2 DAYS IN CHONGQING – The Ultimate China Travel Experience

Welcome to Chongqing, the biggest city in China (and arguably the world, depending on how you measure it). If you’re planning a trip to China and wondering whether to add Chongqing to your itinerary, the answer is a definite YES!

I was actually quite sceptical about visiting, especially as online opinions seemed very split; some people absolutely loved it, while others weren’t so convinced. But I decided to go and experience it for myself, and I’m so glad I did.

My mum and I spent 3 weeks travelling across China, starting with 4 days in Beijing, followed by 3 days in Chongqing (the first day was a travel-and-rest day). And honestly, it didn’t disappoint for a second. I might even go so far as to say it was one of the highlights of our entire mother-daughter trip, and definitely the most memorable.

Chongqing is exactly what it thinks it is: a futuristic, neon-lit, slightly chaotic, and incredibly fun city built across mountains and rivers. Is it busy? Yes, but that’s part of the experience; it’s China. Overrated? Definitely not. I completely fell in love with this unique corner of China.

In this guide, I’ll walk you through everything you need to know about Chongqing. This will include the best areas to stay and things to do, as well as a full 2-day itinerary covering all the highlights, including the viral motorbike trend that went a bit crazy on my Instagram. Plus, onward travel from Chongqing. You ready?

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Travel Tips for China/Chongqing

Currency: China uses the Chinese Yuan Renminbi (RMB/CNY), and in cities like Chongqing, it’s very easy to pay digitally using apps like WeChat or Alipay. Cash is still accepted in a few places, but most locals rely almost entirely on mobile payments for everything from food to transport. It’s worth setting up digital payment options before you arrive to make travelling much smoother.

Language & Diversity: The main language in Chongqing is Mandarin, but the local accent can sound quite different from that in other parts of China. English is not widely spoken outside of hotels or major tourist areas, so translation apps are very helpful for menus and getting around. China is also incredibly culturally diverse, with different regions having their own traditions, cuisines, and ways of life.

Getting Around: Travelling around Chongqing is an experience in itself because of its unique, layered geography of hills, bridges, and skyscrapers built on different levels. The metro system is one of the most impressive parts, with stations that go through buildings and across dramatic drops in elevation. Taxis are easy to access (via DiDi with Alipay) and usually quite cheap.

Best Duration & Season: For Chongqing, around 2-4 days is usually enough to explore the highlights without rushing. The best times to visit are spring (March-May) and autumn (September-November) when the weather is less humid. Summers can be extremely hot, but the city still has a great atmosphere year-round thanks to its nightlife and neon-lit streets.

Norms & Values: In Chongqing, like much of China, respect, patience, and politeness are highly valued. Public behaviour is generally more direct and fast-paced than in the UK, especially in busy areas like transport hubs and markets. There’s also a strong culture of sharing food at meals, and hospitality is often shown through generosity and group dining.

Relevant Knowledge: Always keep up to date on travel advice via GOV.UK. Chongqing is often called one of China’s most futuristic cities due to its dramatic skyline, neon lighting, and mountain-built infrastructure. It’s famous for its spicy hotpot (which was too hot for me), but it’s a great food experience. Chongqing can feel overwhelming at first because of its scale, vertical layout, and constant movement, but you’ll get used to it. Getting around often involves stairs, escalators, bridges, and layered metro stations.

Chongqing is a big deal – trust me!

Best Areas & Places To Stay In Chongqing

Jiefangbei. This is the main city centre and the most convenient area for first-time visitors. You’re surrounded by skyscrapers, shopping malls, street food, and easy metro access to almost everywhere in the city. It’s perfect if you want everything on your doorstep, especially nightlife, food spots, and major attractions. For a balance of comfort, location and energy, this is the best place to stay.

🩵 Recommends: Shouxiang Hotel offers a gorgeous stay with pretty modern rooms with a serious view.

