Cheap Flights To Chongqing

The largest municipality in the southwest of China, Chongqing is a modern port city that's brimming over with character and charm. With around 4 million people calling the city home, you're never short of friendly faces and interesting stories. Otherwise known as the 'Mountain City', it has a varied terrain that includes wide expanses of water and dense forests with plenty of beautiful flora and fauna. As a highly-developed city with a large population, there are plenty of attractions and places of interest to suit all tastes and personalities. Starting off with historic attractions, you can learn more about the city's heritage and key role in China's journey over time at the Flying Tigers Museum and the Stillwell Museum as well as the historic landmarks of the People's Liberation Monument.

With more than 4 million inhabitants going about their lives each day, public squares and civic hotspots are attractions in themselves if you love people watching and meeting locals. One of the best places for watching the world go by is Chaotianmen Square, where you can try some local delicacies while you watch the residents go about their days. The city hosts a number of vibrant annual events also including the Dragon Boat Festival.

Things To Do

From zoos to historic attractions, the bustling city of Chongqing has an eclectic mix of attractions to suit everybody from foodies to history buffs and wildlife lovers.

• Playful pandas

Chongqing Zoo is 8 kilometres from the city centre and acts as both a zoo and a place for the protection and research of wild animals. There are many favourite zoo species here including the majestic giant panda as well as African species such as the giraffe.

• A national hero

The Stillwell Museum is named in honour of General Joseph Stillwell and is located in the Yuzhogn District. It was founded in memory of an American general, who made significant contributions to the lives of many Chinese people.

• Hustle and bustle

Jiefangbei CBD is a bustling business district -- the most prosperous in West China -- and has a pedestrian area of 36,000 square metres, with the People's Liberation Monument at the centre. The district is the city's must-visit shopping and dining destination, so you can indulge in some serious shopping and try classic Chinese dishes including Dandan noodles and hot and sour rice noodles.

Calendar Of Events

Chongqing boasts a spectacular selection of annual events and festivals, many of which centre on time-honoured Chinese traditions and customs.

• Dragon Boat Festival: The Dragon Boat festival takes place between March and May and features frenzied dragon boat races and other fun activities including eating pyramid-dumplings, drinking yellow wine and hanging up protective fragrant sachets.

• Autumn Catching Festival: The Autumn Catching Festival takes place each year on either August 7th, 8th or 9th and involves the people of Miao wearing holiday suits and celebrating in fields by dancing and singing.

• Spring Festival Eve: The Spring Festival Eve takes place during Spring each year and features traditional Chinese festivities and ceremonies including live music, red lanterns and other decorations lining the bustling streets full of jubilant people.