2 Days Chongqing City Tour with Dazu Rock Carvings

Full Itinerary Day by day

Day 1 Chongqing (L)

Ni Hao! 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!

Day 2 Dazu Rock Carvings Side Trip (B, L)

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.

The quotation for this trip is from Request Per Person

1. This price is for one person, based on a group of 2 adults sharing one standard double-bed room in 4-star hotel and traveling with our private tour in low seasons.
2. This price is subject to change according your traveling season, group size, hotel class, change of activities in your itinerary and possible fluctuation of currency exchange rate. If you want a lower price, you can get more people to join you, or use economy class hotels.
3. This price is only valid to March 31, 2021.
4. Reference exchange rate of USD 1= RMB 6.9. The final quote is based on current exchange rate. It may change according to the currency fluctuation, while the RMB quotation will be remained the same.

How Our Teams Serve you at China Discovery

"Highest Standards of Quality and Honesty" is the core value of each specialized team at China Discovery.

Eveyone in our company is working hard for only one goal, which is to ensure the highest level of service, luxury, and attention to detail from the minute you begin planning your trip, to the day you return home.

1-on-1 Travel Consultant

Our travel consultants are professional, experienced and responsible, helping you from the very beginning to the end of your China trip!

After sending us an inquiry, one of our travel consultants will get back to you within 0.5~23.5 hrs. In the next few days, he/she will be working closely with you to formulate a customized tour plan, as well as providing professional suggestions based on your travel interests, time, and budget.

Beside, he/she will keep in contact with you during your entire tour in China, continually checking if everything is going well as planned.

We're working at Chengdu Bamboo International Tours, local based in Chengdu.

Local Tour Guides

Our local guide in every destination is not only very friendly, enthusiastic but also very informative and knowledgeable.

Once you arrive in the destination, the patient and punctual guides will pick you up and take you to get under skin of the city at your own pace. By in-depth discovery and explanation, they’ll show you more about the history, culture, customs and authentic local life. Throughout the journey, they're not only expert guides who take care of all the details but also fellow travelers who are dedicated to help you explore in comfort and style.

Our guides are passionate about what they do, and it shows all the way!

Local Drivers & Vehicle

Using our private transfer service makes you comfortable, relaxed and worry free all the way!

Our private service includes licensed drivers with many years’ driving experience and air-conditioned, non-smoking, clean and well-maintained cars/vans. Drivers are local, polite, friendly and helpful, taking you to your tourist sites, hotels, airport/train stations in safety. All kinds of vehicle are offered, and yours depends on the size of your group. Usually, we offer sedan cars, SUVs, business vans (MPV) and different types of buses, all with extra space for your luggage.

Our private transfer service guarantees you the highest comfort!

Comfortable & Homelike Hotels

In each destination, you’ll enjoy a comfortable stay in a great location!

The hotels we choose are based on star rating, great locations, well-equipped facilities, cozy bed, high quality service and guests’ feedbacks. Choices are a lot ranging from luxury 5 star, comfortable 4 star to budget 3 star. You could decide where to stay to best suit for your budget and likes. Generally, the hotels have both Western and Chinese breakfast with a wide choices.

If you have already got an ideal hotel, please feel free to tell our travel consultants and they'll book the hotel for you.

Have good sleep in our well-selected hotels in all the destinations of China.

Meals & Dining

We can satisfy all the dietary requirements no matter you want Chinese local food, western food, vegetarian food or muslin food.

The restaurants we will take you for lunch or dinner are all designated tourist restaurants approved by local tourist administration bureau. They have very good sanitary conditions and the food is prepared fresh and clean.

There will be some meals excluded in your itinerary as you like, and your private guide will be delighted to give you some suggestions and take you to the local restaurants to taste like Beijing Roast Duck, Xian Dumpling Dinner, Sichuan Hotpot, etc., if you are interested in local food tasting.

All the dining options will satisfy your stomach!