Transit: Chongqing Municipality
Chongqing Time Square and the Liberation Monument
This South West China trip has been in conception since late last year. For out of the country trips like this, I try to prepare months ahead. But I must credit my friend here for coming up with a “Do-able” IT. Some people would ask “Where are you going in China? Beijing for the Great Wall?” Though I would love to see the Great Wall once in my life, it’s not as attractive as getting into the heart of China. I dunno, I just have a penchant for going to places not as popular. Besides, I like the countryside more than the cities.
China Southern Airlines Food
Initially I thought this would be a very expensive trip, so I’m like a confused pendulum moving from one side to another if I’ll push through or not. But after many research and also some nice projects coming along well I did push through. And after all this I was surprised that I spent only around PHP 30,000 for the whole trip. That includes accommodation, transportation fares, park entrances, snacks and also extravagant native food dinners all for 11 days. I even have a few Chinese Yuan to take home along with few pasalubongs. Now that is what you call budget travel.
China Southern Airlines Plane
Going into China is not as easy as booking flights like our local airlines. China have their own online system. I tried booking but there are several procedures and verifications and most of the time they only accept their local credit cards. For my entry point Guangzhouu, I was able to book from Cebu Pacific, but for domestic flights, good thing my friend got a contact within China so from Guangzhou we got flights for Chongqing via China Southern Airlines. On the local front, I heard PAL has started direct flights to Chongqing and Chengdu from Manila. I just don’t know how much their fares cost but that would be a convenient alternative.
Chongqing Airport exit way
The fare for China Southern Airlines cost only RMB 620 (470 basic fare + 150 TAX) which is around PHP 3500 one way economy class. I find the airline very cheap compared here, and they are not a budget airline. When we checked in, I wanted to be seated by the window, instead I got the aisle. Good thing, a nice Chinese lady along our row wanted to swap chairs with me so I got seated by the window eventually. The plane is an A320 If I’m not mistaken. Seats are comfortable and they have inflight entertainment, a magazine as well a choice of warm food and drinks. Pretty good for the price I may say.
Chongqing Airport
The flight took around 1 and a half hour before we landed on Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport (CKG). The airport looks ok but not as big and appealing as Baiyun Airport. As soon as we got out of the airport we looked for the bus going to the city. There is an airport bus for RMB 16 going to Shangqingshi. The bus ride took around 30 minutes. And when I got off, like I told before, I survived a number of touts inserting their cards and flyers on any spot they can.
Chongqing Taxi and Gas Station
At Shangqingshi, it took some time before we got into a taxi. The taxi was weird at first because even if they have a passenger already, they would stop. It turns out that if they go the same way they can share the cab. I don’t know much about the system but we preferred to get our own cab instead. There were plenty of cabs there but most of them already had passengers. We did get a taxi after 20 minutes or so. My friend showed the address to the hostel we were supposed to go.
Nanbin Youth Hostel Double Room
I never got into their conversation and let my friend do the talking. I looked out the window and checked out the city. It was really misty. Not the same smog-mist in Guangzhou but I think this is real fog. The city looks huge with lots of twisting and turning roads. Chongqing is one of the larger cities in China cut by the famous Yangtze River, on which is also the jump of point to any cruise. But at that time, the city mood is somber with the hanging mist. I felt I’m inside a setting of a “Silent Hill” game.
Dazu County Bus Station
Our Taxi took a short stop at a gas station first to refill. Initially our driver wanted us to go down. My friend asked me if we wanted to do that since we have our packs in the back of the car, the taxi driver might drive away with it. I thought it was just ok. The gas station is interesting. It turns out that most of the Taxis in the city use natural gas. Initial flag fall rate is RMB 5.
Chongqing Time Square
Another short drive, we finally reached Nanbin Road. We checked in at Nanbin International Youth Hostel. A very very cozy place for backpackers. The hostel is a member of Hosteling International, and if you are a member, you’ll get 20% discount on participating hotels around the world. My friend applied for a membership there since it might be useful for the accommodations at different cities. With that we got a double room for only RMB 90. The rooms are spacious and beds are ok. Place is quiet as well. The initial room we got had a leaked aircon at first but they immediately moved us at another room.
Chongqing Time Square
As soon as we settled our things we were off again to the city bus station to head to Dazu County for our first cultural UNESCO heritage site visit. The place is worth an entry which I will do later after this. We got back already in the evening. Upon returning, we searched for the People’s Liberation Monument which was supposed to be the center of the city. We had to walk around and was an arduous search since it was evening and I’m a bit tired, I actually wanted to call it off. Eventually we found it shortly.
