Mountain City. Capital of Fog. Furnace. Hot Pot City. The southwestern metropolis of Chongqing has many monikers going for it and most of them are irrelevant from one another, and perhaps characteristically so when the psyche of the city is as multi-dimensional as its many nicknames. Sprawling, buzzing, brazen, bold, daredevilish and provocative, visitors often find themselves in a state of temporary disorientation upon first encounter but in a quick ascent and descent through its hilly streets, the city’s dizzying spell of energy will suck them in beneath its veneer. While the interior of Chongqing is a brewing pot of frenetic chaos, its surroundings are that of surreality – enveloping fog, towering mountains and the renowned Three Gorges back up an eminent collection of scenic and cultural treasures. And then of course there’s the worldwide famous dish, the irresistibly fiery Chongqing hot pot, thrown into the mix. Plan a treat for all your senses with a customised Chongqing tour package from Chan Brothers Travel Private Tours and savour the city’s energy served straight up with plenty of spice.

Captivating poets, painters, generals, emperors and foreign dignitaries for eons, few other river trips in the world garner and inspire as much awe as the Three Gorges. Winding and snaking along an intertwined system of cliffs, both broad and narrow, the feasts before the eyes change spectacularly in every turn as the gushing river moves and twists in full steam ahead. Depending on which season you visit, see grand canyons bathing in the beautiful hues of the changing colours of nature, marvel at ancient temples chiselled into sheer cliffs, ponder at the masterful brushstrokes of bamboos, waterfalls, pavilions and the occasional smattering of charming village settlements. Sure, Three Gorges is a famous and popular tourism site littered with star attractions but with a bit of a discerning eye, you can still seek and pick up other elements of its otherworldly beauty and have that bit of gorgeousness just for yourself, perhaps. 

Scattered over 40 sites with thousands of religious carvings etched onto rocks and caves, the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Dazu Rock Carvings is an outstanding testament of the essence of Chinese sculptural art bringing together the sacred beliefs of Buddhism, Confucianism and Taoism. The arresting carvings at Mount Baoding with its 2500-metre-high backdrop demand and capture  absolute attention, marvels and camera lights while the carvings at Mount Beishan provide an excellent collection of exquisite engravings and fine workmanship showcasing the quality of Chinese art and culture dating as far back to the Song Dynasty in the 10th century. Highly authentic, well preserved and aesthetically mindblowing, the Dazu Rock Carvings is an excellent depiction of religion, culture, art and the sophisticated civilisation of the ancient Chinese. 

Chonqqing cuisine packs a fierce punch – if you think Sichuanese cuisine is fiery enough, think stronger, bolder and brighter flavours but in more innovative and intense renditions. Built on the smouldering smokiness of dried chillies, numbing citrus-scented Sichuan peppercorns and a harmony of garlic, fermented black beans, scallions, ginger and an array of flavourings cooked using more than 40 different cooking methods, it is as salivating as it sounds. Notable dishes native to Chongqing includes Chongqing-style dry-fried chicken with chillies, Chongqing-style numbing hot noodle soup and hot and sour glass noodles amongst others but the ubiquitous poster child of Chongqing cuisine has to be the Chongqing hot pot. Fans of this boiling pot of savoury goodness have to try the original at its birth city and notable favourites include Qiqi Shanyu Hot Pot and Cygnet Hot-Pot Palace where you can join the throngs of locals in their utmost obsession and religious devotion to this irresistible dish.

Searching for other destinations in China? Try:

• Beijing tour package
• Changsha tour package
• Chengdu tour package
• Hangzhou tour package
• Inner Mongolia tour package
• Kunming tour package
• Lhasa tour package
• Lijiang tour package
• Nanjing tour package
• Nyingchi tour package
• Shanghai tour package
• Shijiazhuang tour package
• Urumqi tour package
• Wuhan tour package
• Xi’an tour package
• Zhangjiajie tour package

Indulge all your senses in this buzzing city complete with an array of flavours and plenty of spice with a customised Chongqing tour package from Chan Brothers Travel Private Tours. Call 6212 9935 or email privatetours@chanbrothers.com.sg for more details.

Email: privatetours@chanbrothers.com.sg
Phone: (+65) 6212 9935