Longmenhao Old Street: Where Time-Honored Echoes Meet Modern Allure

Longmenhao Old Street sits in Chongqing's Nanan District along the southern bank of the mighty Yangtze River. One of the most majestic “Eight Views of Ancient Bayu” - Longmen Haoyue (bright moon) is here. There was a dragon-like stone ridge along this stretch of the Yangtze River in Chongqing, with a gap in the middle that looked like a gate. The water inside the gap formed a small lake, which was called Hao in the local language. At night, when the moon's reflection shimmered on the Hao, it created a truly breathtaking sight. In 1056 AD, Su Shi, a celebrated poet, passed by this spot. Enchanted by the view, he inscribed the name “Longmen (dragon-like gate) Hao”, which was then carved on the high banks of the ferry, immortalizing the name. Ever since, numerous poets have been inspired to create their works here.

Longmenhao Old Street is one of the best-preserved and largest historical and cultural old streets in urban Chongqing, with 18 historical structures. Since 1891 when it became China's first inland trading port and numerous foreign merchants flocked to Chongqing, buildings mixing Western and traditional Ba-Yu architectural elements have been erected here, like the Former Chongqing Customs Office, the Sin Hua Trust and Savings Bank... During WWII, American, Italian, and Belgian embassy sites were also located here.

Today, alongside these antique gems, there are about 180 other old-style ones with elegant green tiles, old bricks, mottled walls, and ancient window frames. Moreover, the street houses nearly 30 artistic IPs with a wide array of art forms. You can find sculptures, murals, interactive art pieces, cutting-edge media displays, trendy national items... The new art elements coexist harmoniously with the old-style architecture.

Longmenhao Old Street, backed by Nanshan Hill, features buildings ingeniously constructed in a layered manner, which allows visitors to feel the charm of mountainous Chongqing. Whether going up from the bottom or descending from the top, each step reveals a new scene. Here, one can enjoy overlooking the Yangtze River and the vibrant central Yuzhong District across it. At night, the scene gets more spectacular when the city comes alive with lights, all reflecting on the winding river belt. Moreover, you'll find the skyscrapers on the opposite and adjacent modern Dongshuimen Bridge with light rail trains running through, standing in sharp contrast to the old-style buildings here, creating a vivid sense of time travel.

At Longmenhao, visitors are greeted by numerous workshops with a wide array of exquisite handicrafts. There are local intangibles like woodcuts and clay works, plus unique items such as paper art and straw rabbits. Best of all, you can try making these handicrafts. The area also abounds in diverse-flavored food in stylishly designed restaurants. Here, you can taste delicious local favorites like hotpot, Hot Pepper Chicken, Hot and Sour Noodles, etc. If you prefer Western food, there are French, Spanish, Italian, and Thai options... While enjoying the meals, you can take in the beautiful riverside view, making it a wonderful and indulgent experience.

• What to Shoot:

daytime view: Dongshuimen Bridge in close distance, Raffles City Chongqing, Huguang Guild Hall, Chaotianmen Delta, Yangtze River Cableway;

dusk view: sunset's reflection on the glass deck;

night view: cyberpunk scene with its colorful ground lights and a lit bridge and skyscrapers.

• Location: on top of Longmenhao Old Street, near Northwest Entrance

• What to Shoot: Dongshuimen Bridge, Raffles City Chongqing, Huguang Guild Hall, Chaotianmen Delta, the moment when the city lights up after 19:00

3. Shancheng Huakuang (山城画框) - Best for Contrast of History and Modernity

• What to Shoot: someone framed in the old-style gray brick-made door against a backdrop of Dongshuimen Bridge and the Yangtze River

• Location: on the 5th floor near the American Embassy Site

4. Scalloped and Rectangular Frames - More Fun Photos

• What to Shoot: high-rises, Huguang Guild Hall, and the Yangtze River in special-shaped frames

• Location: at Longmen Street near Longmen Haoyue Gate

Longmenhao Old Street is built against a hill with 6 layers, which can somewhat take your strength. For an energy-efficient visit, consider descending all the way. But if you explore it in the late afternoons, take a bottom-to-top route so that you can finish your trip with stunning Chongqing night views from an elevated height.

