I recently had the absolute honour of hosting more than one hundred travel agents from Australia, New Zealand, the UK, and Ireland on our Wendy Wu China Mega Famil. It was one of the most energising and transformative trips I have ever been part of. We covered an extraordinary amount of ground, worked off every bowl of noodles and every spoonful of fiery hot pot, and saw a side of China that most travellers never even realise exists.
And I can say with complete honesty that Chongqing is now my favourite place in the world. I loved it so much that the minute I landed back in Brisbane on Sunday, I booked to return for Christmas with my fiancé. He is already buzzing to experience it all for himself.
Below is a glimpse into what made this trip so unforgettable and why I am so passionate about our new Chongqing and surrounds itineraries. These itineraries shine a light on destinations that deserve to be on every traveller’s radar.
Photo: Cara Anderson
Read more: Discover Wendy Wu Tours Fully Inclusive Tours to Chongqing
Chongqing is unlike anywhere else in China. It is bold, vibrant, steeped in history, and the locals know how to welcome explorers. Known as the birthplace of spicy hot pot, it lives and breathes flavour and energy. I even bought my own hot pot set as soon as I got home because I needed that taste of Chongqing to stay with me.
But what makes Chongqing truly magnetic is the people.
Read more: Discover Inspiring China | 12 days Fully Inclusive Classic Group Tour
Our National Escort, Ian, and our Local Guide, Johnson, grew up in Chongqing and shared their home with us in a way only locals can. They showed us the hidden corners, the childhood streets, the food stalls tucked behind narrow alleys, and the cultural stories woven into every district. Their knowledge, humour, and genuine pride turned what could have been a sightseeing trip into something deep and personal. These are the moments travellers simply cannot experience alone.
Our journey took us through a tapestry of extraordinary places, many of them UNESCO World Heritage Sites that most Australians have never heard of, let alone visited.
Photo: Cara Anderson
Tongnan was our very first stop, and nothing could have prepared us for what happened when our coaches arrived. The entire ancient town turned out to welcome us with dragon dancers, music, food, and the warmest smiles. It felt like we were being greeted by long-lost grandparents rather than strangers. Locals handed us snacks, poured us drinks, posed for photos, and proudly showed us their streets.
Tongnan itself has more than 1,400 years of history and is known for its preserved towns, traditional festivals, and deep agricultural roots. What we witnessed wasn’t a performance created for tourists. It was a cultural celebration that the community has carried for generations, shared with absolute pride.
It was an awakening for the entire group. We naïvely thought this would be the only moment like this on the trip, but Tongnan was just the beginning of China opening its heart to us.
Photo: Cara Anderson
Dazu was one of the biggest surprises of the trip. It was raining when we arrived and a few people thought it might spoil the visit, but it actually made the whole place even more beautiful. Once the weather cleared, the carvings were covered in a thin layer of water that made the colours richer and the details sharper. It almost looked intentional, like someone had polished the entire mountainside for us.
It’s hard to wrap your head around the fact that these carvings are around 800 years old. They’re the newest grotto carvings in China, it’s surreal to stand in front of such a well preserved monument of ancient China. Our group went so quiet walking along Baoding Mountain. You can feel the history in the air there, and the rain just added this calm, reflective atmosphere none of us expected.
It ended up being one of those moments where the weather didn’t ruin anything at all. If anything, it made it more unforgettable.
The Chongqing Grand Banquet of the Ba Kingdom was one of those experiences that none of us were prepared for. The food alone was enough to make us cry.
But it was the show that truly got us. What started as a beautiful lunch quickly turned into an unexpectedly powerful insight into the history of China and the Ba Kingdom.
The performances, the storytelling, the music, it all hit harder than any of us expected. You could hear people quietly reaching for tissues all around the room. (Me included!)
It ended up being one of the most moving cultural moments of the entire famil.
Photo: Cara Anderson
Chiyou Jiuli City in Pengshui County, southeastern Chongqing, felt like stepping straight into a legend. The old stone streets glowed under neon colours, and folk performers in traditional Miao dress moved through the laneways like they were part of the light itself. It was surreal and completely beautiful.
Inside the stilted buildings, murals told old Miao fairytales and love stories, giving the whole place a dreamy, mythical atmosphere. We were treated to a traditional-style dinner where locals welcomed us with local wine in a recreated ceremonial greeting, warm and full of spirit.
It was bold, colourful and utterly enchanting, a night that left our whole group buzzing.
Wanshou Mountain has been a spiritual retreat in Chongqing for centuries. Its name, meaning “ten thousand longevity,” reflects its long history as a place where monks, pilgrims and locals came to seek calm and good fortune. The old stone stairways and forest paths were built generations ago, and surprisingly, much of it is still beautifully preserved.
Walking those ancient steps ourselves felt like stepping into that history. The scent of pine followed us the whole way, and traditional music drifted from higher up the mountain, guiding us toward the temple lookout. A guard of honour welcomed us at the base with drums that echoed through the trees, and near the top we were met by locals performing a cultural dance on the red-laced iron and gold bridge.
Photo: Cara Anderson
Ciqikou Ancient Town has been part of Chongqing’s history for over a thousand years, once known for its porcelain workshops and riverside trade during the Ming and Qing dynasties. Today, its wooden shopfronts, lantern-lined alleys and lively food stalls still hold that old-world charm.
We kicked off our visit with a cold local ale from the beer exchange, then wandered through the markets tasting snacks, browsing crafts and hunting for little treasures tucked into the side streets. Eventually the lanes opened up to the river at the base of the town, a quiet, peaceful spot that felt worlds away from the busy market above.
It was fun, relaxed and full of character, a simple highlight that showed exactly why Ciqikou has stayed loved for centuries. (We love it so much we went back twice!
Photo: Cara Anderson
The Three Natural Bridges in Wulong were one of the most dramatic sights of the entire famil. The sheer limestone arches rose out of the mist in harsh, powerful shapes, almost otherworldly against the mountain walls. As we walked beneath them, our sounds echoed through the caverns like the landscape was speaking back.
The water running through the gorge was a striking turquoise, glowing against the darker caves carved out by centuries of river flow. It gave the whole place a surreal, cinematic feel, which makes sense considering it was one of the filming locations for Terminator 4 if anyone wants a fun fact to share with clients.
It’s officially my favourite place in all of China. And don’t worry, there’s a huge glass lift that takes you down into the gorge and a golf cart waiting at the end to bring you back out, so everyone can enjoy it without the hard climb.
Photo: Cara Anderson
This famil proved that travellers are hungry for new stories, new landscapes, and deeper experiences. China is so much more than the “classic” Beijing, Shanghai, Xian circuit. Chongqing and its surrounds offer world class scenery, ancient towns, warm hospitality, incredible food, and cultural moments that stay with you for life.
And the best part is that Wendy Wu Tours now has brand new itineraries built specifically around these regions.
This is your chance to be among the first to introduce your clients to China’s next big destination.
To every agent who joined us, thank you for the enthusiasm, the laughs, and the incredible group energy. You made this famil unforgettable. And to those who couldn’t make it this time, I hope this inspires you to put Chongqing firmly on your radar. This destination is spectacular. It surprised me in every possible way and completely stole my heart.