4 Days Chongqing Walking Tour: Mountain City Walk Highlights

Your 4-Day Chongqing In-depth Tour Begins! Upon your arrival at Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport (CKG) or High-Speed Train Station, your friendly local English-speaking guide and private driver will warmly greet you at the exit and transfer you to hotel for check-in.

You have a lot of time to track the city’s how mountain-like with remaining old culture and the futuristic lights at night.

Spare Your Free Time: The rest of your day is perfect for you to explore around your hotel. You'll find the fiery aroma of hot pot emanating from every corner. Chongqing is the birthplace of Chinese hot pot, where various fresh meats and vegetables are cooked in each restaurant's specially prepared. Awaken your tastebuds with the numbing, spicy, and fragrant broth!

Today’s special focus is on the key spots of Chongqing.

Morning - Ciqikou Ancient Town

After Breakfast, start your journey with us at Ciqikou Ancient Town, a living museum of Chongqing’s history! This 1,000-year-old charming town, featuring well-preserved Ming and Qing Dynasty architecture, was once a bustling porcelain trade hub and still brims with cultural heritage. Explore the enchanting streets of Ciqikou, where every step on the narrow cobblestone paths feels like traveling back in time. Immerse yourself in the vibrant atmosphere as you admire traditional crafts, enjoy local performances such as Sichuan opera face-changing shows, and savor delicious street food like the famous Mahua (crispy fried dough twists).

Afternoon - Three Gorges Museum, Liziba Metro, Hongya Cave

Embark on a journey through time at the Three Gorges Museum, home to a vast collection of over 280,000 precious historical relics. Dive deep into the fascinating story of the Yangtze River, the formation of the iconic Three Gorges, and the evolution of Chongqing from its ancient beginnings to its vibrant rise in the 20th century. After exploring the museum, don’t miss the chance to capture stunning photos in front of the People’s Assembly Hall, an architectural masterpiece located just outside the museum.

Later, let’s witness the most thrilling sight - the train that passes through a building at Liziba Metro Station. Located on Line 2 of Chongqing’s monorail, this station is famously constructed through the middle of a residential building, making it a truly unique and unforgettable experience.

After that, you will be transferred to Hongya Cave, located along the Jialing River and near Chaotianmen Square. It is famous for its traditional stilted buildings (Diaojiaolou), dazzling night views, and vibrant atmosphere. Stroll along the riverside promenade to enjoy spectacular views of the Jialing River and the modern Chongqing skyline. Explore the multi-level complex, featuring Diaojiaolou-style wooden structures and steep stairways. As night falls, this complex transforms into a dazzling spectacle, offering one of Chongqing’s most iconic night views.

After the tour, your driver and guide will escort you to hotel.

Today, you will discover old Chongqing in the traditional district, urban park. Enjoy free time at Chaomianmen. Be a native!

Morning - Shibati, Shancheng Lane

First things first to be a native - Climbing the steps. So we’ll start from Shibati (十八梯). It’s one of Chongqing's oldest urban districts, built in the 12th century. It was named for a well located "eighteen stone steps" from the residential area. Shibati stands out for its classic mountain city views with countless steps, stilt houses and narrow alleys. It's truly a "miniature of Chongqing." Beyond its old Chongqing charm, the area also features modern shops for trendy travelers.

Then, walk 10 minutes to Shancheng Lane next to Shibati. Shancheng Lane (山城巷) is an authentic old street by the Yangtze River, a "Chongqing Architecture Museum" dating back to the 14th century. Spanning 1.5 km with a 70-meter drop, its buildings cover 600+ years: from Ming walls, Qing gate and European churches to WWII homes and modern shops, all woven with classic Chongqing stone staircases.

Don't worry about your knees - we've planned an easy downhill route (Old Chinese Medicine Hospital - Ren'ai Church - Cliffside Plank Road - Changle Yongkang Stone Gate). You'll see Ren'ai Church, a complex built by the French Catholic Church in 1900, which once housed a monastery, church, bell tower, and hospital. Inside, you can still faintly see the European-style columns and ornate carvings of the ruins.

