By Xinyi Li, iChongqing
Chongqing - The Yangtze River is an ancient river which sustains Chinese people from generation to generation, as well as the cradle of Chinese civilization. History and culture along the Yangtze River in Chongqing will bring you into the world of nature and human history. This article will present civilization of cities along the Yangtze River.
Day one: the center of Chongqing
Downtown Chongqing integrates culture and commerce together, especially in Yuzhong District. Meanwhile, there are many other spots for visitors to learn about the city. To get a general impression here, Chongqing China Three Gorges Museum is a good beginning to tour the city, and also good for the morning.
Chongqing China Three Gorges Museum
Chongqing China Three Gorges Museum in Chongqing (Chongqing Museum) was founded in 1951 as Southwest Museum. It was renamed in June 1955 as Chongqing Museum, and again in September 2000 as China Three Gorges Museum in Chongqing (Chongqing Museum) with the permission of the General Office of the State Council of China.
The Three Gorges Museum
Address: 236 Renmin Road, Da XiGou, Yuzhong District
Transportation: CRT Line 3 to Niu Jiaotuo Station
Open hours: 9:00-17:00（Closed on Monday）
Price: Free
After having an overall impression of Chongqing, you can have lunch near the museum. In order to experience the local life in Chongqing, you can find a xiao mian (Chongqing noodles) restaurant near there. In the afternoon, Huguang Guild Hall of Chongqing is suitable for you to experience the intangible cultural heritage of Chongqing.
Huguang Guild Hall of Chongqing
Chongqing is a city of immigrants, there was large-scale immigration in the seventeenth century came to Chongqing. Additionally, Huguang Guild Hall of Chongqing is a gathering place for immigrants from 8 provinces in China. Obviously, the decoration style of the building has features of the Ming Dynasty, for business and entertainment.
The opera stage of Huguang Guild Hall of Chongqing
Transportation: CRT line 6 or line 1 to Xiaoshizi Station, and then walk there. Take bus NO. 120 to Wanglong Men Station.
Open hours: 8:30-18:00
Price: RMB 30/person
In addition, there are Sichuan Opera in the Huguang Guild Hall of Chongqing at 15:30 each day. After the opera, you can go to the most famous buildings in Chongqing- Hongya Dong, a place to relax, eat and explore the tradition of Chongqing. Hongya Dong is also a must go place to feel the stilted and antique buildings, hidden in urban Chongqing.
Hongya Dong
Since the rapid development of the Internet, Chongqing has become one of the hottest cities, which attracts people to visit. Chongqing is famous for stereoscopic landscapes, which is unusual in other cities. Hongya Dong is one of the representative urban tourist areas with three-dimensional (3D) landscapes. Meanwhile, stilted buildings and imitation antique buildings belong to the major landscapes at Hongya Dong. Additionally, many people said that it had the silhouette of the Spirited Away, from Miyazaki Hayao, especially at night.
Hongyadong has the silhouette of the Spirited Away, from Miyazaki Hayao
Address: Cangbai Road, Yuzhong District
Transportation: CRT line 1 or 6 to Xiaoshizi Station, or CRT line 2 to Linjiangmen Station. Take bus NO. 111, 112, 114 to Hongyadong Station or take NO. 105 to Xiaoshizi Station.
Open hours: all day
Price: Free
When the night falls, the perfect day ends. You can choose a hotel near Hongya Dong, enjoying the riverside night skyline of the city.
Day two: the underwater museum
There is an underwater museum in Fuling District, Chongqing. It brings you into the world of underwater, which was on the ground before. To remain the memories of the life on the ground in the past, the underwater museum was built.
The Underwater Museum of White Crane Ridge
In the territory of Chongqing Yangtze River and Wujiang River Interchange was an old city – the ancient capital of Cuba Fuling. There were a long 1600 meters north of the Yangtze River in Fuling. It has an average width of 15 meters of natural stone ones. The early years often cluster beam crane wings play, called White Crane.
The Underwater Museum of White Crane Ridge
Address: Wujiang Road, Fuling District
Transportation: Shanghai-Chongqing Expressway (G50) – Fuling – Baiheliang
Open hours: 9:00-17:00（Last admission at 15:30, cleared at 16:30, closed at 17:00, Closed on Monday）
Price: RMB 60/person, RMB 30/senior or child
After visiting the underwater museum in Fuling District, you can go to Fengdu County. It is more convenient for the second-day tour to live in Fengdu County. However, you can get some Fuling pickles before you leave Fuling District. Fuling pickles are famous in China, and even around the world. Meanwhile, Mala Ji (spicy chicken) is pretty good-taste in Fengdu County, tasting delicious and spicy.
