Ciqikou Ancient Town

The opportunity to glimpse slices of old Chongqing makes it worth riding out to Ciqikou Ancient Town, on the Jialing River west of the centre. The buildings, many dating to the lating Ming dynasty, have been restored for tourists, and the main drag can feel like a carnival, but away from the central street, a living, working village remains. You can easily lose yourself in its narrow lanes, peeking into homes and tiny storefronts.