Why Rongchang Beats Other Chongqing Day Trips: 1-Day Insider Tips
- DolphinUnion
- Nov 12, 2025
- 5 min read
As a Chongqing local helping foreign travelers for 8 years, I’ve found that many visitors stick to popular spots like Chengdu or Guiyang for day trips—yet they miss Rongchang (荣昌，a district in Chongqing Municipality), a hidden gem famous for its ancient towns, handmade pottery, and mouthwatering braised goose. My recent Singaporean client, Lim Jia Hui, shared, “I almost chose a day trip to Leshan, but your tip about Rongchang changed my mind—I spent a day there and it’s the most authentic Chinese experience I’ve had!” This guide will show you why Rongchang stands out among Chongqing day trips, with practical tips, real stories, and everything you need for a smooth 1-day visit.
Morning: Wander Wanling Ancient Town (万灵古镇，Wanling Guzhen) – Touch History
Wanling Ancient Town is Rongchang’s most famous attraction—a well-preserved Ming and Qing dynasty town built along the Laixi River (濑溪河，Laixi He). From Chongqing, you can take a high-speed train (gaotie) from Chongqing West Station (重庆西站，Chongqing Xi Zhan) to Rongchang North Station (荣昌北站，Rongchang Bei Zhan) – it takes just 30-40 minutes and costs ¥36 one-way. From the train station, a taxi to the town takes 20 minutes (¥25-30) or a bus (Route 109) for ¥2.
I visited Wanling with a Canadian couple, Tom and Lisa, last month. They loved the town’s stone bridges and blue-tiled roofs—especially Darong Bridge (大荣桥，Darong Qiao), the town’s iconic stone arch bridge perfect for photos. “We walked along the flagstone streets and popped into small shops selling Xiabu (夏布，handwoven linen) and folding fans (折扇，zheshan) – the craftsmanship is amazing,” Tom said. Plan to spend 2-3 hours here: don’t miss Zhao Clan Ancestral Hall (赵氏宗祠，Zhaoshi Zongci) and Huguang Guild Hall (湖广会馆，Huguang Huiguan) to learn about Rongchang’s migration history. The town is free to enter, and most shops open at 9:00 AM.
（Chongqing to Rongchang 1-day travel guide for foreign tourists）
Noon: Savor Rongchang’s Signature Foods – A Taste of Local Flavor
After exploring Wanling, head to a local restaurant for lunch—Rongchang’s food is a highlight you can’t miss. The must-try dishes are:
Rongchang Braised Goose (荣昌卤鹅，Rongchang Lu’e): The town’s claim to fame—tender goose meat with rich, savory sauce, often served with spicy dipping sauce. A 500g portion costs ¥45, and you can get it vacuum-sealed to take home.
Rongchang Yellow Jelly Noodles (荣昌黄凉粉，Rongchang Huang Liangfen): Made from local peas, it’s silky and spicy—perfect for a hot day (¥8 a bowl).
Pugai Noodles (铺盖面，Pugai Mian): Hand-pulled noodles as thin as a blanket, served in a flavorful broth (¥12 a bowl).
I recommended “Ao’s Lane Braised Goose (敖家巷卤鹅，Aojiaxiang Lu’e)” to Lim, the Singaporean client. She said, “I’m not a big fan of goose, but this was incredible—I even bought a vacuum-sealed pack for my family!” For a casual meal, Wanling Town has small farm-to-table restaurants; for more famous spots, head to Rongchang’s city center (15 minutes from the town by taxi).
Afternoon: Explore Antao Town (安陶小镇，Antao Xiao Zhen) – Dive into Pottery Culture
Rongchang Pottery (荣昌陶，Rongchang Tao) is one of China’s “Four Famous Pottery Styles” (alongside Yixing Zisha), and Antao Town is the best place to experience it. From Wanling, a taxi to Antao Town takes 30 minutes (¥40-45) or a bus (Route 203) for ¥3.
The town’s main attractions are Rongchang Pottery Museum (荣昌陶博物馆，Rongchang Tao Bowuguan) – free to enter, with exhibits on pottery history and craftsmanship – and Taobao Ancient Street (陶宝古街，Taobao Gujie), where you can buy pottery from small workshops (teacups cost ¥20-50, vases ¥100-300). Many workshops offer pottery-making experiences: I did a 1-hour wheel-throwing class with a German traveler, Lena, who said, “I’ve never made pottery before—it was messy but so fun! I shipped my bowl home, and it arrived safely.” The class costs ¥80 per person (including firing, with shipping options for ¥30). Plan to spend 2-3 hours here—most spots close at 5:00 PM.
Evening (Optional): Visit Xiabu Town (夏布小镇，Xiabu Xiao Zhen) – Experience Intangible Heritage
If you have extra time, head to Xiabu Town (20 minutes from Antao Town by taxi, ¥30-35) – a cultural area focused on Xiabu (夏布，handwoven linen), a national intangible cultural heritage. The Xiabu Museum (夏布博物馆，Xiabu Bowuguan) shows how linen is made from ramie, and you can even try weaving (¥50 for a 30-minute experience). The town’s buildings have traditional Chinese designs, and the night views are stunning— 可惜 Lim had to leave early, but she said, “I’ll add Xiabu Town to my next trip to Rongchang!” Plan 1 hour here if you visit; the town is free to enter.
Solving Common Travel Problems in Rongchang
Foreign travelers often face small hurdles in Rongchang, but they’re easy to fix with these tips:
Language Barriers: Download Google Translate (with offline Chinese pack) and save DolphinUnion’s free “Essential Phrases” (like “I’m allergic to chili” = “Wo dui lajiao guomin”). Lena used this to order food: “The waiter didn’t speak English, but the translation app worked perfectly—I got exactly what I wanted.”
Cashless Payment: Link your foreign Visa/Mastercard to Alipay (支付宝，Zhifubao) in 5 steps: Open Alipay → Tap “Wallet” → “Add Card” → Select “International Card” → Enter your details. Tom said, “We paid for everything with our phones—taxis, food, pottery—no cash needed!”
Navigation: Use Amap (高德地图，Gaode Ditu) and search for attractions by their pinyin (e.g., “Wanling Guzhen”). DolphinUnion’s premium guide has pre-mapped links—tap once to navigate, no typing needed. “Amap got us from the train station to Wanling without getting lost,” Lisa said.
Why Your Rongchang Day Trip Will Be Unforgettable
A 1-day trip from Chongqing to Rongchang gives you something most day trips don’t: authentic culture, no big crowds, and local experiences you’ll remember. As someone who’s planned 1,000+ trips, I know this itinerary works—It’s affordable (total cost: ¥200-300 per person), not rushed, and shows you a side of Chongqing many visitors miss.
To make your trip even smoother, use DolphinUnion’s “Chongqing 144-hours citywalk E-guide” ($9.99 with 45% off) – it has detailed train timetables, restaurant addresses, and Amap links for Rongchang.
Buy 2 guides (like adding “Guilin 72-hour Essential Itinerary”) and get 20% off, or 6 guides for 55% off! Lim used this guide: “DolphinUnion’s tips saved me time— I didn’t have to research anything, just follow the steps.”
Ready to explore Rongchang?
to start planning—your authentic Chongqing day trip awaits.
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