4 Days in Chongqing, China 2026 - A Travel Guide to the Largest City on Earth.

Chongqing. From hidden cafes and ancient neighborhoods to breathtaking karst landscapes and one of the most fascinating city skylines I've ever seen. Let me show you how to spend four days in Chongqing. My journey begins in the heart of the city. My first stop was at this cozy little cafe overlooking the Ara Temple, with one of the best views in the area. From there, I walked down to the temple, one of Chongqing's oldest Buddhist temples. Originally built during the Song Dynasty around 1,000 years ago, it's best known for its collection of more than 500 life-sized Ahut statues, each carved with its own unique expression. If you'd like to recreate the look of my videos, you can find my power grade and luck pack in the description below. From here, I took the metro to Longmenhao Old Street. Perched on the southern bank of the Yangtze River, this beautifully restored historic neighborhood blends traditional architecture with modern cafes, restaurants, and boutiques. So in the afternoon, I made my way to what felt like one of Chongqing's hidden gems. A skywalk suspended high above the city with incredible panoramic views. I could also watch the famous Line 2 Metro disappear straight through a residential building while crowds gathered below to witness one of the city's most iconic sights. In the evening, I headed to one of the city's most spectacular riverfront viewpoints. On my second day here, I wasted no time and joined a day trip to the Wulong Castes, one of the places I'd wanted to visit for years. Before we arrive at the Wulong Castes, there's one tip I want to share if you're planning a trip to China. Apps like Google Maps, WhatsApp and Instagram don't work here the same way they do back home, but there's a simple workaround. If you get an international eSIM before arriving, you can stay connected and keep using your apps as usual. During this trip, I tested three different eSIM providers in China and in my experience, the one that worked best was HoloFly. So I reached out to them, and HoloFly offered to sponsor this video and give you a 5% discount. HoloFly offers unlimited data in more than 200 destinations worldwide, including regional plans and a global eSIM for frequent travelers with no hidden costs. One feature I really like is called Always On. Once you install your eSIM, you automatically get one gigabyte of backup data every month. So if plans change, HoloFly has your back. If you're planning your own trip to China, scan the QR code on screen or use the link in the description below and use my code LAZE to get 5% off your purchase. Waiting below were the three natural bridges, one of the world's largest natural bridge systems and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Hidden beneath one of the bridges is the Tianfu Post House, an ancient-style inn originally built as a filming location for the movie Curse of the Golden Flower. After exploring the bridges, a short shuttle bus brought us to the Fisher Gorge. Stretching deep through the mountains, the narrow gorge is filled with waterfalls, streams, dramatic rock walls, and wooden walkways that wind through the canyon floor. Back in the city, I ended the day at Banshan Cafe, overlooking the skyline with a fresh lemon tea in hand. After yesterday's adventure in the mountains, I decided to slow things down a little and spend the day exploring some of the city's oldest neighborhoods. Once one of the oldest residential districts here, Shibati has been carefully restored into a neighborhood that preserves the atmosphere of old Chongqing. The stone staircases, traditional architecture, tea houses, and small local shops make it one of the best places to get a glimpse of what the city looked like before the skyscrapers arrived. From there it was just a short ride to one of the city's most unusual landmarks. At first glance, it looks like an ordinary public square. But what makes it famous is that you're actually standing on the 22nd floor of a building while still being at street level. From here I walked about 15 minutes to Hongyadong, one of the city's most recognizable landmarks. Built into the cliffs overlooking the river, the 11-story complex is inspired by traditional stilt houses that once lined these hillsides. Instead of staying on land with the crowds, I decided to experience it from the water. If you like this video, a thumbs up helps more than you think. For my final day in Chongqing, I went to Testbed Creative Park, a former industrial site that has been transformed into one of the city's creative hubs. Old factory buildings now house independent cafes, design studios, galleries, and small local shops. While exploring, I came across a cozy little cafe with live music that turned out to be the perfect place to take a short break before continuing the day. From there I took a longer ride across town to the Ring Shopping Park. At first it looks like an ordinary shopping mall, but step inside and you'll find something completely unexpected. This time, I couldn't leave without trying one of the city's specialties. So I headed to Air Raid Shelter Old Hot Pot, where the restaurant is built inside a former wartime air raid shelter. Just outside, Ji Fangbei Pedestrian Street was already filling up with people as the city prepared for another busy evening. If there's one place that captures the atmosphere of this city, it's the D World. As if the city wanted to put on one final show, it started raining just as I arrived. The reflections on the pavement, the glowing neon lights, and the mist hanging between the buildings made everything feel even more cinematic. As promised, here is a budget breakdown on my four days in Chongqing.