Become a Virtual Tourist Member Today!  Sign Up for Free | Sign In
Off the Beaten Path in Chongqing
Search:

Home » Travel Guides » Asia » China » Chongqing Shi » Chongqing » Off the Beaten Path

Chongqing Hotels

Real reviews from real travelers.

Chongqing Off the Beaten Path

Old part of the city - Chongqing
Old part of the city
by herzog63
Tips and photos of unusual, out-of-the-way Chongqing attractions, posted by real travelers and locals.
Chongqing Map
Chongqing Off the Beaten PathTips 1 - 10 of 23  
Sort By:  Most Recent | Best Rated
Dazu-Baodingshan
  • Tip Rating:
    • nepalgoods
  • By nepalgoods on October 23, 2005
  • Chongqing Page by nepalgoods
    • Dazu: Baodingshan - Chongqing
    Dazu: Baodingshan
    by nepalgoods, 3 more photos
    If you step back from the beautiful relief of Baodingshan, you find a smal stair, which leads into the valley. After a few steps you'll feel completely alone. The green leafs of the trees will hide the tourist masses and even swallow the noices. And when you sit qiet for a while you'll discover beautifull butterflies and lovely small flowers.

    Leave a Comment

    Not Helpful 1 2 3 4 5 Very Helpful

    Visiting Chongqing?

    Read reviews about Chongqing Hotels

    Real Reviews from Real VirtualTourist Members.

    Pipashan Park
  • Tip Rating:
  • By mke1963 on November 6, 2004
  • Chongqing Page by mke1963
    • Chongqing Off the Beaten Path
    by mke1963
    Pipa Shan is hardly a mountain, rising to just 345 metres above sea level, and in hilly Chongqing, Pipa Shan is almost hidden by the forest of skyscrapers all around. The park was originally the garden of the governor of Sichuan, and became a public place in the 1950s.
    Now it is a tangle of semi-wild tropical plants, mildewed pavilions and huts, linked by damp stone and concrete paths.
    On the wide, flat summit, Chongqing's elderly people come to give some fresh air to their caged birds, wander around with their grand-children and play mahjong. In the drier months, open air art exhibitions are held in the rose garden. Nearby, the octagonal Red Star Pavilion provides impressive views over the valley of the Jialing and towards the Chinag Jiang.
    The former Chongqing Municipal Museum - rated by many - is no longer open, presumably it will reopen in one of the new museums being built in the city. The semi-private Natural History Museum is still there, in an annexe to the old museum.

    Leave a Comment

    Not Helpful 1 2 3 4 5 Very Helpful
    Wander the Old Alleys
  • Tip Rating:
    • herzog63
  • Updated By herzog63 on October 11, 2003
  • Chongqing Page by herzog63
    • Old part of the city - Chongqing
    Old part of the city
    by herzog63
    Chongqing is a Great city to just wander. I didn't see a whole lot of "must see" places but just taking in the city is what I enjoyed! This part that is shown in the photo is a great place to wander for a day or a few hours....but be prepared for lot's of hill climbing. The hill is very steep and the streets are a jumble of ups and downs. Some of the walkways appeared to go right through peoples homes...I was lost the whole time I was wandering but had a great time..I wish I would have made more photos from the experiences but I felt funny taking my camera out and pointing it right at people...I didn't want to ruin the fun time I was having by possibly scaring anyone with my camera. I'm sure if you are in a large group it would be better to break up into smaller groups...I don't know if the people would be so welcoming to a group of 25 wandering through their kitchen!

    Leave a Comment

    Not Helpful 1 2 3 4 5 Very Helpful
    Get a Zipper Fixed
  • Tip Rating:
    • herzog63
  • Updated By herzog63 on October 11, 2003
  • Chongqing Page by herzog63
    • Fix anything guy - Chongqing
    Fix anything guy
    by herzog63
    If you need a zipper or shoe fixed while traveling in China you can get a quick fix from one of these guys. They are located in many "hole-in-the-wall" type shops. There are so many to chose from and they have always treated me well as I have used them in many countries!

    Leave a Comment

    Not Helpful 1 2 3 4 5 Very Helpful
    St Joseph's Church
  • Tip Rating:
  • By mke1963 on November 6, 2004
  • Chongqing Page by mke1963
    • St Joseph's Church - Chongqing
    St Joseph's Church
    by mke1963
    Hidden away, and closely hemmed in by a canyon of tower blocks, is the delightful ivy-covered old St Joseph's church. It is entirely invisible from busy Minsheng Lu. It is reached down a flight of steep, worn stone steps. At the bottom, a worn wooden gate opens onto a small courtyard. To the left, office and accommodation locks form a cloister, while the church stands on its own, apart from the rush of noise on the street above. The rich green ivy has clambered over every surface, seemingly hiding the church from aetheistic view.
    Inside, the walls are bare and clean. A steady succession of worhshippers come in to pray and to leave gifts. When I was there, a young lady was loudly planning her wedding, and clearly causing some consternation to the staff. I guess she was demanding all kinds of things that one would not normally expect in a church. Hope it all went well.

    Leave a Comment

    Not Helpful 1 2 3 4 5 Very Helpful

    Visiting Chongqing?

    Read reviews about Chongqing Hotels

    Real Reviews from Real VirtualTourist Members.

    Around Minsheng Lu
  • Tip Rating:
  • By mke1963 on November 6, 2004
  • Chongqing Page by mke1963
    • Chongqing Off the Beaten Path
    by mke1963
    It is easy in Chongqing to ignore the mundane, yet the back-streets of the city are a fascinating mix of the old and the new. Old European-style buildings are fading gently, and being swept away for new tower-blocks, but there are still many areas where the black stone buildings, with obvious German and Russian features, live happily on.
    Below, in the streets and alleyways, every square metre is filled with stands and stalls, selling vegetable, fruit, fabrics, bicycles, meat, animals, drinks, cigarettes, computers, flowers..... This is local China, away from the malls and China Unicom shops, where people live, work and shop.
    A classic little piece of China is on every street and every corner.

