Chongqing is built where the Yangtze meets the Jialing River, on a peninsula of steep hills, and crossing the water is a central part of the city's daily logistics. The cableway opened in 1987 and carried commuters for years before becoming a visitor attraction; it still runs as public transport and is priced accordingly.
The ride
The gondola crosses the Yangtze between stations on the Yuzhong peninsula and the south bank, a distance of about 1,166 meters and a ride of roughly five minutes. From the cabin you look down on barges and ferries, the ring of bridges carrying road and rail traffic, the densely stacked towers of the city on the north bank, and the wooded slopes of the south bank. Late afternoon and dusk give the best light. The cabins hold about fifty people and standing at the window is normal.
Ferries and bridges
Cross-river ferries still run on the Yangtze and the Jialing and cost very little; they are a slower, quieter alternative and a good way to see the river at water level. Chongqing also has an extraordinary number of major bridges, several of them internationally significant, and a drive along the riverside roads passes under many of them.
Practical notes
The main cableway station is in the Yuzhong district within walking distance of the Xiaoshizi metro station and the Hongyadong complex. Queues are long at weekends and around sunset; go earlier in the day if you want the cabin to yourself. Weather matters, since haze can reduce the view. Tickets are inexpensive and sold at the station.