Most Strength-Saving Route (from top to bottom):
Northwest Entrance → Haoyue Square → Glass Lanyue Observation Deck → Guanjiang Platform → Wangjiang Alley → Longmen Street → Li & Wai Alleys → South Entrance

Riverside Night View Route (from bottom to top):
South Entrance → Li & Wai Alleys → Longmen Street → Wangjiang Alley → Guanjiang Platform → Glass Lanyue Observation Deck → Haoyue Square → Northwest Entrance

Longmenhao Old Street is in the southeast from Chongqing city center and not far from it. It can be easily reached by rail transit lines, taxis, the Yangtze River cableway, and public buses. Tourists can take Rail Transit Line 6 or the Loop line, get off at Shangxinjie Metro Station, and then walk for 700m to get there, or take a Yangtze River cableway from North Cableway Station in central Yuzhong District to get off at South Cableway Station and walk for 550m to get there. Longmenhao Old Street is:

• 8km (about 0.5 hour by car) away from Chongqing North Railway Station

• 16.5km (about 1 hour by car) away from Chongqing West Railway Station

• 13km (about 40 minutes by car) away from Chongqing Shapingba Railway Station

• 18km (about 0.5 hour by car) away from Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport

• 450m (about 20 minutes by car) away from Jiefangbei CBD

• 1.5km (about 25 minutes by car) away from Chaotianmen Dock

Want to get rid of the hassle of public transportation and troublesome navigation? You're highly suggested to travel with us China Discovery, who offers private tour packages that cover safe, clean, comfortable, non-smoking, and air-conditioned private vehicles with experienced drivers. Moreover, once you book such a service, our English-speaking tour guide will accompany you all the way, giving you an introduction of your destinations and sharing some travel tips to help you travel as smooth and hassle-free as possible. Please feel free to contact us to customize your journey.

Chongqing's major attractions are in the Yuzhong and Nanan districts. Longmenhao Old Street in Nanan, facing Yuzhong across the Yangtze River, is conveniently close to these spots. You can stroll along Chongqing's “The Bund” - Nanbin Road nearby while viewing iconic Raffles City Chongqing. Go up Nanshan Hill in Nanan to reach Nanshan Tree Viewing Platform for the best vista of Chongqing as “Little Hong Kong”; beside it is Laojun Cave, a Taoist temple with artistic cliff carvings and also elevated cityscape views. Moreover, the South Station of the popular Yangtze River Cableway, which takes you to cross over the river to Yuzhong district and explore hot attractions here, is also not far away.

In the Yuzhong district, you can visit the iconic Hongya Cave for a breathtaking night view like the enchanting fairy world in Spirited Away, take a Two Rivers Night Cruise sailing around the central peninsula as if wandering through a celestial street, marvel at the magnificent Raffles City Chongqing, explore the ancient relics and rich history housed in the Huguang Guild Hall....

Most travelers visit Longmenhao Old Street in the daytime during their 1 ~ 2 days Chongqing visit to take contrasting photos of old-style architecture here with the present vibrant urban Chongqing. To further experience the magic of Chongqing's 8-Dimensional landscape, a visit to Kuixinglou Square, WFC-Huixianlou Observation Deck, or Nanshan Tree Viewing Platform can be added to a one-day itinerary. The iconic Hongya Cave shall never be missed on a Chongqing visit.

For a comprehensive Chongqing city tour, make sure to visit Three Gorges Museum to explore the history and culture of Chongqing and the Three Gorges area, and witness the unique sight of metro trains passing through a residential building at Liziba Station.

☛ 2 Days 8-Dimensional Chongqing Highlights Tour with Trendy Spots

☛ 3 Days Leisure-paced Chongqing Highlights Tour

To get out of Chongqing city, head for two UNESCO World Heritage sites. You can pay a 1-day visit to nature wonder Wulong Karst Geopark and take another day at one of the top eight grottoes globally Dazu Rock Carvings.

☛ 5 Days Chongqing, Dazu Rock Carvings & Wulong Karst Tour