Getting the fantastic Chongqing Cable Car across the Yangtze River in China’s colossal city.
I lived out one of my childhood dreams last week by visiting the city of Chongqing (in China) and seeing the Yangtze River for the first time. It was totally inspirational and lived up to all expectations. It was actually one of my favourite backpacking trips in years. The city of Chongqing is phenomenal and you will hear a lot more about it on Don’t Stop Living. There’s a load of cool things to see and do in and around the city. A trip on the Chongqing Cable Car should be pretty high up your list. So equipped with my backpack and my camera, I headed onto it. Yes, I was the only foreigner on the Chongqing Cable Car. There are two Cable Car roues in Chongqing and I used only one of them – the one I dreamed of – crossing the Yangtze River. The other Cable Car crosses the Jialing River.
Backpacking in Chongqing in China where the Yangtze meets the Jialing River, on route to the cable car.
How to get to the Chongqing Cable Car
OK so Chongqing is massive. It has about 4 or 5 different CBDs and is a city of endless skyscrapers. It is the biggest city in the world that nobody has ever heard of. However don’t be daunted by it, can you believe that it’s EASY to navigate round?? It has an easy to understand bus network (with English translations) and a metro system which stretches far and wide and is almost finished. The entrance to the Chongqing Cable Car across the Yangtze is on Changjiang Suodao. From the Liberation Monument, it’s a 10 minute walk. It’s also right beside the Metro Station Xiaoshizi, which is on line 1 and line 6. Get out at exit 5B and turn right and that’s where the Cable Car entrance is. I walked it. If you are staying on the other side of Chongqing (which I must say is unlikely), then follow the cords and you’ll find it!!
The entrance to the Chongqing Cable Car across the Yangtze is right by Exit 5B at Xiaoshizi metro station, but I walked it.
How much does the Chongqing Cable Car cost?
It’s used by locals to get to and from work as well as being a tourist pull, so te prices are not dear at all. In fact, this is one of the best and cheapest Cable Car rides I have ever been on. The price s 5RMB (Yuan) one way or 10RMB (Yuan) for a return. Amazing, eh? You buy a ticket on the way in and it is then checked before you get into the lift.
The ticket office for the Chonqing Cable Car across the Yangtze.
The information is also now translated into English as Chongqing becomes a lot more modern.
Information on the Chongqing Cable Car is now in English.
The ticket acts as a nice souvenir too – I’ll be writing about “keeping ticket stubs” as some point on my Travel Collectables series.
A nice souvenir – my 10 RMB return ticket on the Chongqing Cable Car across the Yangtze River in China.
The back of the ticket for the Chongqing Cable Car across the Yangtze River in China.
What’s the journey crossing the Yangtze on the Chongqing Cable Car like?
Well as you can probably guess I LOVED it. Cheap, off the beaten track, fun, great views, smooth and efficient.
A mixture of locals and tourists ready for the Chongqing Cable Car,oh and one travelling Northern Irishman…
The Chongqing Cable Car before I crossed the Yangtze.
The only disappointing thing was when it ended. It’s fast – less than 10 minutes and bang – you’re on the other side of the massive Yangtze River!! But it’s really enjoyable.
Loving being the only non-Chinese person on the Chongqing Cable Car!
The view over the central part of Chongqing from the Cable Car on the Yuzhong side.
I was the only non-Chinese person on board and was attracting some odd looks, but I loved that!! Chongqing has a completely impressive skyline and the Cable Car gives you a really good view of it.
View of Yuzhong district from the other side of the cable car in Chongqing.
Amazing view while crossing the Yangtze River on the Chongqing Cable Car.
Arrival on the other side of the Yangtze in Chongqing.
What is there to do on the other side?
On the other side of Chongqing, as you’d imagine there’s a load more skyscrapers, restaurants, shops and bars. It’s a city of endless options. On the other side you are pretty close to the modern up and coming bar and restaurant district on Nanan Binjiang Lu. It’s a 15 minute walk heading back along the banks of the Yangtze with the river on your right. I ended up sitting down with some old local guys in a totally local bar chatting away to them and loved it. More to come on that!
Having a drink and a chat with the locals in Chongqing after doing the Cable Car across the Yangtze River.
Anything else to note about the Chongqing Cable Car?
The operating times are important to bear in mind. The last one across at night is 10pm, so honestly try and go in the daytime, otherwise you might have to bus it home from the other side. Plus this is a city that deserves to be savoured in daylight. Although the night lights are pretty, it’s so much better during the day. Go and do it!! I LOVED Chongqing.
Here are my videos from crossing the Yangtze River on the Chongqing Cable Car:
Chongqing looks interesting, I’d like to visit next time I’m in China. That guy with the glasses to your right in the picture inside the cable car looks really confused by your presence, like “what? who is this weird foreigner taking a picture with me in it?”!
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Sam – believe me it was AMAZING. I loved it. Just wish I had more time to do it properly – you can get a 3 day river cruise to the three gorges dam or even do a river cruise with stop overs all the way to shanghai!! Had to be back in Hong Kong for work sadly, will be lots more to come on Chongqing and a great hostel I stayed in – top staff at the Green Forest Hostel. There were no other foreigners in sight for most of the time in Chongqing and I kept getting asked for a photo when i was at popular tourist sites. Safe travels, Jonny