Chongqing Travel Tips & Advice 2025: Things to Know Before You Go

Chongqing, nicknamed "Mountain City", "Frog City" and "River Town", is proud of its beautiful natural scenery and 3,000 years rich cultural relics. Uncover its history, culture, nature, spicy cuisine, as well as the skyline of Chongqing at night. Besides, from Chongqing, you can embark Yangtze River cruise and sail through the spectacular Three Gorges down to Yichang, Wuhan and Shanghai. 

So if you are planning a trip to Chongqing, the biggest city in China and in the world, and in search of practical Chongqing travel guide? Look no further. We at Easy Tour China put together the most important things you should know before your journey.  The Chongqing travel tips below, including Chongqing weather, safety tips, best time to visit, top things to do, and Chongqing nightlife, will serve the guidance for your Chongqing tour.

Chongqing Weather & Best Time to Visit Chongqing

Based on the feedback from our previous clients and our experience as a local travel agency in China, the best seasons to travel to Chongqing are spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November). Why? Because this is when the Chongqing weather is the most pleasant and the scenery is the most beautiful. In spring, Chongqing warms up earlier than other cities (with an average temperature of 15°C to 25°C), has moderate rainfall, and sees everything coming back to life. You can go for outdoor activities. In autumn, Chongqing is cool and dry (with an average temperature of 20°C to 28°C), has many sunny days, and offers clear blue skies.

Please note: 

2. In late autumn and winter, there usually will be thick fog covering the whole city. For the absence of bicycles is not noticeable, it's dangerous to ride on the roads.

3. Chongqing's weather is changeable for surrounding by many mountains and rivers. Bring an umbrella with you, for heavy rain can fall at any time of the year.

4. Avoid visiting Chongqing in China Golden Week of National Day Holiday and Chinese New Year Holiday, when the city will be full of domestic tourists. Meanwhile, the hotel & transportation prices will be much higher. 

Body Health & Safety

If Chongqing safe for tourists? Yes. Whether you are traveling with children or as a solo female traveler, Chongqing is generally a safe city. The core business districts and tourist attractions have 24-hour police patrols and intelligent monitoring to ensure a good public security situation. Moreover, Chongqing is friendly to solo travelers, and the number of solo female travelers increased by 23% in 2024.

1. In Summer, avoid prolonged exposure to direct sunlight during the hours of 11:00 and 15:00; wear a sunscreen with an SPF that suits your skin type on any uncovered body parts at any time of the day.

2. All visitors are advised to use their judgment before deciding where to eat, and are wise to avoid anywhere that appears obviously unsanitary.

3. Chongqing is relatively safe, but be alert for pickpockets, especially children (supervised by nearby adults) around the bus and train stations, the docks and other crowded areas.

4. Certainly violence towards tourists is extremely rare. It's safe for members of both sexes to go anywhere in daytime. However, at night, female visitors are not advised to travel alone.

Shopping & Nightlife in Chongqing

1. Chongqing famed for various local products and handicrafts. Shu Embroidery, Three Gorges Ink-slab, Rongchang paper fan, beef jerky and tea are best gifts for friends and relatives. Department stores and other shops are clustered around the Liberation Monvment.

2. Chongqing nightlife revolves around flashy karaoke (KTV) bars and strove-lit discos. For nightlife, Hot pot, Chongqing's signature dish, is a must for visitors to experience a real Chongqing flavor.

Top Things to Do in Chongqing 

Want to know what to do in Chongqing, the "8D magical mountain city"? Its unique terrain, splendid night views and spicy cuisine offer something for everyone.

1. Take the Yangtze River Cableway: It is known as "the No.1 sky corridor along the Yangtze River", spanning the Yangtze River in the air, serving as the local transportation means.

2. Enjoy the night view of Hongya Cave: Hongyadong's stilted houses, built against the hillside,  glow brilliantly after dark, resembling the world in a Hayao Miyazaki cartoon.

3. Walk along the Liberation Monument (Jiefangbei Pedestrian Street): As the busiest commercial center in Chongqing, you can shop, enjoy delicious food and experience Chongqing nightlife here. Eat though the nearby Bayi Road Food Street, including must-try food such as Chongqing small noodles, hot pot, grilled fish, and spicy skewers.

4. Explore the Ciqikou Ancient Town: One of the most famous ancient towns in China, it is known as the "miniature of Chongqing". Walk along the cobblestone roads, looking for tea houses, handicrafts and local snacks.

