Southwest · suggested 2–3 nights

Chongqing

Chongqing works best as a compact, high-energy stop. It should not be planned like a flat city: vertical distance matters.

Why it belongs in the route

A visually dramatic city that performs especially well with younger travelers and short-form content.

Hongya Cave area

See it from outside; avoid spending the whole evening in the crowd.

Liziba

Quick stop for the train-through-building view.

Yangtze / Jialing viewpoints

Night photography is the city’s strongest visual product.

Mountain City Trail

A better way to understand the vertical streets.

Hotpot night

Use a vetted place and explain ordering before arrival.