Everything You Need to Know Before Visiting Hongyadong

⭐ Reasons to Recommend

• Chongqing’s No.1 travel destination
• A fantasy night view that reminds you of Spirited Away
• Experience the ‘multi-dimensional city’ in 8D
• A space layered with traces of thousands of years
• Every corner is photo-worthy—even the stairs are masterpieces

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🔎 What is Hongyadong (洪崖洞)?

If you’re visiting Chongqing for the first time, Hongyadong should be at the very top of your list. It’s a symbolic landmark of the city, where Chongqing’s unique terrain, history, and culture are tightly packed into one vibrant area. Its overwhelming visual impact has made it one of the most visited places in China, often going viral on social media.

Photos alone can’t fully capture the essence of Hongyadong. But once you’re there, the space overwhelms you with its dazzling, surreal atmosphere that goes far beyond your imagination.

Built along a cliff where two rivers meet, the 11-story stack of traditional wooden houses is a spectacle in itself. During the day, it presents the steep mountain city structure of Chongqing. At night, over 120,000 lights reflect off the water, creating a fantastical night view. It’s this view that draws in crowds every evening.

Hongyadong is also steeped in centuries of Chongqing’s history. It’s a space where lives once unfolded—people lived, worked, and survived here through countless chapters of history and everyday life.

I’ve gathered everything I saw and experienced firsthand in this post. I hope this helps you enjoy your trip with a clearer picture and a more vivid sense of expectation. 😊

📝Basic Info on Hongyadong
洪崖洞 Hóngyádòng

📍 No. 88, Binjiang Road, Jialingjiang Riverside, Yuzhong District, Chongqing
(重庆市渝中区嘉陵江滨江路88号)
🚶 Walkable from Jiefangbei
🚇 Line 2 Linjiangmen (临江门) Station – 500m walk
🚇 Line 1 Xiaoshizi (小什字) Station – 500m walk
🚇 Line 6 Grand Theatre (大剧院) Station – cross the bridge, 800m walk
⏰ 9:00 AM – 11:00 PM
🌙 Best visited in the evening for the night view
💰 Free admission

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⛰️Hongyadong, Where Chongqing’s Terrain Comes to Life

On the steep cliff where the Yangtze River (长江 Chángjiāng) meets the Jialing River (嘉陵江 Jiālíngjiāng), Chongqing’s iconic diaojiaolou (吊脚楼) are perched like hardened lava on the mountainside.

This layered landscape is exactly what gives Hongyadong its magical atmosphere—it is one of the most enchanting spots in all of Chongqing.

Hongyadong faithfully mirrors the mountainous shape of the city. With a vertical height of 75 meters and 11 levels stacked along the cliffside, Chongqing unfolds before your eyes.

• Diaojiaolou (吊脚楼 diàojiǎolóu): Traditional Chinese stilted houses built on cliffs or steep terrain. One side is anchored to the ground, while stilts on the other side create open space underneath. This structure drains water well and allows air to pass easily. It originated mostly in the mountainous regions of southern China.

A Space Designed Like Magic

What makes Hongyadong truly astonishing is its unique way of layering and dividing space.

Hongyadong is a building constructed along a cliff, rising up to 11 floors. Its top floor is directly connected to the road and nearby streets, so the moment you step in, you’re already on the 11th floor.

Take the elevator down to the 1st floor, and you’ll discover an entirely different street view below. It feels like experiencing two cities inside one building.

From the 11th floor to the 1st floor, here, everything can be both a beginning and an end.

8D City?

Typically, 3D refers to space measured in length, width, and height. But Chongqing layers stairs, bridges, tunnels, overpasses, overhangs, and rivers in such a complex way that it feels almost like an 8-dimensional maze. (It’s an exaggerated term, but the layout is truly confusing!)

Inside Hongyadong, there are 87 elevators and 38 aerial walkways (空中连廊). These structures form countless hidden levels—like a city within a city—creating even more layers of Hongyadong.

Go down one floor, and the path shifts. The direction changes. The floors overlap. It feels like time and space are inverted.
That’s the magic Hongyadong is known for. 🌈

Why was it designed this way?

Because Chongqing is surrounded by mountains and rivers, it lacked flat land. The city had to expand vertically.

To overcome this terrain, Hongyadong became a prime example of terraced architecture and multi-level transportation infrastructure.

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📜Hongyadong: A Riverside History Spanning Over a Thousand Years

① Ancient Era: From the Ba State to Northern Song

“The sheer cliffs plunge a thousand fathoms deep,
No foothold can be seen below.”

