Chongqing Hongya Cave: Nighttime Stilt Houses Illuminate the Brilliant Light of the Mountain City
📍【Location】
Chongqing Hongya Cave Folk Custom Area is located on Cangbai Road, Jiefangbei, Yuzhong District, Chongqing, adjacent to the Yangtze River. It is one of Chongqing’s most iconic landmarks, about a 15-minute walk from Jiefangbei.
⏰【Best Time to Visit】
Evening to night (18:00-22:00) is the best time to visit Hongya Cave. At this time, the lights come on, illuminating the stilt house buildings of Hongya Cave. The layered lighting effect is stunning, making it an excellent moment for sightseeing and photography.
🏛️ Architectural Wonder of Hongya Cave
Hongya Cave features the traditional Bayu-style stilt houses, built along the mountain slope in a layered and staggered manner. Its design makes full use of the terrain’s elevation changes, creating a unique three-dimensional spatial layout. At night, Hongya Cave is decorated with brilliant lights, resembling a magical castle from a fairy tale, showcasing the unique charm of Chongqing’s mountain city.
Tips: It is recommended to admire Hongya Cave from different angles, such as from the opposite bank at Qiansimen Bridge or the Jiangbeizui Central Business District, where you can overlook the entire Hongya Cave and experience its breathtaking night view.
📸 Photography and Check-in Guide
Hongya Cave is a paradise for photography enthusiasts. The nighttime lighting makes it a popular check-in spot in Chongqing. From directly opposite Hongya Cave, you can capture panoramic shots of the buildings, with dazzling lights and clear layers. Additionally, the streets and small shops inside Hongya Cave are great photo spots, full of local life atmosphere and featuring the distinctive stilt house architecture, perfect for capturing photos with authentic Chongqing flavor.
Tips: For the best photo results, it is recommended to bring a tripod and camera and use long exposure mode to capture the flow of lights.
🍲 Chongqing Food Journey
Hongya Cave gathers many Chongqing specialty foods, making it an excellent place to taste authentic Chongqing flavors. Here are some must-visit food spots:
- Chongqing Hot Pot: Qinma Hot Pot (Dongzi Old Hot Pot) is one of the representatives of Chongqing hot pot, famous for its spicy and fragrant broth and rich ingredient choices. Recommended dishes include beef tripe, duck intestines, and aorta.
- Chongqing Noodles: “ái Mian Mian Chongqing Noodles,” located near Hongya Cave, is a local favorite. The noodles are chewy, and the broth is rich, making it a great choice to experience Chongqing breakfast culture.
- Hongya Cave Chongqing Old Stove Hot Pot Skewers: This shop specializes in skewers, offering a variety of meats and vegetables at affordable prices with authentic flavors.
- Chongqing Specialty Snacks: Such as Chen Mahua (fried dough twists), Shancheng Liangfen (cold jelly noodles), and Suan La Fen (hot and sour noodles) can be easily found at various snack stalls throughout Hongya Cave.
Tips: It is recommended to avoid peak dining times, especially dinner, to avoid long queues.
🛏 Accommodation Recommendations
There are many accommodation options around Hongya Cave to meet different budget needs. Here are some recommended choices:
- Luxury Experience: The Westin Chongqing Jiefangbei and InterContinental Chongqing Raffles City offer luxurious stays with complete facilities and excellent service, some rooms offering views of Hongya Cave’s night scenery.
- Cost-effective Options: Chongqing Liangjiang You Xiaoshizi Youth Hostel and Home Inn Business Hotel Chongqing Yuzhong Hongya Cave are affordable and conveniently located, ideal for experiencing local Chongqing life.
- Unique Experience: For a deeper experience of Chongqing’s stilt house culture, you can choose to stay in characteristic homestays near Hongya Cave. These homestays are mostly converted from stilt houses, preserving traditional architectural styles and allowing guests to feel the strong Chongqing atmosphere.
🚆 Transportation Guide
- Metro: Take Chongqing Metro Line 1, 2, or 6 to Jiaochangkou Station, then walk about 5 minutes from Exit 1A or 1B to reach Hongya Cave.
- Bus: Take bus routes 111, 113, 465, 810, etc., to “Xiaoshizi” or “Minzu Road” stops, then walk to the destination.
- Taxi/Ride-hailing: From Chongqing North Railway Station or Jiangbei International Airport, the ride takes about 20-30 minutes, costing approximately 50-80 RMB.
- Driving: Navigate to “Hongya Cave.” There are parking lots nearby, but parking spaces are tight during holidays. It is recommended to arrive early or choose other transportation methods.
🎫 Ticket Information and Opening Hours
- Ticket Price: Hongya Cave Folk Custom Area is free to enter.
- Opening Hours: Open all day, but the best viewing time is daily from 18:00 to 22:00 when the lights are on and the effect is optimal.
Hongya Cave attracts countless visitors with its unique stilt house architecture and enchanting night scenery. Here, you can stroll through the brightly lit stilt houses and feel the unique charm of Chongqing’s mountain city; taste authentic Chongqing cuisine and experience the flavors of Chongqing; choose accommodation that suits you and deeply experience the local life of Chongqing. Whether traveling with family, friends, or alone, Hongya Cave will bring you unforgettable memories. Come to Chongqing Hongya Cave and start a mountain city nightscape journey!