Hidden heritage sites in Chongqing

Hidden Heritage & Ancient Sites

This collection highlights the religious and architectural heritage of the Chongqing region, centered on the UNESCO-listed Dazu Rock Carvings. The Baoding Shan, Beishan, and Nanshan sites showcase thousands of Buddhist, Taoist, and Confucian statues dating from the 9th to 13th centuries. The list also includes the 1930s Xishan Bell Tower in Wanzhou and the wartime residence of Chiang Kai-shek, illustrating the area's transition from an ancient spiritual center to a key 20th-century political hub.

Hidden Heritage & Ancient Sites — Map

Bernard Gagnon / CC BY-SA 3.0

A

Chiang Kai-shek

Chiang Kai-shek, also known as Chiang Chung-cheng and romanized via Mandarin as Chiang Chieh-shih and Jiang Jieshi, was a Chinese…

B

西山钟楼

A 1930s bell tower in Wanzhou blending Chinese and Western architectural styles. Standing over 50 meters tall, it remains a significant landmark of the Yangtze River’s upper reaches.

C

Dazu Rock Carvings - Baoding Shan site

The largest of the Dazu sites, featuring a 31-meter-long reclining Buddha and the gold-leaf Thousand-Hand Guanyin. These Southern Song Dynasty carvings illustrate complex Buddhist parables and secular life.

D

Dazu Rock Carvings - Beishan site

A 300-meter cliff featuring over 5,000 statues carved between the 9th and 12th centuries. The site is renowned for its detailed depictions of Tang and Song dynasty fashion and jewelry.

E

Dazu Rock Carvings - Nanshan site

A specialized site focusing on Taoist iconography from the Southern Song Dynasty. The carvings depict the Three Pure Ones and other deities with intricate high-relief techniques.

F

Shizuanshan Rock Carvings

A Northern Song Dynasty site notable for its 'Three Teachings' cave, which harmoniously depicts Buddhist, Taoist, and Confucian figures alongside one another.

G

石门山石刻

A cliffside site featuring Song Dynasty carvings. It is distinguished by its blend of Buddhist and Taoist themes, including depictions of the Jade Emperor and the God of Lightning.

Other Lists

Chongqing Essentials Chongqing's Must-See Attractions Chongqing Bridges & Viaducts Chongqing's Peaks & Gorges Cultural & Arts Spaces Parks, Gardens & Leisure