Stilt houses on the hillside
Hongya Cave is a multi-level complex of traditional stilt houses stacked up the cliff above the Jialing River, packed with shops, restaurants and viewpoints. By day it is just a building; by night it becomes something else.
A real-life Spirited Away at night
After dark the whole facade lights up and the layered roofs glow like the bathhouse from the film Spirited Away. That is the time to visit — the effect is almost entirely about the lights.
Skip the crowded entrance, shoot from across the river
The entrance at street level is always packed. For the best, uncrowded photos, head to the Chongqing Grand Theatre, Qiansimen Bridge or the Jiangbeizui riverside, where you get the full lit-up facade reflected in the water.
- Go after dark — the lights are the whole point
- Best views from the Grand Theatre, Qiansimen Bridge and Jiangbeizui