Overview
Two hours west of Chongqing, the Dazu Rock Carvings feature 50,000 Buddhist figures carved into cliffs over 600 years during the Tang and Song dynasties. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is the last great masterpiece of Chinese grotto art. This full-day Dazu rock carvings tour takes you through Baodingshan's crown jewels (the 31-meter Reclining Buddha, the golden 1,000-Hand Guanyin), then Beishan's exquisite Tang-Song statues. Back in Chongqing, the night is yours: wander Ciqikou Ancient Town's stone lanes, then stand on the bridge and watch Hongyadong's 11-story cliff complex glow like a scene from Spirited Away. One day. One UNESCO site. One of China's most photogenic cities at night.
Planning to spend more time in the city? Our Chongqing 8D Cyberpunk City Walk covers the best of the urban experience — cliff trails, monorail through buildings, and the iconic night panorama.
Highlights
- UNESCO World Heritage — 50,000 statues carved from 9th to 13th century cliffs, China’s last great grotto masterpiece
- Reclining Buddha — 31 meters long, carved so only the upper body is visible — the rest “extends into eternity”
- 1,000-Hand Guanyin — Over 1,000 hands spread like a peacock’s tail, each palm holding an eye, entirely covered in gold leaf
- Beishan Caves — Tang and Song Dynasty statues so refined they are called “the Guanyin gallery of China”
- Ciqikou Ancient Town — 1,000 years of trade, tea houses, and stone lanes on the Jialing River
- Hongyadong at Night — An 11-story stilted village built into a cliff face, lit up like a scene from Spirited Away
Itinerary
Dazu Rock Carvings Tour, Ancient Town & Night View
8:00 AM — Depart Chongqing
Your guide picks you up from your hotel. Two hours on the expressway — the city skyline gives way to green hills and farmland.
10:00 AM — Baodingshan Rock Carvings
Start at the Dazu Rock Carvings Museum — a 10-minute walkthrough that gives you the context for what you are about to see. Then into Dafowan (Great Buddha Bend): the Reclining Buddha stretches 31 meters along the cliff, carved so only the upper half is visible — the lower half is left to your imagination, extending "into eternity." The 1,000-Hand Guanyin blazes with gold leaf, each of her 1,000+ hands holding an eye. The Six Realms of Reincarnation wheel maps the entire Buddhist cosmos in stone. And the Huayan Trinity — three figures holding up a stone pagoda with their bare hands for 700 years.
12:30 PM — Lunch
A local restaurant near the scenic area. Chinese set menu with regional Chongqing dishes. $15/person (optional, at extra cost). Vegetarian and no-spice options available on request.
1:30 PM — Beishan Rock Carvings
A 15-minute drive from Baodingshan. Beishan is older (9th century, Tang Dynasty) and smaller, but the statues here are considered the most refined of all Dazu carvings. The highlight is Cave 136 — the Wheel of Dharma Grotto — where Guanyin statues stand in poses so elegant they have been called "the Eastern Venus de Milo." Allow about one hour.
3:00 PM — Drive back to Chongqing
Two hours on the highway. Rest in the car, or chat with your guide about Chongqing's food scene — the spicy, the numbing, and everything in between.
5:00 PM — Ciqikou Ancient Town
A 1,000-year-old trading port on the Jialing River. Narrow stone lanes wind between Ming and Qing Dynasty buildings. Tea houses brew cover bowl tea, vendors twist dough into golden spirals, and the smell of Sichuan peppercorns fills the air. Browse for handicrafts, spices, or just wander. Free entry. Allow 1–1.5 hours. Explore more of southwestern China →
6:30 PM — Dinner break
Eat in Ciqikou — your guide can recommend local snacks (sour and spicy noodles, glutinous rice cakes, twisted dough twists) — or save your appetite for later.
7:30 PM — Hongyadong Night View
Your guide takes you to the best viewing spot — below Qiansimen Bridge, where the full 11-story stilted complex unfolds against the night sky. Locals and photographers agree: the best way to experience Hongyadong is from a distance, not by fighting through the packed shops inside. The golden cascade of light reflected on the Jialing River is the real show. This is the iconic Chongqing photo.
8:30 PM — Free time or return to hotel
If you want to explore Ciqikou or the city on your own, your guide can drop you off here and you make your own way back. Otherwise, your guide takes you back to your hotel. Compare with another iconic city night experience →
What's Included
- Door-to-door hotel transfer in central Chongqing (pick-up & drop-off)
- Dazu Rock Carvings combined entrance ticket (Baodingshan + Beishan)
- Full-day English-speaking guide
- All tolls, parking and fuel
What's Not Included
- Lunch (Chinese set menu available on request — $15/person)
- Dinner
- Personal expenses and snacks
- Travel insurance
Good to Know
- Walking: Baodingshan takes about 2.5 hours with moderate walking and some stairs. Wear comfortable shoes.
- Guide matters: The carvings are 800–1,000 years old — without a guide, you see rocks. With one, you see stories.
- Photography: Allowed at Baodingshan and Beishan. Flash is not permitted inside caves.
- Hongyadong: Best viewed from below Qiansimen Bridge at dusk — the full panorama without the crowds. If you want to explore on your own, your guide can drop you off there.
- Museum closed Mondays: If your tour falls on a Monday, the Baodingshan visit will skip the museum.
- Daily departure. Private tour — your group only. Pick-up at 8:00 AM from any hotel in central Chongqing.
- Questions? Contact us for availability and booking.