72 hours in Chongqing

Day Three: Nearby attractions

The trip to Dazu Rock Carvings will take a day. One of the four greatest Buddhist grottoes in China, it has a history of more than 1,000 years. It was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1999.

What makes the Dazu carvings so special are their aesthetic quality, state of preservation, rich diversity of the subject matter, both secular and religious, and the light that they shed on daily life in China during ancient times. Many of the carvings are brightly painted and tell religious, moral and historical stories.

If you are interested in Buddhism, Taoism and Confucianism, the carvings are a must-see destination.

After enjoying the spiritual journey, you can eat at the Lotus Garden on your way back to the downtown. The recommended dishes include lotus-themed food - soup, pork and porridge - and also drinks. You can explore more all by yourself. The restaurant is built on a lotus lake.

After the day's sightseeing is over, you could go to the well-known tourist spot Yi Ke Shu, or One Tree, on top of Nanshan Mountain to experience a splendid panoramic view of Chongqing at night.

Last but not the least, if you can stand the spicy local flavor, you should try one of the open-air hotpot restaurants on the mountain.