2018 - Chongqing

8 Days Chongqing Adventure

17 - 24 Apr 2018

 

Day 14 - 17th April 2018

 

Upon arriving at Chongqing North Station via high speed train from Wuhan, we took the subway to Lianglukou Subway Station and checked into Green Tea Inn which is just round the corner of the subway station. We booked this hotel through Agoda at Wuhan at RM 369 for three nights.

 

Day 15 - 18th April 2018

 

After breakfast we took the subway to Ciqikou Station and walked to the Ciqikou (Porcelain Village) Ancient Town. Ciqikou is an old town preserved in sprawling modern Chongqing.  It is a timeless ancient town built in the Ming and Qing dynasties. Firstly it was named 'Longyin'. Since 1918 the porcelain trade began due to the convenient location, gradually the trade became prospered throughout the area.

 

Travelers to Chongqing and locals alike throng to Ciqikou's steep and narrow pedestrian streets. Shops sell porcelain, other handicrafts, and gifts, while restaurants and tea shops give visitors a look at what many areas of Chongqing were like before the metropolis became the vast urban city it is today. A 1,500-year-old Buddhist temple straddles the mountain in the middle of the old town.

Local snacks and delicacies are aplenty in Ciqikou 

 

One of many tea houses in Ciqikou

Traditional noodle vendor trying to attract business into his shop

Opera singer

Street art along the lane to the hill top where the Buddhist Temple is situated

Various nuts snacks

Many shops have such colorful characters to attract the crowd

We found a Travel Agency along the street while walking back to Ciqikou Station. We bought the Wulong day tour (RMB 350/pax) and the Yangtze River Night Cruise (RMB 100/pax).  

We then took the subway to Jiaochangkou Station and walked to Ba Yi Road, which is a very famous food street in Chongqing.



 

People Liberation Stele

Liberation Stele, which stands in the most prosperous downtown of Chongqing, is not only the symbol of civilization, but also the evidence for history of half century. In memory of the victory in the war of resistance, the Liberation Monument on the square is a 27.5 meter high structure.

Day 16 - 19th April 2018
 

Today we join a day tour to Wulong. We were picked up by the tour operator from the hotel at 7:30am and arrived back at around 10pm.



Wulong Tiankeng Three Bridges Site (Chinese Name: 武隆天生三桥，武隆天坑地缝) is a precious eco-system site which is famous for the karst topography especially the Tiankeng or natural sinkhole in the world. Located about 20km away from Wulong County, these three stone arch bridges enjoy the fame as "top natural arch bridges in the world”.
 

Our first stop was the stone museum in Wulong.

Next we visited the Skywalk of the Three Natural Bridges, which is nothing compared to the longest glass bridge in the world that we visited in Zhangjiajie last week.

After that is a long and tiring trekking down to the valley where some of the scenes of the movie Curse of the Golden Flower was shot. The movie was directed by Zhang Yimou and staring Gong Li and Chou Yun Fat.

Curse of the Golden Flower was shot here

Part of the scene from the movie Transformer 4 was also shot in Wulong

 

If you are unable to walk you can pay people to carry you.

After the long walk a maize is what you need to replace the energy

 

Day 17 - 20th April 2018

 

Today we checked out from Green Tea Hotel and moved to the 7 Days Inn nearby to Yangjiaping Subway Station.

 

Later we went back to Ciqikou to get a refund from the travel agent for our Wulong Tour. We paid for a buffet lunch but was serve a tour group lunch.

 







Street leading to Ciqikou

After getting our refund we took the subway to Shapingpa Railway Station to buy our high speed train ticket to Chengdu. Cost of the high speed train ticket is RMB 289 for two persons. We spent some time at Shapingpa Square before taking the subway to Xiaoshizi Station and walked to Chaotianmen to board our night cruise.



Shapingpa Square

 Chaotianmen was built in 314 BC as a city gate. In ancient time, local officials knelt down to receive the emperor’s decrees in front of the gate. The emperor was considered the son of the heaven in that time, so the place is called Chaotianmen, meaning “towards the heaven gate”.

