Chongqing 5-Day Itinerary — 8D City, Wulong Karst, Dazu Carvings & a Slow Day 2026

Why 5 days?

Chongqing rewards the traveller who stays longer

Most people who do Chongqing in 3 days come back having seen only the centre. The city has layers — sometimes literally. The first layer is the famous 8D city: Hongyadong stacked over the river, the monorail punching through a residential tower at Liziba, skyscrapers clinging to cliffs. The next layer sits outside town — the Wulong Karst, where Transformers: Age of Extinction was filmed, and the millennium-old Dazu Rock Carvings. The last layer is the slow side of local life: coffee in a converted printing factory, a night view from Nanshan, a steaming hotpot rounded off with a bowl of sugar-water dessert.

This plan is built to be different from a 3- or 4-day trip — it fits two day trips (the Wulong Karst on Day 3 and Dazu on Day 4), where a shorter plan forces you to choose just one, and it still leaves a final day to wander the city the way most visitors never do. If you have less time, start with our Chongqing day-trips guide to pick the excursion that suits you best.

Before you book, read our 10 best Chongqing hotels to choose a base — this plan uses central Jiefangbei / Yuzhong, within walking distance of Hongyadong and a short metro ride from everything else.

5 Days · 4 Nights Two day trips: Wulong + Dazu Monorail through a building + night views Budget ¥1,300–2,600/person

1

Day 1

Jiefangbei, Hongyadong and the Yangtze River Cableway

Jiefangbei square in central Chongqing — skyscrapers and the shopping district of Yuzhong

🌅 Morning

Start at the heart of the city — Jiefangbei (解放碑), the Liberation Monument that has anchored Yuzhong since the 1940s, ringed by a pedestrian zone and big malls. Spend the morning poking around the lanes and the adjacent Bayi Good Food Street (八一好吃街), where a bowl of malatang and a few Chongqing snacks make a fine late breakfast. Take the metro Loop Line / Line 2 to Linjiangmen or Jiaochangkou. More in our Jiefangbei guide.

☀️ Afternoon

Walk down from Jiefangbei to the Jialing riverbank, about 10–15 minutes, to reach Hongyadong (洪崖洞) — the eleven-storey cluster of stilt houses (吊脚楼) clinging to the cliff that has become Chongqing's signature image. By day you can wander the architecture and shops for free. The fun part is pure 8D: enter on level 1 at the riverside street, ride the lift up, and step out on level 11 onto a completely different street at a higher elevation. Read our Hongyadong guide.

🌙 Evening

Before sunset, ride the Yangtze River Cableway (长江索道) from the Xinhua Road station on the Yuzhong side across to Nan'an — a one-way ticket is ¥30 (฿150) and it is one of the best vantage points over the river and skyline. See our cableway guide. Then wait for full dark and return to the Hongyadong side: around 19:00 the golden lights switch on across all eleven floors and reflect off the water — the moment Chongqing looks its very best. Tonight's first dinner has to be Chongqing hotpot, the nine-grid red-broth kind.

Tip: The best night photo of Hongyadong is from Qiansimen Bridge (千厮门大桥), a few minutes' walk away — the angle catches all eleven floors with the bridge and river behind. Arrive before 19:00 to claim a spot; it gets very crowded at weekends.

2

Day 2

The 8D City — Liziba, Eling Park and Ciqikou Old Town

Chongqing Metro Line 2 monorail running through a residential tower block at Liziba station

🌅 Morning

Today is for collecting the full "8D city" set. Start at Liziba (李子坝) on Metro Line 2 — China's first monorail station built straight through a 19-storey residential tower, with the track on floors 6–7 and the platform on floor 8. There is a free viewing platform (观景平台) across the way to watch the train slide in and out of the building. Go early for soft light and fewer people. Read our Liziba guide.

☀️ Afternoon

Stay on Line 2 a few stops to Eling Park (鹅岭公园), a hilltop garden on the Yuzhong ridge whose Liangjiang Pavilion (两江亭) looks out over both rivers wrapping the peninsula — a local favourite, and free. See our Eling Park guide. Right beside it is Eling Er Chang / Testbed 2 (二厂文创公园), a 1950s printing factory reborn as an arts-and-design park with cafes, independent shops and plenty of photogenic corners — an easy place to slow down over a coffee.

