Beyond Beijing and Shanghai, Chongqing deserves a spot on your China travel itinerary. This city offers unique attractions found nowhere else—from its multi-level city layout, captivating cultural performances, to breathtaking natural scenery. So, what unique experiences await you in Chongqing?
“3D City” Concept: A Multi-Level Urban Labyrinth
Chongqing is nicknamed the “3D City” because its urban structure is built on hills and steep cliffs. Streets and buildings exist on different levels.
In Chongqing, you might see a bridge above a building, highways running through skyscrapers, or a train station that seems to “cut through” an apartment building.
Extreme elevation differences mean a ground floor on one side can be the tenth floor on the other—creating a confusing but fascinating 3D maze. Even Google Maps often misroutes because of overlapping roads. The best way to uncover Chongqing’s charm is on foot—explore its unusual architecture and local life.
Liziba Station: Riding a Train Through an Apartment Building
Liziba Station is one of Chongqing’s most iconic landmarks—a monorail station that runs through the middle of a residential building. This unusual sight amazes tourists as they see a train pass through the building’s sixth to eighth floors.
Engineers designed the monorail Line 2 to pass through the building due to the hilly terrain and limited space. With soundproofing technology installed, residents aren’t disturbed by passing trains.
Hongyadong: A “Ghibli-Style” Real-World City
Hongyadong is a photogenic, iconic attraction in Chongqing. This tiered complex resembles traditional Chinese architecture and often draws comparisons to the world of Studio Ghibli’s Spirited Away.
Built into a cliff with 11 levels descending toward the river, its top floor connects to a main road while the bottom opens directly to the riverside. This exemplifies the city’s “3D” layout.
Inside, Hongyadong houses restaurants, souvenir shops, tea houses, and food stalls. At night, the entire complex glows under yellow lights—making it feel like a fairy-tale world.
Wulong Karst: The World’s Most Spectacular Limestone Formations
About 130 km from Chongqing’s city center, Wulong Karst features massive limestone arches, natural bridges, and caves formed over millions of years. It's a UNESCO World Heritage site.
The most famous area is Three Natural Bridges—three massive stone arches straddling cliffs and verdant valleys, featured in Transformers: Age of Extinction. Also nearby is Furong Cave, one of China’s most beautiful limestone caves with stunning stalactites and stalagmites.
Sichuan Opera: The Mesmerizing “Face Changing” Performance
Originating from Sichuan Province, Sichuan Opera is famous for its dramatic “face changing” or biàn liǎn technique. While Chengdu is the main center, Chongqing also showcases this cultural art form in traditional theaters and cultural venues.
Actors change masks in an instant to express shifting emotions—an iconic and mesmerizing highlight of the performance.
Three Gorges: Navigating a Thousand-Year Hand-Carved River
The Three Gorges, stretching 311 km along the Yangtze River from Chongqing, feature breathtaking valleys and cliffs.
- Qutang Gorge: The shortest gorge, with towering stone walls for a dramatic effect.
- Wu Gorge: Famous for misty mountains and folklore like the Legend of the Mountain Goddess.
- Xiling Gorge: The longest, with rapids, rocky channels, and manmade detours making the journey thrilling.
The best way to experience the Three Gorges is via a Yangtze River cruise. Travelers can relax onboard while admiring scenery, visiting ancient villages, hilltop temples, and cultural sites.
Fengdu Ghost City: Enter China’s Spiritual “Gateway to the Underworld”
For a spiritual adventure, visit Fengdu Ghost City on the Yangtze’s shores. It symbolizes the journey of the soul after death in traditional Chinese beliefs.
Visitors explore shrines and statues depicting the courtroom of spirits, punishments in the afterlife, and figures like the King of Hell and grim reapers. The Bridge of Helplessness is said to be walkable only by innocent souls. Sites like the Gate of Hell and Hall of the King of Hell dramatize karmic justice.
Charming Chongqing: A Record-Breaking Drone Show
Every Saturday night since April 19, 2025, Chongqing has hosted a spectacular drone show called Charming Chongqing. Tens of thousands of drones light up the sky in formations depicting local culture and urban progress.
On June 17, 2025, the show broke the Guinness World Record with 11,787 drones, forming the largest aerial image by multirotor drones—the remarkable display took place over the Yangtze and Jialing Rivers.
The event continues weekly along the riverbanks for travelers to enjoy.
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