Chang Jiang Suo Dao 长江索道
Jialing Jiang Suo Dao 嘉陵江索道
• Tickets 2 RMB (4 RMB roundtrip)
Get a bird’s eye view of the rivers. These cable cars are actually a regular form of transportation for locals in the area, so the fare is very affordable. Both start near Arhat Temple and Carrefour in the Jiefangbei area. The Yangtze river cable car drops you off near Tushan Road that leads to a couple temples (Juelin and Ciyun Temple) and a pagoda (Baoen Tower). Recommend taking a taxi or bus if you want to continue in that direction.
Bus Tip: 小什字 To Yangtze River walk down Xinhua Road in the direction of Jiefangbei. To Jialing River walk towards and past Carrefour.
Shi Ba Ti Lao Cha Guan 十八梯老茶馆
• Free Admission (but they naturally prefer you to stay and have some tea); Open Late
This is the perfect place to escape from the heat of the afternoon and the commotion of the big city. Located close to the Mosque, and built upon the side of a cliff with only the uppermost floor visible from the street, try not to be thrown off by the humble exterior of this teahouse. There are collections of antiques, old photos, and tapestries tastefully displayed throughout the place. Climb down a narrow staircase to the next floor where a stream runs through the middle of the room, settle into one of the secluded cubby holes next to the windows, or go out to the plant covered balcony overlooking ancient rooftops. There is still another level below this one, where people can play Mahjong while sipping tea.
Qing Zhen Si 清真寺
The mosque rises up above the small shops that cluster around it. If you are fortunate enough to be allowed to enter you can get a glimpse of how unique the unique architecture is compared to the traditional Chinese buildings in the area.
Bus Tip: 较场口
Light Rail Tip: 较场口 (Jiaochangkou) Exit A (Towards Shi Ba Ti Road). Less than 5 minutes from here. Look for the Shi Ba Ti Road sign and cross the street until you are on the far sidewalk of that street (Shi Ba Ti turns into Zhong Xing). Take a right, the Mosque will be about 50 meters ahead on your left.
Jie Fang Bei 解放碑
• Public area—Free admission; No opening/closing hours
This clock tower monument is set in the heart of the massive Jiefangbei shopping square. With the Jumbo Vision and the advertisements rolling down the faces of skyscrapers it is somewhat reminiscent of Times Square in New York City. Perhaps in an effort to keep people from getting disoriented beneath the towering buildings, up high on the top of the tower are the directional signs pointing off in the four cardinal directions (They are in Chinese: 北N, 南S, 东E, 西W).
Bus Tip: 临江门 or 较场口 or 解放碑
Light Rail Tip: 临江门 (Linjiangmen) Exit D. Less than a 5 minute walk from here. Walk towards Marriot and you will see the tower on your left once you get to the main walking street.
Hong Ya Dong 洪崖洞 lit. Flood Ridge Cave
• Free Admission; Open late
Like a new improved version of West side’s Ciqikou Ancient Town, Hong Ya Dong has a little something for everyone. The site itself is eleven stories, built upon the side of a steep slope facing the Jialing River. Most visitors visit the 4th level first, which has been constructed to make you feel as if you are walking through a bustling street alley in ancient China. On the 3rd floor is a long network of shops selling local crafts, clothing, and trinkets—this is one of the best places to go in Chongqing to find a good deal on souvenirs. Up high on the upper levels overlooking the river are several upscale restaurants including a posh Beijing Roast Duck restaurant (Quan Ju De) and a Starbuck’s. And on the lower levels, a couple of bars and clubs come to life later in the evening.
Bus Tip: 小什字 Walk about 50 meters towards the river, if you see Starbuck’s you are there, just look for the escalators down Continue reading »
Ren Min Gong Yuan 人民公园
• Free Admission
It is definitely a stretch to call this a park, but that is how it’s billed on the map. The area basically consists of three concrete terraces leading down from the southwest side of the Jiefangbei area. There are trees, and elderly people sitting around playing Mahjong, but what really sets this area apart is the huge pet market off to one side. Birds in every size and color flit about birdcages lining the sidewalk. Some may even offer you a friendly “Hello!” Further down is a section for furry pets, and if you walk all the way to the end you may even see a shop with piglets for sale.
Bus Tip: 新华路 or 较场口 or 临江门
Hu Guang Hui Guan 湖广会馆
• Admission 30 RMB; Museum section closes at 5, Theatre section stays open later for ticket holders
This is a historical and cultural museum that is split into several different sections. One deals with the repopulation of the Sichuan region (Chongqing was part of it until 1997) during ancient China, and the forced migration of thousands of people from the East to the West. Another section is devoted to guild activities, accompanied by life-sized models of people going about guild business. One building is dedicated to ancient artifacts that were either used in the guild or passed through at some point, and nearby is a smaller section displaying intricate pieces of traditional Chinese art including miniature carvings (so tiny magnifying lens are needed to see them clearly). Around 10 am and 2 pm you can go to the theatre section of the guild and sip tea while watching Chinese acrobatics or listening to a concert of traditional Chinese bells, no additional charge.
Night Theatre: Ticketed performances often take place in the theatre section of the guild. Performances usually begin around 8 pm. Tickets to a recent performance cost 80 RMB.
Read more about the guild at Chinahighlights.com
Bus Tip: 湖广会馆 or 朝天门 + 5 RMB taxi
Jin Se Hua Lang 锦瑟画廊
• Free Admission
This small art gallery is located on the Chao Tian Men Dock facing the Yangtze River. Various works of art from contemporary Chinese artists around China are displayed here, and the collection changes every couple of months or so. One of the smaller side rooms holds more traditional Chinese artwork that can be purchased… at art gallery prices. http://www.jinseart.com/ (Chinese version of the site is more up-to-date)
Bus Tip: 朝天门
Gui Hua Zhan Lan Guan 朝天门规划展览馆
• Admission 20 RMB
This massive exhibition center is located beneath the ChaoTianMen Dock. This is a great place to get a deeper orientation of the city layout. Among the displays is an 892-square meters-wide model of the city, one of the largest of its kind in China.
Some pictures from the inside
Bus Tip: 朝天门
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