🌙 Evening

In the late afternoon, ride Line 1 to its old-town terminus area at Ciqikou (磁器口古镇) — a Ming–Qing river port on the Jialing with stone-paved lanes, freshly fried mahua (麻花) twists, teahouses and souvenir stalls. Getting lost in the lanes at dusk is the whole point, and entry is free. Read our Ciqikou guide. For dinner, head back into town for some fiery jianghu cuisine (江湖菜), Chongqing's bold, no-frills home cooking.

8D city tip: Chongqing is vertical — the floor where the metro stops is rarely the street level you expect. Some stations (like Hongtudi on Lines 6/10) are so deep you need several lifts or escalators to surface. Check the exit signs and always leave extra time to move between levels. See our full Chongqing attractions guide.

3

Day 3 — Day Trip #1

The Wulong Karst — Three Natural Bridges by High-Speed Rail

Wulong Karst Three Natural Bridges — giant limestone sinkholes and natural stone bridges, a UNESCO site near Chongqing

🚄 Morning — train and into the park

Leave early from Chongqing North (重庆北站) on a high-speed train to Wulong. The faster line that opened in mid-2025 reaches Wulong South (武隆南) in as little as 40 minutes (around ¥67 / ฿335); the older Wulong station takes about 2 hours with roughly six departures a day. Check times and book ahead on the 12306 app.

From the station, a bus or taxi takes you to the Wulong visitor centre (about 45 minutes from Wulong South), then a shuttle bus runs about 10 minutes into the Three Natural Bridges (天生三桥) — a chain of three colossal natural stone bridges spanning vast limestone sinkholes. On the canyon floor stands the wooden coaching inn used as a set in Transformers: Age of Extinction and several Chinese dramas. Allow 2–3 hours to walk it.

🏞️ Afternoon — gorge and caves

If you still have energy and time, the nearby Longshuixia Gorge (龙水峡地缝) drops you down into a deep rock cleft with waterfalls and cool spray (separate ticket). But if you mean to be back this evening, it is better to give the Three Natural Bridges your full attention. Scenic-area tickets and the in-park shuttle are usually sold as a combined package — check on site or book ahead.

🚄 Evening — back to Chongqing

Take an evening train back to Chongqing North, leaving at least 1.5–2 hours to get from the park to the station, since you have a shuttle and a bus to connect. Arrive in the city to rest, or reward yourself with a famous hotpot to close the day. Read the full Wulong Karst guide.

Tip: Today involves several connections (train + bus + in-park shuttle). If you would rather not juggle them, a Klook day tour with door-to-door transport and all the tickets bundled in is far simpler, especially for a group — see the options in our Chongqing day-trips guide.

4

Day 4 — Day Trip #2

The Dazu Rock Carvings — a UNESCO Site 30 Minutes Away

Dazu Rock Carvings at Baoding Mountain — a reclining Buddha and Buddhist cliff sculptures, a UNESCO site near Chongqing

🚄 Morning — train and Baoding Mountain

Leave from Chongqing West (重庆西站) on a high-speed train direct to Dazu South (大足南站) — just 26–33 minutes, with a 2nd-class ticket around ¥40 (฿200) and 1st class about ¥64. It is faster and easier than yesterday's Wulong run.

From Dazu South, a taxi straight to Baoding Mountain (宝顶山) takes about 30 minutes for ¥50–60 (or take bus No. 204 and transfer to the tourist shuttle). This is the most complete group of carvings, sculpted under the Southern Song dynasty around 1174–1252, including a 31-metre reclining Buddha and the breathtaking gilded Thousand-Armed Avalokiteshvara (千手观音). Allow 1.5–2 hours to walk it.

🛕 Afternoon — Beishan or Dazu town

If time allows, stop at Beishan (北山) near Dazu town — smaller carvings but exquisitely fine, especially the Tang–Song bodhisattvas and Guanyin figures. Or, having had your fill of Baoding, settle in for lunch in Dazu town before heading back. Read the full Dazu Rock Carvings guide.

🚄 Evening — back to Chongqing

Take an afternoon or early-evening train back to Chongqing West. The last train runs around 20:57, but don't cut it fine — leave at least 2 hours to get from Baoding Mountain back to the station. Back in the city, try some Chongqing grilled fish (烤鱼), smoky and spiced, to round off the day.

