Welcome to Chongqing, This morning, you will be met by your local guide and driver in your hotel in downtown or the arrival hall at the airport/railway station if you arrive in Chongqing by very early flight/train. Then, you will start your exploration of Chongqing, the “City of Mountains.”

Firstly, enjoy the historic visit to Ciqikou Old Town that is praised as the “epitome of Chongqing”. Take your leisure walk on the polished paved paths to admire its over 1,800-year-old historical culture dated from Song Dynasty, appreciate its well-kept tiled-roof folk dwellings of hundreds of years old, watch the well-inherited folk artistic skills, and imagine and once busy transshipping scene shown at the ancient port there. Then, be escorted to Three Gorges Museum at the city downtown. The vast collection of more than 280 thousand pieces of precious historical relics will let you have an amazing understanding of the great Yangtze River and formation of the magnificent Three Gorges, and also tell you the gradual thriving of Chongqing from 3,000 years ago, to its war defense in 20s century, and developmental path to be one of the 4 prosperous municipalities in China. Stepping out from the museum, have a nice look at the People’s Assembly Hall that is popular with fancy classical exterior design and was listed into the History of Architecture compiled in London in 1987.

After lunch, be transferred to take Chonqing Rail Transit Line 2 from Huanghuayuan Metro Station to Liziba Metro Station to look at the city’s prototype from a different angle. Then, get off to have the never-seen magic of the train going through a 11-storey block of flats, existing only in the fantastically structured Chongqing built against mountains.

After that, travel up to E’ling Park and embrace the impressive panorama of Chongqing City which has been highly praised as “Little Hong Kong” with its well-arranged row upon row of modern skyscrapers and two winding rivers surrounding. Then, go down to visit Hongya Cave, the must-see highlight to appreciate the layers of featured Ba and Shu regional wooden tilted houses overlapped leaning the mountain up to 11 storeys, which looks quite glittery lit by the orange lights from nightfall. And continue to get up to the 11 level with vehicles and roads alongside to catch the sparkling nightscape of Jialing River and the nearby buildings with beautiful neon.

After the visiting, your guide and drive will send you back to your hotel. Have a great rest!

Good morning! After breakfast, you will be met by your guide and driver at your hotel and then escorted to visit Dazu Rock Carvings at the northwest suburb of Chongqing with about 2 hours’ riding.

Dazu Rock Carvings was first built from 650AD on the steep hillsides and has been listed as a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site due to its large scales, delicate carvings, rich themes, complete preservation, and bright reflection of the social daily life as well as the harmonious coexistence of Buddhism, Taoism and Confucianism in China from 9th-13th centuries. Standing for the record level of rock carvings in that period in whole China, Dazu Rock Carving is listed as one of the “World Eight Great Stone Carvings”. During your side trip, make full exploration at the top 2 popular large clusters: Baodingshan Hill and Beishan Hill.

Baodingshan is reputed as an art palace full of worldly beauty. Built for 70 years during 1174AD-1252AD with nearly 10,000 Buddhist statues, temples, patterns, etc., it is the essence of the whole Dazu Rock Carvings, pushing the rock carving art of China to the highest level. On the 500-meter-long cliff face at its U-shaped gorge, more than 360 distinct statues and grottoes are engraved continuously without one repeating. Among all, the grottoes of the resplendent golden Thousand-hand Avalokitesvara, inspiring Wheel of Life, vivid statues of Three Saints of Huayan, etc. are the most famous with superb skills and artistic value. Moreover, the Holy Longevity Monastery from 1178AD well preserves its ancient temple cluster built against the quiet mountain with many believers worshipping. (Note: Scenic spot sightseeing vehicle needs extra 15 CNY/person)

Beishan is praised as the exhibition hall of stone carving art of Tang and Song dynasties with nearly 10,000 statues in 51 themes from late 9th century - middle 12th century. It is worldly known for the delicate carving, outstanding skills and exquisite charm, showing the developmental change of folk Buddhist belief and rock carving artistic styles in China during that time. Boasting the awesome 300 meters long and 7-10 meters high crescent-like cliff face with hundreds of Buddhist statues, buildings, patterns, etc. in its dense caves like honeycombs, Beishan makes every angle moving a different image. Particularly the No.245 grotto with diverse themed contents and logically allocated vivid musicians and dancers, airy pavilions and pagodas, various items, etc. forming the fantastic grotto ranking top among the same type. Besides, the No.136 grotto from 1142-1146AD with particularly exquisite and noble dressing is reputed as a pearl of China’s rock carving art.

After the visiting, your guide and driver will escort you to Chaotianmen Dock and help you board your Yangtze River cruise. If you have the schedule to leave Chongqing today, they will escort you to the airport/railway station for catching your flight/train to the next destination or home. Service Ends!

Note: For visitors planning to take the Yangtze River cruise after the 2 days Chongqing tour, it is highly suggested to enjoy dinner onshore first before boarding since there is nearly no food service on the embarkation night.