Guanyinqiao Pedestrian Street is located in Guanyinqiao Street and Huaxin Street areas of Jiangbei District, Chongqing. It is a national 4A-level tourist attraction and one of China's famous commercial streets. The pedestrian street covers an area of 70,000 square meters, with 300,000 square meters of public space landscape and 1.85 million square meters of commercial and business area, including 1.28 million square meters of commercial space and 570,000 square meters of business space. Composed of 30,000 square meters of commercial buildings and a 400-meter-long commercial pedestrian walkway, the total length of the pedestrian street is 3,000 meters. It has 1,500 large arbor trees, a water area of 7,000 square meters, and a green coverage rate of 40%, making it the largest, most spacious, and most green-covered pedestrian street in southwest China.
History and Culture
On September 30, 2002, the Party Committee and Government of Jiangbei District made a historic decision on the urban development of Guanyinqiao area, resolving to build Guanyinqiao Business District into a "Guanyinqiao Commercial and Trade Center with reasonable functional zoning, complete infrastructure, perfect pedestrian system, smooth transportation network, and beautiful ecological environment" within three years. In April 2003, the construction of Guanyinqiao Business District officially started. Successively, 400,000 square meters of buildings were demolished, and six large-scale blasting demolitions were carried out. Through a series of constructions, Guanyinqiao Business District has gradually formed its current scale and become the political, economic, and cultural center of Jiangbei District, Chongqing.
Main Attractions
Guanyinqiao Square
Guanyinqiao Square features a large landscape structure "Guanyinqiao", carved from 800 cubic meters (over 1,800 tons) of natural granite through artistic sculpting. It is majestic and elegant, serving as the symbol of Guanyinqiao Commercial and Trade Center. The square also has "Ancient Banyan Screen", sculpture "Jiangbei Dragon", "Nine Dragons Spouting Water", "Chongqing Colloquialism" sculpture wall, deep pool waterfalls, musical fountains, and other dynamic water systems, creating a vivid urban artistic conception and forming a unique landscape effect.
North City Street
North City Street is the largest Shopping Mall in Chongqing so far. Adopting the international commercial concept of SHOPPING MALL, it integrates shopping, leisure, catering, and entertainment. It has two main department stores, two large supermarkets, three leisure landscape squares, a multi-hall cinema, and a large parking lot with hundreds of parking spaces. It accommodates various commercial forms such as department stores, supermarkets, specialty stores, and hypermarkets, gathering many world-renowned brands, and is a gathering place for international fashion trends.
Jialing Park
Jialing Park is located on the west side of Guanyinqiao Pedestrian Street, covering an area of about 70,000 square meters, serving as a green leisure space in the downtown area. The park is rich in vegetation, with various trees and flowers, and is equipped with walkways, pavilions, lawns, and other facilities, making it a good place for citizens and tourists to relax and rest. The park also retains some historical landscapes, forming a sharp contrast with the surrounding modern buildings, reflecting the harmonious coexistence of nature and the city.
Guanyinqiao Food Street
Guanyinqiao Food Street is located around the pedestrian street, with a total length of about 300 meters. It gathers characteristic snacks from Chongqing and other parts of the country, such as Chongqing hotpot, small noodles, hot and sour noodles, and barbecued skewers. The street has dense shops on both sides with unique decorations, receiving over 100,000 diners daily. It is an important place to experience Chongqing's food culture, allowing tourists to taste authentic Chongqing flavors while shopping.
Beicang Cultural and Creative District
Beicang Cultural and Creative District is located near Guanyinqiao Pedestrian Street, covering an area of about 15,000 square meters. It is renovated from old warehouses, retaining the structure and style of the original buildings and integrating elements of cultural creativity, art, and design. The district has various independent bookstores, cafes, handicraft workshops, art galleries, etc., and regularly holds cultural and creative markets, art exhibitions, and other activities. It is a gathering place for literary and artistic youth, showing the diverse cultural charm of Guanyinqiao.
Tour Route
Tourists can start from Guanyinqiao Metro Station, walk about 300 meters to enter Guanyinqiao Pedestrian Street, first reach Guanyinqiao Square to enjoy the Nine-Dragon Pillar and musical fountain (if during the performance time), which takes about 1 hour. Then go to Chongqing Times Square to experience shopping and modern commercial atmosphere, taking about 1-2 hours. Have lunch at Guanyinqiao Food Street to taste local characteristic snacks, taking about 1 hour. In the afternoon, walk to Jialing Park to stroll and rest in the park, enjoying the natural landscape, taking about 1 hour. Then go to Beicang Cultural and Creative District to visit cultural and creative shops and art exhibitions, taking about 1-2 hours. The total distance of the whole journey is about 2 kilometers, and the tour time is about 5-7 hours, allowing a comprehensive experience of the commercial, cultural, and leisure atmosphere of Guanyinqiao.
Travel Suggestions
- If you want to shop and enjoy delicious food, it is recommended to reserve at least half a day in North City Street and Guanyinqiao Food Street.
- When visiting Yeshui Square Walkway, you can slowly enjoy the scenery along the way and feel the charm of old Chongqing. It is recommended to reserve 1-2 hours.
- You can enjoy the night view of Guanyinqiao at night, with bright lights, which is very beautiful.
- The best time to visit is from afternoon to evening, when the pedestrian street is brightly lit, with a large flow of people and rich commercial activities, allowing you to better feel the atmosphere of urban nightlife.
- Food lovers can reserve enough time to taste various snacks in Guanyinqiao Food Street. It is recommended to choose shops frequented by locals to experience more authentic flavors.
- When shopping, you can pay attention to the promotional activities of major shopping malls, especially during holidays, there are often discounts.
- Literary and artistic lovers are recommended to visit Beicang Cultural and Creative District, where they can read in independent bookstores or participate in cultural and creative activities to feel the artistic atmosphere.
Notes
- When someone offers small gifts and asks you to scan a QR code on the road, be cautious to avoid leaking personal information.
- When checking in at the "I am in Chongqing" landmark, pay attention to the photo-taking order, do not be disturbed by commercial photographers, and choose photos after taking them.
- Guanyinqiao is crowded with people, so take good care of your personal belongings.
- When visiting at night, try to walk on well-lit roads with a large flow of people to ensure personal safety.
- Abide by public order, do not spit, litter, and take good care of public facilities and green plants.
- Some snack stalls in the food street may be crowded, so pay attention to avoiding collisions.
Transportation
- Take Metro Line 3 or Line 9 and get off at Guanyinqiao Station. Exit 3 is close to Area B of Guanyinqiao Food Street, and Exit 4 is more convenient for going to Darong City, North City Street, etc.
- You can take a bus to nearby stops, such as Jiangbei Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital Station, then walk to Guanyinqiao Pedestrian Street.
Opening Hours
Guanyinqiao Pedestrian Street is open all day. Guanyinqiao Food Street is open from 10:00 to 22:00 every day. Jialing Park is open from 6:00 to 22:00; most shops in Beicang Cultural and Creative District are open from 10:00 to 21:00. The opening hours of specific venues may vary slightly by brand and season.
Tickets
No tickets are required for Guanyinqiao Pedestrian Street, and it can be entered for free.