Top Things to do in Chongqing Region
Top Hotels in Chongqing Region
- 1. Wyndham Chongqing Yuelai
- 2. Crowne Plaza Chongqing Jiefangbei, an IHG hotel
- 3. Le Méridien Chongqing, Nan'an
- 4. Crowne Plaza Chongqing New North Zone, an IHG hotel
- 5. The Westin Chongqing Liberation Square
- 6. Holiday Inn Express Chongqing Jinxiucheng
- 7. JW Marriott Hotel Chongqing
- 8. Holiday Inn Chongqing University Town, an IHG hotel
- 9. Sheraton Chongqing Hotel
- 10. Chongqing Marriott Hotel
The 10 Best Things to Do in Chongqing Region, China
Discover the best top things to do in Chongqing Region, China including The Dazu Rock Carvings, Wulong Tiankeng Three Bridges, Three Gorges Museum, Shi Bao Zhai, Chongqing Qutang Gorge, Chongqing Three Gorges Dam, Hongya Cave, Chongqing Fairy Mountain, Dazu Rock Carvings Beishan Site, Three Gorges Tourism Area.
Restaurants in Chongqing Region
1. The Dazu Rock Carvings
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 220 reviews
More than 50,000 Buddhist stone carvings date from the 9th to 13th centuries.
Reviewed By Alex W - Singapore, Singapore
Dazu has rock carvings at several spots. The main attraction is the cluster at Baodingshan which consists of a steep-sided valley. The Buddhist-inspired carvings are cut into the vertical rock faces, with several of them still brightly painted (after all these years!)
It is not an easy place to get to as a day trip from Chongqing if you're travelling independently, but it can be done with an early start. (More details below)
The very detailed Buddhist rock carvings are some 800 years old, and are mostly in great condition. Different sections have rather unique styles. I was particularly fascinated by the various modes of torture depicted in one section of carvings. An audio-guide is helpful if you wish to understand the significance of the panels.
Don’t miss the related attraction: Shengshousi – a multi-pavilioned temple that is also several centuries old. It is only a short walk from the rock cliffs, on the way to the exit gate. Few visitors seem to venture there, so you are likely to have all the upper levels of the temple to yourself, and enjoy a moment of immense peacefulness with views of woodlands all around.
To get from Chongqing to Dazu town, I took a bus from Caiyuanba bus station in Chongqing. There are two bus stations (and the old railway station) at Caiyuanba. One is called the ‘long-distance bus station’ and the other is simply ‘bus station’. Somewhat counter-intuitively, Dazu buses depart from the ‘bus station’, not the long-distance one, even though Dazu is roughly 100km away (in a straight line).
According to the information board (see my photo below) the first bus to Dazu leaves this station at 7:20 pm, with regular departures every 40 minutes after that. The ticket cost 43 yuan. Important: you need to show your passport to buy a ticket. Another of my photos below explains how to read the ticket.
The bus went directly to Dazu via a toll-highway, and took 1 hour 55 minutes. It ended at Dazu old bus station. From there, rather than waste time looking and waiting for local buses to Baodingshan, I jumped into a cab. She wouldn’t use the meter because she said she didn’t expect to be able to get any passenger coming back. So we negotiated a rate of 50 yuan for a 20-minute ride to Baodingshan.
Entry to Baodingshan was 55 yuan. I spent two and a half hours at the rock carvings and Shengshousi Temple. There were taxis waiting at the exit gate, but I was lucky: the local bus was just arriving as I came out of the exit gate. That saved me some money going back to Dazu.
Buses back to Chongqing from Dazu bus station are also quite regular.
2. Wulong Tiankeng Three Bridges
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 141 reviews
Reviewed By Eric L
This must be the place you come to Wulong District for! The geographic setting is dramatic and breathtaking. The well chosen location for shooting scene for the Transformer and other famous Chinese films. A great place to escape city life and come close to nature for some surreal mountain experience. Despite the obvious height and great cliffs, the city did a good job to make the walk easy enough for the young, elderly and less than fit to enjoy with lifts and walkways.
3. Three Gorges Museum
Overall Ratings
4 based on 373 reviews
Reviewed By yyzvoyageur - Toronto
A museum very informational on the Yangtze River's Three Gorges Dam project. It's free and convenient -- only 10 min walk from the metro's Zengjiayan stn on Line 2. It has 4 floors of different exhibits plus two movies incl. a 360-degree tour of the Three Gorges.
One big warning: most of the exhibits are presented in Chinese only. Be prepared to go watch the movies while it's free admission.
