Just a heads-up: in typical “Cyberpunk City” fashion, the hotel entrance is up an outdoor escalator and can be a bit of a puzzle to find at first. It’s a classic Chongqing “multi-level” challenge, but well worth it for the price.

Essential Travel Tips for Chongqing

Before you set out, keep these essentials in mind:

• Throw Away the Map: Seriously. In Chongqing, “street level” is a relative term. You might enter a building on the 1st floor and exit on the 10th floor onto another street.
• Comfortable Shoes are Non-Negotiable: You will be climbing stairs. Thousands of them. Leave the fashion boots at home and pack your best walking shoes.
• The Metro is Your Best Friend: Like the rest of China, the metro system here is world-class. It’s the easiest way to navigate the verticality without blowing your budget on taxis.

Must-See Attractions in Chongqing

Hongya Cave (Hongyadong)

This is the city’s crown jewel, but visiting it requires a bit of strategy. It’s an 11-story complex built against a cliffside in the traditional diaojiaolou (stilt house) style.

While it’s full of shops and snacks during the day, you really want to visit at night. When the lights turn on, the golden glow against the dark river is absolutely magical, but be warned: it is packed. You won’t be “wandering” so much as “shuffling.” Due to the popularity of the area, authorities use heavy crowd control. You’ll likely find yourself packed like a sardine, moving shoulder-to-shoulder with a sea of people. Once you’re in the flow, it’s nearly impossible to turn around and go the other way!

Where to get the best nighttime photo op: Head to the Qiansimen Bridge (千厮门大桥) for the best photo op of the entire structure.

If you want to actually see the architecture without the stress, visit during the day. It’s significantly quieter, and you can actually enjoy the winding paths and the detail of the stilt houses built into the rock. Being in China, food is never far away, so along your walk you’ll also find some little eateries tucked away in the corners.

To get to Hongya Cave, take Metro Line 1 or 6 to Xiaoshizi Station (Exit 9). It’s a short walk from there. There is also no cost to enter.

Liziba Station: the train that runs through the building

Okay, so you’ve probably seen the videos, but if you went to Chongqing and didn’t take a train eating photo, did you really go? Metro Line 2 literally passes through the middle of a 19-story residential apartment building. There is a dedicated viewing platform at the bottom for tourists to grab that iconic “train-eating” photo. It’s a hilarious bit of tourist theatre that you just have to join in on.

To get to Liziba Station, take the metro Line 2 directly to Liziba Station (李子坝). Get off, head downstairs, and cross the road to the viewing plaza. The best time to visit Liziba is early morning or sunset, and the station is open from 6:30am to 11:00pm everyday.

Chongqing Art Gallery

Located in the heart of the Jiefangbei area, you can’t miss this building – it looks like a giant stack of red and black chopsticks. It’s known by a number of different names, including Chongqing Guotai Arts Centre, Chongqing Art Museum (重庆美术馆) and unofficially, the “Chongqing chopstick building”.

We stumbled upon this place while wandering the city and being the nosy travellers we are, decided that we had to go inside and see what it was. It’s a striking piece of modern architecture and a great quiet retreat if you need a break from the humid outdoors.

Everyone has heard about how steep Chongqing is, but what does the REALLY mean? Well, we entered from the street, spent an hour looking at the exhibits, and eventually exited from the 5th floor. We had been walking along the street for about 10 minutes before we realised: we never went back down. We had entered on one “ground level”, gone up five stories, and walked out onto another “ground level” entirely. That is the magic (and confusion) of this mountainous terrain!

How to get to Chongqing Art Gallery: take the metro Line 2 to Linjiangmen Station (临江门站), Exit D and walk 5-7 minutes to the gallery. Otherwise you can also take Line 1 or Line 6 to Xiaoshizi Station (小什字站), which is about a 5-8 minute walk through the streets to the art gallery. Entry is free, but will usually require a quick QR code registration at the door. We recommend bringing your passport as it is typically the easiest way to get in.

Jun Ge Air-Raid Shelter Bookstore

After some research on Red Note, we discovered Jun Ge Bookstore (军哥书屋) which turned out to be one of our favourite “hidden” finds. Chongqing is honeycombed with old WWII air-raid shelters, and this is one of the coolest ways to see them repurposed. Many have been converted into hotpot restaurants, but this one is a sprawling, atmospheric bookstore. It feels like stepping into a subterranean labyrinth filled with history and literature.

It’s a bit of a mission to find as it’s tucked away from the main tourist hubs, which makes it feel like a true local secret. Like the art gallery, the thick stone walls make this an incredible natural “air conditioner” during the summer.

How to get to Jun Ge air-raid shelter bookstore: It’s located in the Tielu Er Village (Railway 2nd Village) area. Take the metro Line 2 to Yangjiaping Station, and then it’s a short taxi or a 15-minute bus ride (Bus 438) to the village. Look for a small, unassuming entrance that leads into the hillside.

Ciqikou Ancient Town

So this one is for all the ceramics lovers out there (guilty)! If you have a spare day in Chongqing, I would highly recommend doing a day-trip to Ciqikou Ancient Town (磁器口古镇). This was easily my (Ling) favourite highlight of our time in Chongqing. While it’s certainly commercialised, the history here as a former porcelain hub is still very much visible.