Continuing your walk, arrive at Chongqing's only Cliffside Plank Road. This path is 300+ meters long, with stilt houses on your left and the Yangtze River on your right. Soon, you'll spot the lead-gray Ming Dynasty city wall, then the Qing Dynasty Stone Gate engraved with "Changle Yongkang (Eternal Well-being)." Congrats—you've just journeyed through six centuries of Chongqing history!

Afternoon - Eling Park, Chaotianmen

After lunch, drive 13 minutes to Eling Park (鹅岭公园), Chongqing's earliest urban park. Once a Qing Dynasty garden, it unfolds like a "miniature Jiangnan" where each step paints a new picture. Climb the seven-story Lansheng Tower within the park for panoramic views of Chongqing's Yangtze and Jialing Rivers.

After your tour, drive to Chaotianmen (朝天门), the site of Chongqing's ancient city gate. Here, you'll admire the sail-like skyscrapers of Raffles City and the bustling dock where the Yangtze and Jialing Rivers meet.

After the tour, be escorted to your hotel in Chongqing downtown area.

Free Time Suggestion: A large wholesale market is also located at Chaotianmen.

Optional: Intangible Cultural Heritage Fish Lantern

Inside Eling Testbed 2, next to Eling Park, you can craft a fish lantern. A dreamy ancient Chinese heritage comes from 14 century, these fish-shaped lanterns are crafted from bamboo and painted paper. Danced to simulate swimming fish, they usually celebrate harvests and peace. With help from artisans, craft your own, then pick it up and join the fish lantern dance!

Notice: Intangible Cultural Heritage experiences within Eling Testbed 2 require booking one week in advance and are non-cancellable once booked.

Today, you will take the cableway gliding over the Yangtze River, and then continue to discover Chongqing's Old Streets for treaty port history and common folk life.

Morning - Yangtze River Cableway, Xiahao Old Street 

After breakfast, hop on Yangtze River Cableway (长江索道), one of Chongqing's most unique commutes, riding high above the surging Yangtze River. This "sky bus" will carry you to the opposite bank.

Just a 12-minute walk from the cableway station, you'll find Xiahaoli Old Street (下浩里老街), a place where you can discover Chongqing's treaty port history before century ago. In 1890, Chongqing was forcibly opened as a treaty port. Western buildings and cultures poured in. The Chinese-Western blend buildings here will amaze you.

This six-story old street preserves century-old buildings like the former French Yongxing Foreign Firm and the Belgian Consulate. These structures mix European arched doors, vermilion red bricks, and colonnades with local grey bricks and tiles. As you stroll, you can also enjoy various art exhibitions, feeling all the artsy vibes!

Afternoon - Longmenhao Old Street, Chen Anjian’s Tea House

Walk 5 minutes to Longmenhao Old Street (龙门浩老街). Like Xiahaoli Old Street, it shares a treaty port history and artsy vibes, and is also structured in six tiers. Here, you can explore several century-old former consulates, foreign firm sites, and more.

This is an excellent spot for contrast photography. We recommend posing with your back to the century-old architecture and facing the skyscraper on the opposite bank.

After continuous walking, rest at Nanbin Road’s riverside resting area. Enjoy the river breeze, then drive 40 minutes to Chen Anjian's Tea House (陈安健交通茶馆).

Since 1999, artist Chen Anjian has painted Chongqing's common people in this teahouse, making it a living museum of local culture and a photography paradise. It still looks like it did forty years ago.

This cozy, semi-basement teahouse features an old wooden frame, uneven beams, long benches, celadon cups, and vibrant graffiti. You'll find decades-long regulars, photographers, and students creating art. It's a must-visit spot to experience traditional Chongqing life!

After the tour, your guide and driver will then take you to the airport or train station in Chongqing for your onward flight or high-speed train to your next destination.

Extend Your Chongqing Travel: From Chongqing, board 4-day Yangtze River Cruise at Chaotianmen Dock. Additionally, Chongqing is close to Chengdu Pandas (1.5 hrs train ride), Zhangjiajie Avatar mountains (6-6.5 hrs train ride), and Guizhou ethnic villages (3 hrs train ride). Asia Odyssey Travel also has those travel routes to extend your China Chongqing tour.