Chongqing Time Square and the Liberation Monument
The so called Chongqing Time Square is a popular attraction and commercial area in the Yuzhong district. Lots of neon lights among tall skyscrapers fill the area. Place is also crowded with tourist having their photos taken by the monument. I only saw one American here, probably an expat. Most here are local Chinese. There were also some of what we call “Luneta Photographers” at the area if you want your picture taken. And amazingly there was this strange looking beggar. Strange since she was very young and seems to be a student and doesn’t look like a beggar. My friend told me they were asking money from us which we dismissed. After taking a few shots there and my friend buying a “Chongqing Starbucks Mug” in one of their branches there, we went off. It’s another taxi hunt for us and we just had to run to beat the rest of the Chinese for the taxi.
Chongqing HotPot
Just nearby our hostel, we had a Chongqing Hotpot dinner on one of the restaurants facing the Yangtze River. it is the city’s main specialty, and for a cold cold weather like this it’s very fitting to try one. First eaten by Chinese Boatmen along the Yangtze River, the popularity eventually spread. Eaten mostly by friendly and family gatherings, main ingredients, which you will choose, are delivered raw so you have to place these ingredients on a boiling hotpot of spices. We got a Yin and Yang hotpot where the middle isn’t that spicy. Having tried it, it was a fun dish and great meal. And really spicy. My first time to having taste a Sichuan Fire Pepper. Those little bits are just potent so watch out. A piece of actually numbed my jaws for a while when I accidentally ate it. The Chongqing Hotpot Dinner cost us a RMB 77 consisting of 4 ingredients and some sodas as well.
Tags: China, Chongqing, Eats, Food, Hotpt, Sleep, Taxis, Time Square, Transit
Posted on
Wednesday, April 2nd, 2008 at 2:19 pm 
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April 2nd, 2008 at 2:57 pm
looks like chongqing city is a nice place although we will still experience some culture shocks but it looks nice - a place worth visiting. i like the airport (which at first i thought was a stadium).
that taxi expereience is weird.
very reasonable cost for a trip like this. is your guide a noypi?
April 2nd, 2008 at 3:47 pm
30K?! aba…budget trip nga yan. peram ako ng “do-able IT” ninyo! hehe…
the short stop at the gas station is a fun deal. parang nakaka-paranoid na talaga at this point. ganyan kami nung nasa SiemReap, tipong magpapa-car wash yung driver dahil sa ang kapal ng alikabok pero ayaw naming bumaba ng Camry kase baka bigla niyang itakbo yung sasakyan e andun mga gamit namin, hehe. paranoid talaga. ganda ng mga kuha mo Ferdz! alam mo naisip ko lang, yung ibang tao nawiwirduhan sa akin kase every step of the way pag nagtravel ako, kinukunan ko ng pictures i.e food, airport, lubak na daan, etc. so malamang, ganito ka din doon no? hehe. okay din talagang may handy na point and shoot.
April 2nd, 2008 at 4:41 pm
love the post bai! nainggit ako, hehehe. and the china journal is just beginning to unravel
btw, bago na signature mo sa photos 
April 2nd, 2008 at 6:09 pm
Interesting! Pero kailangan siguro may guide/interpreter ka pag ganitong travel. May nabasa akong blog, hindi daw gumagamit ng dishwashing liquid ang mga chinese
!!! Lagi ko tuloy naiisip yon pag nakakakita ako ng chinese food. Pero love ko ang chinese food 
April 2nd, 2008 at 7:10 pm
I was in Chongqing in 1978… I don’t recognize anything from your pictures. Maybe if you post some pictures from the Yangtse river…
April 2nd, 2008 at 8:00 pm
China is the most fastest developing country today,economically.
Lucky you that you got the chance to visit China…
April 2nd, 2008 at 9:51 pm
The hostel room looked really neat! Anyway, planning a budget travel is better than having an expensive one b/c after all one is there to experience the culture of that particular country. As for myself, I too prefer budget traveling.
(:
April 2nd, 2008 at 11:58 pm
My hubby and I are budget travelers too and we try to squeeze as much as we can from our hard-earned money. It pays to veer away from the touristy towns and venture into the new place. I salute you for finding this trip for about 750 US. How many days were you there?
April 3rd, 2008 at 2:51 pm
I love pictures like this, it makes me feel like I was there visiting right alongside you.
They don’t call it vicarious experience for nothing huh.
April 3rd, 2008 at 5:34 pm
I guess thick fog in cities isn’t that scary as Silent Hill’s. I remember that game clearly, at one point I accidentally threw the controller because of a sudden sound effect.
