chengdu or chongqing?
Two neighbouring cities in China's south-west, 1–1.5 hours apart by high-speed train and both famous for fiery, numbing hotpot. Chengdu is the easy-going one, with pandas and teahouses, while Chongqing is a steep, stacked megacity that looks its best at night.
chengdu
Dear group chat,Pandas in the morning, mala hotpot at night, chill teahouses in between.Read the guide →To: whoever’s drivingChengduCN, Sichuan
chongqing
Dear group chat,Cyberpunk mountain city: trains through buildings, Hongyadong lights, fiery hotpot.Read the guide →To: whoever’s drivingChongqingCN, Chongqing
- From KL
- chengduAbout 3,070 km
- chongqingAbout 2,980 km
- Best months
- chengduMar–May, Sept–Nov
- chongqingMar–May, Sept–Nov
- Vibe
- chengduEasy-going city of teahouses and long lunches
- chongqingSteep, stacked megacity that glows at night
- Highlights
- chengduGiant pandas, best first thing in the morning
- chongqingHongyadong lights and a train through a building
- Food
- chengduMapo tofu, chuan chuan, chilli oil wontons
- chongqingThe fiercest hotpot, xiaomian, laziji
- Getting there
- chengduAbout 4.5 hours' direct flight from KL
- chongqingAbout 4 hours' direct flight from KL
- Getting around
- chengduFlat and easy, with a good metro
- chongqingStairs, slopes and confusing floors
- Day trips
- chengduLeshan Giant Buddha, Dujiangyan, Sanxingdui
- chongqingDazu Rock Carvings, about 2 hours away
Go chengdu if…
- seeing pandas is the reason anyone agreed to the trip
- you'd like a slower pace, with teahouse afternoons
- you're travelling with kids or older parents who'd rather not climb stairs all day
- a day trip to the Leshan Giant Buddha appeals
Go chongqing if…
- you want a city that looks like a sci-fi film at night
- you like your hotpot as fierce as it gets
- you only have two or three days
- photos are a big part of the plan
The verdict
Chengdu is the gentler trip, and the pandas make it an easy sell for families; Chongqing is more dramatic and suits a short, photo-heavy visit if you don't mind stairs. Can't decide? They're close enough by high-speed train to do both, so fly into one and out of the other. Just avoid Chongqing in high summer, when it's often near 40°C.