― Geography of the Northern Song Dynasty, from Yudi Jisheng (輿地紀勝)

The history of Hongyadong traces back over 2,300 years to the Ba Kingdom (巴国). At that time, the area now known as Hongya Gate (洪崖门) was a key hub for waterway transportation along the upper reaches of the Yangtze River.

The Tang Dynasty poet Zhang Jiayin (张佳胤) once described the place: “Hongya’s shoulders rise as if to touch the sky, its ancient caves elusive to the eye (洪崖肩许拍，古洞象难求)” capturing its grandeur.

These cliffs have long inspired poets and travelers alike.

② Qing Dynasty: ‘Resettlement to Sichuan’ and the Rise of Diaojiaolou

During the Qing Dynasty, the region saw a sharp decline in population due to wars and famine. To rebuild, the government implemented a policy called ‘Huguang Fills Sichuan (湖广填四川)’, which encouraged mass resettlement to the Sichuan area.

Many merchants and craftsmen from Hubei and Hunan migrated to Chongqing and began settling along this cliff. Here, they built traditional houses in the diaojiaolou (吊脚楼) style—structures commonly found in the mountainous regions of southern China.

Today’s iconic view of Hongyadong owes much to this period, when these homes were first perched high on the steep hillsides.

③ Modern Era: The Second Sino-Japanese War and the Provisional Capital

In the 1930s and 40s, as the Second Sino-Japanese War intensified, Chongqing became China’s provisional capital. Hongyadong turned into a key military logistics base, handling supplies transported along the river.

Starting in 1938, Japanese air raids relentlessly bombarded the city for over six years. In 1940, during the Chongqing Bombing (重庆大轰炸), countless civilians dug into the cliffside to build air raid shelters, surviving underground in the caves.

To this day, many of the blast marks left by those raids are still clearly visible on the cliffs.

During the Republic of China period, when Chongqing served as the wartime capital, the riverbanks near Hongyadong were lined with teahouses and poetry gatherings.

Writers and artists would gather here, sipping tea and gazing at the river. Authors like Guo Moruo (郭沫若) and Ba Jin (巴金 Bā Jīn) often captured the spirit of this place in their works.

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🪵Hongyadong Architecture: A Living Textbook of Traditional Design

The Wisdom of “Flat House on Uneven Ground” (天平地不平)

• The diaojiaolou of Hongyadong were built to overcome the steep and rugged cliff terrain, based on the traditional principle of “even house on uneven land (天平地不平)”.
• The core idea is adjusting the height of supporting pillars to create a level surface on sloped ground.
• Thanks to this method, the interior remains a stable living space, while the exterior naturally blends into the terrain.

Sophistication of Traditional Wood Joinery

• Material: The pillars are made from cedar trunks with a diameter of over 30cm, making them resistant to rot and humidity.
• Mortise-Tenon (榫卯) Structure: This technique fits wood pieces together like puzzle joints without using nails, allowing the structure to flex and absorb pressure from earthquakes and strong winds. It’s a signature method widely used in southern Chinese wooden architecture since the Qing Dynasty and even earlier.
• Some modern Hongyadong buildings also incorporate reinforced concrete structures for added support.

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📸 How Did Hongyadong Become Chongqing’s Hottest Destination?

Hongyadong started gaining attention in 2006. Under the concept of a “City Memory Container (城市记忆容器)”, developers preserved the original 78 diaojiaolou and built commercial facilities on top of them.

But the real turning point came in 2018. A photo of Hongyadong’s night view went viral on social media when people began saying it looked like a scene from Spirited Away. From that moment, Hongyadong became a must-visit spot on the bucket list of travelers from around the world.

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🌃 Top 3 Night View Spots in Hongyadong

① Jinshamen Road (金沙门路), in front of Grand Theatre (大剧院)

Best spot to capture the whole of Hongyadong!

• 🚇 Take Metro Line 6 to Grand Theatre Station (大剧院站) → Walk a few minutes
• Located riverside across from Hongyadong, it’s the perfect viewpoint for a full-frame shot
• Ideal for capturing the entire front view of Hongyadong
• Includes Hongyadong + Qiansimen Bridge (千厮门大桥) in one frame
• 📸 Great for portraits too—less crowded than other spots and easy to shoot
• Since it’s far across the river, you’ll need to zoom in for best results (camera quality matters!)

② On Qiansimen Bridge (千厮门大桥)

View from the bridge – up close and magical

• As you get closer to Hongyadong, you’ll get a natural zoom-in effect
• Great photo spot especially from the middle of the bridge
• You’ll get a slightly angled but intimate perspective
• Perfect for dynamic, layered city shots
• Easier to capture the structure’s depth from here
• Best for wide shots and dynamic framing
• Note: No public restrooms on the bridge!

