Open Travel Guide
Hiking in Chongqing

Chongqing Hiking & Trekking Guide 2026

The trails that define Chongqing, with distances, elevation, and when each is actually passable.

This guide covers 8+ hiking trails in Chongqing — Nanshan Scenic Area Ridge Walk (Laojun Dong to Yikeshu), Jinyun Mountain Nature Reserve Summit Trail and Eling Park Hillside Trail top the list. Every recommendation carries its practical details: typical costs, the best time to visit, and what to know before you commit.

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Chongqing is a sprawling municipality in southwest China built on hills and cliffs at the confluence of the Yangtze and Jialing rivers. Often called a '3D city' for its stacked roads, sky bridges, and buildings that appear to grow directly out of cliffsides, Chongqing is famous for its spicy hotpot, dramatic river views, and a public transit network that runs through the middle of an apartment tower at Liziba Station. As one of China's four direct-administered municipalities, it functions as both a city and a province-level region covering a vast, mostly mountainous territory.

Top trails

Routes worth lacing up your boots for.

  1. 1

    Nanshan Scenic Area Ridge Walk (Laojun Dong to Yikeshu)

    About 6-8 km one-way from Laojun Dong to the Yikeshu (One Tree) viewing platform; the full ridge loop covering Tushan Temple and the botanical garden runs about 18 km round trip2.5-3 hours for the Laojun Dong to Yikeshu stretch; up to 4.5 hours for the full ridge loopmoderateRidge tops out around 681 m; average peak elevation about 400 m, with roughly 300 m of cumulative climbing on the full loop

  2. 2

    Jinyun Mountain Nature Reserve Summit Trail

    About 11 km round trip on the main summit trail4-5 hours round trip; roughly 1.5 hours one-way for hikers heading only to the upper viewing areamoderateTrail climbs from around 200 m at the reserve gate to the Xiannvfeng summit area near 900 m, with the highest reserve peaks reaching over 950 m

  3. 3

    Eling Park Hillside Trail

    About 2-3 km of paved hillside paths within the park grounds1-1.5 hours for a full walking loop of the parkeasyModest rises of 40-60 m within the park; the park sits on one of the highest points of central Yuzhong peninsula

  4. 4

    Tieshanping Forest Park Pine Trails

    Network of trails totalling several kilometres; a typical loop past Tongluo Gorge runs 5-7 km2-3 hours for a moderate loopmoderateHighest point, Huoshao Mountain, reaches 583.9 m; trails have gentle to moderate grades through pine forest

  5. 5

    Mountain City Trail (Shancheng Footpath), Zhongxing Road to Zengjiayan

    About 3.9 km for the main cliffside walkway; connecting spurs toward Zengjiayan add another 1-2 km1.5-2 hours including stops at viewpoints and heritage buildingseasyCumulative elevation change of about 80 m along stepped cliffside walkways and covered stairs

  6. 6

    Nanshan Botanical Garden to Tushan Temple Walk

    About 4 km one-way between the botanical garden and Tushan Temple1.5-2 hourseasyGentle rolling terrain between 400-500 m above sea level

  7. 7

    Jinyun Mountain Lingying Temple Short Loop

    About 3.5 km round trip1.5 hourseasyGentle climb of about 150 m from the reserve entrance to Lingying Temple

  8. 8

    Daijia Alley Suspended Walkway Loop

    About 1.5-2 km including the suspended cliffside walkway45 minutes to 1 houreasyElevation change of about 60 m along the suspended walkway and connecting stairs

Trail difficulty levels

Pick a route that matches your fitness and experience.

Easy

Mostly flat, well-marked paths. Suitable for families and casual walkers.

Moderate

Some elevation gain, longer distances. Requires basic fitness.

Hard

Significant climbs and exposure. Requires good fitness and route-finding.

Expert

Technical terrain, scrambling, or alpine conditions. Experience essential.

Local hazards

What to watch out for on the trail.

High

Sudden weather changes — always carry rain gear and warm layers.

Medium

Wildlife encounters — make noise on the trail and store food properly.

Medium

Trail conditions can deteriorate after rain — check recent reports before setting out.