Beyond the buzz: How Chongqing turns online fame into lasting tourism appeal

Southwestern China's Chongqing is strengthening its position as an international tourism destination by leveraging its natural landscapes, cultural heritage, and improved visitor services.

The city was included among China's 32 tourism hub cities and selected as one of 24 key cities for developing inbound tourism under the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-2030) for building China into a nation strong in tourism, which was released on July 7.

Since the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, Chongqing's cultural and tourism industries have generated more than 300 billion yuan ($44.3 billion) in added value, reflecting the city's efforts to upgrade tourism offerings and promote high-quality development.

Building a regional tourism hub

To move beyond its status as an online sensation and develop into a long-term tourism destination, Chongqing has focused on improving connectivity, expanding tourism routes, and creating more diverse experiences.

The city has developed a comprehensive tourism strategy, improving transportation networks, expanding travel routes, and creating more diverse experiences to encourage visitors to stay longer.

New scenic routes, cultural attractions and immersive experiences have helped transform tourism from short visits centered on individual landmarks into broader city exploration.

Autumn scenery at Qutang Gorge, one of the Three Gorges on the Yangtze River, in Fengjie county, southwestern China's Chongqing municipality. [Photo provided to China.org.cn]

Chongqing has also strengthened cooperation with neighboring Sichuan province through the Bashu Cultural Tourism Corridor, promoting shared tourism products, coordinated services and joint marketing.