Use the interactive **Chongqing tourist map** above to group 17 sights into five practical areas before building a route. Central Chongqing is divided by two rivers and built across steep slopes, so the shortest line between two pins can hide stairs, bridges or a road on another level. Use a current local navigation app for the final entrance and walking level.

## Read the city as five visitor zones

| Zone | Main places | Time | Planning rule |
|---|---|---:|---|
| Central Yuzhong | Jiefangbei, Shibati, Hongya Cave, Chaotianmen | Full day + evening | Walk generally downhill and finish at a river view |
| West-central hills | Liziba, E'ling, Testbed 2 | Half day | Expect stairs; do not add a distant old town |
| North bank | Jiangbeizui, Grand Theatre, Guanyinqiao | Half day + evening | Separate skyline viewpoint from nightlife |
| South bank | Longmenhao, Nanbin Road | Half day + evening | Arrive before sunset and look back at Yuzhong |
| Outer places | Ciqikou, airport, Wulong | Half to full day | Treat Wulong as a separate excursion |

## Central Yuzhong: one layered day

Jiefangbei is the upper-city anchor. Shibati and Shancheng Trail descend through different parts of the slope; Hongya Cave sits on the river-facing edge; Chaotianmen forms the eastern tip. These places look compact on a flat map, but the route works only when you respect elevation.

The default first-day order is **Jiefangbei → Shibati or Shancheng Trail → Hongya Cave → Qiansimen Bridge / Jiangbeizui**. Choose one descent, not both, if the day starts late.

## West-central: Liziba is the start, not the whole route

Liziba, E'ling Park and Testbed 2 form a coherent half-day. The monorail photo takes minutes; moving uphill and through the older road network explains why the stop became famous. Use rail to reach or leave the area instead of asking a car to wait on a congested slope.

## The river changes which night view you get

- **Qiansimen Bridge:** close view of Hongya Cave and the Jialing riverfront.
- **Jiangbeizui / Grand Theatre:** full look back at Hongya Cave and central Yuzhong.
- **Longmenhao:** layered south-bank lanes with a diagonal city view.
- **Nanbin Road:** broad Yuzhong skyline across the Yangtze.

Use the [Cyberpunk City China route](/en/chongqing/cyberpunk-city/) for the correct evening sequence.

## One-, two- and three-day routes from the map

### One day: the central peninsula

Jiefangbei → Shibati → Chaotianmen → Hongya Cave → opposite-bank view. This is a long but geographically coherent first day.

### Two days: add the west and south bank

Keep the central day. On day two, use Liziba → E'ling in daylight, then cross to Longmenhao or Nanbin Road before sunset.

### Three days: add context, not more crossings

Choose Ciqikou, the Three Gorges Museum, Guanyinqiao or a slow neighbourhood block. Do not add Wulong unless you have a separate fourth day or are willing to remove most of the urban plan.

## Names to save in Chinese

| English | Chinese | Why it helps |
|---|---|---|
| Jiefangbei | 解放碑 | Central orientation and hotel searches |
| Hongya Cave | 洪崖洞 | Several entrances and road levels |
| Shibati | 十八梯 | Upper and lower approaches differ |
| Shancheng Trail | 山城巷 | Route rather than one doorway |
| Chaotianmen | 朝天门 | Confluence, square and Raffles City searches |
| Liziba | 李子坝 | Station and viewing platform |
| E'ling Testbed 2 | 鹅岭二厂 | Industrial-creative area near E'ling |
| Longmenhao Old Street | 龙门浩老街 | South-bank sunset route |
| Ciqikou Ancient Town | 磁器口古镇 | Outer historic district |
| Jiangbei Airport | 重庆江北国际机场 | T2 and T3 are separate rail stops |

## Which map should you use on the ground?

The live map is English-first and built with MapLibre and OpenFreeMap. It is good for choosing areas and understanding the two riverbanks. In mainland China, keep a local navigation option such as Amap for current entrances, walking connections and road levels. Apple Maps can also be useful on an iPhone. Do not rely on a single saved screenshot for a city whose construction and station access change.

The Chongqing Transport Commission publishes the official rail network map. Use it for current line and interchange structure; use the airport's own transport page for terminal-specific rail access.

## Continue planning

- [Chongqing Travel Guide](/en/chongqing/) — the full three-day sequence.
- [Things to Do in Chongqing](/en/chongqing/things-to-do/) — decide which pins are worth your time.
- [Chongqing Hotels](/en/chongqing/hotels/) — choose a base by station exit and route.
- [Chongqing Airport](/en/chongqing/airport/) — T2 and T3 arrival logic.

## Official map references

- [Chongqing Transport Commission rail network map (10 February 2026)](https://jtj.cq.gov.cn/zwgk_240/zfxxgkml/gggs/tzgg/202603/t20260302_15481715.html)
- [Chongqing Airport rail transport](https://www.cqa.cn/jtzn/25/)