Private Tour: Best of Chongqing Including Chongqing Museum

Chongqing, China

On this private tour of Chongqing, you’ll see the city’s top attractions with an expert local guide. On your choice of a half-day or full-day tour, you may enjoy views of the Yangtze and Jialing rivers at Eling Park, learn some Chinese culture and history at two museums, visit an ancient Buddhist temple, enjoy a Chinese lunch, and see pandas at the Chongqing Zoo.

You’ll be picked up from your Chongqing hotel and taken by private air-conditioned vehicle on a tour to the city’s top attractions. Your expert local guide will explain how Chongqing, a major port, is called ‘Mountain City,’ as it lies at the intersection of the Yangtze River and Jialing River.

Morning Half-Day Tour:
Get a great view of both these rivers at Eling Park, which was built as a private garden in 1909 and is located on Eling Mountain. Discover how this mountain attained its former name of Goose Nape Hill – its narrow shape resembles the nape of a goose’s neck.

Next, head to the top of Pipashan (Pipa Mountain) for a tour of the Chongqing Museum, featuring more than 40 exhibit halls displaying 100,000 relics spanning more than 3,000 years of history. With your guide, browse interesting cultural and artistic antiques including bronze wares, pottery, paintings, porcelain and sculptures. You'll then return to your hotel in the afternoon.

Afternoon Half-Day Tour:
After hotel pickup, head straight to the General Joseph W Stilwell Museum, founded in memory of the American general who contributed a great deal, politically and militarily, to the Chinese people. This three-story museum is actually Stilwell's former residence and headquarters, and in the courtyard, you’ll see an engraving of a speech by American president Franklin D Roosevelt.

Your next stop is Arhat Temple, whose location is a bit of a surprise; wedged tightly between skyscrapers and apartment blocks, this 1,000-year-old Buddhist temple and monastery is a place of worship and home to 18 monks. As you approach the entrance, you’ll notice hundreds of terracotta sculptures. Step inside with your guide and walk around for a glimpse into this region's religious culture.

Finally, get a taste of Chinese wildlife on a visit to the Chongqing Zoo, where you’ll see adorable pandas! You’ll be taken back to your hotel in the evening.

Full-Day Tour:
Choose the full-day tour and enjoy all of these activities, including a lunch of traditional Chinese specialties before continuing your tour to the General Joseph W Stilwell Museum. Hotel drop-off is included in the evening.

Traveler Reviews

Review by:   Denise G,    September 2016
Our guide was very good. His English was excellent and he showed us all the areas in the itinerary and gave us time if we needed it.

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