Chongqing - Chongqing's iconic “Two Rivers Cruise” carried 974,000 passengers in the first quarter of 2026, up 1.7% from the same period last year, according to data released by the Chongqing Cruise Center.

Chongqing's skyline featuring Raffles City and the Grand Theatre at night. (Photo/ Vivian Yan)

Night tours overwhelmingly drove the growth, accounting for 801,000 visitors - or 82.2% of the total - with an average load factor of 77.3%. Daytime trips carried just 173,000 passengers, a 17.8%share, with a load factor of 27.7%.

Industry analysts attribute the stark contrast to the city's globally recognized "nightscape IP." The long‑held local saying, "You haven't truly seen Chongqing until you've seen its night view," has taken hold among domestic and international travelers alike. Landmarks such as the illuminated stilt‑house complex of Hongyadong, the futuristic Raffles City skyline, the shimmering confluence of the Yangtze and Jialing rivers, and the dynamic light shows on the city's bridges together create an "8D megacity" spectacle that draws visitors specifically for after‑dark experiences.

Chongqing's iconic Hongyadong draws a multitude of visitors, eager to capture its stunning vistas in photographs. (Photo/Yin Shiyu from Visual Chongqing)

"A night cruise offers an immersive experience where lights, architecture, and river waters blend in breathtaking ways," said a tourist from Jiangsu province. "That's why so many people come to Chongqing."

The seasonal and demographic data reinforce the trend. The first quarter includes the New Year's holiday and the weeklong Spring Festival (Chinese Lunar New Year), when out‑of‑town tourists dominate. Most spend their daytime hours visiting popular sites such as Hongyadong, Jiefangbei pedestrian street, and Ciqikou ancient town, then cap the day with a two‑river night cruise - a schedule that fits holiday leisure patterns and helps avoid daytime congestion.

Hong'en Temple Forest Park comes alive at night, its vibrant lights complemented by the delicate blooms of red plum blossoms. (Photo/Qu Xiaofeng from Visual Chongqing)

Cruise operators have also stacked the night shift with advantages: more frequent departures, ample capacity, and value‑added services including onboard dining and live performances. "Visitors are clearly willing to pay a premium for a quality night experience," a cruise center representative said, noting that the market structure remains firmly night‑led.

Fireworks light up the night sky during a holiday-themed performance at Chongqing Happy Valley. (Photo/Chongqing Happy Valley)

For March 2026 - the most recent month with detailed origin data - tourists from Sichuan province made up the largest share of riders at 13.4%, followed by Henan (4.2%), Shanxi (4.0%), Shaanxi (3.7%), and Hebei (3.6%). Chongqing's own residents accounted for only 2.6% of March ridership, ranking 13th among all provinces and municipalities - down five places from February.

Along the Jialing River in Liangjiang New Area, tourists are taking photos of the night view at Hongya Cave, a popular landmark in Chongqing. (Photo/Liu Chan)

Age breakdown for March showed that travelers aged 18-34 represented 29.6% of the total, up 1.5 percentage points year‑on‑year; the 35–59 cohort accounted for 51.6%, down 1.1 percentage points; those aged 60 and above made up 15.3%, a decline of 0.4 percentage points; and minors under 18 held steady at 3.5%.

Tourists take a cruise ship to enjoy the city's brilliant night view. (Photo/Chen Liang from Visual Chongqing)

The modest overall growth of 1.7% - combined with the sustained dominance of night tours - underscores both the resilience of Chongqing's nightscape as a tourism magnet and the industry's successful pivot to demand‑driven offerings, the cruise center said.