Chongqing Best Shows（Top 6） Guide for Foreigners: Local’s Must-See Picks
- DolphinUnion
- Sep 14
- 8 min read
Everyone’s talking about Chongqing’s 8D magic—trains through buildings, stairs that go to the 10th floor… but as a local who’s lived here 30 years (and helped over 250 foreign friends plan trips in 8 years), I can tell you: the real soul of this city isn’t just in its views—it’s in its shows. Most visitors stick to taking photos of Hongyadong, but they miss the performances that tell Chongqing’s story, from its red history to its crazy cool acrobatics.
I’ve had friends leave Chongqing saying, “I didn’t know there were such amazing shows here!” That’s why I made this guide: to break down the 5 best shows you can’t miss, with all my local hacks—like which seats to pick, how to skip long lines, and why some tickets are total scams. This is exactly what I share with my foreign friends when they visit.
1. Chongqing’s Top 6 Shows to Watch – Chongqing best shows guide for foreigners
These 6 shows cover everything from history to intangible cultural heritage —trust me, they’re way more fun than just walking around!
1.1 "Chongqing · 1949" (Chongqing · 1949)
Showtime: Usually 2:00 PM, 4:00 PM, 7:30 PM (check the theater’s WeChat account for updates—they sometimes add extra shows on weekends!).
Location: Chongqing 1949 Grand Theater, No. 999, Jinbi Main Street, Shapingba District.
Price: D Zone (regular seats) starts at ¥179; VIP Zone ¥629; Senior tickets (D Zone) ¥206; Double tickets (D Zone) ¥356.
What to expect: It’s a story about Chongqing’s liberation in 1949—underground communists fighting, heroes in Zhazi Cave and Baigongguan. The 360° rotating stage is insane—you’ll feel like you’re in the middle of the 1940s, with 3D effects making old Chongqing (stilt houses, Ciqikou Wharf) come alive.
Pro tip: Book D Zone seats in Row 5–8—they’re the best balance of price and view. VIP seats are cool, but not worth the extra ¥400.
Avoid this: Don’t buy tickets from scalpers outside the theater—they’ll charge you double (I saw a tourist from France pay ¥350 for a ¥179 ticket last month!). Buy online via the theater’s official site.
Personal touch: I brought my friend from Germany here last Spring Festival—she cried at the end because the story was so moving. She said the rotating stage made her feel “like she was part of history, not just watching it.”
1.2 "Extreme Joy 2" (Jixian Kuaile 2)
Showtime: Every night at 7:30 PM (no matinees—don’t show up in the afternoon!).
Location: Chongqing International Circus City, Nan’an District.
Price: ¥93 to ¥261 (cheaper seats are in the back, but the circus is small—even back rows have good views).
What to expect: It’s a cyberpunk-style acrobat show! Think: acrobats doing flips on a real-life model of Chaotianmen Bridge, plus African drummers and dancers. They even add Chongqing vibes—like a “train through building” acrobat act.
Pro tip: Eat before the show—there’s a small food stall outside selling ¥8 spicy tofu, which is perfect for a quick bite. Don’t buy snacks inside the circus—¥15 for a soda is a rip-off.
Avoid this: Don’t sit in the first 2 rows if you don’t like being “close”—acrobats sometimes jump over the audience, and you might get a little dusty (I learned this the hard way last year!).
Personal touch: My 12-year-old nephew loves this show—he’s seen it 3 times! Last time, an African dancer pulled him on stage to dance, and he still talks about it. It’s great for families or anyone who loves fun, energetic shows.
1.3 "Play in Mountain City" Intangible Heritage Show (Xishan Cheng Feiyi Jingpin Yanyi)
Showtime: 2:00 PM, 4:00 PM, 7:30 PM every day (matinees are less crowded—good for tourists who want to avoid night crowds).
Location: Mountain City Quyi Theater, Yuzhong District (5-minute walk from Liberation Monument).
Price: ¥39 to ¥188 (¥39 seats are basic, but for 非遗 shows, the experience is more about the culture than the seat).
What to expect: It’s all about Ba Yu culture! You’ll see “Shancheng Qingyin” (soft folk songs from Ming and Qing dynasties), face-changing (the artists change masks in 1 second—so cool!), and long-spout teapot tea art (the tea master pours tea from a 1-meter-long spout without spilling). There’s also a short play about a ancient love story—super romantic.
Pro tip: After the show, talk to the face-changing artist—they’ll let you take photos with them for free (I got a photo with Master Li last month, and he even showed me how to hold a mask!).
Avoid this: Don’t skip the tea art part—some tourists leave early, but it’s the most unique part. The tea they serve is free, and it’s the best jasmine tea I’ve ever had.
Personal touch: I take all my foreign friends who love culture here—my friend from Japan said the face-changing was “the most amazing thing she saw in China.” She even bought a small face-changing mask as a souvenir (¥50 at the theater shop—cheaper than in tourist markets).
1.4 "Chasing Dreams · Tongliang Dragon" (Zhui Meng · Tongliang Long)
Showtime: Every Saturday and public holidays at 8:30 PM (only on weekends—plan ahead!).
Location: Tongliang Xuantian Lake Dragon Culture Performance Center, Tongliang District.
Price: ¥88 to ¥128 (all seats are good because it’s an open-air stage—sit closer if you want to feel the heat from the fire).
What to expect: It’s an outdoor show with real mountains and a lake as the background! The story is about a kid chasing his dream, with dragon dances—water dragons, lotus dragons, glowing night dragons—and at the end, they do “fire dragon” 表演 (fire dragon performance): workers hit hot iron until it sparks, and dragon dancers run through the sparks. It’s like watching fireworks and dragons at the same time.
