When traveling to Chongqing, in addition to exploring the city center, it is important to take enough time to explore the surrounding areas. In fact, Chongqing is much larger than you imagine, because of its vast territory and abundant resources. Therefore, there are countless options for 1-2 day trips departing from Chongqing. I really want to summarize and recommend several good places, which I have considered for a long time. From the city center to the southeast, northwest, and four directions, I have recommended several routes for everyone.
namely:
1. East: Fuling District - Baiheliang Underwater Museum
2. South: Wansheng District - Dreamy Ordovician Scenic Area
3. West: Dazu County Baoding Mountain Dazu Rock Carvings
4. North: Hechuan City - Fishing City
5. Accommodation and Catering
Fuling Baiheliang Underwater Museum - Stunning Underwater Relics
Fuling District, my previous impression of this area was only limited to Fuling pickled vegetables. Foodies must understand me. Before heading to this underwater museum attraction, I was also daydreaming about taking the crystal clear elevator directly to the underwater view. In fact, I have watched Marvel many times because it is built underwater. In reality, building this base is much more difficult than imagined.
The entire project started in 2001 when Professor Ge Xiurun from Shanghai Jiao Tong University proposed the idea of a pressure free container to Premier Zhu. Construction began in 2003 and was completed in 2009, taking nearly 10 years and costing 210 million yuan. By continuing to place purified seawater into isolated inscribed stones to ensure consistent internal and external water pressure, the world's first underwater museum was finally built.
After crustal changes, the inscriptions that once floated on the water surface have now penetrated deep into the seabed, but these famous words and phrases are still clearly visible. Baiheliang was once famous for its habitat of white cranes. For 72 years from the Tang Dynasty to the present, the dry water level has extremely important scientific value in water temperature. The ancients used stone fish as a water meter and fish eyes as a standard for measuring water level, which is the same principle as the modern hydrological station setting up the "zero point of the water gauge".
The inscription collection is a masterpiece of literature and calligraphy by famous artists throughout history, known as the "underwater monument forest". Those who understand calligraphy may find it fascinating, but for me, the process of appreciating these masterpieces underwater is still awe inspiring. This stone beam is very long, and the underwater museum only captured a few tens of meters with more text in the middle.
After appreciating this underwater stone beam, it was still somewhat shocking. It's worth my long journey to come to this place, which is definitely the most valuable underwater scenic spot in China.
On my way back to the city center of Chongqing, the content of this scenic spot still lingers in my mind for a long time. Not only is it difficult to build, but modern people have their own wisdom that allows us to see how ancient people lived.
Dreamy Ordovician - The Most Exciting and Challenging Scenic Area in Chongqing
After seeing the underwater historical relics in Chongqing, it's time to put aside the heavy content and relax. In the Wansheng area south of Chongqing city, there is a best scenic spot to release oneself, which is the Dreamy Ordovician Scenic Area in Wansheng District. The entire Ordovician Scenic Area is built on a mountain of more than 1000 meters. We took a bus for about an hour and a half on a winding mountain road before arriving here.
Because we booked an online direct train, there will be a tour guide on board who will explain along the way. Our bus will stop at the west gate of the scenic area. Compared to the central entrance, the western entrance offers more options for entering the scenic area. To the left, there is the internet famous horror swing, while to the right, there is the Guinness World Records sky hanging corridor, which is a breathtaking sight to behold.
There are over 60 projects of various sizes in the scenic area, so time must be well arranged. However, I don't have enough time this time, so I suggest that everyone choose a two-day trip if they have enough time. No matter which gate they enter from, I still recommend that if they want to play the horror swing, they must be the first to check in. This project has the longest queue in the entire scenic area, but we seem to be lucky because it's not the weekend and there aren't many people queuing up. It takes more than half an hour to arrive. Before visiting here, we were given a swing video on Tiktok to plant grass. There are five swings, and the most popular ones are 21 meters and 18 meters respectively.
Although these two swings look only 3 meters apart, when they are pulled back after sitting on the swing, the process of being pulled back by 3 meters feels like a level upgrade. The person is facing the ground, and it is not known when they will be thrown out, which is the most terrifying. However, when pulled to the top, there will be a warning sound on the swing, telling tourists that the moment to rush towards the clouds is coming. Because the swing is built on the edge of a cliff, there is a feeling of being thrown out.
