Allow two to three hours for this cliffside trail. We recommend starting at the upper entrance near Lingshi Lane or Jiashi Nursing Home and descending to Zhongxing Road, rather than climbing from the lower main entrance.
Entrances and the easier direction
- Free and open
- This free, reservation-free route is about 1.5 kilometres and takes two to three hours with stops. Follow local notices for open sections or temporary works.
- Qixinggang metro
- Use Qixinggang on Lines 1 or 10, Exit 1; for reference, ten minutes to the upper entrance. The route includes slopes and junctions, so combine navigation with street signs.
- Start high, finish low
- For a car, use Jiashi Nursing Home or Lingshi Lane and descend. Do not simply navigate to the Zhongxing Road main entrance unless you intend to begin with a sustained climb.
Seven stops along the descent
- Upper entrance
- Enter near Lingshi Lane or Jiashi Nursing Home for stone paths and a shaded start beneath old banyan trees.
- Ren'ai Hall and wilderness garden
- We recommend a century-old former French church, with Gothic ruins wrapped in vines and flowers so that decay and new growth share the frame. The adjacent viewpoint faces Yangtze River International and Nanjimen Bridge. Respect the historic building and do not climb the remains.
- Mountain City Time Library
- A converted former Jinmasi primary school with 1990s classroom details and stamps. Check whether it is open before planning an indoor stop.
- Love Lane and city slogans
- Lanterns, steps, small shops and slogan walls make a livelier section. Keep the lane clear for residents and other visitors while photographing.
- Cliffside boardwalk
- Our highlight is a timber boardwalk along the cliff, with views of the river, boats and Nan'an skyline. Stay behind railings and avoid blocking narrow sections.
- Tongyuan Gate city wall
- The wall dates to the Hongwu era of the Ming dynasty, giving it more than 600 years of history. Where access is open, climb it for a city view and an understanding of defensive geography rather than treating it only as a photo backdrop; follow the accessible areas on site.
- Zhongxing Road exit
- Finish downhill at Zhongxing Road, then continue towards Shibati or Jiaochangkou station. There is no need to climb back the same way.
Breaks, photographs and weather
- Tea and small snacks
- Stop for gaiwan tea, possible Sichuan opera or crosstalk, and snacks including rice cakes, baked flatbread, iced rice balls and chilled desserts. Performances and stalls are not guaranteed daily.
- Coffee with a river view
- We recommend Lazy Fish Time Café as an example of an independent stop with a river terrace. Confirm seating and hours; it is not an automatic part of trail admission.
- Five photographic compositions
- When it is quiet, take a full-length portrait on the boardwalk against the Yangtze. Use Ren'ai's vine-covered ruins for a vintage-film look, Love Lane's lantern-lined steps with a retro dress or heritage-inspired outfit, and the wilderness-garden viewpoint for Yangtze River International and Nanjimen Bridge. The bright 'This is very Chongqing' red-brick wall suits a street-style frame. Safety and passage come first.
- Heat, timing and unknown fruit
- Weekend crowds are heaviest from 10:00–16:00; we recommend 08:00–09:00 or after 16:00, allowing daylight lanes, a riverside sunset and blue-hour night views in one visit. Wear grippy shoes, bring insect repellent in summer and avoid the strongest midday sun. There is no need to carry much water when liangxia and bingfen are sold along the route; do not pick or taste unknown red fruit.