    Leave a Comment

    Not Helpful 1 2 3 4 5 Very Helpful
    Ciqikou - artists village
  • Tip Rating:
  • By mke1963 on November 6, 2004
  • Chongqing Page by mke1963
    • The end of the highway by Ciqikou - Chongqing
    The end of the highway by
    Ciqikou
    by mke1963
    Visitors to China quickly get used to Chinese culture being packaged and sanitised. Little is left to find its own way: anything interesting and anything that can be commercialised generally is commercialised as quickly as possible for as many people as possible.
    Ciqikou is just one example, but it has many redeeming features. It is a collection of lovely buildings, alleyways, and temples that has been 'touristifed'. Fortunately, Ciqikou has remained higgledy-piggledy and only partially planned, and so it retains much of its charm. The village sits high on the banks of the Jialing river in the eastern part of Chongqing, and is home to many artists. Around it, the usual banal and excessive collection of rather pathetic, uninspiring concrete restaurants, cafes and tourist shops.
    Tellingly, the monstrous riverside highway, on huge 30 metre concrete stilts has devastated the banks of the river the whole way out from Chongqing, and ends abruptly by Ciqikou. No matter how long you live in China, you can never cease to be amazed at how insensitive much of the development has been.
    Ciqikou is recommended because of the artists, some lovely old buildings and there are some good restaurants, but it could have been so much more if the authorities had just considered the humanity of its grand development plans.

    Leave a Comment

    Not Helpful 1 2 3 4 5 Very Helpful
    The Dazu Grottos, 160...
  • Tip Rating:
    • MacKiwi
  • By MacKiwi on September 13, 2002
  • Chongqing Page by MacKiwi
    • Chongqing Off the Beaten Path
    by MacKiwi
    The Dazu Grottos, 160 kilometers northwest of Chongqing, include over 60,000 figures scattered in more than 100 places. They are primarily Buddhist cave sculptures noted for unusual domestic detail as well as purely religious themes. They were carved during the times of the Tang 618-907), Five Dynasties (907-960), and Song (960-1279) dynasties. The two major sites are Beishan (North Hill) and Baodingshan (Baoding Hill).

    Leave a Comment

    Not Helpful 1 2 3 4 5 Very Helpful
    Love is in the air.....
  • Tip Rating:
    • tremendopunto
  • By tremendopunto on August 23, 2006
  • Chongqing Page by tremendopunto
    • Chongqing Off the Beaten Path
    by tremendopunto
    China is getting more and more liberal, not only in places like Shanghai, but also deep in the West. A Chinese told me that those selling machines in public would have been unthinkable five years a go.....well, love is in the air......

    Leave a Comment

    Not Helpful 1 2 3 4 5 Very Helpful
    The hills around Dazu
  • Tip Rating:
    • nepalgoods
  • Updated By nepalgoods on September 13, 2002
  • Chongqing Page by nepalgoods
    • School - Chongqing
    School
    by nepalgoods
    Hiking in the hills around Dazu. Beside the famous Buddhist sculptures there are many hidden pagodas, temples and a lot of forests. And this small school with very nice kids...

    Leave a Comment

    Not Helpful 1 2 3 4 5 Very Helpful
    1 | 2 | 3
    More Chongqing Tips
    Overview
         		Hotels and Accommodations
    Tips: 24 - Photos: 25
    Things To Do
    Tips: 108 - Photos: 181    		Nightlife
    Tips: 13 - Photos: 16
    Transportation
    Tips: 22 - Photos: 11    		Restaurants
    Tips: 29 - Photos: 27
    Shopping
    Tips: 4 - Photos: 10    		Off the Beaten Path
    Tips: 23 - Photos: 26
    Tourist Traps
    Tips: 1 - Photos: 1    		Warnings or Dangers
    Tips: 5 - Photos: 4
    Local Customs
    Tips: 8 - Photos: 8    		Packing Lists
    Tips: 4 - Photos: 2
    Sports Travel
    Tips: 1 - Photos: 1    		General Tips
    Tips: 30 - Photos: 25
    Best Chongqing Travel Deals

    Lodging Hotel
    Up to 50% off Hotels at Expedia. No Expedia change or cancel fees!

    Find a Local Hotel
    Let Switchboard Help Find a Local Hotel in the New York Area.

    Holiday Inn Chongqing
    Official Site. Located near Eling Park. Book now!

    Newark NJ Hotel
    Brand New Facility & Shuttle Bus 11 Minutes from the Newark Airport!

    China Hotel+Free Transfer
    Book Discounted Hotels & Get Free Airport Transfers Throughout China.

    Sponsored Links

    More Chongqing Travel Deals

    Marriott Int'l Hotels
    Marriott.com - The Official Site of Marriott Hotels. Book Online Now.

    Chongqing Hotel
    Book a great hotel deal near Chongqing Airport Visit Hotels.com!

    Vacation Rentals
    Jackson Hole, Wyoming. We take care of everything, so you can relax.

    Sponsored Links

    Chongqing Hotels

    Cheap hotels from
    Cheap flights from
    Cheap car rentals from
    Cheap cruises from
    Cheap vacations from




    About VirtualTourist |  10 Great Things to Do On VirtualTourist |  Contact Us |  Press Center |  Help |  User Agreement |  Privacy Statement
    Virtual Tourist® ©1994-2009 VirtualTourist.com, Inc. All Rights Reserved.