Chongqing: Sure, It's Great. Am I Going Back? Hell No.

Loretta Mohr

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Hello everyone! I've just returned from Chongqing and there are a few things I need to get off my chest! The city itself is quite cool, but some of my experiences... Ugh, they are difficult to describe. I probably won't go back again anytime soon. Here are some tips for my friends who are planning to visit!

About the taxi drivers - I really want to voice this frustration!
Most of the drivers are a bit... umm, unfriendly. They either push various bus tickets or ferry tickets onto you, or express dissatisfaction with your destination?
On my first day, I told a driver to take me to Zazong Street (the famous landmark in the center of Chongqing). He exclaimed, "That place is so outlandish!" with an air of superiority. I was dumbfounded: What does it have anything to do with him? After all, tourists will naturally want to see famous places.
️ Note: Get mentally prepared before entering a taxi, as drivers might try to sell tourist packages; politely decline if you don't need them.
The rampant chaos in tourism severely undermined my experience!
Hongyadong (the old and famous street which lights up the night), that is overcrowded with tourists, is a prime example of such chaos - it is extremely hard to see how the actual scenery could be compromised like this.
At every step along the way, someone is pushing bus tickets onto you, while others try selling ferry tickets; there are continuous attempts by strangers to capture your attention for taking pictures with them. With so many people already packed into Hongyadong, and the added hucksters, it makes it impossible to enjoy a leisurely stroll unhindered.
️ Warning: In popular tourist spots such as Hongyadong, expect to be hassled for promotions. Decline politely and keep a close eye on personal belongings.
Chongqing's mountainous terrain, though a feature, is headache-inducing too!
Chongqing, the "Mountain City," has numerous steep roads which are indeed fascinating. But after a strenuous day out, facing an endless slope can make you feel defeated!
Unless locals show you small sidepaths or you've done an exhaustive online research, you may find it better to take a cab. Though starting fare is just 10 RMB, at times you could almost walk up the hill within a kilometer. Without thorough planning, you may end up spending money for no good reason.
Travel Suggestion: Chongqing's terrain is complex, and not always navigated accurately by GPS.
Read many travel guides, knowing the challenges of walking distances between sites.
Prepare for taxis and ask about approximate distances and fares to avoid being rerouted.
Getting网约车 is difficult; commuting in the evening is more troublesome!
Using Didi (a popular taxi app in China) can be problematic, especially since there are two separate systems for taxis and ride-hailing vehicles.
Unknown to me, around 10 PM, many taxis seem to stop working. On several days, we had to drag ourselves, dead tired, back to our hotel.
️ Notice: Taxiing out can be difficult during the late hours of the night in Chongqing, particularly away from the central city areas. Plan your return transportation ahead, or find a hotel in a connected region.
Some so-called "trending must-see spots", are simply absurd!
I suspect some places were created merely to cater to trending topics, which locals don't consider to be notable.
For instance, Liuzi Mountain light rail passing through a building, and Guanyinqiao's “I am in Chongqing” big display screen, not exaggerating, these are places where snapping a photo is all you do there. Such places feel created just to fulfill the need of photography.
Travel Suggestion: Approach trendy attractions with a calm mindset; some might only suit short-term photo-taking打卡 visits.
Dialect and possible "tourist attitude"
Locals, young and old, mostly speak Chongqing dialect (different from Mandarin, it sounds like Sichuanese). We non-locals who speak Mandarin might easily stand out.
Apart from sometimes not understanding them clearly, I felt more likely to be treated differently or scammed. Hence, one needs to be alert!
！！！Important Warning！！！
Communication Tips: Communication gaps exist between Chongqing dialect and Mandarin. Although many youths also understand Mandarin, slowing down your speech may help better understanding.
Anti-Scam Awareness: With unfamiliar accents due to being an outsider, being cautious against possible scams and frauds becomes crucial, especially while shopping in small stores or hailing taxis where some unscrupulous vendors/drivers might cheat travelers.

In summary, Chongqing has its own charm and has been well-developed. Yet, if one desires a completely relaxed and happy journey, it could be challenging as per my personal experience. This shared information is just a reference for anyone wishing to know more about this wonderful city.

Christian Collins

I also had a bad experience.

When I asked locals for directions, they answered, but seemed quite annoyed. The helpful people I encountered were probably all non-locals. Coming from Guizhou, the contrast was pretty stark – people there felt more down-to-earth and genuine.

Bob Langosh

重庆三日游旅行方案

行程概览

时间：2023年国庆假期
主题：#山城探秘 #火锅美食 #网红打卡
特色：

立体交通体验
️ 麻辣美食挑战
8D魔幻夜景

每日行程

Day1 城市初印象

08:00  解放碑集合（📍地标打卡）
09:30  长江索道（🚠体验空中巴士）
11:00  李子坝轻轨穿楼（📸网红机位）
13:00  周师兄火锅（🔥本地人推荐）

Day2 文化深度游

时间	项目	预算
09:00	磁器口古镇（️伴手礼采购）	¥200
14:00	三峡博物馆（免费需预约）	¥0
19:30	洪崖洞夜游（千与千寻实景）	¥150

Day3 自然风光

武隆天生三桥（《变形金刚》取景地）

旅游专线车（单程2小时）

️ 建议穿防滑鞋

实用贴士

交通建议
- 优先选择轨道交通（支持手机扫码）
- 黄色出租车是城市名片
- 必备导航：高德地图+问路结合

美食地图

graph LR
A[小面] --> B(豌杂面)
A --> C(红油抄手)
D[火锅] --> E(九宫格)
D --> F(冰粉)

避坑指南
- 景区卡通人偶合影（收费陷阱）
- 尝试居民区苍蝇馆子（人均¥30）
- 注意阶梯坡度（穿运动鞋）

图文素材

夜景拍摄参数参考
洪崖洞

~~原价¥999~~ 早鸟价¥799

报名方式：

400-1234-5678
官方微信：CQ-Travel

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Pat Renner

I was just in Chongqing a few days ago. Firstly, if you choose to visit Chongqing, you should know it's a mountain city, right? A quick online search would show everyone saying it's all about climbing hills and endless stairs. You can't apply a flat-city mentality to Chongqing and then blame the city for it. Secondly, about those 'influencer hotspots' – didn't you look them up online beforehand to see what they're about? It's clear from platforms like Xiaohongshu that places like Guanyinqiao and Raffles City are mainly for photo ops. If you don't like that, you could have just skipped them. It's baffling to go to such places and then complain; there are plenty of other attractions. Plus, I think it's completely normal for locals to speak their dialect. I love hearing it, and many locals were incredibly friendly and helpful, giving directions precisely because they knew we were visitors. I genuinely love Chongqing.

Preston Koch

Well, maybe you just got lucky with the people you met. Everyone's travel experience is bound to be different.

Matt Hudson

What else are Chongqing locals supposed to speak if not their dialect? And didn't you know about its terrain before you came, miss? What did you expect? Should we build a special road just for outsiders?

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