Located in the mountains in the southwest of China, the Chinese city of Chongqing is unique in the world. Because of its special geographical position, it had no room to grow anywhere else except upwards, which resulted in peculiar architecture. For tourists – and even some local residents – exploring Chongqing and getting lost in its streets is the greatest attraction.
“Chongqing’s architecture is unique,” says Matthew Blair, a 34-year-old American who moved to the city in 2009, and adds:
“Concrete structures on mountainous terrain, with much industrial design, make it look like a movie set from the future – and at night, when the lights are turned on, the city turns into a true cyberpunk dream.”
The mountain city of Chongqing is located at the confluence of the Jialing and Yangtze rivers and is home to more than 32 million inhabitants. It stretches across gorges, slopes, and river valleys, with skyscrapers arranged at different elevations that differ by even several hundred meters. This makes traditional urban planning almost impossible, so the city has grown into a multilayered labyrinth.
Traffic systems, residential buildings, commercial zones, and pedestrian platforms are stacked one above the other. Buildings often have entrances on several floors, depending on the terrain level, so it happens that the same skyscraper has access on the 1st, 12th, or even 20th floor, creating what people call a fascinating 8D space.
According to data published by the government of Chongqing, in 2024, the city received about 1.3 million foreign tourists, which represents an increase of 184 percent compared to the previous year. In the first two months of 2025, the number of foreigners who entered the city increased by 60 percent compared to the same period last year, states the Chongqing Immigration Administration Bureau. In order to respond to the growing international demand, the agency introduced tours in English, Spanish, Thai, Japanese, and Korean.
Because of the proximity and favorable airline ticket prices, most tourists come from Southeast Asia, Japan, and South Korea – although the number of visitors from Europe and Australia is also on the rise. Particularly noteworthy is the growth in the number of United States (U.S.) tourists. This is impressive given that there is only one direct flight a week from the U.S. to Chongqing, operated by Hainan Airlines.
Some of the most popular activities in the city include walking tours of the old city quarters and picturesque mountain trails. Among other attractions are former nuclear military facilities, the Dazu rock carvings, and the Three Natural Bridges in Wulong.
In addition to spectacular architecture and landscapes, Chongqing is famous for its food, especially hotpot – a pot with hot broth in which everyone cooks various ingredients themselves, such as meat, vegetables, mushrooms and noodles. The name “hotpot” literally means “fiery pot” and is the best occasion for socializing, during which people cook, talk and eat what they have cooked at the table. Some of the most unusual restaurants offering hotpot in Chongqing can be found underground, in World War II bunkers. In any case, if you visit that unusual Chinese city you won”t leave hungry, and there is no chance you will be bored either.
