Chongqing Private Tour: Pandas, Hot Pot & Night Views

Pandas, ancient porcelain lanes, a monument that glows, a train through a building, and lanterns reflected in two rivers

A private, customized full day in Chongqing with an English-speaking guide and driver, starting with hotel pickup at 10am and covering the Chongqing Zoo's giant pandas, the millennium-old Ciqikou Ancient Town, the People's Liberation Monument, the People's Auditorium, Liziba Station's architectural marvel, and Hongya Cave's nighttime lantern display, ending with Chongqing hot pot. Meals, all admission fees, transportation and bottled water are included. The itinerary can be adjusted to your preferences.

Step-by-step itinerary

Chongqing city highlights and hotpot

• Hotel pickup at 10 am
• Visit Chongqing Zoo to see giant pandas
• Explore Ciqikou Ancient Town and have lunch
• Visit People’s Liberation Monument (Jiefangbei)
• See Chongqing People's Auditorium
• Visit Liziba Station light rail building
• Experience 8D Chongqing city view
• Enjoy Hongya Cave night view
• Dine on Chongqing hotpot
• Return to hotel or specified location

The experience

Chongqing Zoo opens the day. Your driver picks you up at the hotel lobby at 10am, and the first stop puts you face-to-face with giant pandas and other animals the zoo is known for: no early start, no separate ticket lines to navigate. From there the day moves through the city's layers: Ciqikou Ancient Town, a thousand-year-old settlement along the Jialing River where narrow Ming-Qing lanes still hold working ceramic artisans and teahouses that pair Sichuan opera with local snacks. Lunch happens here, built into the day.

The afternoon swings through Chongqing's symbolic heart. The People's Liberation Monument, an octagonal structure completed in 1950 with four clock faces and an observation deck, anchors the city's busiest commercial district and glows like a beacon at night. Next door sits the People's Auditorium, finished in 1954 with a traditional Chinese palace design and a green glazed-tile dome inspired by Beijing's Temple of Heaven: one of the tour's best photo stops. Then comes Liziba Station, where the elevated Light Rail cuts straight through a 19-story residential building, a surreal architectural moment that makes Chongqing's 8D geography tangible.

Hongya Cave closes the day. Perched where the Yangtze and Jialing Rivers meet, this 11-story stilted structure draws 4,000 golden lanterns at dusk, transforming into what feels like a scene from Spirited Away. You'll sit down to Chongqing hot pot here, the city's signature dish. If spice isn't your preference, tomato and mushroom broth options are available. After dinner, your driver returns you to the hotel or wherever you specify.

What’s included

• Private transportation and an English-speaking guide throughout the day.
• hotel pickup at 10am and drop-off at your hotel or a location you choose.
• admission to Chongqing Zoo, Ciqikou Ancient Town and Hongya Cave.
• lunch at a local restaurant in Ciqikou.
• Chongqing hot pot dinner.
• bottled water.
• all meals and tickets mentioned in the itinerary.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day6 departure times: the first at 10:30, the last at 13:00

AgesAdult (5 to 85 years) · Infant (under 5)

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Low physical effortInfant seats availablePets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by China Trip Expert

Is this one for you?Hotel pickup at 10am means you don't need a car or arrange separate transport to the zoo, the ancient town or any of the city's landmarks: your guide and driver handle the route and timing for the whole day, which works whether you're staying in the city center or elsewhere in Chongqing.

Traveler reviews

5.00★★★★★★★★★★

3 verified traveler reviews

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Infant (under 5).

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What time does the tour start and how do I get picked up?

Hotel pickup happens at 10am from your hotel lobby, so there's no need to arrange separate transport or get up early. Your driver and guide meet you there and stay with you throughout the day.

Can I see giant pandas on this tour?

Yes. Chongqing Zoo is the first stop, where you'll see giant pandas and other animals the zoo is known for. The admission fee is included in the tour price.

What is Ciqikou Ancient Town like?

Ciqikou is a thousand-year-old settlement along the Jialing River, built as a porcelain hub during the Song Dynasty. You'll walk narrow Ming-Qing lanes beneath red lanterns, see artisans still crafting ceramics, visit Baolun Temple, and eat lunch at a local restaurant there.

Why is Liziba Station on the itinerary?

Liziba Station is where Chongqing's elevated Light Rail passes directly through a 19-story residential building: an architectural wonder that shows how the city blends modern engineering with everyday life in ways you won't see elsewhere.

What happens at Hongya Cave and when?

Hongya Cave is an 11-story stilted structure at the confluence of the Yangtze and Jialing Rivers. At dusk, 4,000 golden lanterns light up, creating Chongqing's most iconic nightscape. You'll have Chongqing hot pot dinner there before returning to your hotel.

Is the hot pot included, and what if I don't eat spicy food?

Yes, Chongqing hot pot is included in the tour price. If you prefer milder options, tomato and mushroom broth hot pots are available as alternatives.