Chengdu/Chongqing time allotment

Question

I am making a visit to Chengdu and Chongqing and trying to figure out how to divide my time there.

On day 1 I will arrive in Chengdu via international flight around 6pm. I arrive on a Friday and will be flying out of Chongqing airport on a domestic flight around noon on a Wednesday. Between Chengdu and Chongqing how would you divide the nights? 4 nights Chengdu and one night Chongqing? Or three nights Chengdu two nights Chongqing? I would take the train from Chengdu in the early morning to go to Chongqing, so that way I would have a full day in Chongqing and a night.

Answer

Given your schedule—arriving in Chengdu on a Friday evening and departing from Chongqing on Wednesday around noon—a sensible division of nights would maximize your sightseeing time while minimizing travel stress.

Recommended Night Allocation:

Option 1: 4 nights in Chengdu, 1 night in Chongqing
This allows you to settle into Chengdu without rushing, explore major attractions such as the Panda Base, Wuhou Shrine, Jinli Ancient Street, and Mount Qingcheng or Leshan Giant Buddha. You can take an early morning high-speed train from Chengdu to Chongqing, giving you nearly a full day to explore key sights like Jiefangbei, Ciqikou Ancient Town, and Chaotianmen, before departing the next day.
Option 2: 3 nights in Chengdu, 2 nights in Chongqing
This option gives you a more relaxed pace in Chongqing, with one full day and an extra evening for local nightlife, dining, or exploring areas like Hongya Cave or the Yangtze River cruise. However, you would need to slightly compress your Chengdu itinerary to fit in all main attractions in three days.

Practical Considerations:

Early morning trains from Chengdu to Chongqing take about 2–2.5 hours on high-speed rail, so even with 1 night in Chongqing, you can enjoy a full day.
Booking hotels near train stations or city center areas like Jiefangbei in Chongqing will save travel time and allow easy access to the airport the next morning.
If you enjoy a more immersive city experience, the 3+2 split works, but if your priority is sightseeing efficiency and less hotel transfers, 4+1 is simpler.

Overall, for a short trip like yours with a midday departure from Chongqing, the 4 nights in Chengdu and 1 night in Chongqing split is usually the most convenient and allows you to see the highlights without feeling rushed.

Chengdu/Chongqing time allotment

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