CHONGQING · DAY TRIPS
Day trips from Chongqing
Chongqing is the gateway to the Three Gorges and the Yangtze River cruise route east toward Yichang. High-speed rail now connects it westward toward Chengdu and north toward Xi'an, greatly expanding the day-trip and overnight options available.
Destinations within reach
Dazu Rock Carvings
大足石刻
- How to get there
- HSR from Chongqing North to Dazu North; bus or taxi to Baodingshan
- What to see
- UNESCO-listed Tang and Song dynasty Buddhist, Daoist, and Confucian rock carvings; Baodingshan's continuous narrative frieze is the centrepiece.
- Why go
- One of the most accessible and underrated UNESCO sites in western China; the Wheel of Life at Baodingshan is visually extraordinary.
Chengdu
成都
- How to get there
- G trains every 15–30 minutes from Chongqing North or Shapingba to Chengdu East or South
- What to see
- Giant Panda Base; Jinli ancient street; Leshan Giant Buddha accessible from Chengdu as a nested day trip.
- Why go
- The logical companion city to Chongqing — related cuisines, Sichuan Basin culture, and very different urban personalities.
Three Gorges Cruise (Yangtze River)
三峡游船
- How to get there
- Cruise ships depart from Chaotianmen Dock; journey to Yichang takes 2–4 days depending on vessel type
- What to see
- Qutang, Wu, and Xiling gorges; Shennong Stream; Three Gorges Dam at journey's end.
- Why go
- Chongqing is the classic departure point for the Yangtze gorges cruise; a one-night cruise covers the main gorge scenery.
Wulong Karst Landscape
武隆喀斯特
- How to get there
- HSR from Chongqing North to Wulong; shuttle bus to Tiankeng Geological Park or Furong Cave
- What to see
- UNESCO-listed karst terrain with sky caves (tiankeng), natural bridges, and Furong Cave's limestone formations.
- Why go
- The scenery in Wulong (partly a filming location for Transformers 4) is dramatic; Tiankeng is a 320m-deep collapsed cave.
Fengdu Ghost City
丰都鬼城
- How to get there
- Ferry from Chaotianmen; or coach from Chongqing bus terminals
- What to see
- Temple complex dedicated to the Chinese underworld; Ming Shan hill with ghost-deity statues; Yangtze River views.
- Why go
- A genuinely unusual site combining folklore, religious art, and riverside scenery.
Jinfo Mountain
金佛山
- How to get there
- HSR from Chongqing South to Nanchuan; shuttle bus to Jinfo Mountain
- What to see
- UNESCO natural heritage site; alpine grassland above 2,000m; summer cable car; winter skiing.
- Why go
- A cooler escape from Chongqing's summer heat; the drive up through the cloud zone is scenic.
Ciqikou Ancient Town
磁器口古镇
- How to get there
- Metro Line 1 to Ciqikou station
- What to see
- Ming-dynasty river port town with preserved wooden buildings, temples, and food stalls; technically within Chongqing but district feels distinct.
- Why go
- A relaxed half-day from the busy city centre; the street food and traditional architecture contrast with Chongqing's modern high-rises.
Verified May 2026