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Our First Time In Chongqing China (We Weren't Expecting This)
First Time in Chongqing: Family Travel Guide to Hidden Gems
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We finally made it to Chongqing, China, and boy, let me tell you, it was not easy. We'll leave that for another time, but over the next five days we're going to be exploring everything Chongqing has to...
We finally made it to Chongqing, China, and boy, let me tell you, it was not easy. We'll leave that for another time, but over the next five days we're going to be exploring everything Chongqing has to offer. Luckily for us, these first two days are going to include a guide to show us all the best spots, all the top sites, and all the hidden places that you might not think about going to when visiting Chongqing. So buckle up.
After a rough journey, the King family finally lands in Chongqing—and this Chinese megacity does not disappoint. With five days to explore and a local guide for the first two, they dive into the city's famous sights, unexpected hidden corners, and unforgettable street-level energy. Buckle up for a family travel adventure that proves Chongqing is full of surprises.
We finally made it to Chongqing, China, and boy, let me tell you, it was not easy. We'll leave that for another time, but over the next five days we're going to be exploring everything Chongqing has to offer. Luckily for us, these first two days are going to include a guide to show us all the best spots, all the top sites, and all the hidden places that you might not think about going to when visiting Chongqing. So buckle up.
Shawn and Amanda King arrived in Chongqing after a long haul from Japan, exhausted but ready for a five-day exploration of a city that kept surprising them. Day one was immediately intense: China was far cleaner than expected, with streets swept early in the morning, and the sheer scale of Chongqing made it obvious that this was not a place to navigate solo. So the Kings hired a private guide named Tao, recommended through a Facebook page, to show them the best spots over two full days. With a toddler and a baby on the way, they knew a driver and some local knowledge would make all the difference.
Their first mission was breakfast, and it set the bar high: a soft bao bun spot, then a bowl of noodles that they later called the tastiest of the entire trip. Chongqing, as the capital of Sichuan pepper, greeted them with a signature numbing heat, and a little milk quickly became Keanu's—and their—best friend. From there, Tao led them to Chongqing's mind-bending vertical architecture. They visited the famous 22nd floor building, where what looked like a second-floor street from one side turned out to be a skybridge on the 22nd floor from the other, linking two buildings because of the mountain terrain. The family stood there watching the city unfurl in a cyberpunk haze, with views that videos could not do justice.
At Liberation Square, they learned Chongqing ranks among the most populated cities in the world—over 32 million people. They sampled a coffee-flavored bread Amanda loved, followed by famously sour and spicy sweet potato noodles that made Shawn wince and rate a solid 7 out of 10. A stone-baked pork bun with pickles earned a 9, especially with chili oil and vinegar dip. Tao proved to be more than a driver; he told them how he learned English from American TV shows like Friends and The Vampire Diaries, helping the conversation flow as naturally as the city's layers.
One of the most surreal stops was Liziba Station, the famous monorail that slides straight through a residential building. Crowds gathered for the perfect photo, and the Kings joined in. Nearby, they also discovered a World War II bomb shelter converted into a gas station—an image that made them laugh with disbelief—and another enormous bomb shelter turned into a quirky commercial and wishing space where people hung their hopes on tens of thousands of small objects.
Goose Neck Park came next, and it stole the show. Tao explained the name from the map's goose-neck shape, and Shawn and Amanda were stunned by the manicured gardens, cliffside walkways, and endless photo spots. It was stroller-friendly, which made it even sweeter for the family. From there, Testbed2, a former coin factory turned creative complex, offered shopping, local fragrance, a haunted-house vibe, and great city views. Shawn even spotted a DJI drone for a better price than in the US, another reminder that Chongqing was full of surprises.
By evening, they hit the streets again for quick bites, watching peppers being cooked into what looked like edible art. A $2 egg burger became the definitive 10 out of 10 snack. Then came the grand finale: a lookout point glittering with city lights, where the old town and the new cyberpunk skyline melted together. Amanda called it one of the prettiest things she had seen in a long time. The only warning? Eighteen thousand stairs make that spot a no-go for strollers and babies. Still, after a long but magical day, the Kings headed back to their hotel, ready to do it all again with Tao the next morning.
Shawn and Amanda King's first day in Chongqing turned into a wild vertical adventure. With a private guide named Tao, they chased steaming noodle bowls, crossed a skybridge that looked like street level but sat on the 22nd floor, watched monorails slice through apartment buildings, and discovered bomb shelters turned gas stations and wishing grottoes. Goose Neck Park wowed them as one of the prettiest spots they've ever strolled. By nightfall, Chongqing's neon-cyberpunk skyline hit hard, and even the toddler stayed charmed. This is China, but not as most people picture it.
In Chongqing, the Kings explore a wild layered mountain city, riding trains through buildings and falling for its spicy food and glowing skyline.
