Chongqing: Vertical Living and Historic Hideaways

Begin the day with a hands-on introduction to the craft, stories, and flavors behind Chongqing’s xiaomian, followed by a breakfast of local noodles and wontons • Wind through Mountain City Alleyway, a hillside network of stairways, lanes, and old residences that reveals the city’s distinctive vertical character • Step inside Huguang Guild Hall, once a gathering place for merchants and migrants, and sip tea while enjoying a zuibayu performance • As night falls, glide upstream along the Yangtze River for a distinct, water-level perspective of iconic Hongya Cave and Chongqing’s stunning urban panorama.

Experience a moment of calm at Luohan Temple, a Buddhist temple tucked among Chongqing’s soaring skyscrapers • Step back in time at Jiaotong Teahouse, where elderly locals sip local gaiwan tea and preserve the spirit of old Chongqing • Trace the historic neighborhoods of Longmenhao and Xiahaoli, where restored architecture, hillside lanes, and river views reveal the city’s past and present • Dine in a former WWII air-raid tunnel at Bomb Shelter Hot Pot, where history meets the communal energy of Chongqing’s signature spicy meal.

Explore the UNESCO-listed Dazu Rock Carvings, where masterpieces from the 9th to 13th centuries — serene Buddhas, lively deities, and intricate mythological scenes — adorn the hillsides. Here, Buddhist, Taoist, and Confucian values converge in stone to form one of China’s most profound expressions of spiritual art.

Step into the Wulong Karst, a UNESCO World Heritage Site where towering limestone formations shape one of China’s most dramatic landscapes. Walk across the three natural stone bridges —Tianlong, Qinglong, and Heilong — spanning deep river valleys. Descend into vast sinkholes and gorges that doubled as the backdrop for Transformers 4. Visit the ancient Tianfu Post Station tucked beneath cliffs, and experience a landscape where geological wonder meets cinematic legend.