Nowadays, swings are controlled by equipment, so they are relatively safe. The height at which they can be thrown out is also limited. The first swing is the most exciting, with a 180 degree reverberating space. As the swing decreases, it returns to the origin, and it does not stop with just one swing. It provides a buffering process for recovering the body.
However, many projects in the Ordovician period have weight and age restrictions, such as the internet famous swing. If you are over 48 years old or weigh more than 85 kilograms, you will be disqualified. The A-shaped sky hanging corridor and U-shaped cloud covered corridor bridge in the Ordovician scenic area are more like upgraded versions of glass bridges. It was thought that there was no support point at the bottom of the farthest end. Because of this unique design, it is now the owner of the Guinness World Records. It extends 70 meters from the edge of the cliff, and everyone carefully walks towards the distance step by step. Those who are afraid of heights should not look under their feet.
The U-shaped cloud covered bridge is simpler compared to the A-shaped sky hanging bridge, and there are more options for the elderly and children. If staff take commemorative photos on the bridge, they can print a small photo for free.
If the sky hanging corridor and the cloud covered corridor bridge are just transparent floors, and feet can still be stepped on firmly, then Step by Step Heart and Step by Step Soul are two entertainment projects that make you feel uneasy. When the staff put on protective gear for me and walked on each separated pedal with a distance of 30 meters, every step was a struggle against inner terror.
If you feel that taking one step at a time is not exciting enough, then you must go step by step and be scared. You can't reach the next pedal with a step, you must jump up. When you see a brave girl experiencing the widest square, she only steps on half of her foot. I feel scared even watching from the side.
If it is impossible to take beautiful photos in such an entertainment scenic spot, then it is wrong. There is a paid project called Sky Realm in the Ordovician Scenic Area, which is located next to the amusement facilities in the western area. The glass floor directly reflects the blue sky and white jade on the ground, like a mirror. There are shooting props provided on site, and you only need to dress beautifully.
There are a total of 5 high-altitude speed skating routes in the Ordovician scenic area, and I recommend the No. 4 high-altitude speed skating route because I think it is the longest route here. You can reach it by walking opposite the middle door. The reason why I recommend it is because you can cross cliffs, forests, and stone forests, experience the collision of speed and passion, and have a bird's-eye view of different aerial scenery. The whole journey is very quiet, and it seems that you can only hear the sound of the locking buckle rubbing the cable. Moreover, the most exciting part is passing through the dinosaur ice and snow world. You must not have the experience of sliding over several dinosaurs, right.
By the way, Dinosaur Ice and Snow World is actually a ski resort where both indoor and outdoor spaces become covered in snow during winter. However, during this season, only indoor ski resorts can be maintained. Nevertheless, the ski resort closes at 9pm, so be sure to give night skiing a try! It is also recommended that everyone experience the ski resort at night, so that they can clock in more popular events during the day.
Coming out of the ski resort is perfect for soaking in a hot spring. Friends without swimsuits can purchase it at the entrance. The Ordovician hot springs are located between the Dinosaur Ice and Snow World and the Glass Suspension Bridge, with four colorful hot spring pools - sulfur pool, milk pool, green tea pool, and red wine pool. The pond is embraced by trees and forests, shrouded in steam. Soaking in hot spring soup, one can look up and see the starry sky, as if in a fairyland.
There is a lot of people queuing up for rocket bungee jumping near the middle gate, or it may be because we arrived in the afternoon and everyone has already played in this area. Rocket bungee jumping requires two people to enter a spherical seat together. The two ends are held by elastic ropes and follow the elasticity. The two people sitting in the ball are bounced back and forth, completely out of control and without any regular route. They only hear screams and a happy expression when they walk out.
There are still many restrictions for tourists to play this project. It is too light or too heavy to play, requiring a weight greater than 40 kilograms and less than 75 kilograms. Therefore, many boys have to hesitate, but even though so many people refuse, the enthusiasm for queuing still remains undiminished.
What occupied most of my afternoon was experiencing two jungle leaps. The jungle leap near the middle gate had a total of six routes, each with different levels of difficulty. Route 1 and 2 were the simplest, taking about half an hour, while the last four routes were more difficult. This is an adventure game without an exit mechanism, and the lock is only available at the entrance and exit. Therefore, if you want to exit, you need to return to the entrance, and the tourists at the back will also be forced to return to the entrance first.
For the maintenance and safety of the equipment, it is not allowed to play when the weight exceeds 85 kilograms. Before playing, it is necessary to weigh oneself, wear protective clothing, and then feel the stimulation of stepping on steel wires. Jungle crossing not only tests the courage of tourists, but also tests their physical coordination and balance.