Jialing River Area/Hongya Cave. Staying near Hongya Cave gives you those iconic Chongqing night views right outside your hotel. The area is famous for its glowing traditional-style buildings stacked into the cliffside overlooking the river. At night, it becomes one of the most photogenic spots in the city, with lights reflecting off the water nearby. It’s an ideal area to stay if you want atmosphere, Insta-worthy shots, and an aesthetically pleasing stay.

🩵 Recommends: Chongqing Holiday Riverview Hotel is a gorgeous 4-star hotel with amazing rooms and amenities.

Guanyinqiao. For a more modern, slightly younger district filled with shopping streets, street food, and local nightlife, stay in Guanyinqiao. It feels a bit less touristy compared to Jiefangbei, but still very lively and easy to navigate. It’s a great area to stay if you want to experience everyday Chongqing life with an edge. You also get great value hotels here, making it ideal for longer stays or budget-conscious travellers.

🩵 Recommends: Kaoyu Hotel is a cute, convenient stay in the heart of Guanyinqiao, with great room rates and views.

Hotel Highlights

I used Booking for most hotels throughout China, but Trip also offers a wider selection of great accommodations and is mainly used by international travellers. All the hotels I booked didn’t disappoint, and I was really impressed by the quality for the value of all our stays.

The Mustel Hotel Chongqing Hongyadong

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The Mustel Hotel stood out to me as a convenient spot with modern rooms and handy amenities, such as free access to the washing machine and dryer, as well as portable chargers. I really liked the staff; they were friendly and very helpful with any enquiries we had. The room was also clean and a good size, and the balcony was pretty huge, with the damage to the wallet only £36 a night.

Fun Things To Do: Day 1

A trip to China isn’t complete without a few days’ stop in Chongqing. This awesome spot has plenty you can pack in without feeling rushed. We did not take any guided tours here, and most attractions were easy to explore on our own. This is all the fun things we did on day 1.

Jiefangbei Pedestrian Street

We started our first day in Chongqing at Jiefangbei Pedestrian Street, one of the most vibrant and energetic areas in the entire city. Often considered the heart of downtown Chongqing, it’s surrounded by towering skyscrapers, large shopping centres, restaurants, street food vendors, and a large crowd.

The area is centred around the historic landmark, the Liberation Monument. There are many shops around, upscale and local, and you could easily spend a good few hours here exploring. This location gives you an immediate feel for the city’s atmosphere and is a good place to start when exploring Chongqing.

We found ourselves returning here multiple times throughout our stay, both day and night, when the neon lights transformed the district into an entirely different experience. It’s where we had our first hot-pot experience and stumbled upon a local food street where we got our cute panda ice cream.

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Baixiangju & The Secret Apartments of Chongqing

One of the most memorable parts of our first day in Chongqing wasn’t actually something we had planned. After leaving Jiefangbei, we found ourselves wandering through the maze-like streets around Baixiangju, and before we knew it, we’d somehow ended up inside a huge residential apartment complex.

To be completely honest, I couldn’t tell you the exact route we took to get there, or the name of the apartment; that’s part of the charm of Chongqing. The city is built on multiple levels, with hidden walkways, staircases and passages that seem to appear out of nowhere. What started as a casual wander quickly turned into one hell of an experience.

In the apartments, we came across local vendors selling souvenirs, snacks, drinks, and little gifts. There were also a handful of tourists with cameras, which made me think we’d accidentally stumbled upon one of Chongqing’s lesser-known hotspots.

The views were amazing too. Looking out, we could see the Yangtze River stretching into the distance, with the famous cable cars going past. It was an incredible viewpoint, to be honest. But the best part? When it was time to leave. To reach the main road below, we descended what felt like about thirty flights of stairs. We would come across people selling gifts at their front door or inside their homes. It was so unique and memorable.

Some outrageously great views from a random apartment block in Baixiangju

Raffles City

Our next stop was Raffles City, one of Chongqing’s most recognisable modern landmarks and a contrast to the hidden alleyways and residential staircases we’d just explored. Even from a distance, it’s hard to miss.

