Chongqing's older streets sit between modern shopping towers and the river. This walk links three historic spots in eastern Yuzhong. You can add a quiet hill park and tea in a former railway office, or make a separate trip to Huangjueping for the famous Jiaotong Teahouse.

People’s Park人民公园
Baixiang Street白象街
Huguang Guild Hall湖广会馆
Dongshuimen东水门
Pipa Mountain Park枇杷山公园
Pipa Mountain Old Teahouse枇杷山老茶馆
Jiaotong Teahouse交通茶馆
Daqi Teahouse大旗茶馆
Map · Sights

Choose a half-day or a full day

For an easy half-day walk with fewer stairs, start near Jiefangbei at People's Park (人民公园) on Gongyuan Road. Walk downhill from the park paths towards Baixiang Street.

Continue along the public streets towards Huguang Guild Hall and Dongshuimen. Allow 3 to 4 hours to explore the guild hall grounds, take photos, and browse the shops.

For a full day, spend the morning around Pipa Mountain Park and its historic railway office teahouse. After lunch, take a short taxi ride to People's Park to begin the afternoon walk. Taking a cab saves you a long, steep climb up from the riverbank.

Baixiang Street: river trade and street life

Baixiang Street (白象街) sits between the historic Wanglongmen and Taipingmen gates. Shipping firms and trading guilds ran Chongqing's river commerce from here. Today, you can spot restored guild buildings and former schools tucked among modern shops.

The former Xinghua School now houses the Xiling Bookroom, while the Shanxi guild hall hosts an exhibit on old Chongqing street names.

Note that Baixiang Street and Baixiangju (白象居) are two different places. Baixiangju is a residential building complex known for its multi-level bridge walkways. For this walk, stay on the public streets: you can admire the stacked hillside architecture from outside without crowding private apartment corridors.

Follow the road east towards Huguang Guild Hall, taking in the small shops along Jiefang East Road as the street drops towards the river.

Huguang Guild Hall and Dongshuimen

Yellow wall, carved stone doorway and red door at Huguang Guild Hall
Photo by Wei Xia

Huguang Guild Hall (湖广会馆) is the main architectural highlight on this walk. Migrants from southern and central China built these halls centuries ago as gathering places and support centres. The restored complex features the Yu Wang Palace, Qi'an Hall, and Guangdong Hall.

Take time to examine the carved wooden stages. The intricate wood and stone carvings show traditional opera figures, mythical beasts, and folk scenes under distinct yellow walls.

Plan for about 60 to 90 minutes inside. The hall is open daily from 09:00 to 18:00, with last entry and ticket sales at 17:00. Check the Huguang map point for the location.

Just outside, Dongshuimen (东水门) is a preserved stone city gate beside the guild hall. The contrast between ancient stone arches, curved guild hall roofs, and massive bridge piers captures Chongqing's layers in a single view.

If carved stages and river trade interest you, plan a separate overnight trip to Gongtan (龚滩古镇). Its Xiqin Guildhall (西秦会馆) joins a wooden theatre and courtyard to the town’s salt-merchant history, beside stilt houses overlooking the Wu River.

Pipa Mountain: a park and tea in a railway building

Pipa Mountain Park (枇杷山公园) offers shaded bamboo groves, stone paths, and city viewpoints away from busy traffic. The peak sits at 345 metres. Once a private garden, the park opened to the public in 1955. Allow about an hour for the paths; climbing to Hongxing Pavilion is optional.

Near the park, Pipa Mountain Old Teahouse (枇杷山老茶馆) operates inside a restored Chengdu-Chongqing Railway office along the Zhongshan Second Road heritage area. It combines historic railway memorabilia with traditional covered-bowl tea service.

Tea starts from around 8 CNY (≈ USD 1.2 ), with operating hours from 08:30 to 17:30. Qixinggang station on Lines 1 and 10 is nearby, though taking a taxi directly to the teahouse entrance avoids uphill climbing.

Jiaotong Teahouse: make it a separate outing

Visitors share tea tables beneath the wooden roof of Jiaotong Teahouse
Photo by Liming Huang (HUANGMQ)

The historic Jiaotong Teahouse (交通茶馆) sits at 黄桷坪正街20号 in the Huangjueping art district of Jiulongpo. Open since 1987, it retains exposed brick walls, timber roof beams, and worn wooden tables where locals gather to chat, play cards, and play Chinese chess.

Choose green tea or jasmine tea. Use the Jiaotong map point for exact navigation.

Because Huangjueping is outside central Yuzhong, plan Jiaotong Teahouse as a separate half-day trip by taxi or metro Line 18. Pair it with a walk through the colourful graffiti streets around the Sichuan Fine Arts Institute.

Performance venues and guided walks

Daqi Teahouse (大旗茶馆) at Chaotianmen·Chengli (朝天门·城里) opened in May 2026 and offers scheduled Sichuan opera, face-changing acts, and long-spout tea pouring. It is a modern entertainment venue rather than a quiet neighbourhood tea room. Check the daily performance board and ticket tiers at the door.

For local stories and help finding the route, consider Trippest Shancheng Alley walking tour.

Practical tips for old-city walks

  • Find the right street level: Huguang Guild Hall and Dongshuimen sit below the bridge deck. A taxi directly to Huguang shortens the route.
  • Teahouse etiquette: Order one cup or bowl of tea per seated guest. Hot-water refills are included with your bowl so you can sit as long as you like. Ask politely before taking close portraits of local patrons playing cards.
  • Huguang Guild Hall tickets: Standard admission covers the courtyards and exhibition halls. Any special evening or courtyard opera performances require a separate ticket. Some areas are temporarily closed; check which rooms are open that day at the entrance.

For a preserved riverside village experience, read our Ciqikou guide.

For more about the city's past, read the museums and history guide.

Sources & updates