⚠️ Important!
Do not enter the bridge from the Hongyadong side (you won’t see the building)!
You must enter from the Grand Theatre side (大剧院) at Jinshamen Road (金沙门路) to get the right angle.

③ Binjiang Road (滨江路) along the Jialing River

The liveliest spot—right in front of Hongyadong

• 🚶‍♀️Cross Qiansimen Bridge (千厮门大桥)
• → Arrive at the 11th floor of Hongyadong
• → Take the elevator down to the 1st floor
• → Exit the building and cross the road
• → You’re now on Binjiang Road, the riverside promenade
• Closest distance to Hongyadong—see the fine architectural details
• Night market vibes: Food stalls, shops, and a vibrant street scene
• Very crowded on weekends and holidays (avoid peak times!)

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🚶‍♀️The Perfect Walking Route to Enjoy Hongyadong’s Night View 100%

📍 Grand Theatre Station (大剧院站) → Jinshamen Road (金沙门路) → Qiansimen Bridge (千厮门大桥) → Enter Hongyadong from the 11th floor → Explore the interior down to the 1st floor → Binjiang Road (滨江路) riverside photo zone along the Jialing River

💡 Why This Route Works

1. From far to close – You get to see all angles of Hongyadong
2. You won’t miss a single photo spot along the way!

⏰ Short on time? Here’s how to still enjoy it!

You don’t have to follow the full route exactly 😊

Just head straight toward Hongyadong, hop onto Qiansimen Bridge (千厮门大桥), snap a quick photo, and come back — that alone is worth it!

✔️ You don’t need a “perfect angle” to take great shots
✔️ No matter where you view it from, Hongyadong is full of charm

📌 In my experience, the photo quality was best in this order:

→ From the bridge – best angle overall
→ Then, from across the river – wide view
→ Lastly, up close from the 1st floor – detail shot

That said, every spot had its own vibe, and I honestly enjoyed all of them!!

But heading down to the 1st floor can be tiring —
It gets crowded, and the stairs take a lot of energy.

💡 So if you’re short on time or want to avoid the long walk:
→ Just one shot from the bridge, or a quiet moment from afar, is also a great option!

I hope you enjoy Hongyadong in your own way, at your own pace. 😉

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☀️ Hongyadong by Day and Night

Same place, different charm
Hongyadong always catches your eye with a new and unexpected scene.

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🏘️ Hongyadong by Floor

11F｜Urban Observatory 城市阳台
The top floor and main entrance of Hongyadong. Most visitors enter here as it’s directly connected to Jiefangbei (解放碑). One of the best spots to overlook the river and Qiansimen Bridge.

9-10F｜Folk Street 洪崖洞民俗风情街
A themed street filled with traditional decor and handicrafts. Feels like walking through an old village—perfect for a light stroll.

7-8F｜Hongyadong 78 District 洪崖洞78区
A trendy area with youthful energy. Packed with casual shops and Instagram-worthy photo spots.

6F｜Explore Hongyadong 探秘洪崖洞
An experience zone showcasing the history and structure of Hongyadong. Worth visiting if you’re interested in traditional architecture or culture.

5F｜Chongqing in the 1980s 重逢1980年代生活情境区
A nostalgic zone that recreates the look and feel of Chongqing’s streets in the 1980s. Old signs and retro scenery make it fun to explore.

4F｜Chongqing Food Street 巴渝民俗美食街
This is the main food floor. From hotpot to local snacks, it’s the most crowded level—especially during meal times.

3F｜Craft Workshop Street 百业工坊老街
Here you’ll find handmade goods and artisan souvenirs.

2F｜Folk Specialty Shops 洪崖洞民俗特色商馆
A collection of shops selling traditional crafts and local souvenirs.

1F｜Night Market & Wharf Street 洪崖洞布市街区/码头市
The lowest level, connected directly to the riverside. A close-up view of Hongyadong’s lights and the bustling night market atmosphere.

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🔖 Good to Know

💰 Admission: Free (Some experience zones inside Hongyadong may charge)
⏰ Recommended Time: 19:00–22:00
🚻 Restrooms: No toilets on the bridge! Be sure to go beforehand (use the metro station or inside the Hongyadong building)
🍢 Food & Souvenirs: Street food is fun, but for souvenirs, local marts are more reliable
👟 Comfortable Shoes: Lots of walking—wear comfy shoes!
🔋 Extra Battery: Essential if you plan to take lots of photos or videos
⏳ Time Needed: 2–4 hours (may take longer when crowded)

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🚀Want more Chongqing travel tips?

👉 17 Ultimate Must-See Places in Chongqing｜Feel the City’s Hidden Magic

👉How to Explore Chongqing in 3 Days | Best Food, Views & Hot Places

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