Chongqing One Day Itinerary: Explore Magical City Views in 24 Hours
- DolphinUnion
- Sep 25
- 7 min read
Most foreign friends say, “I only have one day in Chongqing—what can I see?” As a local who’s planned 100+ one-day trips for expats, I know the key is to focus on what makes Chongqing “magical”: its 8D streets, river views, and hidden lookouts.
Last month, my friend from Canada followed this exact itinerary. He said, “I can’t believe I saw so much in one day—and none of it felt rushed!” That’s why I made this guide: to show you how to hit Chongqing’s best scenic spots in 12 hours, avoid crowds, and skip tourist traps. This is the same plan I use for friends who want to “see the real Chongqing.”
1. Morning (8:00 AM – 12:30 PM): Yangtze Cableway & Old Streets – Chongqing one day itinerary
Start early to beat the cableway lines—this is the most chaotic part of the day, but worth it.
1.1 8:00 AM: Yangtze Cableway (North Station)
Why Go Early: The North Station (near Jiefangbei) has 2-hour lines by 9 AM. At 8 AM, you’ll wait 15 minutes max.
Pro Tip: Sit on the right side of the cable car. You’ll get better views of Hongyadong (Hongyadong) and the Yangtze River.
Personal Story: My Australian friend arrived at 10 AM once—he waited 1.5 hours and missed his planned lunch. Early mornings = no stress!
Cost: ¥20 one-way. Buy tickets at the station (cash or Alipay/WeChat Pay).
1.2 9:00 AM – 11:30 AM: Xiahaoli & Longmenhao Old Streets
How to Get There: Walk 10 minutes from the cableway’s South Station to Xiahaoli (Xiahaoli Old Street). It’s a quiet, traditional street with old stone houses—no tourist crowds.
What to See: Longmenhao (Longmenhao Old Street) has colonial-style buildings from the 1920s. Take photos at the “Chongqing Memory” mural—it’s a local favorite.
Avoid This: Skip the “tourist souvenir shops” here. They sell overpriced trinkets—stick to taking photos instead.
Personal Story: My French friend loved Xiahaoli—she said it felt “like a hidden village in the middle of the city.” We sat on a bench and watched locals walk their dogs for 10 minutes.
1.3 11:30 AM – 12:30 PM: Lunch with a View
Where to Eat: “River View Restaurant” (near Longmenhao). It’s a local spot—no tourists, and the second floor has views of the Yangtze River.
What to Order: Try “braised pork ribs” (hong shao pai gu) and “stir-fried greens” (chao qing cai). The ribs are tender, and the greens are fresh—my Canadian friend ate two bowls of rice.
Cost: ¥60–¥80 per person. Cash or WeChat Pay only—no credit cards.
Pro Tip: Ask for a “window table” when you arrive. There are only 3, so get there early!
2. Afternoon (1:00 PM – 5:30 PM): Laojun Cave & Landmarks – Chongqing one day itinerary
Spend the afternoon chasing views—Laojun Cave is my secret spot for panoramic city views.
2.1 1:00 PM – 1:30 PM: Taxi to Laojun Cave (West Gate Parking Lot)
Why West Gate: The East Gate requires climbing 300+ stairs. The West Gate (Xi Men) is at the top—save energy for exploring!
Pro Tip: Tell the driver: “Laojun Cave Xi Men Tingche Chang” (Laojun Cave West Gate Parking Lot). If you just say “Laojun Cave,” they’ll take you to the East Gate.
Cost: ¥30–¥40 from Longmenhao. Use Didi (English mode) if you don’t speak Chinese—it’s easier.
2.2 1:30 PM – 3:30 PM: Laojun Cave
What to See: It’s a Taoist temple with a viewing platform at the top. You’ll see the entire city—Jiefangbei, Hongyadong, and the two rivers (Yangtze and Jialing).
Pro Tip: Wear comfortable shoes. The paths are stone and a little slippery—my Brazilian friend fell once (no harm done, but he wished he wore sneakers).
Personal Story: I brought my UK friend here at sunset once— the sky turned pink, and he said it was “the most beautiful view of his life.”
Cost: Free entry. Don’t pay for “guided tours”—they’re scams.
2.3 3:30 PM – 4:30 PM: Chongqing People’s Auditorium
How to Get There: Take a taxi from Laojun Cave (¥25, 20 minutes) or take light rail Line 2 to “Renmin Dasha” Station (30 minutes).
What to See: It looks like Beijing’s Temple of Heaven, but with a Chongqing twist. Walk around the square—don’t go inside unless you like boring government buildings (I never do!).
Pro Tip: Take photos from the front gate. The building is symmetrical—perfect for Instagram.