Day three: old buildings with culture and long history in Chongqing
In the morning, you can go to a famous temple in Chongqing, called ghost city, in Fengdu County. It describes the world of the afterlife. Since Zhongxian County is not far from Fengdu County, you can visit the Shibao Pavilion in Zhongxian County in the afternoon.
Fengdu Ghost City
Fengdu is 168km from Chongqing. It is a collection of buildings of monasteries, temples, and shrines overlooking the river. Otherwise, the mythic temple of the underworld is the prototype of the complex, showing the culture of the afterlife to visitors.
The panorama of the Ghost City
Address: NO. 152 Mingshan Road Fengdu County
Transportation: Shanghai-Chongqing Highway (G50) – Fengdu Ghost City
Open hours: 6:30-17:30
Price: RMB 100/person
Shibao Pavilion
It is a temple relies on the mountain, which the mountain is a kind of cliff. The Shibao Pavilion was built by the Ming Dynasty (1572 – 1619), constituted by the gate, body, and attic. It is 56m high with 12 floors. In the meanwhile, the whole village is made of wood. It is provided a place for visitors to incense and pray times ago, but visitors today can look over the river at the top of the village.
Shibao Pavilion
Address: 582 County Road, Zhongxian County
Transportation: Shanghai-Chongqing Highway (G50) – Baotou-Maoming Highway (G65) – Shibao Pavilion
Open hours: 8:00-17:00
Price: RMB 50/person
If you are so tired that do not want to go to the next place, you can have a hotel in Zhongxian County. Hula fish (fish with chilies and Sichuan pepper) is recommended in Zhongxian County. Nonetheless, you can choose Wanzhou District as the next stop, for living or eating. Grilled fish in Wanzhou is so famous that there are many restaurants of grilled fish in downtown Chongqing.
Day four: giant waterfall in Wanzhou District
Wanzhou District is a large area in Chongqing, with airports and the harbor. Wanzhou Grand Waterfall is good to feel about the magnificent nature in Chongqing. Besides, it is the largest waterfall in the Asian area.
Wanzhou Grand Waterfalls
Wanzhou, an 1800-year-honored district, which becomes the important node, embracing the Bachu culture, immigrant culture, Three Gorges culture. In addition, it contains 10 National Tourist Attractions. Wanzhou Grand Waterfalls locates in the central part of Wanzhou County, where is 2285 km away from the Chongqing urban area. In addition, it is one of the important scenic areas of the Three Gorges.
Wanzhou Grand Waterfall is an important node, embracing the Bachu culture, immigrant culture, Three Gorges culture, and so on
Address: Chengkou County
Transportation: Shanghai-Chongqing Highway (G50) – Shanghai-Chengdu Highway (G42) – Shibao Pavilion
Open hours: 8:00-17:30
Price: RMB 98/person
When the night falls, you can have dinner in Wanzhou District. In addition to grilled fish, the mutton with the steamer is also famous in Wanzhou District. Or, you can have xiao mian (Chongqing noodles) there. After satisfying your stomach, you can relax yourself to be ready for the cruise of the Three Gorges.
Day five: get on board at Wanzhou Harbor
During the daytime, you can hang out for a while in Wanzhou District. The ship will leave the harbor in the evening. You must get on board with your ID at that time. The last spot of this day is Zhang Fei’s Temple.
Zhang Fei’s Temple
Located in Yunyang county, the temple honors the famous Shu Kingdom general with more than 1700-years history. Calligraphy and inscriptions of past masters are exhibited inside the temple.
Zhangfei's Temple, located at the riverside
Address: Yunyang County
Open hours: 8:00-17:30 (no admission after 17:00)
Price: RMB 40/person
Day six: Fengjie County → Wushan County
The Three Gorges begin from Fengjie County. From here, you enter the Three Gorges indeed. Since the Three Gorges spans quite long, you will enjoy the classic scenerie for more than one day.
he Three Gorges—comprising the Qutang, Wu, and Xiling gorges. It spans 193 miles, beginning at Baidi City of Chongqing in the west and ending at Nanjing Pass, Hubei Province in the east. Three Gorges is known as “the Chinese wonders”, the most classic and famous tourist attraction in Chongqing.
Three Gorges on Yangtze River
Address: Wushan County
Open hours: all day
Price: Free
Day seven: Three Gorges Dam → Yichang of Hubei Province
The Three Gorges Dam is an immense and monumental engineering project, built as the largest hydroelectric plant in the world. Visitors can step on the viewing platform, which is 185m high, to enjoy the generous and inspired flowing water.
Address: Yichang, Hubei Province
Open hours: 8:00-17:30
Price: Free
The ride will take visitors to the local airport for departing flight, or to the hotel if the visitor would like to stay for more exploration.