5. Visit the Three Gorges Museum: One of the most important cultural landmarks in Chongqing, it is free and showcases the history of the Three Gorges, the Ba-Yu culture and the history of the War of Resistance.

6. Visit E’ling Park & One Tree Hill Observatory: Two of the best viewpoints in Chongqing, they offers a panoramic view of the city where the Yangtze River and the Jialing River meet. Capture the panoramic night view of Chongqing.

7. Visit the Dazu Rock Carvings (World Cultural Heritage): A treasure of Chinese religious and sculpture art, with exquisite Buddhist rock carvings that are well-preserved.

8. Taste the authentic Chongqing cuisine: Chongqing hot pot is a must-try. You can also taste spicy noodles, skewers, barbecue and cold noodles at Liberation Monument, Nanbin Road or the recommended local restaurants.

9. Take a night cruise on the two rivers: Take in the nightscape of the confluence of the Yangtze River and the Jialing River, lined with the skyscrapers.

10. Go on a one-day tour of Wulong Karst (World Natural Heritage Site): Natural lovers cannot miss the natural wonders such as the Three Natural Bridges, Furong Cave and the geological wonder of the gullies.

11. Take a luxury Yangtze River cruise: Sail for four days and three nights through the Three Gorges, visiting Fengdu Ghost City, Shibaoshai, the Three Gorges Dam, and enjoying cultural activities on the ship (such as Tai Chi practice).t. Capture the panoramic night view of Chongqing.

12. Visit giant panda at Chongqing Zoo: Don’t miss panda encounter when you travel to Chongqing if are interested in China panda tours. 

Inspiring 3-day Chongqing Travel Itinerary

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How to Get to Chongqing

International flights 

One of the largest aviation hubs in western China, Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport (CKG) is offers direct flights to many cities in Asia, Europe, and North America. You can fly to Chongqing from Singapore, Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Dubai, London, Rome, Paris, Moscow, Los Angeles, Toronto, and many other cities. If there are no direct flights, you can choose to transfer in cities such as Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Chengdu for your trip to Chongqing. 

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Domestic Transportation

Major cities in China such as Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Chengdu, Xi'an, Guilin, Zhangjiajie have flights to Chongqing. Nearby cities like Chengdu, Xi'an, Guiyang, Changsha, Wuhan and others have high-speed trains to Chongqing, which are convenient and comfortable. 

How to Travel around Chongqing 

By Metro (Light Rail): You can take the Chongqing Light Rail to visit Jiefangbei, Hongyadong, Longtushi Railway Station, Jiangbei Airport, etc. The Chongqing Metro is built to navigate the mountainous terrain. Some sections, such as Light Rail Line 2, pass through buildings. 

By bus: Affordable but prone to traffic during peak hours. You can purchase tickets by scanning the QR code with Alipay or WeChat, which is convenient and fast. 

By taxi or ride-hailing service: Please be aware that the road conditions in Chongqing are complex, with many hills and curves.

Chongqing Travel Tips for Different Types of Travelers

So Travel to Chongqing

If you are traveling in Chongqing, it is recommended that you stay in the bustling commercial areas such as Jiefangbei, Guanyinquai, Nanping, etc., or near the transportation hubs. Not only is the transportation convenient, but there are also many dining options and more nightlife choices. You can choose to travel by subway combined with a ride-hailing service. The terrain in Chongqing is complex, so it is recommended that you download an offline map to avoid getting lost. 

Family Travel to Chongqing

We understand that when traveling with children, you need to focus on fun, safety and convenience. Many hotels in Chongqing offer family rooms. The pace of the trip should be slow and flexible. It's enough to arrange 2-3 attractions per day to avoid overexertion. Chongqing Zoo, the Ceramic Quarter Ancient Town, the Three Gorges Museum, and the Chongqing Science and Technology Museum are among the top attractions to visit. 

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Chongqing Travel Tips for Seniors

For elderly tourists, hotels near the Liberation Square or Xiaoxizhai subway station are the top choices. This area is where the subway lines 1, 2 (and 6) intersect, meaning that to most major attractions (such as Jiemeiquo, Lijieba, Grand Hall, Hongyaoh洞， Nanshan, etc.) there is almost no need for transfer， or the transfer is extremely convenient， minimizing the time and energy spent on walking. If you prefer a light diet， Chongqing has many non-spicy dishes， such as clear soup hot pot， bean flower rice， various steamed dishes， stewed soups， etc.， which are healthy Chinese food for the elderly.

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