Chongqing

Mountain city, river city, hotpot city.

About Chongqing

A megacity built on mountains at the confluence of two rivers

Chongqing is a city built on mountains, wrapped in fog, and powered by ambition. One of China's four direct-controlled municipalities, it sits at the confluence of the Yangtze and Jialing rivers. With over 30 million people, it is one of the largest urban areas on Earth, yet most visitors have never heard of it.

The city is a study in contrasts. Monorails thread through apartment buildings. Cable cars cross the river where ancient trade routes once ran. Street-side hotpot stalls share pavements with tech startups. For students, Chongqing offers something no other Chinese city can: the raw energy of a megacity that hasn't been polished for tourists.

What You'll Experience

Top Attractions

Hongyadong & Night Skyline

Hongyadong & Night Skyline

Eleven storeys of stilted architecture clinging to a riverside cliff, lit up at night like a scene from Spirited Away. The surrounding Jiefangbei district is Chongqing's commercial heart.

Featured in Horizon Europe Programme
Dazu Rock Carvings

Dazu Rock Carvings UNESCO

Over 50,000 Buddhist, Taoist, and Confucian sculptures carved between the 9th and 13th centuries. Remarkable for their scale, preservation, and the way three belief systems sit side by side on the same cliff face.

Featured in Horizon Europe Programme
Wulong Karst

Wulong Karst UNESCO

The Three Natural Bridges form the world's largest natural stone arch group. Below them, the Longshuixia Gorge drops into a deep-cut canyon of waterfalls and stalactites. This is the landscape that inspired the Transformers film locations.

Featured in Horizon Europe Programme
Plan Your Visit

Good to Know

Best Time to Visit

March to May and September to November. Summers are extremely hot and humid. Chongqing is known as one of China's “furnace cities.”

Getting Around

The city's monorail and metro system is an experience in itself. Line 2 passes directly through a residential building at Liziba station.

Local Food

Chongqing hotpot is fiercer than Sichuan's. Expect numbing Sichuan peppercorn, chilli oil, and offal alongside the usual meats and vegetables. Xiaomian noodles are the city's everyday breakfast.

Featured Programme

Chongqing features in Horizon Europe

Chongqing features in our Horizon Europe programme. Shanghai → Hangzhou → Shenzhen.

View Horizon Europe Programme Register Interest