Chongqing, a city built into the mountains, is often referred to as the “Mountain City” (山城重庆), and for good reason. This unique landscape offers visitors a completely different experience from other cities. First-time travelers to Chongqing are often left with unforgettable and intriguing impressions that challenge their usual perceptions of urban life.
One visitor might say, “I was eating noodles at a street stall, but no matter how I sat, I always felt tilted.” Another might remark, “Once you’re in Chongqing, you stop trusting maps.” Some people discover that exiting the wrong subway station isn’t just a minor inconvenience—one station could be five stories above another, making a simple detour a major hike. One of the more amusing observations comes from first-time visitors who, looking out into the distance, mistake car headlights on winding mountain roads for floating sky lanterns, only to realize later that what they thought were glowing lanterns were actually just cars moving along the steep, elevated streets.
To outsiders, these quirks are mind-boggling, but for the locals, they are simply part of everyday life. The people of Chongqing have become so accustomed to their unique geography that they barely notice its oddities.
The term “Mountain City” truly gained prominence during the Second Sino-Japanese War (1937–1945), when Chongqing became the wartime capital of China. With an influx of people from other provinces, many were struck by Chongqing’s dramatic, mountainous terrain. Those who were used to the low, gentle hills of the south or the expansive plains of northern China found the city’s steep streets and winding paths both remarkable and difficult to navigate. The title “Mountain City” became a natural way to describe this urban marvel, and it gradually became a part of Chongqing’s identity, embraced by locals and visitors alike.
Due to its mountainous layout, Chongqing defies typical urban design principles. The streets and buildings don’t align with the traditional north-south-east-west orientation, which makes navigation challenging for first-timers. Asking for directions in Chongqing is a unique experience, as locals rarely refer to cardinal directions. Instead, they’ll guide you with terms like “up,” “down,” “left,” or “right” based on the city’s ridges and slopes. The city is divided into two main areas: the upper half (上半城) and the lower half (下半城), with steep stairways and streets linking the two.
One of the most iconic and historically rich paths connecting the upper and lower halves of the city is Shibati (十八梯), or “Eighteen Steps.” If you want to experience the essence of Chongqing and understand its soul, Shibati is like an open-air museum of the old city. This area encapsulates Chongqing’s authentic, down-to-earth lifestyle. It’s where you’ll find traditional stilted houses (吊脚楼), narrow streets, and a vibrant street culture that is deeply rooted in the city’s history.
Shibati is a living snapshot of old Chongqing, where you can witness the daily routines of ordinary locals, feel the bustling energy of the market streets, and experience the city’s raw, unfiltered character. Today, after renovations and modernization efforts, Shibati has been transformed into a scenic area that preserves both the northern and southern architectural styles, with new features for tourists to explore. While it maintains its original charm, it now serves as a gateway for visitors to discover the city’s past while enjoying a blend of modern conveniences.