Chongqing calling: Why city break explorers are leaping at the chance

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China is making it easier than ever before for overseas travelers to experience the country, and many are leaping at the chance.

Adding the mountain city of Chongqing to their itineraries for the dramatic skyline, buzzing streets, spicy food and cyberpunk night views, visitors have plenty to post about.

Overseas visitors take in Chongqing's illuminated nightscape near Hongya Cave, with the city's distinctive mountainous skyline as a backdrop, March 27, 2026. /VCG

Those who came, saw and posted say another thing stands out: the everyday sense of safety. It is the freedom to wander around late at night, the relief of getting lost items back, and the peace of mind that comes when children can roam every nook and cranny that takes their fancy.

The numbers don't lie. According to Chongqing General Station of Exit and Entry Frontier Inspection, more than 137,000 overseas passengers entered through the city's Jiangbei International Airport in the first quarter, an astonishing 106% increase on last year, and a full-throated endorsement of China as a go-to destination.

(Lead photo: Foreign tourists take photos at Ciqikou Ancient Town in Shapingba District, Chongqing, China, March 27, 2026. /VCG)

Overseas tourists take selfies in front of the Hongyadong Scenic Area in Yuzhong District of Chongqing, southwest China, April 22, 2026. /Xinhua

A tourist from the Netherlands communicates with a Chinese blogger at Jiefangbei, a business area, in Yuzhong District of Chongqing, southwest China, April 22, 2026. /Xinhua

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