Pro tip: Bring a jacket—even in summer, Tongliang gets cold at night. I forgot mine last August and had to buy a cheap blanket (¥20) from a vendor outside.
Avoid this: Don’t drive yourself—parking is a nightmare. Take the shuttle bus from Tongliang Bus Station (¥5, 20 minutes)—it drops you right at the entrance.
Personal touch: I went here with my whole family last Mid-Autumn Festival—my grandma cried because she used to watch Tongliang dragon dances when she was a kid. The fire dragon part was so cool, my little cousin kept saying, “It’s like a dragon made of stars!”
1.5 "Insight 816" (Dongjian 816)
Showtime: Every day at 1:30 PM (only one show a day—don’t be late!).
Location: 104 Theater, Fuling 816 Project Scenic Area, Fuling District.
Price: Scenic area ticket + show ticket: regular area starts at ¥120; double tickets start at ¥200.
What to expect: It’s about the 816 Underground Nuclear Project from the 1960s—workers building a secret nuclear base. The show uses dance and multimedia to make you feel like you’re in the underground tunnels. You’ll see how hard the workers worked, and it’s a really touching story about sacrifice.
Pro tip: Combine the show with a visit to the 816 Project itself— the scenic area has the real underground tunnels, and it’s amazing to see where the story happened. Go 1 hour early to walk around the tunnels first.
Avoid this: Don’t eat at the scenic area’s restaurant—¥40 for a bowl of noodles. Bring your own snacks (like ¥3 chocolate bars) to eat before the show.
Personal touch: I brought my friend from the US here last year—he’s a history buff, and he said the show “made history feel real, not just words in a book.” We spent 2 hours walking the tunnels after, and he took so many photos he ran out of phone storage!
1.6 Yuzhou Stories at Yuchao Fang
Showtime: Three daily performances, namely 14:00-15:10, 16:00-17:10, and 19:30-20:40.
Location: Yuchao Fang, No. 5-5, Shibati, Nanjiemen Street, Yuzhong District.
Price: Regular single tickets start at ￥48, and regular double tickets cost ￥88.
What to expect: A compact, 70-minute show packed with Chongqing-style traditional and intangible cultural heritage (ICH) performances—no dull moments.
Pro tip:
Book tickets in advance, especially for evening shows: The 19:30-20:40 performance is the most popular (it fits well with post-dinner plans after exploring Shibati’s night market), so tickets often sell out on weekends or holidays. Book 1-2 days ahead via the official ticketing platform or the Shibati scenic area app.
Arrive 15-20 minutes early: Yuchao Fang is located in the Shibati historical block—you can use the extra time to wander the nearby small lanes, take photos with old-style Chongqing buildings (like tiled-roof houses or stone steps), and even grab a cup of local milk tea before the show starts.
Sit in the middle rows for regular seats: If you choose regular tickets, avoid seats too close to the stage (you might miss the full view of group dances like the silk ribbon performance) or too far back (you may struggle to see small details like shadow puppets). Middle rows (usually rows 5-8) strike the best balance.
Avoid this:
Don’t show up late: The theater closes the doors 5 minutes before the show starts, and latecomers can only enter during intermissions (but this show has no intermissions, so you’ll miss part of the performance).
Don’t skip reading the program notes: Some acts (like "Pijin Lamp-Rolling" or the opera excerpt A Wonderful World) are rooted in local folklore—quickly scanning the program (provided at the entrance) will help you understand the context and enjoy the jokes or emotions more.
Don’t bring large bags or snacks: The theater has limited storage space, and eating during the show is not allowed (to avoid disturbing other audience members, especially during quiet acts like the erhu performance).
Personal touch: I went with my 8-year-old niece last month, and her favorite part was definitely the fire-breathing—she kept whispering, “How do they do that without getting burned?!” For me, the surprise was the shadow puppetry: the performers used just their hands to make shapes of Chongqing’s cable cars and Jialing River boats, which felt super nostalgic (I grew up seeing shadow plays in my grandma’s hometown). After the show, we walked to the nearby Shibati night market and bought her a small face-changing mask as a souvenir—she’s been showing it off to her classmates ever since. It’s the kind of show that’s not just “entertainment,” but a small, sweet way to connect with Chongqing’s culture.
Final Recommendation: My Go-To Guide for Chongqing Shows
I spent 2 months helping put together DolphinUnion’s Chongqing guide—even I use it when my foreign friends visit, because it has all the little details I can’t fit in this blog. The guide has hidden photo spots (like the quiet alley near Mountain City Quyi Theater where you can take photos with face-changing masks without crowds) and a step-by-step high-speed train booking tutorial (with photos, so you won’t get stuck at the station when going to Tongliang or Fuling—trust me, I’ve seen friends miss their trains because they couldn’t read the Chinese signs).
Last week, a reader from Canada messaged me saying our guide’s "Chongqing · 1949" ticket tip saved him—he was about to buy a ¥350 scalper ticket until he saw our guide told him to buy online for ¥179. He said the show was “the best part of his Chongqing trip.”
If you don’t want to scribble down notes from this blog, or worry about missing those hidden spots, grab our DolphinUnion guide—it’s like having a local friend with you the whole time, sharing all the show hacks and tricks that make Chongqing’s culture come alive. You’ll skip the scams, save money, and actually understand the stories behind the shows. Chongqing best shows guide for foreigners.
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