Alternative — a Chengdu HSR day: If you would rather swap the rock carvings for something completely different, take a high-speed train from Chongqing North to Chengdu East (成都东) in as little as 1 to 1.5 hours (with more than 60 departures a day) for Wenshu Monastery, Jinli Street or the Chengdu pandas, then ride back in the evening — see all the options in our Chongqing day-trips guide.

5

Day 5

Nanshan Views, Eling Er Chang Cafes, Hotpot and Sugar-Water

View of the Yangtze River and Chongqing's skyline from the Nan'an side at dusk

🌅 Morning — a slow last day

After two back-to-back day trips, ease off today. Start late at Eling Er Chang / Testbed 2 (if you skipped it on Day 2) or work through the cafes of Yuzhong — Chongqing's coffee scene is growing fast, from converted factories to hidden hillside lanes. Sip a coffee with a city view and recharge before you head out. See our Chongqing cafe guide.

☀️ Afternoon — your pick

Choose the afternoon that suits you:

For the view: Head up to Nanshan (南山) and the One Tree Viewing Platform (一棵树观景台), at about 300–320 metres, looking over the whole Yuzhong peninsula wrapped by two rivers — the view only gets better after 20:00 once the city lights up.

For 8D architecture: Visit Raffles City Chongqing (来福士) at Chaotianmen (朝天门) — twin towers linked by a sky-bridge "Crystal" on the 42nd floor, with an observation deck over the point where the two rivers meet.

To slow down: Mop up whatever you missed — stroll Nanbin Road (南滨路) on the Nan'an side for the skyline across the water, or revisit old lanes from our Chongqing attractions guide.

🍲 Evening — a hotpot finale

Finish the trip with the thing Chongqing does best — a nine-grid red-broth hotpot (九宫格火锅), rich with beef tallow and fragrant mala chillies. Order beef, tripe, mushrooms and potato, dip in sesame oil with garlic, then cool the heat with a bowl of sugar-water dessert (糖水) — iced bingfen or sweet red bean. See our Chongqing food guide for the best spots and dishes.

Departure tip: If you fly out the next morning, the airport is to the north — Metro Lines 3 and 10 run direct to Jiangbei (江北机场) for ¥5–10, about 50–70 minutes from the centre. T3 is the big terminal with most flights, so check which terminal your flight uses, and always allow extra time for the walk-and-transfer in this vertical city.

Plan before you go

Where to Stay, How to Get Around

🏨

Where to stay for these 5 days

For this plan, stay central in Jiefangbei / Yuzhong — Day 1 puts Hongyadong and the cableway within walking distance, Day 2 connects straight to Liziba, Eling and Ciqikou on Lines 1/2, and on Days 3–4 you ride the metro directly to the HSR stations (Chongqing North / West).

If you prefer a cross-river skyline, the Nan'an / Nanbin side works too, with a little more metro time into the centre.

Luxury: Niccolo · IC Raffles City Chongqing · JW Marriott Mid-range & budget: Atour · Yuzhong boutiques · hostels near Jiefangbei See 6 luxury Chongqing hotels →

🚇

Getting around — metro + HSR

Chongqing Rail Transit has over 13 lines at ¥2–12 per ride. The lines this plan uses:

Line 2 — Liziba (the through-the-building monorail) · Eling
Line 1 — Ciqikou · Jiefangbei (Xiaoshizi side)
Line 3 / Line 10 — Jiangbei Airport (CKG)
HSR: Chongqing North → Wulong · Chongqing West → Dazu

Recommended: Scan Alipay/WeChat at the metro gate · book HSR on the 12306 app with your passport Maps app: Amap (高德地图) is more accurate than Google in China

Budget

5-Day Costs — a Realistic Estimate

The figures below are per person, per day, excluding flights and travel insurance. Accommodation assumes a mid-range hotel (¥350–700 per room per night); sharing a room between two cuts it sharply. The two day trips (Wulong / Dazu) cost more than the in-city days because of the train fares and park tickets.