Raffles City is a popular shopping and business complex, but also unique. The development consists of several towering skyscrapers connected by a futuristic skybridge that sits high above the city, known as The Crystal. Visitors can take a lift to the observation deck for incredible panoramic views of Chongqing. Walk among the clouds with a SkyWalk Ticket for the world’s highest horizontal skyscraper!

At ground level, it’s just as impressive. There are many food courts, delicious bubble tea shops, and plenty of cool spots to hang out for a minute. We found a delicious food shop that we visited on both days (the lamb chops were so good!) and our favourite bubble tea shop, ChaPanda. I wouldn’t say it’s a must for your itinerary (there are so many shopping complexes in China), but it is worthwhile if you’ve got the time.

Raffles City is an iconic building in Chongqing

Hongyadong

As evening approached, we made our way to Hongyadong, one of the most iconic and photographed places in Chongqing. If you’ve seen pictures of the city online, chances are you’ve already seen this incredible riverside complex glowing against the night sky. In reality, it’s even more beautiful. It really is jaw-droppingly unreal; I’ve never seen a skyline like it!

When you’re standing there, you realise it’s actually enormous and multi-level. Filled with shops, restaurants, food stalls, and viewing platforms, I’d recommend visiting Chongqing for this attraction alone if anything. It really is a highlight.

As the sun set and the lights gradually came on, the entire area transformed. Golden lanterns reflected off the river, the buildings glowed, and the crowds began to gather along the waterfront to take selfies and admire the view. There was a real sense that everyone was there to experience one of Chongqing’s most famous sights.

Heads up, it does get extremely busy there. You’ll also come across people who stop you or follow you, asking if you want professional photos or a boat tour. We did eventually say yes to the boat tour/river cruise, which was WOW.

Hongyadong is an iconic stop to add to your travel itinerary

River Cruise

The River Cruise was actually the perfect way to end our night. Seeing Hongyadong from the boat was magical and somehow even prettier. So many lights, and just a visual treat. It was really cool to go down the river and see the bridge and buildings lit up. I didn’t book it online originally, because I didn’t think it would really be worth it just for a different angle – how very wrong I was!

The ticket price is a little steep at £67 for 2 people. Once we boarded, we had the option to go to the VIP section, which was less crowded and included drinks and fruit. We opted for that for an additional £11 per person, and that was totally worth the upgrade as we were seated and could admire the view more privately. You can also pre-book a River Cruise at a cheaper rate (£ 28 pp), but I don’t think it’s the same huge cruise we were on, which is still ok.

Looking back, I realise we had experienced about five different versions of Chongqing. What stood out the most was just how layered and impressive it is. Sure, it can be busy and chaotic at times, but guys, this is China – the second most populous country in the world!

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Fun Things To Do: Day 2

We woke up ready for another packed day in Chongqing, still thinking about how exciting Day 1 had been. Today’s plan was a mix of iconicness and chill, and this itinerary met all the criteria. This is what we got up to for Day 2, which we started pretty late in the day, so if you wanted to fit in some more tours beforehand, you definitely could.

Liziba Station

Our first stop on Day 2 in Chongqing was Liziba Station, one of Chongqing’s most famous attractions and somewhere I’d been looking forward to seeing. If you’ve spent any time previously researching Chongqing, you’ve probably come across this iconic attraction, with the train appearing to pass through a residential building. It’s built directly into the middle of an apartment complex, making it one of the most unique metro stations in the world.

When we arrived, there were already plenty of visitors gathered with cameras and phones ready. Every few minutes, you’ll see a train arrive at or leave the building. Seeing it in person was surprisingly impressive. It’s kind of a quick photo stop, but a worthy one. My mum and I had fun creating pictures and videos at this attraction.

While the train itself is the main attraction, the surrounding area also offers some great viewpoints of the city, making it well worth adding to your China itinerary. Heads up, it can get busy, but again, welcome to China!

