Nanbin Road in Two Days: Huangjueba Old Street to Changjiahui

Two days along Chongqing's Nanbin Road, from Huangjueba Old Street down the Huanggegudao stone steps and back north to Changjiahui Shopping Plaza — a full day plus an evening on day one, a shorter daytime stretch on day two. Best walked in spring or autumn, when the stone steps are dry.

Staying on the river is the point of the trip; for that, compare all the booking sites before you commit.

Day 1

1. Huangjueba Old Street (黄桷垭老街)
Start here, at the top. A daytime wander through the old street before you drop down toward the cave gate. The order matters on this day — do not reverse it.

2. Laojun Cave West Gate (老君洞西门)
The west gate of the Taoist cave temple, reached on foot from the old street. You turn back the way you came afterwards, returning to Huangjueba Old Street before starting the trail.

3. Back through Huangjueba Old Street
The return leg, so that the descent down Huanggegudao runs one way and downhill the whole time.

4. Huanggegudao (黄葛古道)
The ancient stone-step trail, walked downhill. The stone slabs are uneven underfoot, so wear flat, comfortable shoes. Expect a lot of caterpillars on the trail at the moment — go in ready for that. Photo stops along the way include the viewing platform at 中余·草木间 and the area outside 清风雅舍.

5. Kaibao Heritage Park (开埠遗址公园)
Come here for the night view. The shot to get is the Dongshui Gate Bridge through a telephoto lens; there is also a frame of the Yangtze cable car through woven bamboo.

6. Fei Bai OR BLACK (非白ORBLACK)
Sleep here. A river-view guesthouse converted from an old Chongqing house, set in an old alley, with strong views out over the water. This is the booking that needs arranging ahead.

Day 2

7. Shangxin Street (上新街)
The day starts here, inland of the old streets.

8. Socialist College (社会主义学院)
For the photo, go in through the main gate and walk to the left end.

9. Longmenghao Old Street (龙门浩老街)
A historic old street with two shooting spots nearby: outside 半山草堂茶舍, where a telephoto gets you the Yangtze cable car, and beside 既下山.

10. Xiahao Li (下浩里)
Walk through 浩阅书店 to reach the best viewpoint. 雾都周末 is close by as well.

11. Nanbin Road Clock Tower (南滨路钟楼)
The clock tower is shot from the opposite side of the road.

12. Changjiahui Shopping Plaza (长嘉汇购物广场)
Time this for a Saturday, when the drone light show runs. Arrive half an hour early to get a position.

Count on a lot of steps across the two days: the trail is downhill, but the back-and-forth along Nanbin Road adds up.