 

 

The night river cruise starts at 7pm. We were there early to explore the dock and view some of the Yangtze Cruise ships that were docked there to pick up passengers for the Yangtze River cruise. The best time to take the night time river cruise is after 7:30pm when it is dark and the surrounding building colorful lights are more distinct.

One of the Yangtze River Cruise ship, Victoria 5, waiting to sail

Hongya Cave as viewed from the night cruise ship

Chaotianmen Square

Chongqing also has its own twin towers

The crowd lining up for the night cruise.

This is the sight seeing ship that we board for the night cruise

 



Day 18 - 21st April 2018

This morning we took a stroll at the square near to the 7 Days Inn where we stayed.

 

This bakery sells some very nice pastry which we bought for our breakfast.

 

Later we took the subway to visit the Three Gorges Museum and the People's Assemble Hall.

 

Chongqing Three Gorges Museum, also known as Chongqing Museum, is situated opposite to the Chongqing People's Assembly Hall. It is not only the largest monographic museum, but is also a public undertaking for the preservation, education, scientific research in respect of cultural relics and the natural environment of Chongqing and the Three Gorges area.

 

The People's Assemble Hall viewed from the Three Gorges Museum

The Three Gorges Museum viewed from The People's Assemble Hall

The ceiling of The People's Assemble Hall

Later we took the subway to Linjiangmen Station and walked to Hongya Cave. On the way we passed by the iconic Chongqing Art Gallery.

Hongya Cave is an 11-storey, 75 meters large-scale stilt house complex built alongside a steep cliff on the bank of Jialing River. It has become a popular destination for visitors to experience Bayu culture - a Chinese ethnic culture, gaze over the river, and taste delicious food. The stunning night view is a highlight and should not be missed.

Visitors can take an elevator to each level where various bars, café and restaurants are arranged. Visitors can also see the symbolic Hongya Dripping on the 2nd floor, which is a small waterfall cascading down the cliff-face. It is regarded as one of the 12 Bayu Sites.

The Chongqing Art Gallery

One of the shopping floors in Hongya Cave where we had our dinner

Hongya Dripping on the second floor

We encountered the Monkey God character on the ground floor. Paid him 10 RMB to take some pictures with him.

Day 19 - 22nd  April 2018

After breakfast we took the subway to Eling Park and spent three hours walking through the park.

 

Eling Park is located on a hill in the middle of central Yuzhon District, and so it offers a beautiful view of large parts of the city of Chongqing. The park was established at the end of the Qing dynasty in 1909. It was built by a wealthy businessman, and was renovated in 1958. Hundreds of plant species can be discovered in different parts of the well-tended gardens, and there is a tea house and a restaurant that cater to visitors. Tourists also enjoy the lookout tower, which opened a few years ago and provides a suitable platform for photographing the Chongqing skyline.

 

An elderly group playing their musical instrument and singing in Eling Park

Children attending their art classes in Eling Park

View of the Jialing River from Eling Park

Later we took the subway to Jiaochangkou Station and walked to Bayi Road again to enjoy the street food and ice cream

I tried the barbeque lamb satay in one of the small street outlet. It was a bit hot but tasted good

Day 20 - 23rd  April 2018

After breakfast took the subway to Guanyinjiao Station and explore the Guanyinjiao Pedestrian Street. Visited the Jialing Park beside the station.

 

Jialing Park is a green space in the Guanyinqiao shopping area on the northern side of the city of Chongqing.  The entire park is built over top a subterranean mall, which 2 escalators on either side of the park leading down to the mall.

Jialing Park

Guanyinjiao Pedestrian Street

 

Day 21 - 24th  April 2018 

 

After breakfast we checked out from hotel and took the subway to Shapingpa High Speed train station for the high speed train to Chengdu, We arrived Chengdu at around 1pm.

 

Click on the Chengdu link to view our adventures in Chengdu.