Chengdu or Chongqing? How to Choose (or Visit Both)

Chengdu and Chongqing are neighbours in China's southwest, linked by a one-hour high-speed train, but they feel completely different. Here's how to choose, and why many travellers visit both.

Chengdu: slow, green and relaxed

• Giant pandas: the main reason many people come. See our panda guide.
• Teahouse culture: long afternoons in People's Park, ear cleaners, mahjong.
• Sichuan opera with its lightning-fast face changing.
• Wide streets and a famously easy-going pace.
• See our Chengdu page.

Chongqing: vertical, dramatic and electric

• A mountain city built on cliffs where two rivers meet: monorails through buildings, hillside cable cars and 20-floor streets.
• Hongyadong at night, lit up like a scene from an animated film.
• The birthplace of hotpot, and the spiciest food in China.
• A starting point for Yangtze River cruises.
• See our Chongqing page.

Quick comparison

• For pandas and culture: Chengdu.
• For city views and photos: Chongqing.
• For a relaxed pace: Chengdu.
• For nightlife and energy: Chongqing.
• Food: both are Sichuan cooking at its best. Chongqing hotpot is bolder; Chengdu has more variety and milder dishes.

Visiting both

They pair perfectly: 2–3 days in Chengdu and 2 days in Chongqing, with the train in between. Many travellers add Zhangjiajie afterwards.

How we help

We plan both cities around your interests, book the panda visit and the train, and choose restaurants that match how much spice you enjoy. Ask us on WhatsApp.

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