Chaotianmen is located in Yuzhong District, Chongqing, China, at the confluence of the Yangtze River and the Jialing River. It is one of the seventeen famous ancient city gates in Chongqing's history, an important gateway among the nine riverside gates, and also the largest waterway passenger terminal and hub of the two rivers in Chongqing. Chaotianmen Square has 4 floors, covering an area of 37,000 square meters, with the top viewing square area reaching 15,117 square meters. In the center of the square, there is a 25-square-meter "Zero Kilometer" marker, symbolizing the starting point of Chongqing's highways. As a landmark building on the Yuzhong Peninsula, it is known as the "Golden Triangle" due to its unique geographical location, and is a core urban area integrating culture, landscape, and transportation.
Historical Culture
Chaotianmen gets its name from the allusion that ancient officials received imperial edicts here. It is the largest city gate among the seventeen gates of Chongqing's "nine open and eight closed" system. When Dai Ding built the city in the Ming Dynasty, he set up city gates according to the image of the Nine Palaces and Eight Trigrams. Chaotianmen was named because it faced the capital Nanjing. Historically, it was not only a transportation hub but also a core area for commercial and trade activities. Outside the city gate, wharves and land stations were set up along the riverbank, witnessing the prosperity of ancient water and land transportation. During the archaeological excavation of the city wall ruins from Xishuimen to Chaotianmen from 2015 to 2016, wall remains and cultural relics from different periods were found, confirming its important historical status as a wharf, commercial, and water transportation hub. In May 2016, Chaotianmen was selected as one of the "Top Ten Cultural Symbols of Chongqing", becoming an important symbol of the city's history and culture.
Main Attractions
Chaotianmen Square
Chaotianmen Square covers an area of 37,000 square meters, with an architectural shape resembling a giant ship sailing, known as the "Chongqing Titanic". The "Zero Kilometer" marker in the center of the square is a symbol of the starting point of Chongqing's highways. On the north and south sides of the marble monument, there are inscriptions of "Chaotianmen Square", "Records of Chongqing Chaotianmen Square", "Map of Old Chongqing City", and "Ode to Chongqing Chaotianmen Square" respectively. The middle floor houses the Chongqing Urban Planning Exhibition Hall and the Chongqing Historical Celebrities Museum. The latter displays 200 local and visiting historical celebrities, showing the cultural context of Chongqing.
Raffles City
Designed by international architect Safdie, 8 towers stand along the river, shaped like sails, implying "sailing towards the sky". The project includes high-end residences, shopping malls, office buildings, five-star hotels, and serviced apartments. The most distinctive feature is the 300-meter-long "Crystal Corridor" on the 60th floor, connecting 4 towers, where visitors can enjoy a 360° view of the scenery on both sides of the two rivers and experience the three-dimensional landscape of the mountain city.
Chaotianmen Bridge
That is, Chaotianmen Yangtze River Bridge. Construction started in December 2004 and opened to traffic in April 2009. The bridge connects Wulidian in Jiangbei District to the west and Danzishi in Nan'an District to the east, with a total length of 1,741 meters. When completed, it was the world's largest-span arch bridge, known as "the first bridge at the Yangtze River gateway of the mountain city", and is an important hub in Chongqing's transportation network.
Crystal Corridor of Raffles City
The Crystal Corridor of Raffles City is a landmark part of the "Sailing Towards the Sky" building complex of Raffles City. Spanning 4 towers, the corridor is approximately 250 meters above the ground, with a length of 300 meters, a width of 32.5 meters, a height of 26.5 meters, and a total area of about 10,000 square meters. Constructed with glass and steel structures, it resembles a giant "crystal necklace". The corridor includes functional areas such as viewing platforms, sky gardens, and dining zones. Visitors can enjoy a 360-degree panoramic view of the magnificent confluence of the Yangtze River and the Jialing River as well as the entire Yuzhong Peninsula. At night, they can also admire the dazzling urban night scene.
Two Rivers Confluence Observation Deck
The Two Rivers Confluence Observation Deck is one of the best spots to watch the confluence of the two rivers. It is approximately 150 meters long and 30 meters wide, paved with non-slip floor tiles, and equipped with guardrails and rest seats. Every morning and evening, the river surface is either shrouded in mist or bathed in the glow of sunlight, presenting ever-changing scenery. During the flood season (June-September each year), the two rivers are abundant in water, and the confluence has turbulent currents, forming huge vortices; in the dry season, the river surface is wide and gentle, allowing a panoramic view of the scenery on both banks. The observation deck is also equipped with graphic explanation boards, which detail the hydrological characteristics of the two rivers and the formation principle of the "Jiamashui" (Horse-Sandwiched Water) wonder.
Chongqing Historical Celebrities Museum
It is a comprehensive art venue displaying Chongqing's history and historical celebrities, covering an area of 1,400 square meters with a construction area of 3,757 square meters. The museum displays 501 local and visiting historical celebrities such as Ba Zi, Liu Bocheng, and Zhou Enlai, showing the historical changes of Chongqing over more than 3,000 years through various methods such as sculptures, oil paintings, and multimedia videos.
