Things to Do in Chongqing: Hongyadong, Liziba and Hot Pot

This guide groups the best things to do in Chongqing by interest. It suits first-time visitors who want clear highlights, practical transit notes and opening rules. For a day-by-day plan, see our 2–3 day Chongqing itinerary. For base areas and general planning, read our Chongqing travel guide.

What should you not miss in Chongqing on a first visit?

Start with Hongyadong, Liziba, the cableway, Ciqikou, the Three Gorges Museum and a hot pot dinner. Together they show the river city, its hills and its food.

• Hongyadong: Walk past the 11-floor stilted wooden buildings lit up on the cliff face above the river.
• Liziba monorail station: Watch Line 2 trains pass directly through a residential apartment building.
• Yangtze River Cableway: Ride a classic cable car across the broad river between two city ridges.
• Ciqikou Ancient Town: Stroll historic flagstone lanes that once formed a busy porcelain trading port.
• China Three Gorges Museum: See the history of the Three Gorges and the region, with free entry.
• Hot pot: Sit down for an evening meal around a simmering basin of spiced broth.

Where are the best views and night lights?

Hongyadong is the classic night view, and the cableway, the Raffles City deck and a river cruise add a view from above or on the water. Pick one of those three per evening.

The city turns on its night lighting according to seasonal rules. Lights come on at 19:30 from October to April. They turn on at 20:00 from May to September. They remain on until at least 21:30 in the cooler months and 22:30 in the warmer months.

Hongyadong sits on Cangbai Road on the Yuzhong peninsula. It is an 11-floor complex of stilted buildings constructed on posts into the steep rock cliff. It takes its name from Hongya Gate, an old stone city gate. Entry to the complex is free. Take metro Line 1 or Line 6 to Xiaoshizi station. You can also take Line 2 to Linjiangmen station.

Evenings and holidays at Hongyadong are usually very crowded. Crowds gather along the roadside pavements and the nearby bridge. Plan to arrive before the lights come on to find a safe walking spot. Move slowly along the public walkways and follow local staff directions.

The Yangtze River Cableway spans 1,166 metres across the Yangtze River. It connects Xinhua Road in Yuzhong with Shangxin Street on the south bank. Normal operating hours run from 08:00 to 22:00. During public holidays, operating hours run from 07:30 to 23:00. Queues are often long on weekends and holiday evenings. Mornings usually have shorter waits.

The Raffles City Exploration Deck sits at Chaotianmen where the two rivers meet. It stands 250 metres high with a glass-bottom viewing floor. It looks straight down onto the water and over the urban core. Opening arrangements vary through the year, so check current hours before you go.

The Two Rivers night cruise travels along the water past illuminated bridges and towers. Boarding requires real-name identity checks, so you must bring your passport. Cruise departures and boarding piers shift with river levels, so check the sailing and pier on the day.

Do not try to fit the deck, the cableway and the cruise into one evening. Their queues and evening hours overlap. Learn more about vantage points in our guide to Chongqing night views.

How do you ride the Liziba monorail and get around the hills?

Take metro Line 2 to Liziba to watch the train run through a block of flats. Then plan your days by area, because the hills slow you down.

Chongqing Line 2 is the first straddle-type monorail line in China. A straddle monorail runs on top of a single concrete track beam rather than traditional rails. Trains have operated along this scenic route for more than twenty years. Liziba station became famous because the train runs straight through an apartment building.

Liziba station is undergoing multi-stage upgrade works until late December 2026. The work improves passenger halls, platform spaces and entrances 1 and 2. Follow signs on site when you change levels or exit toward the street viewing platform below.

Getting around takes more time than the map suggests. The city is built on steep hills above two rivers. Streets sit on several levels, linked by stairs, lifts and walkways.

Group your sightseeing by area. Pair sights on the Yuzhong peninsula together on one day. Save sights in Shapingba or across the river for another day. Wear comfortable walking shoes with good grip. For detailed transit advice, read how to get around Chongqing.

Where can you see old Chongqing and its history?

Go to Ciqikou for an old riverside town and the Three Gorges Museum for the region's history. The People's Auditorium, Eling Park, Jiefangbei and Huguang Guild Hall are all in the city centre too.

