Ciqikou Ancient Town is located in northeastern Shapingba District, with the Jialing River at its front and mountains rising behind it. Its landscape is traditionally described as “one river, two streams, and three mountains.” The river is the Jialing; the two streams are Fenghuang Creek and Qingshui Creek; and the three mountains, from north to south, are Jinbi Mountain, Ma’an Mountain, and Fenghuang Mountain. Ciqikou is the largest historic town in central Chongqing and one of the best places to experience traditional Bayu (Chongqing) residences, folk customs, and local life. It was among the first group of Chinese Historic and Cultural Blocks designated for national protection by the State Council. It is also a national 4A-rated tourist attraction and was named among the first National Leisure Tourism Destinations. Ancient yet vibrant, Ciqikou combines a history stretching back more than a thousand years with the energy of one of Chongqing’s most popular destinations today.

In late June 2021, Shapingba District launched a series of major projects across the wider Ciqikou scenic area. These included the opening of the Ciqikou Pedestrian Street and Ciqikou Back Street, the start of construction on the Outer Street project, the opening of supporting roads including the second phase of Shabin Road and Laodong Road, the reopening of Ciqikou Wharf, new nighttime lighting, and the premiere of the large-scale stage production Chongqing 1949 at Jinbi Theater.

Ciqikou Back Street

Ciqikou Back Street offers a diverse mix of businesses and experiences, operating around the clock to meet the needs of different visitors at different times of day. It has introduced boutique hotels, international brands, popular dining concepts, emerging lifestyle brands, and IP-based cultural and creative products, filling gaps in the area’s commercial offerings. Built around three main visitor routes, the area features five experience themes: chic trends, quality lifestyle, premium dining, leisure and discovery, and arts and culture. Together, they create a rich, all-day visitor experience spanning shopping, dining, entertainment, and leisure. In its overall planning, Ciqikou Back Street integrates both horizontal layout and vertical design, while carrying forward the cultural character of the Mountain City. The aim is to create a more connected district and upgrade its commercial clusters as a whole. Its vertical design breaks away from conventional commercial development, creating a distinctive destination brand that captures the cultural essence of Chongqing while meeting the needs of modern tourism, shopping, and consumption. Building on the traditional architectural character of the ancient town, the development adapts the space for contemporary commercial use through terraces, covered corridors, projecting bays, and spacious plazas, providing ample room for activities as well as comfortable outdoor seating and dining.

Large-Scale Historical Stage Production Chongqing 1949

The Chongqing 1949 performance project covers approximately 115,300 square meters, with a total investment of RMB2.8 billion. Its purpose-built theater is located on Jinbi Main Street in Ciqikou. The production combines an innovative custom-designed stage system with advanced sound, lighting, and visual technologies to create a large-scale immersive theatrical experience. The production brings together the leading creative team behind Shaanxi Tourism Group’s acclaimed live stage productions, including The Song of Everlasting Sorrow, The Xi’an Incident 1212, and Yan’an Nursery. Featuring internationally advanced sound, lighting, multimedia, and stage technologies, together with a compelling and emotionally resonant storyline, the production vividly portrays the Hongyan martyrs’ unwavering commitment to their communist ideals and convictions. The result is a large-scale indoor stage production of world-class caliber for audiences from China and around the world.

Address: Ciqikou Ancient Town, Shapingba District, Chongqing

Getting There:

Rail Transit:

Take Chongqing Rail Transit Line 1 to Ciqikou Station.

Bus:

Take bus 202, 220, 224, 237, 261, 467, 503, 553, or 843, or Sightseeing Bus T003 or T198, to Ciqikou West Gate Station.