Liziba Station, an iconic attraction in Chongqing, China

Chongqing New World

After Liziba Station, we took a taxi to Chongqing New World, an area known for its colourful, aesthetic displays and photo opportunities. It has a famous pink-themed setup for visitors to enjoy creating content in. Compared to the futuristic skyscrapers and busy streets we’d explored the day before, this felt a little more playful and creative, making it a fun stop to break up the day.

We actually spent a good hour here playing around with content. If you’re on my Instagram, you’ve seen the moment my mum lost her mind and had a full-blown, spontaneous, solo dance session, showcasing her iconic footwork that had us laughing for days. It really was a great vibe with an awesome backdrop.

We didn’t see any tourists there, but there were a few locals (and a few more that stopped to watch my mum break it down). It was a nice, quieter spot away from the crowds. It felt youthful, trendy, and full of personality. So, if you’ve got the time, it’s a fun addition to a Day 2 itinerary and a great excuse to capture some Insta-worthy shots from your trip.

Chongqing New World was a bit of me. Of course, I love pink – I’m just a girl.

Hualongqiao Riverside

One of my favourite unplanned discoveries in Chongqing was the Hualongqiao Riverside. The riverside felt much more relaxed, giving us a chance to slow down and take in the scenery for a while. Again, we didn’t see any tourists, but we did see a lot of locals walking their dogs, running, or just strolling.

The views were beautiful as we looked across the river. It’s lined with skyscrapers rising from the hills and bridges stretching across the water. It’s amazing how the city looks completely different depending on where you’re standing.

We spent a good hour strolling, taking more pictures, and appreciating the calmer side of Chongqing. Sometimes the best parts of a trip aren’t the places you’ve spent weeks researching beforehand, but the ones you accidentally stumble across while exploring! Haulongqiao Riverside was exactly that.

Hualongqiao Riverside was a stunning accidental find!

Jiefangbei Pedestrian Street (Night)

We went back to Jiefangbei Pedestrian Street at night to experience it, and it felt like a completely different place. It was super busy, with people everywhere, but it was really pretty, too. The district lights up in bright colours, with massive LED screens flashing above the streets.

We spent time just walking around, grabbing food, and taking in the skyline from different angles. It’s a great no-plan stop: take photos, grab some food, do some shopping, and let the city pull you in.

It’s not a must-visit spot, I must say, because throughout China you’ll come across so many shopping centres. If you don’t have the time or prefer to do something else, do it, especially if you’ve already seen it during the day. I preferred the day visit as it was slightly less busy.

From here, we went back to the hotel to get dressed again for our final few stops of the day. Why? Because I was about to participate in the Viral Motorbike Trend video!

Jiefangbei Pedestrian Street at night

Viral Motorbike Trend

There was one thing I knew I couldn’t leave Chongqing without doing: the Viral Motorbike Trend that’s been all over Instagram and TikTok this past year. If you’ve seen it, you’ll know exactly what I’m talking about; if not, head to my Instagram where I’ve pinned it to the top of my feed.

So what is it? Simply, you are a baddie; you get swept off your feet by an awesome motorbike guy; you’re on the motorbike doing a rehearsed choreography with an INSANE background of Chongqing’s lit-up skyscrapers, and you just look so bad-ass. It’ll make sense when you watch the video.

I absolutely loved it! It was such a cool experience and the whole crew were fantastic. When you arrive, someone will teach you the opening scene (very simple), then 5 moves to practice while you’re on the motorbike. Then, when it’s your turn, you’ll film the opening scene, practice the moves on the bike with your driver, and hit the road with another guy on a bike to film.

The whole event took about 45 minutes, from the moment I learnt the moves to arriving back at the original spot. They send you the videos (already edited in a way that impressed me) before sending you a final, finished version to your WeChat app a few days later. I loved how professional, smooth, and fun this whole experience was.

So, if you want to be a badass, add this to your itinerary. It’s available to everyone, no matter your age, gender, or size. To book, I messaged them on Instagram @ChongqingMotorbike, where they gave me the rates and booked me in. I paid about a £25 deposit, and £45 after the experience. A total of £70, which was very well spent in my eyes.

