Chongqing — This summer, Mr. Chen, who traveled from Guangzhou to Chongqing with his child, made an interesting observation: "At almost every popular tourist spot we visited, we saw foreign tourists."

While sitting down for tea on Huangjueya Old Street in Nanshan, the family happened to sit next to a foreign couple. Two bowls of traditional Gaiwan Tea were placed in front of them. As they browsed through the photos they had taken on their phones, they kept exclaiming, "Everything here is amazing!"

With the 2026 summer travel season drawing to a close, this was just one example of Chongqing's tourism boom continuing unabated.

Overseas, buzzwords such as "China Cool" and "Chinamaxxing" have been trending on platforms such as TikTok and Xiaohongshu.

As Mr. Chen has encountered, more and more foreign tourists are updating their China "Wish List" of tourist destinations, with Chongqing ranking high among their choices.

In Chongqing, escaping the summer heat is no longer just about "heading up the mountains." This summer, "cave-visiting" has emerged as another major trend, with Wulong Furong Cave even ranked in the national top 10. Behind the idea that Chongqing is "more than just an 8D magical city" lies a broader and more diverse tourism appeal that is attracting visitors from around the world.

Shifting: Independent, Younger and More Immersive Travel

"In the past, foreign tourists mainly traveled to check out Chongqing's famous landmarks. Now, they want to experience what it is like to actually live in the mountain city," said Peng Hengcong, general manager of Chongqing Xingrui International Travel Service Co., Ltd., in an interview with Upstream News on Aug. 25.

Having worked in inbound tourism for many years, Peng has witnessed first-hand how the needs and preferences of overseas visitors have evolved. "Three trends among foreign tourists visiting China are particularly noticeable now: more independent travel, a younger traveler base, and a greater desire for in-depth experiences," she said. Taking Southeast Asian tourists, who account for a large share of the agency's visitors, as an example, Peng said that in the past, their Chongqing itineraries often centered on popular attractions such as Ciqikou Ancient Town, Hongya Cave and Liziba, where the monorail runs through a residential building.

"But now, in addition to Chongqing's popular tourist attractions, our local guides are taking them to more down-to-earth destinations, such as the Dadukou Yiwu Small Commodity Market, where they can shop to their heart’s content," Peng said. Their food and leisure experiences have also become more closely connected to local life. Rather than simply visiting famous restaurants, foreign tourists increasingly enjoy eating tripe hotpot inside an air-raid shelter or stepping into a small alley to make their own clay sculptures.

According to Peng, three to five years ago, foreign tourists visiting Chongqing tended to gather around major landmarks, take photos and move on. Today, they are more interested in immersive experiences and spending time experiencing everyday local life. "They want to become part of local life as a way of experiencing China. That is perhaps the most vivid interpretation of 'Chinamaxxing,'" she said.

Buzzwords: The "Contrast" and "Tech" of Chongqing are both astonishing

Chongqing's summer can be intensely hot, but many locals may not realize that the heat itself has become a unique attraction in the eyes of foreign visitors.

During interviews, several local guides specializing in inbound tourism told reporters that many foreign tourists only discover after arriving that Chongqing has made the concept of “heat” distinctive and quite interesting.

Take hotpot, for example. "They have heard about Chongqing hotpot long before coming here, but only after they arrive do they discover that they can enjoy it by the riverside, on a rooftop or even inside an air-raid shelter. The hotter the weather is, the more you should eat hotpot. That contrast itself is a very distinctive local cultural experience."

"I didn't expect drone light shows to be such a big attraction either," said Xie Xinyue, who lives near Danzishi Old Street along Nanbin Road. Her home sits near one of the best vantage points for Chongqing's drone light shows, so friends and relatives frequently ask her to take them there. But she hadn't anticipated that two Korean friends visiting Chongqing last weekend would seek her out too. "They thought it was something they absolutely couldn't miss in Chongqing," she recalled.

Thousands of drones constantly transform the night sky into dazzling patterns. The spectacular display of technology left Xie's two Korean friends thoroughly impressed.

Meanwhile, dozens of kilometers away at the Chongqing Robot & AI Application Exhibition Center in the Shuitu New Town area of Liangjiang New Area, Southeast Asian tourists were also amazed by robot-powered performances. Whether dancing on stage or playing games such as chess with visitors, the robots have attracted plenty of attention. Peng said the technology-themed inbound tourism products her company launched this year for overseas markets have received an enthusiastic response.

Summer Escape: Beyond the 8D Magical City: Chongqing Offers More Ways to Explore

Earlier this month, several online travel platforms, including Tongcheng Travel and Qunar, released mid-season reports on summer travel. The reports showed that Chongqing once again ranked among the top 10 destinations nationwide in overall tourism popularity. One Chongqing attraction also entered the national top 10: cave tourism. Wulong Furong Cave made the list alongside Zhijin Cave in Guizhou, which is known as the "King of Caves."

This summer, more and more tourists have ventured into Chongqing's mountains and countryside. Karst caves and high-altitude mountain resorts are no longer destinations chosen only by local residents. The Three Gorges of the Yangtze River, one of Chongqing's signature tourism attractions, is also part of this broader picture. Beyond its reputation as an "8D magical city," Chongqing is increasingly recognized for its diverse, multi-layered tourism experiences.

The city's efforts to cater to visitors have also continued unabated. Fengdu Nantian Lake, Nanchuan Jinfo Mountain, Wulong Fairy Mountain and Jiangjin Simian Mountain, among others, have prepared a range of carefully designed travel routes and special offers. Chongqing has also released its first map marking health-focused summer getaways rich in negative air ions, along with the 2026 Chongqing Summer Escape Map, making it easier for tourists to plan their trips.

A relevant official from the Chongqing Municipal Commission of Culture and Tourism said that the city will next take a series of measures, including selecting a group of tourism promotion ambassadors, establishing more tourism-related international service windows, organizing international exchange activities and developing more popular inbound tourism products. Through these initiatives, Chongqing aims to help more overseas visitors experience China firsthand and gain a deeper understanding of the city.

(Chen Xiangling, as an intern, also contributed to this article)