Le Méridien Chongqing, Nan'an — Sleep South-Bank by Wanda Plaza, Open the Curtains to the Whole Chongqing Skyline
Here's the pitch: a design-led 5-star hotel with a genuine spa and sauna to soak in, where you pull back the curtains and see the Yangtze and the full skyscraper skyline of the Yuzhong (渝中) peninsula across the water — and you'll pay noticeably less than the same brand on the old-town side. That's Le Méridien Chongqing, Nan'an (重庆南岸艾美酒店). This Marriott hotel sits on the south bank at Nanping (南坪), Nan'an District, right beside Wanda Plaza (万达广场) and the Nanping pedestrian street, so you step out of the lobby and you're already shopping and eating. Score 9.2/10 from around 1,477 real guest reviews, with rates from about ¥600 (฿3,000) a night. Guests say the same thing again and again — a smart five-star room with a knockout view, at a price that makes you smile — which makes it a particular favourite for couples and anyone in the mood to genuinely unwind.
The first selling point is a south-bank location that gives you both the view and the convenience. The hotel stands at Building 1, No. 23 Jiangnan Avenue (江南大道), in Nanping, Nan'an District (南岸), on the south side of the Yangtze. Look across the river and you see the Yuzhong (渝中) peninsula bristling with the towers that make up the city skyline — so many rooms face out to that whole panorama, especially after dark when the whole city lights up. The building itself is a sleek modern tower with the Le Méridien sign glowing up top, visible from a good distance.
What guests love most is that you walk out of the hotel straight into Wanda Plaza (万达广场) and the Nanping pedestrian street (南坪步行街). Food, cafés, convenience stores, a supermarket, a cinema, brand-name shops — it's all within an easy stroll, so there's no taxi ride when you're hungry or want to shop. Chongqing is the famous 8D mountain city where plenty of hotels leave you hunting for the right exit, but this one is simpler: everything clusters around the front door, which suits anyone who doesn't want a daily logistics puzzle.
One guest recalls: "Beautiful modern room — opened the curtains to the river and the towers on the far side, and at night the whole city glowed. Downstairs is Wanda Plaza for food and shopping, the staff were lovely, and the spa and sauna were so relaxing. For this price, getting a five-star like this felt like more than we paid for."
Getting around is reassuring too. Nanping (南坪) and Gongmao (公贸) stations on Line 3 are about a 3–6 minute walk from the hotel. Line 3 is a main artery that threads right across the city, and the ride over the river to Jiefangbei (解放碑) — the heart of the old town — takes roughly 6 minutes, with onward links to Hongyadong (洪崖洞), the gold cliffside stilt houses, and the rest of the sights. Nanbin Road (南滨路), the south-bank riverside strip lined with restaurants and city night views, is close by as well, just a short taxi hop away.
On rooms and facilities, Le Méridien is positioned as Marriott's lifestyle brand, so the rooms lean modern and artful, with more colour and character than a standard business hotel. Reviewers praise the roomy layouts, the soft beds, the cleanliness, and the river-facing views. Facilities run to a spa and sauna for a proper soak, a gym, restaurants and a lounge, and the buffet breakfast covers both Chinese and Western choices. The staff come across as friendly and helpful, and the overall feel is relaxed — well suited to an unhurried, restful stay.
A score of 9.2/10 from around 1,477 real reviews reflects how pleased most guests come away. The recurring praise is for the good-looking room design, the river-and-skyline view across the water, the genuinely convenient Wanda Plaza location, and the value next to the old-town 5-stars. The things to know before booking are real, though. First, this is the south bank (Nan'an), not the Jiefangbei old town — to wander Hongyadong or the Liberation Monument you'll take the metro across the river first (about 6 minutes, not far, but not on the doorstep). Second, Nanping is a lively residential-and-shopping district rather than a quiet view-only enclave, and the rooms that face into the city won't get the river view — so request the river side if that's what you're after.
Standard rates start at around ~¥600 (฿3,000) per night, with a typical range of ฿3,000–6,000 depending on season and room type — river-view rooms a touch higher. China's long holidays — Golden Week (October 1–7), Chinese New Year, and Labour Day (May 1–5) — are when rates spike and rooms fill fast, so book several weeks ahead and take a free-cancellation rate. All told, if you want a design-forward 5-star with a spa and sauna and that full across-the-river skyline view, for less than the old-town side asks, Le Méridien Nan'an delivers the lot within a reachable budget.
The honest summary, friend to friend: Le Méridien Chongqing, Nan'an is for couples and anyone who wants a stylish, restful stay with a spa and a beautiful river view, and who doesn't mind a roughly 6-minute metro hop across the water to the old quarter. If room design, relaxation and value top your list, this is great value. But if you'd rather sleep right in the Jiefangbei tourist heart within walking distance of Hongyadong, compare it against the Kempinski or Sheraton on the Nan'an riverside, or Niccolo over on the Jiangbei side, in our list first.
Summary from Booking & Agoda
- ✓ Next to Wanda Plaza + the Nanping pedestrian street — shop and eat below the hotel
- ✓ Many rooms face out to the river and the full Yuzhong skyline
- ✓ Design-forward, modern rooms, soft beds, clean, with a spa and sauna
- ✓ Cheaper than the old-town 5-stars — strong value
- ! On the south bank (Nan'an) — you take the metro across to Jiefangbei and Hongyadong, ~6 min
- ! Nanping is a lively residential-and-shopping district, not a quiet view enclave
- ✓ Beautiful river and across-the-water tower views, especially at night
- ✓ Spa, sauna and gym, a relaxed feel — made for an easy, restful stay
- ✓ Nanping/Gongmao metro (Line 3) a 3–6 min walk, ~6 min to Jiefangbei
- ✓ Friendly, helpful staff and a wide-ranging breakfast
- ! Rates spike and rooms fill fast during China's long holidays
- ! City-facing rooms miss the river view — request the river side when you book
- 💡If you want to sleep in the tourist heart, walking distance to Hongyadong · Le Méridien is on the south bank in Nan'an — you'll take Line 3 across the river to Jiefangbei and Hongyadong, ~6 min (not far, but not at the door) · Fix → look at the InterContinental Chongqing Raffles City at the confluence, or Atour S Jiefangbei Hongyadong, a 5-minute walk to Hongyadong
- 💡If you want a guaranteed river view in every room · Some rooms face into the city of Nanping and miss the river · Fix → request a River View room when you book or at check-in — it's worth the difference
- 💡If you want to be right on the south-bank riverfront · This sits in Nanping, set back a little from the water's edge · Fix → the Kempinski or Sheraton in Nan'an sit closer to Nanbin Road along the river — see our Chongqing hotels list