Is Yunyang Worth Visiting from Chongqing? A 2-Day Local's Guide
- DolphinUnion
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
As a Chongqing local helping foreign travelers for 8 years, I’ve noticed a hidden gem most visitors miss: Yunyang (云阳，a county in Chongqing Municipality) blends dramatic karst landscapes, ancient history, and trickier "mountain city" terrain than downtown Chongqing—yet it’s rarely on foreign itineraries. My recent Australian client, Emma Wilson, shared, “I almost skipped Yunyang to go to Chengdu, but your tip changed my trip—I spent 2 days there and it’s now my favorite part of China!” This guide will show you why a 2-day trip from Chongqing to Yunyang is worth every minute, with real tips from foreign travelers and my on-the-ground experience.
Yunyang’s biggest draw is its mix of nature and history, and the first stop on any 2-day trip should be Longgang Scenic Area (龙缸景区，Longgang Jingqu—a national 5A scenic spot famous for its “sky hole” and glass bridges).
From central Chongqing, take a high-speed train (高铁，gaotie) to Yunyang North Station (云阳北站，Yunyang Beizhan)—it takes just 1.5 hours and costs ¥89 one-way, or a bus (大巴车，daba che) for ¥65 that takes 2.5 hours.
（Chongqing to Yunyang 2-day travel guide for foreign tourists）
I took a Canadian family, the Thompsons, to Longgang last month; Mr. Thompson laughed and said, “We thought Chongqing was hilly, but Longgang’s trails are next-level—worth the sore legs!”
Plan to spend the entire first day here: the park is large, and while the red leaves (红叶，hongye) weren’t fully blooming when they visited in early November (the best time is mid-to-late November), the turquoise lakes and cliff views still took their breath away. Skip the extreme activities like Cloud Swing (云端秋千，Yunduan Qiuqian) and Feiyada (飞亚达，a cliffside walk) if you’re afraid of heights
—Emma told me, “I watched others do the swing and decided my photos were enough!”
On day 2, focus on Yunyang’s cultural spots—all within 10km of downtown, so you’ll save time on transport. Start with Zhangfei Temple (张飞庙，Zhangfei Miao—a 1,700-year-old temple honoring a Three Kingdoms hero), then head to Three Gorges Stair City (三峡梯城，Sanxia Ticheng—a complex with 1,975 stone steps and a cultural park).
Don’t miss the Cultural Relics Garden (文物园，Wenwuyuan) inside Stair City: when the Three Gorges Dam was built, ancient relics that would’ve been flooded were moved here.
My German client, Lars Müller, said, “I love history, and this garden made Yunyang’s past feel real—not just a textbook.”
End the day with a walk at Panshi City (磐石城，Panshi Cheng—a historic fortress with city views) or Longji Ridge Park (龙脊岭公园，Longji Ling Gongyuan).
Lunch at a local restaurant near Stair City—try Yunyang Spicy Noodles (云阳辣面，Yunyang Lamian) for ¥12;
Lars called it “better than any noodles I had in Chongqing!”
Most foreign travelers worry about practical issues in Yunyang, but they’re easy to fix.
For language barriers: download Google Translate (with offline Chinese pack) and save the “Essential Phrases” from DolphinUnion’s free guide
—Lars used it to order food: “I showed the waiter the translation for ‘no chili’ and got exactly what I wanted!”
For 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.
Emma did this before her trip and said, “I paid for everything with my phone—even street snacks! No more carrying cash.”
For navigation: use Amap (高德地图，Gaode Ditu) and search for the spots by their pinyin—my tip: save the pre-mapped links from DolphinUnion’s premium guide, so you can navigate offline.
The Thompsons said, “Amap got us from the train station to Longgang without a single wrong turn—we never would’ve found it with Google Maps.”
A 2-day trip from Chongqing to Yunyang gives you the perfect mix of nature, history, and local life—without the crowds of big cities. As someone who’s helped 1,000+ foreign travelers, I know this trip works: it’s affordable (total transport + tickets around ¥300), not too tiring, and shows you a side of Chongqing most miss.
To make your trip even smoother,
use DolphinUnion’s “Chongqing 144-hours citywalk E-guide” ($9.99 with 45% off)
or Chongqing An 144-Hour Adventure Through World Heritage Sites” (if you want to extend your trip)
—buy 2 guides and get 20% off, 6 guides for 55% off!
Emma summed it up best: “DolphinUnion’s tips made Yunyang easy—I didn’t stress about trains, language, or where to go. It’s the best travel decision I made in China.”
Ready to explore Chongqing like a local?
and start planning—your 2-day adventure from Chongqing awaits.
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