Although this project doesn't require much queuing because there are 6 routes, the experience time is indeed the longest, from the simplest 30-40 minutes to the most difficult 1-2 hours. If you really want to experience all 5 routes, time may not be enough. It's really difficult to clock in all 60 amusement facilities in a day because some projects are discovered after experiencing them themselves and you want to clock in again.
The transportation of the Ordovician Scenic Area was directly booked online by me through a direct train, which met at the four kilometer transportation hub at 7 o'clock. For the return journey, I can choose to return to the four kilometer transportation hub or Jiaochangkou, and it will arrive around 19 o'clock. The price is about 80 yuan, which is very convenient for me living in Jiaochangkou.
If there are many people, I suggest renting a car, as the daily rental price is not expensive. If you want to play to the fullest, you can buy a two-day ticket. There are many homestays near the scenic area, and you can also enjoy the sunset and starry sky on the mountain and experience the joyful world of jumping in the Ordovician scenic area.
According to the staff, the Ordovician Happy World, which was renovated at the end of the year, will reopen again! The joyful world of the Ordovician period will stage various exciting performances in the afternoon, pay attention! The highlight of the Ordovician Happy World starts at 9 o'clock, when it instantly transforms into a large-scale jumping event. Next time I have the chance to play again~
Dazu Rock Carvings - Embodiment of Confucian Cultural Wisdom
Chongqing actually has a lot of 5A, and they are very scattered, with different contents reflected in each district. In Dazu District, there is a preserved stone carving relic with amazing craftsmanship. Dazu Rock Carvings in Chongqing is a world historical heritage, one of the eight largest grottoes in the world, and a national 5A scenic spot. The biggest and best preserved one is the Baoding Mountain stone carvings that I visited, which is a 2-hour bus ride from downtown Chongqing. Based on Confucianism, mixed with Taoism and filial piety culture, these stone carvings embody the national spirit of hundreds of years ago! This is also a very important student study base in Chongqing, not only for Chinese students, but also occasionally for international friends to visit and learn here.
Outsiders can watch the excitement, while experts can understand the intricacies. Even if you are not an expert in stone carving, many of the contents can be understood as long as you calm down and appreciate them. Buddhism and Confucianism do not seem to require deliberate learning in the eyes of Chinese people. The ethical and moral values of the Four Books and Five Classics that we have learned since childhood are sufficient to interpret the eternal thoughts left by these sages.
Interpreting just a few stone carvings can have profound meanings. A complete cycle of reincarnation, all the major events that a person must experience in life, aging, sickness, and death, whether entering heaven or hell, are all part of fate.
The ancient stone carving techniques were already very exquisite, and they could even control the proportion of Buddha statues to just right. They already knew that when looking at Buddha statues from bottom to top, they needed to "stretch their legs" to look normal in proportion. The tower held in their hand looked at most 1 meter, but in reality, it was very heavy at 1.85 meters, relying entirely on the cuffs of the Buddha statue to support its weight, allowing it to stand upright for hundreds of years.
Another thing worth seeing is the Thousand Armed Thousand Eyed Guanyin statue, which is an indoor stone carving. The hands of the Thousand Armed Thousand Eyed Guanyin are all in the same posture, with a gold-plated surface that has been repaired several times. It is said that on Guanyin's birthday, there will be a lot of people here and the incense will be very popular.
During the Cultural Revolution, many grottoes and stone carvings were destroyed, but due to the mountainous terrain of Chongqing, they are not easily discovered. With the protection of the local people, so many exquisite stone carvings have been left for future generations to visit today.
Fishing City - Historical Battle Turning Point
Hechuan District is located at the north gate of Chongqing and is now an important transportation hub and economic corridor. During the Southern Song Dynasty, it was also a very important military location. Due to its location at the confluence of the Three Rivers, when Mongolia attempted to attack Chongqing, they chose to enter through the Jialing River, and Hechuan (then known as Hezhou) became particularly important. If it was breached, it would face Chongqing directly.
How many ancient relics from the 36 year Anti Mongolian War still remain in this fishing city? There are currently 8 kilometers of city walls, boardwalks, underground exits, naval docks, military workshops, martial arts offices, military camps, imperial palaces, heaven and earth, and other famous scenic spots and historical sites.
