Review of 5D5N self-guided trip to Chongqing
NOTE: Quite long, and it's my personal experience.
Exit at Jiangbei Airport: I landed at T3 domestic terminal, initially planned to go back to the hotel by train but got lost because I trusted the map. When you just land and pick up luggage, go straight out and there will be stairs/elevator indicating where to catch taxi. If you booked a car on DIDI app, don't go this way, just go straight out the gate, keep going until you see the sign with 网约车, go straight to the station (orange color).
Weather: I went early January, initially thought it would be very cold but no: Mornings are still okay, if you're afraid of cold wear down jacket, otherwise sweater with coat is fine; But evenings are quite cold plus windy so if you go this season (7-9 degrees) remember to bring many down jackets, thick clothes the better.
Hotel: I booked 2 hotels (1. Near night market eating area, near GUAN YIN Bridge and near subway station) & (2. Near Hongya Cave and 来福士). Choose the location you like to go most to book for convenience:
- Near Hongya Cave, 解放碑
- Near 来福士, near the motor trend filming area in Chongqing, Guan Yin Bridge
- Near 九街 night market area
Transportation: The roads here I see are all uphill, climbing mountains. Prepare sandals (in summer) / sports shoes (in winter) because like me I forgot to bring so walking was very painful. Since mostly uphill, walking is more convenient than taxi. If walking DON'T TRUST THE MAP, it will lead you roundabout maze quite far. Just ask locals on the street or like me follow them to find shorter paths. When I first arrived I didn't know, after checking map the place was 1km (walking) but taxi had to go 5km.
Sightseeing / photo spots: because I read quite a few scam posts so mainly I booked in advance then on the appointed day just go, no need to find.
- 18h-19h (I forgot) will turn on lights // 23h will turn off lights // 24h all shops there close.
- Don't trust hawkers saying shortcut (price 3 yuan - 10 yuan ~ 12k - 40k). You just need to queue for elevator but it's VERY CROWDED AND LONG QUEUE. Also don't trust any services hawked on both sides to HKD, just silently go, because the more I refuse the more they follow (some don't follow but I met mostly more than few).
- Hongya Cave from layer 1 left hand side (facing opposite road) also many guys holding ipad calling inviting motor ride. The day I went they even offered 99 yuan :)) Before that I planned to book another guy but saw scam about turning back so booked the tiktok popular one.
- Guan Yin Bridge: Here near shopping center, has big LED sign "我在重庆" but very fast (3s-5s done and every 3 minutes - 5 minutes). You can check-in evening or morning. Also has photographers here, price 1 photo about 80k (includes editing).
- Liberation Monument Center (解放碑): This place I see it's hot Statue of Liberation and next to it LED sign "我在重庆".
Thank you for reading.
Cre: Khuê Diệpp