The viral motorbike trend was a hit on my Instagram

HERE Xi’er Desert Music Bar

From the motorcycle place, we walked for a few minutes and ended up at HERE Xi’er Bar, which was a perfect ending to our night. They had some light entertainment on, served delicious food and drinks, and the setup was really nice. It was open, so we had views of Chongqing, could watch people, and admire the river.

We ordered two drinks, a 6-plate fruit platter, popadoms, chicken popcorn, and two cakes for £28, which was actually pretty good considering it was a boujee stop. The snacks were so delicious, and the fruit was so juicy! Overall, I’d recommend this bar for a nice, chilled evening fun thing to do.

The only thing is, we had to wait 15 minutes for a taxi, which is really not like China. I think it’s due to the area. So, just book a little before time if you’re in a rush to get somewhere else after.

Snacks at HERE Xi’er Desert Music Bar were 10/10

Other Tours From Chongqing

We didn’t take any other guided tours in Chongqing, as the attractions we wanted to see were pretty easy to access on our own. But if you are after some tours, the Chongqing Wulong Karst National Park is supposed to be amazing. I’m gutted we didn’t have an extra day for this! The Qingyu Banquet: Traditional Bayu Dining Experience also looks stunning. I’ve also put together a collection of the best tours going in Chongqing:

Onward Travel From Chongqing

One of the best things about visiting Chongqing is how well it connects you to some of China’s most distinctive destinations, whether you’re heading into nature or seeking more urban experiences. From here, you’ve got a few incredible options depending on the type of trip you want to build next. Mum and I took a train from Chongqing West Railway Station to Chengdu South via Trip, where we spent the next few days LOVING the switch-up in vibes and the pandas. There are some other cool alternatives from Chongqing, too.

Zhangjiajie. You can reach Zhangjiajie by flight in around 2 hours, followed by a short transfer into the national park area. This area is all about dramatic natural scenery, with towering sandstone pillars, misty mountains, and landscapes that famously inspired the floating mountains in Avatar. It’s perfect if you want to swap neon skylines for something more nature-focused and adventurous.

Guilin/Yangshuo. Another amazing option is travelling to Yangshuo (usually through Guilin), which takes around 2.5 hours by flight to Guilin, plus a short transfer onwards. This location has unreal karst mountains, river cruises, and peaceful countryside scenery that feels completely different from China’s big cities. It’s ideal if you want a slower, more scenic next leg, with plenty of outdoor activities and incredible views.

Hong Kong. You can also fly directly to Hong Kong in about 2 hours. Hong Kong offers a blend of East and West, with its skyline, harbour views, shopping districts, and hiking trails all packed into one compact city. If you’re short on time and looping around to end up back in Beijing to fly home, this could be the next best stop for you.

Chengdu. The next best stop if you’ve got time is Chengdu, which takes around 1.5 hours by high-speed train, making it one of the easiest and most popular next stops from Chongqing. Chengdu is famous for its giant pandas, yummy food, and relaxed pace of life. This is the route Mum and I took. The train station was incredibly clean and huge, giving airport vibes. It was an iconic and memorable transport experience on our China trip, and made a nice break from all the flights.

Next stop: Chengdu. Amazing onward destination from Chongqing.

That’s A Wrap!

Chongqing genuinely surprised me in every way. To think I debated whether to go originally- what a stop we would have missed out on! It really has been the most unforgettable part of our entire China trip.

It’s a city that doesn’t really make much sense until you’re inside it. One minute you’re at the riverside, the next you’re walking through a residential building, or even watching a train go through a residential building. It’s just iconic, and felt different to the rest of China.

If you’re thinking about adding Chongqing to your China itinerary, I can’t recommend it enough! It’s bold, it’s busy, but definitely mind-blowing. It’s the craziest city I think I’ve ever visited, to be honest, and a city that stays with you long after you’ve left. So, what are you waiting for? This is your sign to say YES to that trip to China; you won’t regret it!