Cheap flights to Chongqing
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Quick summary
Country
China
Continent
Asia
Airport
CKG
Currency
Chinese yuan (renminbi)
Time zone
UTC+8
Deals already spotted to Chongqing
Real flight examples detected by SniperAir, with their reference price.
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Mountain city
Visiting Chongqing, the city built on hills
Chongqing is built on mountains where the Jialing River joins the Yangtze. The relief produces steep, layered streets, and fog is so common that the city is nicknamed Fog City. It is a city of monorails, bridges and riverside night views.
A monorail through a building
At Liziba station, Monorail Line 2 passes straight through a residential building, an image that has become an attraction in its own right. Together with giant escalators and many bridges, the monorail shows how the city adapted to its terrain.
A huge municipality
Chongqing is one of China's four direct-administered municipalities and the only one that lies inland. The whole municipality counted 32,054,159 residents at the 2020 census, including a large rural population (Wikipedia); the urban agglomeration approaches 9 million.
Hongyadong
Hongyadong, the night view
Stilted houses above the Jialing
Hongyadong is a complex of traditional stilted houses, the diaojiaolou, built into a cliff above the Jialing River and restored as a tourist district. Its lights come on in the evening and the facades reflect in the river: it is the best-known image of Chongqing. Some guidebook writers find it touristy, so go for the view rather than the shopping. The restaurants around it and the Qiansimen night market make it the heart of the city's nightlife.
A one-hour evening cruise from Chaotianmen on the two rivers is another way to see the lit skyline.
Old Chongqing
Old town, museum and river crossings
| Place | What you find there |
|---|---|
| Shancheng Lane (Mountain City Step Trail) | A stepped path that keeps the character of old Chongqing, with old shops, viewing platforms and views of the Yangtze |
| Ciqikou | An old river town west of the centre with paved lanes in Ming and Qing style, and street food; reached by metro Lines 1 and 27 |
| Jiefangbei | The central pedestrian district, with shops, and a cable car that crosses the Yangtze in a few minutes |
| River crossing | The Liangjiang ferry links Chaotianmen to Danzishi in about 6 minutes |
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Museums
Three Gorges, art and wartime memory
| Museum | Good to know |
|---|---|
| Three Gorges Museum | One of China's largest, about 42,500 m², devoted to archaeology saved before the valley was flooded, Ba culture and the wartime capital; open Tuesday to Sunday, free according to Wikivoyage DE (to be checked). |
| Natural History Museum | Free according to Wikivoyage DE. |
| Chongqing Art Museum | In the city centre. |
| Stilwell Museum and Zhazi prison museum | Two sites tied to the Second World War, including the museum devoted to General Stilwell along metro Line 2. |
Opening hours and free admission change: check before you go.
History
A wartime capital
The area was settled around 316 BC and is associated with the State of Ba. The name Chongqing dates from 1189, under the Southern Song. From November 1937 to May 1946 the city served as the provisional wartime capital of the Nationalist government, and it was formally declared the second capital on 6 September 1940.
Food
The hot pot capital
Hot pot is one of Chongqing's best-known foods. You can order a spicy red broth, a mild bone broth, or a split pot with both. The city's cooking is known as ma la, numbing and spicy, bolder than Chengdu's: sliced beef, duck intestines, shrimp balls, tofu and vegetables go into the pot.
Noodles and specialities
Chongqing xiaomian, spicy breakfast noodles, sour and spicy glass noodles, maoxuewang, a spicy dish of offal and congealed blood, and spicy chicken from Geleshan or Fengdu are local specialities. The Bayu food street on the 4th floor of Hongyadong gathers several of these dishes.
Caution
Choose busy restaurants: cases of reused oil have been reported. Tea and local beer are the usual drinks.
