If you are planning to visit the Yangtze River, then the first thing
that you should know is that you cannot really get the full experience of
visiting the Yangtze unless you visit the city called Chongqing first. This is
the very place that can provide you with ample opportunities to take a cruise on the Yangtze any day you want
with variable tour packages. But Chongqing is not only about taking a trip to
the great Yangtze, rather it is much more than that. It is a city that is one
of the biggest cities in China and also importance-wise, Chongqing is one of
the four major cities in the whole country. Also known as the ‘mountain city’, Chongqing
has numerous attractions that not only include the fantastic Yangtze adventures
and cruises but also include cultural and historical attractions. Let’s see what these attractions are, shall
we?
Numerous Yangtze Touring Options
The very first attraction that Chongqing
offers to its visitors is a pack of Yangtze touring options. If you want to
take a look at the Yangtze from up close, then this is the place that you would
want to start from. You see, Chongqing offers plenty of Yangtze tours ranging from 4 to 11-day cruises. If you want to
embark on a smaller tour, you can pick any cruise package that will travel from
Chongqing to Yichang. But if you are looking for a much bigger experience, then
you can always pick a package that will let you embark on a journey from
Chongqing to Shanghai – the last major city on the banks of the Yangtze. The
cost will vary, but do not expect to spend less than $1000 on any trip. That’s
the minimum!
The Three Gorges
You cannot finish touring the Yangtze River
unless you see the Three Gorges. In case you haven’t gone there before, but
from up close this site looks amazing. This is why this is the best part of the
Yangtze River tours. In case you
didn’t know it before, the famous Three Gorges are - Qutang Gorge – which is
the first one; Wu Gorge – the second one and lastly the last one which is the
Xiling Gorge. This is where world renowned Three
Gorges Dam stands.
Wulong Karst
You can find Wulong Karst on the Wujiang
River. The exact point of location would be the lower reaches of the
river. This is mainly famous for its beautiful
karst landscapes. These landscapes include the gorges, caves and natural
bridges with shafts and streams that run under the grounds of these landscapes.
If you happen to go there don’t forget to visit the Three Natural Bridges and the
Lotus Cave.
Dazu Rock Carvings
If you are into history and art – then you
will be fascinated with the Dazu Rock Carvings. These carvings have a history
that goes back to the 9th century. These artworks are great
monumental works of the Gold Buddhist Mountain. As the history tells us, the
works of these carvings started during the ruling of Tang Dynasty – which was
as long back as 650 AD. However, this was only a start because the works of
these carvings continued until the Ming dynasty came into power.
Nanshan Park
Nanshan Park is
located in the less-developed area of Chongqing but nevertheless, this is a
beautiful area that attracts a lot of tourists every year. Although this is
simply a park, but it is this simplicity that makes it very special at the same
time. As it is a less-developed part of Chongqing, it still has the aroma and
visual features of being close to the nature itself. Therefore, don’t be amazed
to see the awesome looking orchids and roses that give a heavenly feeling to
this part of the city.
Luóhàn Sì Arhat Temple
Luóhàn Sì Arhat Temple is a fine Buddhist
temple that also has the capacity to attract lots of visitors every year. The
temple is an ancient one, over 1000-year old which makes it one of the oldest
prayer houses in the whole world. The appearance of this temple is very
fascinating, as it poses a contrasting visual display in front of the
spectator’s eyes. The contrasting image appears because the gates of the Luóhàn
Sì Arhat Temple and the untamed natural jungle in front of the temple seem to
be at odds with each other. But this interplay between civilization and nature
is really worth watching. But that is just the front portion of this temple.
Inside, the long corridor is equipped with ancient rock carvings that offer a
nothing short of a spectacular display for art and history lovers.
People's Assembly Hall
Last but not the least, People’s Assembly
Hall is a fine architectural construction that imitates the Ming and Qing
dynasties’ unique architectural style. Once which was actually built for
accommodating and welcoming special foreign guests, today it serves as a
remarkable tourist spot in Chongqing.
