This Summer I Visited Chaotianmen in Chongqing China
This summer, I traveled to my long-awaited destination—Chaotianmen in Chongqing.
Night in the Mountain City
As night falls, it becomes the most beautiful moment in Chongqing, the Mountain City. The undulating terrain, modern and stylish architecture, and the warm glow of countless household lights give this historic city endless charm.
When you think of Chongqing, what comes to mind first? Previously, it might have been hotpot, Hongya Cave, the 8D terrain, the beautiful women of the Mountain City, or the “Bang Bang” porters… But since the opening of Raffles City last September, I believe it will now be the first thing you think of!
Yes, it’s Raffles City Chongqing, located at Chaotianmen.
The Zero Kilometer Point of Chongqing’s Highways
If it weren’t for the Chongqing beauty “Ying” telling me, I wouldn’t have known that the origin point of the Mountain City is right here. Facing Gate 8 of Raffles City and walking forward for less than a minute, you’ll see this special landmark on Chaotianmen Square. As the city’s central point, it calculates distances between Chongqing and other cities or regions. The abstract patterns represent Chongqing’s mountains, hills, fields, and rivers, while traditional motifs reflect the Ba-Yu culture and humanistic spirit.
Raffles City Chongqing is situated between Chaotianmen Square and Jiefangbei, designed by world-renowned architect Moshe Safdie and invested in by Singapore’s CapitaLand Group. The towers are inspired by Chongqing’s millennia-old shipping culture, with heights of 350 meters and 250 meters symbolizing sturdy sails on the river.
The 300-meter-long crystal skybridge spans four towers and connects six, housing observation decks, clubs, and dining areas at 250 meters above ground. At night, it resembles a dazzling ribbon of light over the Chaotianmen waters.
The entire project embodies the “sailing forward” spirit of Chongqing, showcasing the grandeur of the “Ancient Yu Pass,” and has now become the city’s iconic landmark.
Raffles City also integrates parking lots, subway stations, bus interchanges, and a cruise center. Its design includes public parks and gardens, combining land and water transport facilities with underground viaducts, subway stations, bus terminals, port docks, and a visitor center.
The 24-hour corridor is a fast-access route from Xinhua Road to Chaotianmen Square, open around the clock. Custom blue-gray stone highlights the pathway. Stretching 273 meters across four floors, it connects the shopping mall’s L4 entrance to the L1 entrance at Chaotianmen Square, featuring 108 steps—a design inspired by Chongqing’s hilly terrain and the resilient spirit of its people.
Previously, reaching Chaotianmen Square required detours via Changbin Road or Jiabin Road. Now, visitors can walk through the mall anytime to enjoy the stunning views of the two rivers.
I began my Raffles City adventure through this 24-hour corridor.
Walking along it leads to the Chaotianmen Cultural Exhibition Area on L2, where four glass screens with浮雕 reliefs and LED displays showcase the area’s history. At the L4 entrance, the “Chongqing Historical Scrolls” depict five iconic stories of the city.
In the early Ming Dynasty, Dai Ding built a stone city on the foundations of the Song-era walls, creating 17 gates—nine open and eight closed. These included gates like Cuiwei, Dongshui, Tai’an, and Taiping along the Yangtze, and others like Jintang and Tongyuan on land, with Linjiang and Hongya bordering the Jialing River.
Chaotianmen is not only the birthplace of Chongqing’s mother-city culture but also the largest of its ancient gates. At Raffles City’s exhibition area, these historic gates are marked, with “9” indicating open gates and “8” for closed ones.
The shopping mall spans 235,000 square meters across five floors (LG to L5), each with multiple entrances, blending Chongqing’s 3D magic-city特色 and easing客流分流. The floor石材 colors differentiate the “Yangtze,” “Jialing,” and “Chaotianmen” zones, mirroring the two rivers’ distinct hues—deep yellow for the Yangtze and blue-gray for the Jialing.
SPACELAB Weightless Restaurant
Asia’s seventh SPACELAB is on L4, offering futuristic décor and panoramic river views. Dishes arrive via aerial tracks or robots, captivating both kids and adults. The menu includes spicy options like chili dips, making it a viral hotspot.
COLLIN’S first China branch is on L1 of The Ascott Raffles City. Known for Western cuisine, its signature dish is Singaporean bak kut teh (pork rib tea)—rich and flavorful.
On L5, this café pays homage to Jack Kerouac’s On the Road. Fans of the Beat Generation will find resonance here.
The 50,000 sqm rooftop garden includes a 30,000 sqm public area. Designed by WAA, it features叠泉 waterfalls, art sculptures like Bloom by Jiao Xingtao and Whisper of Convergence by Zheng Lu, and a maze-like fountain. It’s also a prime spot to view the “hotpot” confluence of the Yangtze (muddy) and Jialing (clear) rivers.
Launched on May 30 and backed by National Geographic, this space explores Chongqing’s history and future through six themed zones. Interactive exhibits like “Sichuan Dialect School” and “Republic-Era Photo Studio” enhance the experience.
The 47th-floor skybridge offers 250m-high views of the rivers’ “鸳鸯锅” divide. A glass-floor section is a daredevil’s photo op.
Joy at Raffles City
Chongqing’s nightscape is mesmerizing. A 10-minute taxi ride to Nan’an’s “Changjia Hui” offers fresh angles of Chaotianmen. At golden hour, the skyline glows dreamily.
After exploring, unwind at Sawasdee Thai Spa on L5 for affordable, authentic massages.
Chaotianmen’s legacy lives on as the starting point for river cruises. Its central location makes it a hub—20 minutes from Chongqing North Station (fare <¥26) and close to Jiefangbei and Hongya Cave.
As a local once said: “Chaotianmen is an indelible memory for Chongqingers. Anything related to it draws attention. It’s a starting point to know Chongqing—but never the end.”