Ciqikou Ancient Town sits in northeast Shapingba District along the Jialing River. Take metro Line 1 directly to Ciqikou station. The settlement began during the Song dynasty under the name Baiyan Chang. It later took the name Ciqikou, which means porcelain port, due to its busy porcelain shipping trade. It is recognized as a National 4A attraction. Weekends are usually crowded with domestic visitors, so visit in the morning for an easier walk. Learn more on the Shapingba District page on Ciqikou.

The China Three Gorges Museum stands at 236 Renmin Road in Yuzhong. Admission is free of charge. Operating hours run from 09:00 to 17:00, with no admission after 16:00. The museum is closed on Mondays, except on public holidays. You do not need to make an advance booking, but you must present your passport at the door. The free displays cover the Three Gorges, the ancient Ba-Yu peoples of this region and the story of the city. There is also a circular-screen film about the Three Gorges.

Directly across the open square from the museum stands the People's Auditorium. It was built from 1951 to 1954 in a Chinese palace style. It is one of the city's best-known landmarks. Public access arrangements change, so check opening on the day.

Eling Park is a hilltop garden on a ridge between the two rivers. It began in 1909 as a private estate named Li Garden. It opened as a public park in 1958. Its Kansheng Tower rises over forty metres high. The top terrace looks out over the meeting of the Yangtze and Jialing rivers.

Jiefangbei stands in the center of the main pedestrian shopping district. The monument was completed in October 1947 and renamed the People's Liberation Monument in 1950. It serves as a natural meeting point near retail stores, street food lanes and transit lines.

Huguang Guild Hall sits on Changbin Road beside the Yangtze. It is a group of old merchant guild halls, first built in the Qing dynasty and enlarged over later reigns. It is a protected national heritage site. Check current hours before you go.

What should you eat, and are day trips worth it?

Plan at least one hot pot dinner, and try spicy small noodles for breakfast. If you have a spare day, Dazu or Wulong is worth a full-day trip.

Hot pot is the central social meal of Chongqing. A metal pot of spiced broth simmers at your table over a burner. You dip thin slices of meat, fresh greens and mushrooms into the broth to cook them. If you prefer milder food, you can ask for a mild broth or order a split pot with one non-spicy soup side. Plan your dinner with our Chongqing hot pot guide.

For breakfast, try local xiaomian. These spicy small noodles come in a seasoned broth with chili oil, garlic, scallions and greens. Many small noodle shops serve them from early morning. Read our guide to Chongqing noodles for ordering tips.

If you have an extra day, consider one of two major day trips:

• Dazu Rock Carvings: This UNESCO World Heritage site features five clusters of cliffside stone carvings dating from the 9th to 13th centuries. Beishan is the largest cluster. See our guide to the Dazu Rock Carvings.
• Wulong Karst: Part of the UNESCO South China Karst area, Wulong features giant sinkholes, caves and natural stone bridges. See our Wulong day trip guide.

Both excursions require a full day of travel. Choose one rather than trying to fit in both.

Check holiday calendars when arranging your travel dates. Major holiday periods usually bring heavy domestic crowds to transit hubs and scenic spots. Key dates include Spring Festival from 5 to 13 February 2027, Labour Day from 1 to 5 May 2027, and National Day from 1 to 7 October 2027. Book train tickets and hotels well in advance during these weeks.

Chengdu is a short fast-train ride away, so the two cities pair well. Learn how to connect them in our guide to Chengdu to Chongqing by high-speed rail.

Trips that include this

No set LocalKey route starts in Chongqing yet. You can browse China tours, or start from one of these Sichuan routes. Chengdu is a short fast-train ride from Chongqing, so adding a few days is simple:

• Sichuan culture and food, 7 days: Chengdu, Leshan and Mount Emei; add Chongqing at the end.
• Grand China, 14 days: Beijing, Xi'an, Chengdu, Yangshuo and Shanghai; Chongqing can sit next to Chengdu.
• Pandas and Sichuan for families, 7 days: Chengdu, Dujiangyan and Leshan for families; add a Chongqing city stay.

LocalKey plans private trips for your own party only, planned, booked and backed. We offer two travel levels under our private China tours: Independent and Private Guided. On an Independent tour, a local guide, a private car with driver and an airport pickup are optional add-ons on the days you choose. You can ask us to add Chongqing days to any existing route.

Want different dates? Start a custom route.