Item	Days 1–2 (city)	Day 3 (Wulong)	Day 4 (Dazu)	Day 5 (slow)
Accommodation (1 night/person)	¥350–700 ฿1,750–3,500	¥350–700	¥350–700	¥350–700
Attractions	¥30–60 ฿150–300	¥125–175 ฿625–875	¥115–135 ฿575–675	¥0–60 ฿0–300
Trains / metro	¥15–40	¥150–200 (HSR + bus/shuttle)	¥110–160 (round-trip HSR + taxi)	¥10–40
Food	¥120–280	¥80–150 (in-park food)	¥80–150	¥150–300 (hotpot finale)
Total/person/day	¥515–1,080	¥705–1,225	¥655–1,145	¥510–1,100

5-day total per person (approx): ¥3,000–5,500 (~฿15,000–27,500) covering accommodation, tickets, food and trains, excluding flights · Budget (hostel + cheap eats + free sights): ¥1,800–2,800 (~฿9,000–14,000) · Luxury (5-star hotel + a guided tour with transport + a riverside dinner): ¥6,500+ (~฿32,500+).

See every budget level in our 10 best Chongqing hotels or 6 luxury Chongqing hotels.

Plan further

Before You Visit Chongqing for 5 Days

Is 5 days enough for Chongqing?

Five days lets you cover the central 8D city, a day trip to the Wulong Karst, a day trip to the Dazu Rock Carvings and a slow final day of night views and hotpot — without rushing. This plan builds in breathing room on the last day. If you have less time, start with our Chongqing day-trips guide to pick the single excursion that suits you best.

How do I get to the Wulong Karst from Chongqing?

Take a high-speed train from Chongqing North (重庆北) to Wulong. The older Wulong station takes about 2 hours with around six departures a day; a faster line that opened in mid-2025 reaches Wulong South (武隆南) in as little as 40 minutes (around ¥67 / ฿335). From the station, a bus or taxi takes you to the visitor centre, then a shuttle bus runs about 10 minutes into the Three Natural Bridges. Read the full Wulong Karst guide.

How do I get to the Dazu Rock Carvings from Chongqing?

Take a high-speed train from Chongqing West (重庆西) direct to Dazu South (大足南), about 26–33 minutes; a 2nd-class ticket is around ¥40 (฿200). From Dazu South, a taxi to Baoding Mountain (宝顶山) takes about 30 minutes and costs ¥50–60, or take bus No. 204 and transfer to the tourist shuttle. The last train back to Chongqing is around 20:57, so leave at least 2 hours to return to the station. Read the full Dazu Rock Carvings guide.

What is the best time of year to visit Chongqing?

March–May (spring) and September–November (autumn — clearer and cooler, the best window) are ideal. June–August is brutally hot and humid (around 38–40°C — Chongqing is one of China's "Three Furnaces"). December–February is cool and often grey and foggy ("Fog City"), but the Hongyadong lights still shine. Avoid Golden Week (1–7 October) and Spring Festival, when crowds peak.

Which apps do I need to get around Chongqing?

Pay for the metro by scanning Alipay or WeChat at the gate, or use the Chongqing Metro app. Book intercity trains on the 12306 app (available in English; your passport is required). For maps and directions, Amap (高德地图) or Apple Maps are far more accurate than Google in China. And remember Chongqing is a vertical city — the floor where the metro stops is often not the street level you expect, so check the exit.

Do I need a VPN for Chongqing?

If you rely on Google Maps, Instagram or Facebook, download and test a VPN before you leave home — you cannot download VPN apps inside Mainland China. Amap, Alipay and WeChat all work normally without a VPN. See our guide to internet, VPN and eSIM in China.

Chongqing Without the Rush —
5 Days for the City, Wulong and Dazu

Chongqing rewards the traveller who stays longer

Where to Stay, How to Get Around

5-Day Costs — a Realistic Estimate

Read Next Before You Go

Before You Visit Chongqing for 5 Days

Wulong and Dazu tours, Yangtze cableway tickets and Three Gorges cruises — book on Klook

Chongqing Without the Rush —5 Days for the City, Wulong and Dazu

Chongqing rewards the traveller who stays longer

Where to Stay, How to Get Around

5-Day Costs — a Realistic Estimate

Read Next Before You Go

Before You Visit Chongqing for 5 Days

Wulong and Dazu tours, Yangtze cableway tickets and Three Gorges cruises — book on Klook

Chongqing Without the Rush —
5 Days for the City, Wulong and Dazu