Chongqing is popular on TikTok and YouTube for its magical terrain and spicy food.How to get to Chongqing in 2025? This city has been called the most “cyberpunk” city in China.
How to get to Chongqing
By airplane:
Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport (CKG): offers direct international flights, or transit through cities such as Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou.
Airport Transportation:
Rail: Take Line 10 from T3 to the city center (e.g. transfer to Line 6 at Hongtudi Station), the fare is about 5 RMB and takes 40 minutes.
Cab: about 60-80 RMB to the city center (e.g. Jiefangbei), takes 30 minutes.
High-speed train (for traveling from other cities in China):
From Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and other cities, it takes 6-10 hours to arrive at Chongqing North Railway Station or Chongqing West Railway Station, with a fare of 500-1000 RMB for a second class seat.
Transportation Guide in Chongqing
Rail transportation: covers major attractions (e.g. Liziba, Hongyadong) and supports Alipay/WeChat code-sweeping for rides.
Cab: The yellow Ferrari starts at 10 RMB during the day and 11 RMB at night, and we recommend using the DDT app (in English).
Walking: Yuzhong District has a high concentration of attractions (e.g. Hongyadong is a 15-minute walk from Jiefangbei), but the terrain is complicated, so non-slip shoes are recommended.
Must-play attractions and recommended itinerary
Day 1: Downtown Classic Tour
Jiefangbei (1 hour): Chongqing’s landmark, shopping and snacks in the surrounding shopping district (recommended: pea noodles).
Hongyadong (2 hours, recommended 18:30-22:00 night view): footstool lighting like a dream, as if in the world of “The Thousand and One”. Recommended hot pot restaurants in the vicinity: “Guanxi hot pot”.
Liziba train through the building (30 minutes): take line 2 to Liziba station, the observation deck to shoot the spectacle of light rail through the building.
Yangtze River Ropeway (5 minutes one way, 20 yuan round trip): from Xinhua Road Station to the south bank, overlooking the magnificent view of the confluence of the two rivers.
Day 2: Wulong Karst Landscape
Transportation:
High-speed train: Chongqing North Station → Wulong Station (2 hours, ticket price 25 RMB), transfer scenic bus to Fairy Mountain Visitor Center (40 minutes).
Attractions:
Born Three Bridges (3 hours): world natural heritage, Transformers 4 filming site, hiking to explore the canyon.
Fairy Mountain National Forest Park (2 hours): grassland, forest train (50 RMB/person), and skiing in winter.
Food: Wulong Bowl of Mutton, Dried Sheep Horn Beans.
Day 3: Dazu Stone Carving/Wujiang River Gallery
Option 1: Dazu Rock Carvings (Buddhist Culture)
Transportation: Chongqing Caiyuanba Bus Station → Dazu (1.5 hours, RMB 60), transfer to bus 205 to the scenic spot.
Tour: Baodingshan Stone Carvings (2.5 hours), entrance fee 135 RMB.
Option 2: Wujiang River Gallery (natural scenery)
Transportation: Chongqing North Railway Station → Pengshui Station (2 hours, ticket price 35 RMB), transfer to cruise ship (100 RMB/person) to visit Bishui Canyon.
Food: Pengshui Miao family sour soup fish.
Chongqing Food Recommendation
Hot pot: recommended “Zhu Guangyu hot pot” (Jiefangbei store), slightly spicy pot with tripe, duck intestines.
Noodles: try the pea noodles at the street stall next to Chen Jianping’s Sesame Flower in Magshikou.
Jianghu Cuisine: Nanshan Spring Water Chicken, spicy and flavorful.
Snacks: Chen’s Sesame Flower, Jiefangbei Hot and Sour Noodles, Hongyadong Ice Noodles.
Utility Apps
Navigation:
Google Maps: You need to use it with VPN, and it is recommended to download offline maps in advance.
Baidu Maps (English version): Provides more accurate public transportation/walking routes and supports English search for attractions.
Transportation booking:
Trip.com: High-speed rail tickets can be booked (supports English interface, Visa card payment).
Didi: English version of the app to call a taxi, input the name of the attraction such as “Hongya Cave” can be automatically located.
Accommodation booking:
Booking.com/Airbnb: Prefer accommodation in Yuzhong District (around Jiefangbei and Hongyadong), which is convenient for walking.
Things to note
Diet: Ask about the spiciness in advance, and prepare gastrointestinal medicine.
Payment: Some small stores only support cash payment, it is recommended to carry 500 RMB.
Language: Download translation apps (e.g. Google Translate), scenic area signs are in English.