Even if you’re not so passionate about ceramics (weird, but okay), but want a break from the skyscrapers, head to Ciqikou. This “porcelain village” dates back centuries. While it is touristy, the narrow stone streets, traditional teahouses, and local craftsmen give you a glimpse into the Chongqing of old. It’s also a perfect place to pick up unique souvenirs.

Getting to Ciqikou Ancient Town is very easy: you can just take the metro Line 1 to Ciqikou Station, which will take you about 30 minutes depending on where you are in Chongqing. On average you can expect to spend about 3-4 hours in the town, or longer if you enjoy wandering the old streets.

Yangtze River Cableway

Once a daily commute for locals, this is now the best way to see the skyline. Crossing the Yangtze in a swaying glass car gives you a perspective of the skyline that you just can’t get from the ground.

To avoid the massive 2-hour queues at the North Station (Xinhua Road), we recommend starting at the South Station (Shangxin Street). The “reverse trip” from South to North actually offers a much better panoramic view of the Yuzhong skyscrapers as you approach the city centre.

The easiest way to book is via the Yangtze River Cableway ticket via Trip.com (长江索道). Since this is also a commuter route used by the general public, prices are very reasonable and will cost about 30 CNY (4 USD) one-way.

Hot tip: Stand on the right side of the cabin when crossing from Yuzhong to Nan’an for the best river views.

Wulong Karst Region

If you have an extra day, the Wulong Karst National Park is a spectacular escape into nature. It’s famous for its “Three Natural Bridges” and was even a filming location for Transformers. (We’ve actually written a deep-dive post on exploring the Wulong Karst Region, so check that out for the full itinerary!)

What to Eat and Drink in Chongqing

Chongqing Hotpot

You can’t visit the “Capital of Hotpot” without burning your tongue at least once. It’s spicy, numbing (mala), and incredibly social. Having had both Chengdu hotpot and Chongqing hotpot, we can tell you that they are fairly similar. The difference between Chengdu and Chongqing hotpot is that one is more fragrant and comparatively milder, while the latter is a bit like a punch to your face. That that information as you will.

If you’re like Corry and love spicy food, this is your place. Unfortunately for me, while I can appreciate spicy foods, they do not appreciate me. To get the best of both worlds, you can ask for a “dual pot” (鸳鸯锅, yuan yang guo) which has two different soup bases in one, so you have a mild mushroom or tomato broth as a safety net.

Chongqing street food

glutinous rice cakes (Ciba)

While hotpot is legendary, Chongqing street food offers incredible variety for those on the move. We loved the glutinous rice cakes (Ciba), a popular local snack found at street stalls across the city. These chewy, bite-sized treats are tossed in a signature “dust” of toasted soybean powder and sugar, providing a nutty, sweet contrast to the city’s famous spice. For just a few yuan, a cup of these rice cakes is the perfect portable fuel for navigating the steep stairs of this cyberpunk city.

Chongqing Xiao Mian

These are literally called “Chongqing small noodles” (because they are small?) and are the city’s favourite breakfast. You’ll find them everywhere you go and are also very popular across other parts of China as a go-to cheap eat. Chongqing noodles (重庆小面) are made of springy, wheat based noodles in a fiercely spicy and numbing broth. The noodles are often served with ground pork, bok choy and topped with fried soy beans and coriander. They are cheap, spicy, and packed with flavour.

Iced Jelly (Bingfen)

After a spicy meal, this sweet, chilled jelly with brown sugar syrup and fruit is an absolute lifesaver. The clear jelly is made out a the seed of a plant and does not have a strong flavour by itself. The brown sugar syrup and toppings are what make this dessert exciting, adding sweetness to a combination of crunchy, chewy and jelly like textures.

While hotpot is legendary, Chongqing street food offers incredible variety for those on the move. We loved the glutinous rice cakes (Ciba), a popular local snack found at street stalls across the city. These chewy, bite-sized treats are tossed in a signature “dust” of toasted soybean powder and sugar, providing a nutty, sweet contrast to the city’s famous spice. For just a few yuan, a cup of these rice cakes is the perfect portable fuel for navigating the steep stairs of this cyberpunk city.

Best Time to Visit Chongqing

Chongqing is known as one of the “Three Furnaces” of China because of its brutal summer heat. We visited in mid-June and the heat was already pretty unbearable. Learn from our mistakes and avoid visiting any time from June to August if you care about your physical well being. The humidity and 40°C temperatures are no joke.

On the flip side, the best times to visit Chongqing are Spring (March – May) or Autumn (September to November). You’ll still get the iconic Chongqing fog, but the temperatures will be much kinder to your legs.

Winter in Chongqing is also a reasonable time to visit (December – February), but note that it will be a bit cold and do whatever you can to avoid travelling during the Chinese New Year holiday period (usually late January to early February).

Are you planning a trip to the mountain city soon, or do you have more questions about navigating the metro? Drop a comment below and let’s chat!