Tour Route
Morning: Arrive at Chaotianmen Square, visit the "Zero Kilometer" marker and the marble monument, climb the viewing platform to overlook the "Jiamashui" wonder at the confluence of the two rivers; then enter the Chongqing Urban Planning Exhibition Hall, and learn about the urban development history of Chongqing through sand tables and multimedia. Noon: Taste Chongqing hot pot or noodles in restaurants around the square. Afternoon: Walk to Raffles City, visit the shopping mall, and climb the "Crystal Corridor" viewing platform to enjoy the panoramic view of the mountain city; then go to the Chaotianmen Bridge viewing platform to take photos of the bridge and the river scenery. Evening: Take a cruise on the two rivers at the wharf, which takes about 1 hour, to watch night view landmarks such as Hongya Cave and Qiansimen Bridge, and feel the charm of the "ever-bright city".
Travel Suggestions
- Spring and autumn (March-May, September-November) have suitable temperatures; summer (June-August) is hot and rainy, so you need to pay attention to heatstroke prevention and rain protection; winter (December-February) has cold river winds, so it is recommended to wear down jackets.
- There are many tourists on weekends and holidays. It is recommended to visit indoor venues first on weekday mornings, and arrive at the wharf 1 hour in advance in the evening to buy tickets and choose seats.
- For the "Crystal Corridor" of Raffles City, it is recommended to choose sunny mornings from 10-12 or evenings from 17-19, when the light is soft and suitable for taking photos; for the cruise, choose seats on the right side of the second floor for a better view.
- When traveling in summer, you need to take sun protection measures, carry a sun umbrella or hat, and the wind by the river is strong, so you can prepare a thin coat; in winter, the temperature is low, so it is recommended to wear warm clothes.
- If you want to experience the two rivers cruise, you can buy tickets at Chaotianmen Wharf. The night tour route (19:30-21:00) costs about 158 yuan per person, and you can enjoy the night view of Chaotianmen and the coast from the water.
- Raffles City in Chongqing has a variety of catering options, where you can taste Chongqing specialties such as hot pot and noodles, with an average consumption of about 60-100 yuan per person.
- It is recommended to spend half a day (3-4 hours) visiting, and you can combine it with surrounding attractions such as Liberation Monument and Hongya Cave to form a one-day tour route, all within 2 kilometers.
Precautions
- The guardrails by the river are low, so climbing over or getting close to the rapid current areas is prohibited; when taking a cruise, follow the instructions of the staff and do not chase or play on the deck.
- Smoking and spitting are prohibited in the square and exhibition halls; take good care of cultural relics and exhibits, and do not touch public facilities such as the "Zero Kilometer" marker.
- Changbin Road is prone to congestion when driving on weekends from 11:00-16:00. It is recommended to choose public transportation; there are many people transferring at Xiaoshizi Station of the rail transit, so leave enough time.
- There are many people on the viewing platform and riverside walkway, especially on holidays, so you need to take good care of your belongings to prevent theft.
- During the flood season (June-September), some riverside areas may be flooded. Please pay attention to the warning signs of the scenic spot and do not enter restricted areas.
- When traveling at night, the lights on the riverside walkway are dim. It is recommended to travel in groups and choose well-lit sections.
- For cruise tickets, you need to buy them through regular channels. Do not trust "low-price ticket" promotions around the wharf to avoid being cheated.
Transportation
- Rail Transit: Take Line 1 or Line 6 to Xiaoshizi Station, exit from Exit 5, and walk about 800 meters (10 minutes) to reach.
- Bus: Take Bus 466, 0492, 866, etc. to Chaotianmen Bus Station, or take Bus 382, 414 to Chaotianmen Square Station.
- Self-driving: Navigate to "Chaotianmen Square". There are Raffles City Parking Lot, Changbin Road Parking Lot, etc. nearby. Parking spaces are relatively tight on weekdays, so it is recommended to arrive before 10:00.
- Walking/Cycling: Walk about 1.5 kilometers (20 minutes) from Liberation Monument along Minzu Road, and you can visit historical blocks such as Shancheng Lane along the way.
Opening Hours
Chaotianmen Square is open 24 hours a day. Chongqing Urban Planning Exhibition Hall is generally open from 9:00-17:00 (closed on Mondays), and Chongqing Historical Celebrities Museum is open from 9:00-18:00. Raffles City Shopping Mall is open from 10:00-22:00, and the "Crystal Corridor" viewing platform is open from 10:00-21:00. The two rivers cruise operates in time slots. In summer, the departure time is mostly 19:30-21:00, and in winter, it is advanced to 18:30-20:00. Please refer to the announcement of the day for details.
Tickets
Chaotianmen Square and surrounding outdoor areas are open for free. If you visit indoor venues such as Chongqing Historical Celebrities Museum, you need to make an appointment or buy tickets through official channels, and the specific ticket price is subject to the venue's announcement. The two rivers cruise project requires separate purchase of tickets. The price of ordinary cruises is about 100-150 yuan per person, and the price of luxury cruises is about 200-300 yuan per person. You can choose according to your needs.