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.
A gorge-eous date
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.

Rock stars
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.

Spice things up
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:
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.
Highlights
Every itinerary can be fully customised according to needs, special interests, personal preferences and defining style of just about anyone who wants to travel privately and exclusively.
Assemble at Singapore Changi Airport for your flight to Chongqing. Upon arrival, proceed to your hotel for a good night’s rest.
Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner
After breakfast, transfer to Yunyang via Fuling. En route, make a stop at Baiheliang Underwater Museum, also known as China’s 1st underwater museum. There, you can find stone carvings and inscriptions from the Tang dynasty and beyond.
Fuling District
Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner
This morning, visit Yunyang Longgang National Geographic Park, where you will explore sights such as the cloud-covered bridge, cliff path and the Longgang natural pit on an eco-buggy. Thereafter, continue to Qianjiang for your overnight stay.
Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner
Today, visit the scenic Zhuoshui Ancient Town and the dragon-like Zhuoshui Fengyu Bridge, which oversees the meandering Puhua River. Then, tour around Balahu Scenic Spot via an eco tram Thereafter, transfer to Wulong.
Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner
Wulong is a UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site with magnificent karst landscapes. It is also hailed as one of the film sites for the famed drama “Curse of the Golden Flowers” and movie “Transformer 4: Age of Extinction”. Explore the impressive Three Natural Bridges. Wulong also encompasses the world’s 2nd-largest group of natural pits and you may admire the sight of bridges and natural pits converging with one another. Thereafter, embark on your journey to Fairy Mountain. This spectacular landmark got its name due to one of its mountain peaks resembling a dancing fairy. From afar, you can see that the mountain peaks are surrounded by white clouds, making its outline indistinct, looking like a fairy donning chiffon. The mountain peaks, valleys, forests and pastures all unite as one, yet displaying defined layers of beauty and uniqueness.

Wulong
Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner
After breakfast, transfer to Chishui. Visit a Chishui waterfall, then head to Zeng’s vinegar factory where you will learn about the traditional vinegar manufacturing process and get to taste some traditional vinegar.
Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner
This morning, tour Sidonggou Scenic Spot via an eco tram. Next, head to a winery where you can partake in the brewing process of white liquor and concoct your own white liquor. This evening, go on night cruise around Chongqing.

Chongqing
Breakfast
After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your flight home.