4. Shi Bao Zhai
Overall Ratings
4 based on 85 reviews
Reviewed By Steve_of_N21 - London, United Kingdom
The Shi Bao Zhai temple has a major advantage that it can be reached by walking from the boat jetty if visiting whilst on a Yangtze River cruise. The walk through the many farmers stalls, the drunken bridge and the climb of 99 steps to the top of the temple have all been detailed by previous reviewers so I will not repeat any of that. But here's a couple of our other experiences that may be useful.
Firstly the town you walk through is a new build to accommodate those displaced by the Dam project. However it's worth detouring off the main shopping drag down one of the side streets to take a look at where the locals actually now live.
Secondly, although the majority of the shops and stalls on the road to the temple are all the usual tourist tat you can find around any tourist attraction in China hidden amongst them are some interesting food stalls where the locals shop.
And thirdly, if visiting as a tour from a river boat, if you know you will be given some free time at the end it might be worth holding off taking pictures from the river side of the drunken bridge until your return, by which time the crowds may have dissipated as they did for us.
5. Chongqing Qutang Gorge
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 41 reviews
Reviewed By warren161 - Caledon, Canada
We travelled on century cruises. The ship is not big but every room has a balcony. I would describe it as an elegant older woman. She is proud and well cared for.
This is a gentle way to coast through the gorges, sail by the fishermen getting their catch, women washing clothes at the waters edge, Chinese writing on the sides of the cliffs. The list goes one. You will have to go for yourselves.
6. Chongqing Three Gorges Dam
Overall Ratings
4 based on 64 reviews
Reviewed By TandS-W - Northamptonshire
Like others, impressed with sheer scale of the construction. New express lift for smaller vessels is fantastic and due to commission soon, believe guide said 20 min to raise to top level.
Considerable personal cost and sacrifice to the half million+ inhabitants displaced by the overall development.
Centuries of family history and land lost for the "greater good".
Takes a certain mindset, and dictatorship, to embrace that concept.
7. Hongya Cave
Overall Ratings
4 based on 573 reviews
Reviewed By Rachel L - Newark, Delaware
This is a market area for tourists but it's a really interesting place to visit. They've got several levels of shops including food places and shops selling goods. There's a waterfall and the architecture is made to look like historical buildings. It gives a beautiful view of the amazing bridge that crosses river. Walk along the bridge itself to get a great view of the market place - it's especially nice when it's lit up at night.
8. Chongqing Fairy Mountain
Overall Ratings
4 based on 104 reviews
Reviewed By Rick H - Anchorage, Alaska
Part of the 3 Bridges park and as equally stunning as the rest. Walking through here is not only exhilarating but beautiful. Waterfalls pouring out of the cracks high above, the natural Bridges towering overhead. Love love love it
9. Dazu Rock Carvings Beishan Site
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 35 reviews
Reviewed By Barbara W - Utah
The Dazu Rock Carvings are scattered over 75 sites, but of the five major sites, Beishan and Baodingshan are considered the best. Beishan carvings date from the late 9th Century to the late 12th Century and are the product of numerous patrons and artists. Wei Junjing, a local governor and military commander commissioned the first carvings here in 892. Over the next three centuries, government officials, religious figures, local gentry, and even ordinary people contributed to the expansion of the site. There are many beautifully executed carvings in various styles, and the traces of paint give some idea of the original splendor of the figures. Baodingshan is larger and primarily the vision of a single artistic monk. Devoted to illustrating the principles of Buddhism, It has a much greater variety of treatment of the subject. Although I would recommend visiting both sites, if pressed for time, I would choose Baodingshan.
I also tried to visit Shimenshan, but the gates were shut and locked and a notice was posted that the site had been closed to the public in early April 2015.
10. Three Gorges Tourism Area
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 43 reviews
Reviewed By Candelaria B
The Dam Project started in 1992. It has the dam, hydropower stations, and the control facility. The tourist area is composed of Tanzi Mountain, the Dam Viewing Point, The Memorial Garden and the 185 Platform. When you take the steps up to the Viewing Platform you can see a beautiful panoramic view of the whole dam. The one hundred eighty five platform is a 185 meters and this is equal to the height of the dam crest. I recommend a visit to the Memorial Garden. It is full of machines used to construct the dam. There is also a Temple, Hu angling. This is the largest temple in the Three Gorges Area. There is a cost of approximate $15.00 dollars to enter the tourist area. There is also a gift shop with beautiful silk scars and other items.
Touring this area does not take long. You might want to visit the home of Qu Yuan. He was a patriotic poet from the war period of 476 BC – 221 BC. A beloved politician, and opposed by the nobility he drowned himself. His hometown is a short walk from the Three Gorges Dam. There is also a nearby tribe, the Tujia. They do Performances and acrobatic shows. It is quite a treat. And there is a bus that takes you to high Mountains where the tribe lives. As you go up observe the Waterfalls, monkeys, and Mountains and relished this astounding place.
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