Chongqing Travel Guide
Chongqing is the largest municipality in southwest China. It is a modern port city on the upper reaches of the Yangtze River at the confluence of the Yangtze and Jialing Rivers. With an area of 31, 800 square miles (82,400 square kilometers), it shares borders with provinces of Hubei, Hunan, Guizhou, Sichuan, and Shaanxi.
As China’s fourth municipality after Beijing, Shanghai, and Tianjin, Chongqing has maintained rapid economic development while preserving a wonderful natural environment.
Known as the 'Mountain City', it has a wavy terrain and encompasses a wealth of water reserves, mineral resources, dense forests, and abundant flora and fauna.
The city attracts visitors from home and abroad for its natural wonders and cultural heritage. As a common starting port for the Yangtze River cruise, tourists can go for a downstream tour to the magnificent Three Gorges.
Yangtze River Flowing by Chongqing |
More Chongqing Pictures
As China’s fourth municipality after Beijing, Shanghai, and Tianjin, Chongqing has maintained rapid economic development while preserving a wonderful natural environment.
Known as the 'Mountain City', it has a wavy terrain and encompasses a wealth of water reserves, mineral resources, dense forests, and abundant flora and fauna.
The city attracts visitors from home and abroad for its natural wonders and cultural heritage. As a common starting port for the Yangtze River cruise, tourists can go for a downstream tour to the magnificent Three Gorges.
Recommended Tours
Servicing western China, Chongqing provides convenient water, land, and air transportation in and out. Fast developing urban transport systems such as city-bus and metro makes traveling easy and comfortable. As a starting city for a Yangtze River Cruise, it meets thousands of travelers home and abroad each year.
Chongqing is famous for its hot Sichuan cuisine and world-famous hot pot. Various brands of hot pot restaurants can be found throughout the city. The food is delicious even in very small restaurants. Street vendors as well as restaurants feature exciting spicy delicacies for the gourmets. Bayi Food Street in the city center is the best place to taste the spicy local snacks.
Although not being as bustling as Beijing and Shanghai, the city can still satisfy your desire for shopping with its five major commercial centers. Jiefangbei CBD is the most distinguished and upscale, where a multitude of department stores, local products stores, supermarkets, and restaurants can be easily found.
Nightlife is colorful here. Having hot pot at a riverside restaurant or heading for night food markets are highly recommended. The wonderful cruise on the Yangtze and Jialing Rivers provides a fantastic chance to appreciate the city’s enchanting night view.
Scattered colorful lights make the city beautiful and make you fall in love with it. Plenty of pubs or nightclubs are also available.
Scattered colorful lights make the city beautiful and make you fall in love with it. Plenty of pubs or nightclubs are also available.
Before getting its present name nearly 800 years ago, its former names were Jiangzhou, Yuzhou, and Gongzhou. Since the Qin Dynasty (221 - 207BC), many dynasties have set up administrative institutions that have endowed the city with brilliant cultures. Perched beside the Yangtze, the "Golden River", Chongqing symbolizes Yangtze River civilizations and is the cradle of the Bayu Culture.
Here are some fast facts and practical information to make your life, study, trip or business in the city easier.
- 144-Hour Visa-Free Transit
- Area Code & Zip Code
- Post Office
- Banks
- Useful Phone Numbers
- Hospitals
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- Last updated on Sep. 08, 2024 by Catherine He -
Questions & Answers on Chongqing Travel
Asked by Sydney Chertkoff from CHINA | Oct. 11, 2024 21:45Reply
For 10-year China Family Reunion Visa
I am a Canadian citizen who has been living in China for more than 18 years, and married to a Chinese (Chongqing) woman for almost 16 years and we live in Chongqing. The only time I left China was only for about 10 days 16 years ago. My family reunion visa will expire in about one month and my intention is to attend at the Nanping Chongqing Public Security Bureau where my visa had been renewed three years ago. I note that now 5 or 10 year permanent residency visas are available. What do I need to provide, and what documents will be required to qualify?
Answers (1)
Answered by Emily | Oct. 13, 2024 18:21
00Reply
The basic requirements are
Your passport and valid China visa
Marriage Certificate
The identification certificate of your wife
The permanent residency application form and photos
Health certificate
Certificate of No Criminal Record in your home country
Certificate of house rental or house property
Notarized certificate of deposit
And the local PSB may ask for other necessary documents.
Your passport and valid China visa
Marriage Certificate
The identification certificate of your wife
The permanent residency application form and photos
Health certificate
Certificate of No Criminal Record in your home country
Certificate of house rental or house property
Notarized certificate of deposit
And the local PSB may ask for other necessary documents.
Asked by tomas from HUNGARY | Oct. 02, 2024 07:14Reply
can i apply for 144-visa free transit policy in guangdong province, if connecting in Chongqing?
I bought plane tickets from Budapest, Hungary to Guangzhou via Chongqing (connecting flight 3 hours) and plan to get a 144 Visa-free transit policy in Guangdong, after which i´ll take a train to Hongkong. I just found out, my bags won´t get checked through to Guangzhou. Will i have to get a transit visa in Chongqing?
Answers (1)
Answered by Emily | Oct. 08, 2024 20:16
00Reply
Sorry, to get the 144 in Guangdong, you need to fly directly to Guangzhou without any stopover in other cities in Mainland China. You cannot get the 144 visa free transit in Chongqing either with a flight connection to Guangzhou.
In short, you need to apply for a visa in advance for this itinerary.
In short, you need to apply for a visa in advance for this itinerary.
Asked by goh from MALAYSIA | Sep. 08, 2024 09:37Reply
Wulong Karst, Chongqing
How many days do I need to visit Three Natural Bridges, Longshuixia Gap and Furong Cave? Are they all next to each other? Can I cover all in one day?
Answers (2)
Answered by Daniel | Sep. 10, 2024 18:02
00Reply
Are you departing from Chongqing City? If yes, I'm afraid you can hardly cover the three in one day using public transportation and usually people cover Three Natural Bridge and Longshuixia in one day. But it's possible if you charter a car upon arrival in Wulong to shuttle between the tree.
Answered by goh | Sep. 11, 2024 09:17
00Reply
Dear Daniel
Thank you for your reply.
Thank you for your reply.
Asked by LIM LEE from MALAYSIA | Sep. 08, 2024 08:26Reply
EMEISHAN
My family and I are visiting Mount Emei in mid-October. Do I need an entrance ticket? Where can I get a ticket?
Do I need to buy in advance before the trip upto the mountain. Thank you.
Do I need to buy in advance before the trip upto the mountain. Thank you.
Answers (1)
Answered by Emily | Sep. 10, 2024 02:42
00Reply
Yes, you need an entrance ticket which can be bought on-site.
Asked by goh from MALAYSIA | Aug. 17, 2024 11:06Reply
CHONGQING
How do I get to Fengdu Ghost City from Wulong karst?
Answers (1)
Answered by Daniel | Aug. 19, 2024 19:27
00Reply
You need to take a bus from the Wulong Karst tourist center to Wulong Railway Station to catch a bus to Chongqing North, then change to a bullet train to Fengdu.