Hongya Cave, or Hongyadong (洪崖洞) in Chinese, is a famous landmark of Chongqing. It sits where the Yangtze River and the Jialing River meet. You’re mistaken if you think Hongya Cave is actually a cave. It is in fact an 11-floor, 75-meter tall Diaojiaolou, or stilt building, stood up against a cliff. The whole structure covers an area of 46,000 square meters (495,140 square feet).
Hongyadong is a great example of Ba-Yu traditional architecture style, always among the best things to do in Chongqing. Like a living museum of Ba-Yu culture, each floor showcases different aspects of it, from history and folk art to Chonqing local foods and specialties. Different levels are connected by hidden channels like a massive, industrial maze. Many visitors who have been to Hongya Cave say it reminds them of the movie Spirited Away.
Fast Facts about Hongya Cave
- Address: Cangbai Road, Jiefangbei, Yuzhong District, Chongqing
- Opening Hours: 9 am-11 pm (lights are on 7:30 pm-11 pm)
- Tickets: Free
- Best Time to Visit: March to May, September to November (off-season)
- Recommended Visit Time: 2-4 hours
- Suited to: families, couples, photographers, and anyone who wants to have a taste of local life and food culture
Hongya Cave: Architecture and History
Among one of the top places to visit in Chongqing, Diaojiaolou is a typical Ba-Yu architectural style. They are stilted wooden houses built on the hillside or water. There are usually one or more levels of space below for storage and cattle. There is residential space above.
Diaojiaolous can not only adapt to the topography of the area, but also take advantage of land resources. They are moisture-proof, insect-proof, and prevent theft. They are both practical and aesthetically pleasing.
Hongya Cave has a history of over 2,300 years. It was built as a military fortress in the ancient Ba State (1046 B.C. – 256 B.C). Under Qianlong’s reign of the Qing Dynasty, it was used to defend against foreign invaders.
Later during the Republic of China, it gradually became a commercial center of Chongqing known as the “Little Hong Kong.” It was busy with shops, and restaurants, as well as casinos and brothels. The Hongya Cave you’ll see today on your Chongqing tour was constructed in 2013.
Different Levels of Hongya Cave
Level 1: Binjiang Pedestrian Street is the entrance of Hongyadong by the river. It is the best place to see the two rivers come together. There are many stalls selling Chongqing street food and handicrafts, as well as artists performing Chongqing folk art.
Level 2: Dynamic Bar Street is loved by visitors who love good nightlife. Bars and nightclubs of different styles and themes are packed with people from all over the country. This level of Chongqing Hongyadong truly becomes a cultural center where people listen to music, dance, drink, and chat.
Level 3: Ba-Yu Street showcases the traditional culture and folk customs of Chongqing. There are many Ba-Yu styled shops and restaurants, such as hot pot, skewers, malatang, and Mao Xue Wang.
Level 4: Street Food Feast Street is where to go to get an authentic taste of Chongqing. There are restaurants and street food stalls of different styles and prices, such as Lao Zao Hot Pot and Shihuishi skewers.
Level 5: Urban Balcony gives you options other than flavors of Chongqing. It’s filled with exotic restaurants and shops serving Japanese cuisine, Thai food, Italian pizza and so on. It is named the “urban balcony” because it has a great view of the two rivers converging below.
Level 6: Pillar of Ba Culture showcases the history and culture of Chongqing. A 27.5-meter (90-foot) tall pillar of Ba culture is engraved with important milestones in. the history of Chongqing, celebrities, and other information.
Level 7: Guo Xuanchang Sculpture Exhibition Hall is a memorial to Guo Xuanchang, the hero of Hongyadong.
Level 8: Center for Chongqing Specialty Products is a shopping area to buy Chongqing specialties and souvenirs. There are all kinds of goods, such as chili sauce and Mahua.
Level 9: Hongya Group Carvings showcases the folk art and traditional crafts of Chongqing. You’ll see a sculpture group, the Memory of Mountain City by Guoxuanchang. It is sculpted from brass, an artistic transformation of the traditional stilted house.
Level 10: Hongya Dicui is the most iconic viewpoint of Hongyadong with an artificial waterfall from the top of the mountain.
Level 11: Jialing Sunset, the top of Chongqing Hongya Cave, is the best spot to overlook the Jialing River and watch the sunset with a spacious observation deck.
How to Get to Hongya Cave in Chongqing
By Flight: If you fly into Chongqing at Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport, take metro Line 10, transfer to Line 2, and get off at Lingjiangmen station.
By Train: From Chongqing North Railway Station, take metro Line 10, transfer to Line 2, and get off at Lingjiangmen station. From Chongqing West Railway Station, take metro Line 5, transfer to Line 1, and get off at Xiaoshizi station.
By Metro: Take metro Line 1, 2, or 6 to either Lingjiangmen station or Xiaoshizi station. They are each about a 12-minute walk and a 16-minute walk from Hongyadong.
By Bus: Take Bus NO. 111, 151, 181, 262, 466, 881, or 866 to Linjiangmen station. Or take the city sightseeing Bus NO. t480 to Jiabin Road Hongya Cave station.
By Taxi/Car: You can get to Hongya Cave from pretty much anywhere in the city by car. But Chongqing traffic is famously hectic. Public transportation might be a better idea to avoid any inconvenience.
Attractions Nearby Hongya Cave
Three Gorges Museum is a comprehensive museum of Chongqing history and art. With its massive collection, you can learn about the history of southwest China, especially Ba-Yu culture and Sanxia culture.
Yangtze River Cruise is a great addition to your China tour. You can visit different places along the iconic river. You might want to visit Fengdu Ghost City, Shibaozhai, Three Gorges Dam, and more.
