Chengdu and Chongqing in one trip

Pair Chengdu and Chongqing for giant pandas, park teahouses, multi-level hills and sparkling river skylines. Use the six-day itinerary below, or pick a one-, two- or three-night Chongqing stop for a longer China trip.

Why the two cities work together

Chengdu is mostly flat and easy to walk. It is famous for giant pandas, leafy parks, historic courtyard alleys and slow afternoons.

Chongqing is built across steep hills and two big rivers. It features multi-level streets, towering skyline views and the monorail running through a residential building at Liziba (李子坝).

A six-day trip lets you explore both cities without rushing. If your flight options allow, fly into Chengdu and depart from Chongqing, or do the reverse. This open-jaw route saves you a return train ride.

Choose the right train stations

When booking tickets on China Railway 12306, search for Chengdu East (成都东站). Match it with the Chongqing station closest to your hotel.

Chongqing has four main stations across different districts:

• Shapingba Railway Station (沙坪坝站)
• Chongqing North Railway Station (重庆北站)
• Chongqing West Railway Station (重庆西站)
• Chongqing East Railway Station (重庆东站)

Fast bullet trains run between Chengdu East and Shapingba in as little as 62 minutes. Other services vary by station and stops, and some take more than two hours. Always compare the train ride with the taxi or metro trip from the arrival station to your hotel.

Save the Chinese station name shown on your ticket for taxi drivers or metro navigation. Carry your passport or ID used during booking to pass through the ticket gates.

Days 1 to 3: Chengdu

Day 1: Settle in and sample local snacks. Check into your hotel and take an easy neighborhood stroll. Areas near Tianfu Square (天府广场) or Chunxi Road (春熙路) offer quick metro links, shops and cafes. Grab a bowl of Dan Dan noodles (担担面) for lunch, and enjoy classic Sichuan dishes for dinner.

Day 2: Giant pandas and park teahouses. Visit the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding (成都大熊猫繁育研究基地) in the morning when the pandas are most active. Book a morning entry slot and bring the original identity document used for the booking. In the afternoon, head to People's Park (人民公园). Sit at an open-air teahouse, order jasmine tea and watch locals chat over tea.

Day 3: Historic courtyards and market alleys. Spend the morning exploring Wuhou Shrine (武侯祠) and the old street market at Jinli (锦里). Alternatively, wander through the Wide and Narrow Alleys (宽窄巷子) for preserved courtyard architecture, tea snacks and folk crafts.

Day 4: Train to Chongqing and evening river views

Take a morning high-speed train to Chongqing and check into your hotel. If you are deciding where to stay, the downtown Jiefangbei (解放碑) shopping area offers easy walking access to metro lines and dining.

In the afternoon, walk around the Liberation Monument clock tower. Around dusk, walk down toward Hongya Cave (洪崖洞). Its multi-level wooden stilt buildings light up in bright gold over the Jialing River.

The Hongya Cave walking guide explains how to move between its upper and riverside entrances.

Days 5 and 6: Chongqing sights and day trips

Day 5: Liziba monorail, riverside walks, and hotpot. Take metro Line 2 to Liziba Station (李子坝) and view the train entering the residential building from the street observation deck. For lunch, try a bowl of spicy Chongqing noodles (重庆小面).

In the afternoon, cross the river to Longmenhao Old Street (龙门浩老街) and Nanbin Road (南滨路) for clear views of the downtown skyline across the water. In the evening, sit down for a Chongqing hotpot (重庆火锅).

Day 6: Old town alleys or a countryside day trip. If you leave in the evening, follow our three-day itinerary to visit Ciqikou Ancient Town (磁器口古镇) for handmade sesame cakes and tea shops.

If you have an extra day, take a day trip out of town. Head to Wulong (武隆) to walk below the Three Natural Bridges, or take a Dazu Rock Carvings day trip to explore ancient cliff carvings.

Add one, two or three nights in Chongqing

Count hotel nights separately from sightseeing days. Arriving in the afternoon and leaving in the morning gives you one evening per night, with full days in between.

One night: a river evening between longer stops. Arrive around midday or early afternoon and leave your bags at a central hotel. Follow day 4 for Jiefangbei and Hongya Cave, then have hotpot. With a later departure the next day, visit Liziba in the morning. This choice fits a quick city stop; Wulong and Dazu need a separate full day.

Two nights: the city highlights with one full day. Keep the arrival evening, then follow day 5: Liziba and Line 2, Longmenhao Old Street, and the riverfront on Nanbin Road. On departure day, take a short central walk. Choose Ciqikou instead if your onward journey leaves enough time for its metro trip and a visit. Our three-day itinerary connects the city stops in more detail.

Three nights: add one full day for your interests. Afternoon arrival, two full days, and departure on the fourth date give you room for a museum or historic quarter, or one full-day trip to Wulong or Dazu. Spend the last night in Chongqing and travel onward the next day. Three nights do not automatically give you three full sightseeing days. For a longer city stay, use our four- and five-day routes.

How to adjust your schedule

• 5 days total: Spend 2 days in Chengdu for pandas and parks, and 3 days in Chongqing for city walks and river nights.
• 7 or 8 days total: Keep 3 days in each city, and use your extra days for a full-day trip to Mount Qingcheng near Chengdu or Wulong Karst near Chongqing.

Our intercity train guide covers onward rail journeys, and the metro and transport guide connects stations and city districts.