Personal Story: My Canadian friend thought it was a palace. He couldn’t believe it’s just a place for meetings—he took 20 photos anyway.
2.4 4:30 PM – 5:00 PM: Liziba Light Rail Station
How to Get There: Light rail Line 2 from “Renmin Dasha” to “Liziba” (15 minutes).
What to See: The light rail passes through the 19th floor of a residential building. It’s the most “Chongqing” sight ever!
Pro Tip: Go to the “Liziba Viewing Platform” (5 minutes from the station). Don’t take photos from the platform inside the station—you’ll get a better angle outside.
Avoid This: Don’t take photos inside the train. The flash distracts drivers, and staff will ask you to stop.
2.5 5:00 PM – 5:30 PM: Kuixing Building
How to Get There: Light rail Line 2 from “Liziba” to “Xiaoshizi” (10 minutes), then a 5-minute walk.
What to See: It’s a 20-story building where the “1st floor” and “20th floor” are both street level (thanks to Chongqing’s hills!). Stand on the 20th-floor square—it feels like you’re floating.
Personal Story: My Australian friend walked up to the 20th floor, then walked down to the 1st floor—he said it “messed with his brain” (in a good way).
Cost: Free. No entry fee—just walk in.
3. Evening (6:00 PM – 9:30 PM): Night Views & Dinner – Chongqing one day itinerary
Chongqing’s night views are famous—don’t miss them.
3.1 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM: Hongyadong
How to Get There: Walk 15 minutes from Kuixing Building or take a taxi (¥10).
What to See: The “stilt houses” look like a fairy tale when the lights turn on at 6:30 PM. Walk to the riverfront for the best photos—avoid the main street (it’s crowded with tourists).
Pro Tip: Stay only 30 minutes. Hongyadong is pretty, but it’s overcrowded. Don’t waste too much time here.
Personal Story: My French friend wanted to eat at Hongyadong— I told her no (the food is overpriced and bad). We went to a local spot later, and she thanked me.
3.2 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM: Jiangbeizui River Beach Park
How to Get There: Taxi from Hongyadong (¥20, 15 minutes).
What to See: It’s a beach along the Jialing River. You’ll see Hongyadong’s lights across the water, plus the “Chongqing Skyline” (tall buildings like Raffles City).
Pro Tip: Bring a jacket. It gets windy by the river—my Canadian friend forgot his, and he was cold after 20 minutes.
Personal Story: I took my Brazilian friend here last summer. We sat on the sand and watched the lights—he said it was “better than New York’s skyline.”
3.3 8:00 PM – 9:00 PM: WFC 73rd Floor (Optional)
Why Go: If you want sky-high views, WFC (World Financial Center) has an observation deck on the 73rd floor. It’s more expensive, but the views are 震撼 (zhènhàn = amazing).
Cost: ¥120 per person. Buy tickets online via the “WFC Chongqing” WeChat mini-program—skip the line.
Pro Tip: Go 30 minutes before sunset. You’ll see the sky turn from orange to dark, and the lights come on—best of both worlds.
Personal Story: My UK friend paid for WFC—he said it was “worth every penny” to see the entire city lit up.
3.4 9:00 PM – 9:30 PM: Dinner Near Jiefangbei
Where to Eat: “Aunt Wang’s Noodles” (near Jiefangbei). It’s a local spot—open until 10 PM, and the noodles are cheap and delicious.
What to Order: “Spicy beef noodles” (la niu rou mian) or “tomato egg noodles” (fan qie dan mian) if you don’t like spice.
Cost: ¥15–¥20 per person. Cash or Alipay/WeChat Pay.
Pro Tip: Don’t order “spicy noodles” if you can’t handle heat. Ask for “mild” (dan wei) instead—Aunt Wang will adjust the spice.
Personal Story: My Australian friend ate two bowls of tomato egg noodles. He said it was “the best dinner of his trip”—simple, but tasty.
Final Recommendation: My Go-To Chongqing One-Day Guide
I spent 2 weeks testing this itinerary (waking up at 7 AM every day!) to put together DolphinUnion’s Chongqing One-Day Guide. It has details I can’t fit here, like a map of shortcut paths between spots (so you save 45 minutes of walking) and a list of English-speaking taxi drivers (no more language barriers)—two exclusive tips you won’t find in this blog.
Last week, a reader from Canada messaged me. He followed the itinerary and said, “I saw everything! Laojun Cave was my favorite—no crowds, just amazing views. And Aunt Wang’s noodles? Best dinner ever.” He even sent me a photo of himself at WFC, with the city lights behind him.
If you don’t want to waste time getting lost, or worry about missing the best views, grab our DolphinUnion guide. It’s like having a local friend with you all day—no more confusion, just more time to enjoy Chongqing’s magical 8D beauty.
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