April 3rd, 2008 at 6:08 pm
i love budget travels. and they work best when it’s time to remember the trip: you feel you’ve seen so much, experienced so much, without the feeling of being ripped off on something with no value.
and i agree with you: cities are almost always not the best showcase of a people and their culture.
April 3rd, 2008 at 7:58 pm
The hostel seemed good, but how was the bathroom?
The very thing that scares me whenever I’m in China is when I look around and don’t see any foreigners.
I loved the Chongqing Time Square (it’s pronounced Chong-Ching, right?) photo! I’m amazed how the Chinese seem to invest so much on lighting. So extravagant no?
I’ve always had this romantic perception of China from the old movies I’ve seen. I wonder, did you see anything of Chongqing that came across as very romantic to you?
April 3rd, 2008 at 9:41 pm
PHP30,000 for the whole 11 days and it included everything you mentioned? That is indeed a super budget travel! I bet there was a lot of planning involved, not just a pay and go type of adventure.
Btw, there are other cities in the world where taxis are shared but each pay the full fare nevertheless.
April 3rd, 2008 at 9:50 pm
Great pics and once again, a very informative post Ferdz. P30K for 11 days is one heck of a great price
Man, China seems to be really booming, and a contrast between old and new. Food is certainly a big incentive for me to go into the heart of China. I love that hot pot pic already hehe
April 3rd, 2008 at 11:53 pm
the room looks nice. mailaw pag gabi…
April 4th, 2008 at 11:19 am
china ka nga pumunta…a dami pera…masarap ba siopao dun?
April 6th, 2008 at 5:15 am
parang di umabot dito yung pasalubong. 11 days? tagal ha! at ang mura ng pamasahe.
at parang ang sarap ng hotpot.
April 6th, 2008 at 6:37 am
Would love to try their legendary chili, heard so much about it! By the way, does the China Southern Airline still serve warm Coke?! Hope they’ve learned not to…
April 6th, 2008 at 7:33 pm
looks like you really had fun with your chongqing City. i think it’s cheaper there because there’s no travel tax? nakakamahal sa airline tickets dito sa pinas ay ung tax daw…
nice pictures..
April 7th, 2008 at 8:50 pm
@ Dong Ho: Yeah, Chongqing is OK. But it’s not that much appealing to me as later you’ll find out My friend has Chinese roots but grew up here in Manila so he’s not that good in speaking the language.
@ Rayts: Haha. Yeah. As much as possible I take a lot of photos to document my trip. Buti na lang yung kasama ko ganung din para di lang ako ang medy mukhang iba.
@ Lagalog: Thanks! Yeah changed my sig, just some little things to look forward too. I’m planning a new layout very soon.
@ Nina: Wah talaga?! Di gumagamit ng dishwashing?!! Haha. Di ko napansin yun. Yeah. It’ll a lot easier if you have someone who can speak the language who’ll acompany you.
@ Sidney: Didn’t had much chance to shoot the river, besides it’s so foggy I couldn’t see much of it at that time.
April 7th, 2008 at 8:50 pm
@ Eric: Thanks! I think, coupled with luck is careful planning as well.
@ Kyels: Yep, the room does look nice. Its actually very good fo its price.
@ Photocache: I agree. Sometimes popular destination is moe pricey. It’s a total of 11 days for the whole trip.
@ Shoshana: Thanks! It’s actually what I want my readers to feel with this blog. Traveling along side me.
@ Cedsaid: Hehe. Really enjoyed that game. One game that really creeped me a lot.
April 7th, 2008 at 8:51 pm
@ Barrycade: Oh yeah. Looking back at eerything, the experience sums up more than the expense.
@ Karla: The bathroom is fairly clean with a western type toilet. Yep. You pronounced it right. As for romantic, the place honestly didn’t appeal much to me. It’s ok, but not on my want to live places actually.
@ BertN: It took some months before this trip actually materialized and I credit my friend for doig the research on this. Really? I’m still not comfortable sharing taxis with strangers though.
@ BW: That HotPot is indeed very goog. I wonder where I could find one here in Manila.
@ Bingskee: The room was shot early afternoon. But yes, it’s well illuminated as well.
April 7th, 2008 at 8:51 pm
@ Tutubi: Funny! Hehe. I never got to taste a Siopao there.
@ Tin-tin: Medyo mura pamasahe sa China kasi the government controls the prices of oil.
@ Gypsy: I don’t think they served coke last time. I only remembered some coffee, juice and milk.
@ Tina: Hi, there is still some Travel Tax in China, maliit lang talaga fares nila at times. But when you buy from outside , medyo mahal.
April 9th, 2008 at 1:46 pm
shucks sobrang budget travel na yan for 11 days! astig!
April 9th, 2008 at 4:19 pm
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