Chongqing

In depth

<p> At night, the stilted houses in Hongyadong stack up along the mountain, turning them into a real-life version of "Spirited Away" when lit. During the day, go to Liziba to watch the light rail pass through residential buildings, then take the Yangtze River cableway across the river, taking in the full view of the skyline on both banks. </p><p> The soul of Chongqing lies in its flavors. A pot of nine-grid old hotpot simmers in red oil, beef tripe, duck intestines, and yellow throat all over, spicy enough to make you sweat but unable to stop eating. Pair it with a bowl of ice jelly and hear the street shouts like the Sichuan River chants—this is the hardcore romance of Bayu </p>