Day trip
The Dazu Rock Carvings
The Dazu Rock Carvings, in Dazu District, are a UNESCO World Heritage Site: 75 protected sites with about 50,000 statues, the earliest dating from around 650 and the main period beginning in the late 9th century. At Baodingshan, a Thousand-armed Guanyin has in fact 1,007 arms. The site is about 100 km north-west of the centre; allow 1.5 to 3 hours depending on mode and traffic (sources differ). It is a day trip, by car, by train to Dazu then taxi, or by bus from Jiangbei airport.
Yangtze cruises
Cruises toward the Three Gorges also leave from Chongqing; fares range from a few hundred to several thousand yuan depending on length and boat: compare before booking.
Getting around
Airport, metro and monorail
Chongqing Jiangbei
The city's international airport is about 21 km north-east of the centre. Metro Lines 3 and 10 serve the terminals, and airport buses reach the city centre; a taxi costs a few tens of yuan. High-speed trains link Chongqing to Chengdu in about 1.5 to 2 hours.
Because of the terrain, the metro and monorail are the practical way to move around: the system had about ten lines in mid-2023, with Lines 2 and 3 as monorails. Chongqing North, Chongqing West and Shapingba stations serve regional trains. Taxis stay cheap, but traffic is dense.
Climate
Sweltering summers, misty winters
Spring
Frequent fog, temperatures that climb quickly; often a pleasant season for sightseeing.
Summer
Very hot and humid: July averages run from 24.5 to 32.2 C, with peaks of 33 to 34 C in August.
Autumn
Milder, with mist and fog common; a good moment for Hongyadong at night.
Winter
Cool and damp, with January averages of 5.6 to 9.5 C; heating is rare outside the big hotels.
The climate is humid subtropical, foggy in spring and winter, hence the nickname Fog City. Pollution can be more noticeable from October to March. The most comfortable periods are generally spring and autumn.
Budget
A fairly affordable budget
Chongqing is an affordable destination, especially for food: noodles, skewers and hot pot stay cheap, and the metro and ferries cost a few yuan. Accommodation ranges from hostels to big international hotels, with a wide price gap. No fare that has not been cross-checked is published here.
Saving money
Visit outside the Chinese holidays, eat in neighbourhood restaurants, use the metro and ferry and enjoy the skyline from the riverbanks for free.
How long to stay
How many days in Chongqing?
The essentials
Hongyadong, Jiefangbei, Liziba station and the evening cruise.
Go deeper
Add Ciqikou, the Three Gorges Museum and a hot pot dinner.
Excursions
Dazu, a Yangtze cruise and a stay in Chengdu.
In pictures
Chongqing in pictures
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FAQ
Frequently asked questions about flights to Chongqing
Which airport serves Chongqing?
Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport (CKG), about 21 km north-east of the centre, linked by metro Lines 3 and 10.
Why is Chongqing called a mountain city?
It is built on hills where the Jialing joins the Yangtze, so streets are stacked on several levels and a monorail even passes through a residential building.
When should I see Hongyadong?
In the evening, when the stilted houses light up and reflect in the Jialing; a one-hour cruise also gives a good view.
Can I visit the Dazu Rock Carvings from Chongqing?
Yes, as a day trip: the carvings are about 100 km away; allow 1.5 to 3 hours by road depending on the mode.
When is the best time to visit Chongqing?
Spring and autumn are generally the most pleasant; summer is very hot and humid, winter cool and misty.
Is Chongqing expensive?
Fairly affordable, especially for food and transport; accommodation varies widely by category.
How do I get around Chongqing?
By metro and monorail, river ferries and taxis; the hills make walking tiring.
Which museums should I visit in Chongqing?
The Three Gorges Museum, the art museum, the natural history museum and the Stilwell museum.
What should I eat in Chongqing?
Hot pot with red or mild broth, xiaomian noodles, maoxuewang and spicy chicken.
How much does a flight to Chongqing usually cost?
It mostly depends on your departure city, the season and how far ahead you book. The "deals" section above shows real examples of prices already detected by SniperAir for this destination.
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