First Time in Chongqing: Monorail Trains & Spicy Noodles
1:48 If you're new to Chongqing and especially if you're traveling with kids, hire a local guide with a private car. This city is built on multiple layers, and getting lost is easy. A driver helps you cover the biggest sights without wrestling a stroller through endless stairs.
5:32 Start your morning the Chongqing way: look for a humble bao bun shop and order a bowl of noodles. The city is the capital of Sichuan pepper, so expect a numbing spice. Keep milk nearby to cool the burn.
9:35 Explore the 22nd floor building with the sky bridge. From one street it looks like the second floor, from another it's 22 stories up. The bridge exists because Chongqing's mountain terrain makes roads converge in surprising ways.
19:12 Don't miss Liziba Station. It's the famous spot where the monorail runs directly through an apartment building. Head to the viewing platform under the tracks for the classic photograph of the train emerging from the structure.
28:29 Put Goose Neck Park on your Chongqing list. The grounds are beautifully landscaped, the cliffside viewpoints are spectacular, and it's surprisingly walkable. Families with strollers can enjoy the paths, and photographers will fill their memory cards in minutes.
31:11 Testbed2 is a creative district built from an old coin factory. Wander the shops, try local snacks, and enjoy the views from its many vantage points. It's also a good place to check drone prices before paying Western retail.
34:55 End your day at the evening lookout over the old city. The cyberpunk nightscape is unforgettable, but understand there are around 18,000 stairs. Skip this one if you have a stroller or a baby; choose a carrier and take your time.
1:48 If you're new to Chongqing and especially if you're traveling with kids, hire a local guide with a private car. This city is built on multiple layers, and getting lost is easy. A driver helps you cover the biggest sights without wrestling a stroller through endless stairs.
5:32 Start your morning the Chongqing way: look for a humble bao bun shop and order a bowl of noodles. The city is the capital of Sichuan pepper, so expect a numbing spice. Keep milk nearby to cool the burn.
9:35 Explore the 22nd floor building with the sky bridge. From one street it looks like the second floor, from another it's 22 stories up. The bridge exists because Chongqing's mountain terrain makes roads converge in surprising ways.
19:12 Don't miss Liziba Station. It's the famous spot where the monorail runs directly through an apartment building. Head to the viewing platform under the tracks for the classic photograph of the train emerging from the structure.
28:29 Put Goose Neck Park on your Chongqing list. The grounds are beautifully landscaped, the cliffside viewpoints are spectacular, and it's surprisingly walkable. Families with strollers can enjoy the paths, and photographers will fill their memory cards in minutes.
31:11 Testbed2 is a creative district built from an old coin factory. Wander the shops, try local snacks, and enjoy the views from its many vantage points. It's also a good place to check drone prices before paying Western retail.
34:55 End your day at the evening lookout over the old city. The cyberpunk nightscape is unforgettable, but understand there are around 18,000 stairs. Skip this one if you have a stroller or a baby; choose a carrier and take your time.
0:52 Starting a five-day Chongqing adventure
1:48 Hiring a private guide and driver
5:32 Trying local breakfast and spicy noodles
7:38 Visiting the 22nd floor building
11:14 Taking in incredible city views
19:12 Watching the train pass through a building
23:56 Discovering bomb shelters turned gas station
28:29 Exploring Goose Neck Park
34:55 Enjoying the nighttime skyline views
0:52 Starting a five-day Chongqing adventure
1:48 Hiring a private guide and driver
5:32 Trying local breakfast and spicy noodles
7:38 Visiting the 22nd floor building
11:14 Taking in incredible city views
19:12 Watching the train pass through a building
23:56 Discovering bomb shelters turned gas station
28:29 Exploring Goose Neck Park
34:55 Enjoying the nighttime skyline views
Why did you decide to hire a guide in Chongqing?
Managing a toddler and a stroller in a mountain city with unlimited layers was too much for us, especially while I'm pregnant. We figured a driver would make it easy and let us see as much as possible.
What was the tastiest noodle you had?
The very first bowl on day one was hands-down the tastiest noodle of the whole trip. It was spicy and numbing, but a little milk helped.
What surprised you most about China?
How clean it was. Early in the morning people were sweeping the streets, and it honestly felt quite different from a lot of other Asian countries and the US.
What was the 22nd floor building like?
It was mind-bending. One side looked like a second-floor street, but the other side was 22 stories up. The sky bridge connects the buildings because of the mountain terrain.
What was your favorite snack at Testbed2?
The $2 egg burger was a total 10 out of 10 and definitely better than the other one we tried. I couldn't get enough.
How was Goose Neck Park?
It was one of the prettiest parks we've ever been to, and it was easy to navigate with a stroller. The cliffside views were incredible and made for amazing photos.
