Private Journeys in Chongqing

Located in Southwest China, Chongqing is the country’s largest city by both area and population, home to over 30 million people. While most residents are of Han descent, the city is also a cultural mosaic, with more than 40 recognized ethnic minorities including the Tujia and Miao.

Once known as Chungking, Chongqing was opened as a treaty port in 1890 and served as the wartime capital of the Kuomintang during the 1930s and 1940s. Today, it’s a city in transformation — modern skyscrapers rise above older, dustier neighborhoods, reflecting its dynamic rebirth.

Perched at the meeting point of the Yangtze and Jialing Rivers, Chongqing possesses a unique, almost cinematic charm. As night falls, the hills surrounding the city come alive with shimmering lights, creating a magical backdrop for travelers embarking on or returning from a Yangtze River cruise — one of the most scenic river journeys in the world.