Itinerary · China
Chongqing in 2 days: night views and the Dazu Rock Carvings
A 2-day Chongqing route: Ciqikou, Shancheng Alley, the Yangtze River Cableway and Hongyadong at night, then a Dazu Rock Carvings day trip, fares and food.
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Two days in Chongqing: city night views, then Dazu
Chongqing is the only municipality in central and western China, built on mountains and partly surrounded by the Yangtze and Jialing rivers, which earns it the names "mountain city" and "city on rivers". It is famous for fiery food such as hotpot, riverside night views and cable cars across the river, and the UNESCO-listed Dazu Rock Carvings lie within reach.
The guide suggests 3 to 4 days. With two days, spend the first on the Yuzhong Peninsula and the riverside night views, and the second on a Dazu Rock Carvings day trip.
Chongqing is known as a "furnace city" for its hot summers; in midsummer nights can stay near 40°C, and the highest-level red heat alerts have been issued. Big holidays such as National Day bring huge domestic crowds, so avoid them if you can.
- Day 1: Ciqikou Ancient Town, Jiefangbei and Shancheng Alley, Yangtze River Cableway, Hongyadong at night with hotpot
- Day 2: Dazu Rock Carvings Visitor Center, Baodingshan, Beishan, then xiaomian back in the city
Airport to the city, and a multi-level network
Check the airport's and Chongqing Rail Transit's official information for the metro line from Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport (CKG), transfers, and airport bus routes and fares. Also check which terminal is on your ticket.
A taxi or ride-hailing car is handy with heavy luggage or a late arrival. Check the airport's official information for pick-up points and fares, and have your hotel address in Chinese.
Chongqing links mountain walking trails, river-crossing cableways, rail transit (metro and monorail), city buses, water buses and cruise routes into one multi-level network. The city is full of slopes and stairs, so taxis help when you have luggage.
- Metro and airport bus: check routes and fares officially
- Taxi or ride-hailing: metered; check pick-up points officially
- In the city: rail transit, cableways, water buses and taxis
Day 1: Ciqikou, Jiefangbei and Shancheng Alley, the cableway, Hongyadong
Start the morning at Ciqikou Ancient Town, an old town on the Jialing River first built in the Northern Song Dynasty, where culture, tourism and urban renewal are being developed while keeping its old-town charm. Check official information for visitor details.
In the afternoon, head to the Yuzhong Peninsula. Pass through Jiefangbei, the downtown business area, and walk Shancheng Alley, a former residents' footpath along the cliffs of the Yangtze, where many Ming and Qing-era buildings remain and teahouses and a library now sit inside. The old lanes of Shibati, also in Yuzhong, fit in too.
Around sunset, ride the Yangtze River Cableway across the river for views of the shimmering water and the lit-up Yuzhong Peninsula. In the evening, go to Hongyadong on the Jialing River, a landmark complex of stilted houses whose night view is especially famous; with Jiefangbei it forms a national-level night-time culture and tourism cluster. It gets extremely crowded on holidays, so go on a weekday.
- Morning: walk Ciqikou Ancient Town
- Afternoon: Jiefangbei, then the old lanes of Shancheng Alley and Shibati
- Sunset: Yangtze River Cableway (check fares, hours and booking with the operator)
- Evening: Hongyadong at night and hotpot
Day 2: Dazu Rock Carvings day trip, Baodingshan and Beishan
The Baodingshan, Beishan, Nanshan, Shimenshan and Shizhuanshan carvings were inscribed on the World Heritage List together. Baodingshan is 12 km northeast of central Dazu and Beishan 1.5 km north.
Route: Jiangbei Airport T2/T3 long-distance bus station to Dazu bus station, then bus 205 or a taxi. By train, get off at Dazu South station and change to local buses.
Baodingshan tickets must be bought and checked at the Dazu Rock Carvings Visitor Center, open 8:30-16:30 (last ticket check 16:10), so arrive in the morning. Visitors are asked to carry their original ID.
In the afternoon, see Beishan, with nearly 10,000 statues large and small. Beishan also opens at night (19:30-23:00, tickets 19:30-21:00), but it sometimes closes for maintenance, so check official information. Back in the city, have Chongqing xiaomian noodles for dinner.
- Route: airport T2/T3 long-distance bus station, Dazu bus station, then bus 205 or a taxi
- By train: Dazu South station, then a bus
- Morning: buy tickets at the Visitor Center, then Baodingshan (original ID)
- Afternoon: Beishan, then xiaomian back in the city
Dazu Rock Carvings fares at a glance
Peak-season prices at the Dazu Rock Carvings run March 1 to November 30. If you plan to see both Baodingshan and Beishan, the combined ticket costs less than two separate ones.
Baodingshan has a shuttle: CNY 22 return or CNY 12 one way.
- Baodingshan: CNY 115 peak / CNY 100 off-season
- Beishan: CNY 70 peak / CNY 50 off-season
- Baodingshan + Beishan: CNY 140 peak / CNY 120 off-season
- Baodingshan shuttle: CNY 22 return / CNY 12 one way
Spicy food to try in Chongqing
Chongqing hotpot and xiaomian top the city's list of signature tourism dishes. Some places serve hotpot inside old air-raid shelters.
Geleshan laziji (chili chicken), fiery maoxuewang and Wanzhou grilled fish are also Chongqing signatures.
- Chongqing hotpot: some places serve it in old air-raid shelters
- Chongqing xiaomian: the city's noodle dish
- Geleshan laziji (chili chicken)
- Maoxuewang
- Wanzhou grilled fish
Checklist before you go
Some foreign apps and services may be restricted in China, so sort out your connection (roaming, eSIM, etc.) and a Chinese map app before you go.
Foreigners can link overseas cards to Alipay and WeChat Pay. Sign up and verify before you travel, and carry a little cash too. Visa rules change often, so check the Chinese embassy's official information.
Two-river night cruise queues get long on holidays. For a river cruise or a Three Gorges cruise, check current service, times and fares with official information.
- Your connection and a Chinese map app
- Overseas card linked to Alipay or WeChat Pay and verified, plus a little cash
- Dazu: original ID; the Visitor Center closes at 16:30
- Cruises: check service officially
- Visa: check the Chinese embassy's official information
Plan your Chongqing trip
We never take payment — compare, then book on the official partner site.
FAQ
How do I get from Chongqing to the Dazu Rock Carvings?
Take a bus from the Jiangbei Airport T2/T3 long-distance bus station to Dazu bus station, then bus 205 or a taxi. By train, get off at Dazu South station and change to local buses.
Where do I buy Baodingshan tickets?
Tickets must be bought and checked at the Dazu Rock Carvings Visitor Center, open 8:30-16:30 with the last ticket check at 16:10. It costs CNY 115 in peak season and CNY 100 off-season.
When is the best time to see Hongyadong at night?
Its night view is especially famous. It gets extremely crowded on holidays, so go on a weekday evening, ideally straight after the Yangtze River Cableway at sunset.
Can I see the Dazu carvings at night?
Beishan opens at night (19:30-23:00, tickets 19:30-21:00). It sometimes closes for maintenance, so check official information before you go.
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