Explore verdict: From its wilderness to the pure joy of encounters with locals, China is as unexpected as it is welcoming.
Getting there: The districts of the Chongqing municipality are a one- to three-hour drive from the city of Chongqing, which is a three-hour direct flight from Shanghai.
Touring there: Wendy Wu Tours offers several itineraries that include Chongqing. The 12-day Inspiring China tour, which includes three nights in Chongqing, starts from $6180 per person.
Staying there: Chongqing is a convenient base for day trips and has a good range of accommodation from budget to luxury. There are fewer hotels in regional counties, and communication is an obvious challenge without a guide, unless you speak conversational Mandarin.
Local secret: Don’t miss out on mahua, a delicious snack of twisted dough, fried until crisp, seasoned with sesame seeds and not too sweet. Several shops in the south-west region sell it.
Good to know: In regional counties especially, communication is an obvious challenge without a guide, unless you speak conversational Mandarin.
Explore more: wendywutours.com.au