Chongqing - For travelers tired of crowded scenic spots and complicated bus routes, Chongqing has a different kind of invitation: put on a comfortable pair of shoes and let the river be your guide.
Citizens enjoy their time at Chaotianmen Square. (Photo/Luo Bin)
The city has transformed its waterfront with three newly upgraded riverside walking paths that connect some of its most famous attractions — from the Chaotianman Square and Hongyadong to the "monorail through the building" at Liziba.
Fully opened earlier this year, this 2.4-kilometer path begins at the foot of Hongyadong's stilt houses and runs along the river past Qiansimen Bridge and Huguang Guild Hall to Chaotianmen Square.
April 26, 2026: The Liangjianghui Path in Yuzhong District provides a direct walking route to Chaotianmen. (Photo/Xie Zhiqiang)
Along the way, visitors encounter the "Gu Yu Xiong Guan" stone carving — an ancient mountain pass marker — and remnants of Song Dynasty (960-1279) city walls covered in moss. The path also features eight access points leading down to the water's edge, where visitors can watch ferries pass by.
April 26, 2026: Citizens ride bikes along the Liangjianghui Path in Yuzhong District, with the Dongshuimen Yangtze River Bridge in the background. (Photo/Xie Zhiqiang)
The route is equipped with 15 benches. "Sitting here with the river breeze and watching the two rivers meet — it just slows you down," said a local woman resting on one of the benches.
This 7-kilometer path starts from Exit 5 of Zengjiayan Station on Chongqing's light rail Line 2. Unlike the crowded viewing platforms above, the path below offers open river views with fewer people.
The Dongshuimen Yangtze River Bridge connects to the Yuzhong District on one end. (Photo/Xie Zhiqiang)
The route connects multiple landmarks in sequence: the cliffside walkway at Zengjiayan, the Liziba "monorail through building" viewing area, Liziba Anti-Japanese War Relics Park, Fotuguan (known for its spring blossom train views), Bancheng Mountain Trail, and Tiandi Lake.
April 26, 2026: Citizens take a leisurely walk along the Circular City Wall Path in Yuzhong District. (Photo/Xie Zhiqiang)
The path winds along the riverbank, passing beneath the very rail line that millions of visitors photograph from above. It ends at the Hualong Bridge area, where cafes and restaurants are available.
April 26, 2026: A parent takes a child on an educational walk along the Circular City Wall Path in Yuzhong District. (Photo/Xie Zhiqiang)
Shanhu Park first opened in 1997 and was a popular spot for local families. But over time, it fell into disrepair and saw fewer visitors.
That changed in March 2023, when a citywide rehabilitation project — part of a broader effort to upgrade 109 kilometers of riverbanks in central Chongqing — reopened the park with new pathways, improved facilities, and restored natural areas. The park is now connected to a preserved natural river beach known as Shuangyu Dam.
April 27, 2026: A scenic view of the Changbin Road Coral Park section in Yuzhong District, part of the central urban area's "Two Rivers and Four Banks" renovation project. (Photo/Qi Lansen)
Today, the paved walkway stretches 3 kilometers east to Dongshuimen Bridge, offering views of Huguang Guild Hall's yellow walls and the Raffles City complex's skybridge.
"I used to come here as a child," said Ms. Liu, a local resident flying a kite with her 5-year-old son. "Now it's beautiful again — it feels like the old days."
April 27, 2026: A scenic view of the Changbin Road Coral Park section in Yuzhong District, part of the central urban area's "Two Rivers and Four Banks" renovation project. (Photo/Qi Lansen)
Chongqing is known for its mountainous terrain and unique urban landscape, where elevated roads, light rail lines, and walking paths are stacked at different levels. The newly upgraded riverside routes are part of a larger initiative to create more public green spaces along the city's two main rivers — the Yangtze and the Jialing.
For this year's May Day holiday, which runs from May 1 to May 5, local tourism officials expect millions of visitors to the city. The riverside paths offer an alternative to the packed viewing platforms and commercial districts, allowing visitors to experience the city at a slower pace — on foot or by bike, with the river as their guide.
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