Chongqing - From city hillside walks to deep karst adventures, the routes cater to everyone from young families to seasoned hikers.
With autumn colors spreading across its hills, Chongqing has released eight nature routes to help residents and visitors make the most of the season.
Waterfalls at the Three Natural Bridges scenic area in Wulong District, Chongqing. (Photo/Chongqing Municipal Commission of Culture and Tourism Development)
The routes range from easy city walks to challenging treks, taking in Chongqing's layered urban landscape, rich history, and dramatic karst scenery.
City walks and riverside trails
For beginners, the Yuzhong Mid-Mountain Cliffside Trail is currently the city's most popular hiking route. Starting from Pingdingshan Park in Shapingba or the Liziba Anti-Japanese War Relics Park, hikers can enjoy green hilltops above and river views below. Along the way are ancient rock carvings at Fotuguan, the gardens of Eling Park, and historic revolutionary sites. Hikers can also watch Line 2 trains pass straight through a residential building and see Line 9 plunge deep underground at Hongyancun Station.
Those who want to see how the city blends into its mountains and rivers can try two other routes. The Liangjiang Riverside Greenway follows the Jialing River upstream from Dazhulin through Lijia to Yuelai, linking a string of riverside parks. It is ideal for cycling, camping on the riverbank, and birdwatching.
The Huangge Ancient Trail on Nanshan Mountain, Chongqing. (Photo/Chongqing Municipal Commission of Culture and Tourism Development)
The Nan'an Ancient Trail starts at Haitangxi and climbs the steep, winding stone steps of the Huangge Ancient Trail, shaded by camphor and ficus virens trees.
Farther afield
For those willing to travel farther, five more routes offer a deeper look at Chongqing's natural wonders.
Longgang National Geopark in Yunyang County, Chongqing. (Photo/Chongqing Municipal Commission of Culture and Tourism Development)
The Yunyang Geological Discovery route is a good choice for families with children interested in fossils and geology. At the Yunyang Dinosaur National Geopark and Longgang National Geopark, visitors can see fossils of dinosaurs named after local places. They can also see the Longgang sinkhole, carved out of ancient limestone by water over hundreds of millions of years.
The vast bamboo forest in Liangping District, Chongqing. (Photo/Chongqing Municipal Commission of Culture and Tourism Development)
The Jiangjin Danxia and Waterfalls route features red Danxia rock formations and the tree fern forests of Simianshan, a treat for lovers of landscapes and plants. The Liangping Countryside route invites visitors to slow down amid a vast bamboo forest and along the shores of Shuanggui Lake.
For experienced explorers, the Wulong Journey to the Center of the Earth route reveals two worlds: caves and underground rivers beneath the Three Natural Bridges, and alpine meadows above. The Wushan and Wuxi Ridge Trek route takes nature lovers through the Three Gorges Dragon Ridge, the Small Three Gorges, Goddess Peak, Lanying Grand Canyon and Yintiaoling.