Ciqikou Ancient Town: Chongqing's Old River Port
What to see in Ciqikou, Chongqing's Ming- and Qing-era riverside old town, packed with snack stalls and stone-paved streets.
Ciqikou: A Slice of Old Chongqing
Ciqikou Ancient Town sits on the banks of the Jialing River in Shapingba District, a former Song Dynasty-era porcelain-trading port (the name literally means "porcelain port") that grew into one of Chongqing's busiest river towns before falling quiet through the 20th century. What survived is a genuinely old network of narrow, stone-paved streets lined with Ming- and Qing-style wooden buildings — blue tiles, white walls, timber frames — now filled with teahouses, snack vendors and craft shops.
It's Chongqing's most complete surviving old town, and unlike some heavily reconstructed historic districts elsewhere in China, much of Ciqikou's street layout and architecture is genuinely old rather than a modern recreation.
Visiting Ciqikou
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Cost | Free to enter and wander the streets |
| Nearest Metro | Ciqikou (Line 1) |
| Time Needed | 2–3 hours to walk the main streets and snack along the way |
| Signature Snack | Chen Mahua (fried dough twists), sold throughout the old town |
What Else Is Nearby
Baolun Temple, a working Buddhist temple within the old town, is worth ducking into for a quieter contrast to the busy snack streets outside. The riverside area behind the main streets offers a good spot to sit by the Jialing away from the crowds. Ciqikou station also sits on Line 1, making it an easy standalone half-day trip rather than something you need to combine with central Chongqing sightseeing.
Go early on a weekday morning if you want to see the old town's architecture without fighting through snack-stall crowds — it fills up fast by mid-morning, especially on weekends.
