7-Day Stress-Free Family Trip to Chongqing

Family of three travels to Chongqing for 7 days and 6 nights, spending 19,800 RMB! Staying in a cliffside hotel, riding the Yangtze River cable car, eating authentic hot pot, even the kid didn’t want to go home.
You say Chongqing is hard to climb? Taking kids there is no fun?
I say that’s because you haven’t been to the right places.
This time, a family of three with a 20,000 RMB budget, exploring Chongqing for 7 days and 6 nights.
No rushing, no queues, no scam group meals, staying in a riverside cliff hotel, checking in at the 8D magic track, even the kid kept asking for “one more bowl” of hot pot!
Total cost 19,800 RMB, less than 6,600 RMB per person, incredible value!
Trip overview: 7 days 6 nights | 3 people | Total cost 19,800 RMB
Transportation (round-trip flights + local taxis/subway): 8,200 RMB
Accommodation (6 nights in unique hotels): 7,200 RMB
Tickets + activities: 2,600 RMB
Meals (14 main meals + snacks): 1,800 RMB
Balance 200 RMB, just enough to buy three cans of Chen Mahua as souvenirs!
✈️ Day 1: Arrive in Chongqing, stay at the “Cloud Homestay” on Nanshan Mountain
Fly from Shenzhen to Chongqing, tickets bought two weeks in advance, round-trip for three costs 6,000 RMB (about 1,000 RMB per person)
Taxi to [Nanshan Scenic Area], check in at “Nanshan Shang · Yunqi Homestay”
Room has panoramic floor-to-ceiling windows, opening the window reveals the entire night view of the mountain city, like living in a movie
Includes breakfast for two mornings, 800 RMB per night × 2 nights = 1,600 RMB
Evening walk to nearby “Loquat Garden Hot Pot”:
A hot pot restaurant halfway up the mountain, 600 tables stacked layer upon layer, lights like a starry river
Beef tallow broth mildly spicy (kid-friendly), ordered tripe, duck blood, crispy pork all together
Total: 428 RMB.
Lying on the balcony at night, enjoying the breeze and the lights of thousands of homes.
Day 2: Subway through building + Three Gorges Museum + Hongya Cave night shoot
Morning check-in at [Liziba Subway Through Building]:
Book the viewing platform in advance via mini program, no queue! Free admission ✅
Noon taxi to [Three Gorges Museum] (free, reservation required)
Lunch nearby at “Haoyoulai Hot and Sour Noodles”: three bowls for 39 RMB, flavorful!
Afternoon check in at hotel near Jiefangbei “Chongqing JW Marriott” river view room
Two nights 3,600 RMB, within 10 minutes walking to major attractions
Evening walk to [Hongya Cave], avoid the 6:30 PM crowd peak, enter at 7:00 PM just right
After night shots, buy brown sugar glutinous rice cakes, cold cake, iced tofu pudding at the first-floor snack street, total 65 RMB.
Day 3: Chongqing Zoo to see giant pandas + Nanshan Yikeshu viewing platform
Morning taxi to [Chongqing Zoo] (15 RMB per person, children free)
See “Four Happy Meatballs,” four panda cubs chewing bamboo,
Caught feeding time, watched keepers feed them in person
Lunch outside the park at “Old Street Teahouse”: pea noodles + cold noodles + tofu pudding, 108 RMB for three
Afternoon rest at hotel.
Evening climb [Nanshan Yikeshu Viewing Platform] (30 RMB per person)
Panoramic glass platform overlooking the confluence of two rivers and the dazzling starry river of Yuzhong Peninsula.
Day 4: Yangtze River Cableway crossing + Baixiangju magical life record
Early! Arrive before 7:30 at [Xinhua Road Cableway Station], scan ID card to enter, no queue
One-way 20 RMB per person, round trip 40 RMB per person
Fly over the Yangtze River.
After cableway, walk into [Baixiangju], an old residential building without elevator
24 floors connected by stairs, with 7 exits leading to different streets
Lunch downstairs at a local “He’s Fatty Mom Hot Pot”
Mild spicy broth + shrimp paste + pickled vegetables, total 268 RMB, owner gave a complimentary brown sugar jelly
Afternoon rest at hotel, evening walk to [Dajiu Street] night market
Art shops, street performances, craft beer bars, full of atmosphere.
Days 5-6: Wulong Tian Sheng San Qiao day tour (pure play small group)
(Booked on Trip.com, 598 RMB per person, includes tickets + transport + lunch)
Taxi to meeting point, depart for Wulong (2.5-hour drive)
Visit [Tian Sheng San Qiao] + [Fairy Mountain National Park]
Filming location for Zhang Yimou’s “Transformers 4,” deep canyons, roaring waterfalls.
Group meal is farmhouse cuisine, chicken stew with mushrooms so fragrant you lick the bowl
Return to city in evening, stay at original hotel.
Day 6 full day free activities:
Morning photo shoot at [Eling No.2 Factory] cultural and creative park
Lunch at “Qiu Er Guan Chicken Soup” to recharge
Afternoon pack luggage, prepare to return
✈️ Day 7: Buy specialties, return trip
Check out and go to [Guanyin Bridge Pedestrian Street] for shopping:
Hot pot base (Qiaotou brand, vacuum packed, 35 RMB/pack)
Chen Mahua (choose salted and pepper flavor, not too sweet, 28 RMB/can)
Chongqing small glutinous rice balls (instant pack)
Taxi to airport, end perfect trip.
Final thoughts:
The world can be tilted, buildings can grow in the sky, trains can pass through rooftops.