The most well preserved among the 8 city gates is the Guardian Gate, which is the largest and most powerful gate among the 8 city gates. The guards once used a plank road to enter and exit here, and in emergency situations, the plank road could be dismantled to cut off its passage. Today, the stone cave on the plank road still exists.
The name of the Nine Mouth Pot Site does not mean there are nine pots, but rather more than nine depressions that look like pots, but are actually used to mix gunpowder. It is also the earliest discovered base in the world for mixing military gunpowder.
The city wall here was not built in a day, but the result of the hard work of local residents. This place reproduces a simulated scene of working people building the city wall.
There is a one kilometer long city wall along the Jialing River, which serves as a transportation channel for the Song army's supplies and a peripheral defense line for the assembly and movement of the riverbank. Now it is covered in moss and mixed with the river scenery to create a new scenery.
There is a saying among the locals that standing on the fishing platform means either promotion or wealth! So when you come here, you must stand up and take a photo. There is also a cooking place directly across from Diaoyutai, which is small but has clear division of labor.
The ancient military camp is the residence of the Fishing City garrison, located in a convenient and well connected area. It can quickly attack any enemy situation in any direction, facing south and north. It has two parts: the battlefield and the barracks, with seven barracks with stone walls and blue tiles. It is now displayed as an exhibition hall.
During the visit, we walked the racecourse, which was 8.5 kilometers long and 3.5 meters wide. At that time, there were no stone paved roads, but they were later repaired. The most recent one was in 2004. The racecourse is a military thoroughfare that runs through the entire route, allowing three horses to enter and five people to go in parallel.
Fishing City was an important turning point in the historical changes of China during the Southern Song Dynasty, and also a turning point in the division of the world's regions. Let us remember these important and true deeds that changed history!
Accommodation and Catering
If you ask me the difference between Chengdu hotpot and Chongqing hotpot, which one is really delicious? This is a century old problem. From my perspective, I am more concerned about the aroma of the mixture of chili and Sichuan peppercorns in the bottom of the pot, so I like Chongqing hotpot. If we add a code to ordinary Chongqing hotpot and eat the local products around Chongqing, wouldn't it be even more interesting?
I am staying at Jiaochangkou in Chongqing this time. There are quite a few local food options, but I have never tried local hotpot before, so I want to try it! Unexpectedly, I discovered the treasure shop of "Shenjiahongcheng local hotpot", with a lot of local goods piled up at the entrance, and the storefront decoration is very down-to-earth. Luotian soil eggs, Nanchuan bamboo shoots, Wuxi colorful potatoes, Pengshui ecological bean sprouts, Wulong sweet potato flour, Zhongxian black tofu, as well as Chengkou's old cured meat, sausages, and pork ribs. As a non local tourist, I may have heard of Wulong sweet potato flour at most, but I never expected to be able to eat all these specialty dishes at once!
The waiter told me that eggs need to be boiled for five minutes and cannot be stirred. Locals like to eat fully cooked eggs, but I prefer soft boiled eggs, so I boiled them for a while and then took them out. The whole egg white absorbed the freshness and aroma of the spicy pot. Looking back now, I still feel tempted. The quality of local eggs is good, and they can be eaten raw. So I invented a second way to eat local eggs myself: Chongqing hotpot is popular for eating tender beef. You can take out the beef after cooking and dip it directly into the raw egg mixture to eat. It's a bit like a Japanese beef pot, but this is fresh and spicy!
I found a homestay in Chongqing with a decoration style very similar to mine, and as soon as I entered, I felt like I was home! The style of Yuan San Homestay is relatively simple. The room I booked is on the 23rd floor, where you can directly see the scenery outside the window. The tatami bed is right by the window, and the solar energy shines on the bed.
There is a refrigerator and washing machine in the room, and snacks and beer in the refrigerator and on the table can be eaten for free. There are some interesting books in the small bookshelf, and Keigo Higashino's worry free grocery store also has them.
There is also a separate space in the room with two high stools, which is suitable for ordering takeout in that area to avoid getting on the carpet. The decoration of the bathroom, like my home, is mainly black and white checkered, very neat.
🏠： The transportation is very convenient, just across from Exit 1 at Jiaochangkou on Line 1, facing the sun and moonlight, so there is also a separate space in the room for eating, drinking, and traveling. There are two high stools, which are suitable for ordering takeout in that area to avoid getting on the carpet. The decoration of the bathroom, like my home, is mainly black and white checkered, very neat.
