Essentials
- City
- Chongqing, Municipality, China
- Population
- Approx. 32,000,000 (Metropolitan area)
- Internet Speed
- 100 Mbps average (VPN required for many sites)
- Currency & Banking
- 1 CNY ≈ 0.14 USD, 1 USD ≈ 7.20 CNY
- Tap Water
- Not drinkable; bottled or filtered water required
- Power
- 220V, 50Hz, 🔌 Type A/C/I sockets
- SIM Card
- China Unicom or China Mobile available at Jiefangbei branches; ~100 CNY/month for 40GB
- Banking for Expats
- Alipay and WeChat Pay are essential; link to Bank of China or ICBC passport-verified accounts
- Accommodation
- High-rise apartments via Ziroom (自如) or Meituan Homestays
- Cashless Friendly
- Yes, extremely; cash is rarely used, skip cards for QR codes
- Short Term Rentals
- Meituan (美团) or Trip.com apartments starting at 200 CNY/night
- Budget Accommodation
- Chongqing Travelling With Hostel (Jiefangbei) - ~60 CNY/night
- Best Area to Stay for Tourists
- Jiefangbei (CBD) or Hongyadong for river views and nightlife
- Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads
- Guanyinqiao (Jiangbei District) for modern malls, cafes, and lower rents than Jiefangbei
Working and Networking
- Best Coworking Space
- WeWork (IFS T1, Jiangbei) - ~1,500 CNY/month
- Best Cafe for Work
- Elephant Coffee (Nanbin Road) - Good Wi-Fi and river views
- Networking Events
- Chongqing Expat Club meetups at Communal (Jiefangbei)
- Social Events for Expats
- Weekly 'InterNations Chongqing' events and WeChat groups like 'CQ Expat'
Transportation
- Best Taxi/Ride App
- DiDi (English version available within the app)
- Bike/Scooter Rental
- Hellobike or Meituan (via Alipay/WeChat apps); ~2 CNY per 30 mins (Limited in hilly areas)
- Best Beach Nearby
- No ocean; 'Sunny Beach' at Beibin Road (river sandbar)
- Top Regional Airline
- Chongqing Airlines
- Top International Airline
- Air China, Cathay Pacific
- Highway Access
- G50 (Shanghai-Chongqing) and G65 (Baotou-Maoming)
- Main Train/Transit Hub
- Chongqing North Railway Station (High-speed rail hub)
- Public Transport Passes
- CRT (Chongqing Rail Transit) City Card or 'Chongqing Public Transport' QR in Alipay
- Regional Travel
- High-speed train to Chengdu (1.5 hours, ~150 CNY)
Health and Wellness
- Best Hospital
- Raffles Hospital Chongqing (International standards, Liangjiang New Area)
- Yoga & Wellness Centers
- Y+ Yoga Center (The MixC Mall)
- Gyms & Fitness Centers
- Will's Fitness (Various locations) - ~3,500 CNY/year
- Laundry Services
- Fornet (Laundry chain found in major malls)
Food and Drink
- Best Food Delivery App
- Meituan Waimai or Ele.me
- Best Local Dish to Try
- Chongqing Hotpot (Xiao Tian E or Pei Jie)
- Vegan/Vegetarian Options
- Zaozishu (Vegetarian Lifestyle) near Jiefangbei
- Best Dessert Spots
- Shancheng Tangyuan (Sticky rice balls) in Shiba Ti
- Affordable Shopping Spots
- Yuzhong District local wet markets
- E-commerce/Online Store
- Taobao, JD.com, Pinduoduo
- Grocery Delivery
- Hema (Freshippo) - 30 min delivery via app
- Bar/Nightlife Area
- Nine Street (Jiujie) in Jiangbei
- Local Brewery
- Chongqing Beer (Lager); Craft: Common Brewing
- Wine Bars
- Pinvino Wine Bar (Jiefangbei)
- Street Food Stalls
- Haochi Street (Jiefangbei) for spicy noodles and skewers
- Popular International Cuisine
- Virgin Restaurant (Italian) or various Japanese Izakayas in Guanyinqiao
Culture and Attractions
- Must-See Landmarks
- Hongyadong Stilt House complex
- Museums & Art Venues
- Three Gorges Museum
- Historical Sites
- Ciqikou Ancient Town
- Religious Sites
- Arhat Temple (Luohan Si)
- Annual Events
- Spring Festival Lantern Show (Nanshan)
- Cultural Districts
- Testbed 2 (Art and Design Park)
- Theater Venues
- Chongqing Grand Theatre (Jiangbei)
- Local Markets
- West Yunnan Flower and Bird Market
- Music Scene
- Nuts Livehouse (Alternative and Indie music)
- Street Art
- Huangjueping Graffiti Street
- Cooking Classes
- Chongqing Cuisine Academy (Short courses for tourists)
- Art Galleries
- Sichuan Fine Arts Institute Gallery
- Historic Buildings
- The People's Assembly Hall
- Local Heritage
- The 'Bangbangmen' (Bamboo porters) culture
Nature and Outdoor Activities
- Nearby Nature Escapes
- Nanshan (South Mountain) Scenic Area
- National Parks Nearby
- Wulong Karst National Geology Park (3 hours drive)
- Cycling/Walking Paths
- Binjiang Road riverside walk
- Scenic Viewpoints
- E'ling Park Pagoda or 'One Tree' Lookout
- Birdwatching Locations
- Caijia Jialing River Wetlands
- Bonfire-Friendly Spots
- Strictly regulated; designated camping sites in Fairy Mountain (Wulong)
Other Services and Amenities
- Parcel Delivery Service
- SF Express (Best for reliability)
- Tech Repair Services
- Buyun Computer City (Shapingba)
- Table Tennis Spots
- Olympic Sports Center community tables
- Language Classes
- Chongqing University International Student Center
- Libraries & Study Spots
- Chongqing Library (Shapingba)
- Community Centers
- Jiangbei District Cultural Center
- Gaming Lounges
- Wangyu Internet Cafe (Chain)
- Casino & Gaming Halls
- None (Gambling is illegal in Mainland China)
Business
- Studio Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. 18,000 CNY per m² (e.g., 40 m² = 720,000 CNY)
- Studio Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. 12,000 CNY per m² (e.g., 40 m² = 480,000 CNY)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. 17,500 CNY per m² (e.g., 60 m² = 1,050,000 CNY)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. 11,000 CNY per m² (e.g., 60 m² = 660,000 CNY)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. 16,500 CNY per m² (e.g., 80 m² = 1,320,000 CNY)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. 10,500 CNY per m² (e.g., 80 m² = 840,000 CNY)
- Corporate Tax
- 25% (Standard); 15% for encouraged industries in Western Development Zone
- Dividend Withholding Tax
- 10% (can vary by treaty)
- Tax System
- Resident based; worldwide income for residents staying >183 days
- Highest Income Tax Bracket
- 45%
- VAT
- 13% standard; 9% or 6% for services
- Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules
- Yes, comprehensive anti-avoidance rules apply
- Property Tax
- Only for high-end residential or non-resident second homes in Chongqing
- Property Transaction Tax
- Deed tax 1-3%, VAT 5% (if held <2 years), Individual Income Tax 1-2%
- Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads
- No specific nomad tax; 183-day rule applies for local tax residency