To truly understand a city, one must visit its museums. Chongqing's museums are not just cultural treasures but also portals into its historical depth and diverse heritage. Here's a guide to some of the city's most notable museums. Be sure to note them down and visit each one!

Chongqing China Three Gorges Museum

The Chongqing China Three Gorges Museum is a comprehensive history and art museum focusing on regional culture, incorporating functions such as research, collection, preservation, interpretation, and exhibition. It is a national museum jointly established by the central and local governments. Spanning an area of 50,000 square meters, it boasts a rich collection. The museum features 16 permanent exhibitions and hosts 20-30 temporary exhibitions annually. It is one of the first national first-class museums and a national 4A-level tourist attraction.

- Hours: 9:00-17:00 (Closed on Mondays, except for national holidays)

- Phone: 023-63679066

- Address: No.236 Renmin Road, Yuzhong District, Chongqing

Chongqing Hongyan Revolution History Museum

The museum is an amalgamation of local cultural heritage sites related to China's revolutionary history, including the Chongqing Hongyan Revolutionary Memorial, the Chongqing Gele Mountain Revolutionary Memorial, and a group of revolutionary heritage sites. With 53 revolutionary sites and over 100,000 items in its collection, it is a national first-class museum and a national 4A-level tourist attraction.

- Hours: 9:00-17:00 (Closed on Mondays)

- Phone: 023-63303457

- Address: 

Hongyan Revolutionary Memorial: No.52 Hongyan Village, Yuzhong District, Chongqing

Gele Mountain Revolutionary Memorial: No.63 Zhengfa 3rd Village, Lieshimu (Martyr Cemetery), Shapingba District, Chongqing

Dazu Rock Carvings Museum

This museum focuses on the Dazu Rock Carvings. In 1999, UNESCO recognized the Dazu Rock Carvings for their high artistic value, diverse styles and themes, and representation of the pinnacle of Chinese rock carving art. They symbolize the unity of Buddhism, Taoism, and Confucianism in China, and the inclusive religious beliefs in the late feudal society of China were vividly depicted in this unique cultural heritage.

- Hours: 9:30-17:00 (Closed on Mondays)

- Phone: 023-43722268

- Address: No.7 Beishan Road, Longgang Street, Dazu District, Chongqing

Chongqing Natural History Museum

This museum is one of the oldest natural history museums founded by the Chinese. The museum holds 114,815 collections, including 2,788 precious items. It is characterized by Mesozoic vertebrate fossils, rare animal and plant specimens from western China, and a variety of mineral crystal specimens. The basic exhibition themes include "Earth, Life, Humans," covering six topics. It is a national first-class museum and a national 4A-level tourist attraction.

- Hours: 9:00-17:00 (Closed on Mondays)

- Phone: 023-60313777

- Address: No.398 Jinhua Road, Beibei District, Chongqing

Chongqing Three Gorges Immigration Memorial

This museum is the only thematic memorial in China dedicated to commemorating the million migrants of the Three Gorges Project. It serves as an important center for collecting, researching, and educational displaying historical relics in the Three Gorges reservoir area. The building covers an area of 15,062 square meters with an exhibition area of 7,000 square meters. It houses 30,204 collections and features four permanent exhibitions. It is a national first-class museum and a national 4A-level tourist attraction.

- Hours: 9:00-17:00 (Closed on Mondays)

- Phone: 023—61018880

- Address: No.1469 Nanbin Avenue, Wanzhou District, Chongqing

Chongqing Baiheliang Underwater Museum

The museum covers a total area of 11,333 square meters, consisting of a shore-based exhibition hall and an underwater viewing area. It contains 165 inscriptions totaling over 10,000 characters. It is the world's first underwater museum accessible without diving, recognized by UNESCO as "the world's first non-diving accessible underwater heritage museum." It has been awarded as a national 4A 4A-level tourist attraction.

- Hours: 9:00-17:00 (Closed on Mondays)

- Phone: 023-72121211, 023-72121206

- Address: No.185 Section 2, Binjiang Avenue, Fuling District, Chongqing

Diaoyu Fortress National Archaeological Site Park

Diaoyu Fortress is China's most-preserved ancient battlefield site and has a unique city defense system. The museum includes three special exhibitions and the "Miracle Diaoyu Fortress" basic exhibition. It holds 99 cultural relics and about 10,000 unearthed relics. Since 1982, it has been recognized as a national scenic spot, a key national cultural relic protection site, a national archaeological site park, and a national 4A level tourist attraction. In October 2012, it was included in the "Tentative List of World Cultural Heritage in China."

- Hours: 8:30-17:00

- Phone: 023-42822763

- Address: Diaoyu Fortress Avenue, Hechuan District, Chongqing

Huguang Guild Hall in Chongqing

The Huguang Guild Hall in Chongqing, situated on the Yangtze River bank in Dongshuimen, Yuzhong District, is the largest known ancient guild hall complex in urban China. Built in the late Ming and early Qing dynasties nearly 300 years ago, it is a grand and majestic complex that bears witness to Chongqing's history as a bustling port during the Qing Dynasty and represents the immigration wave of "Huguang Filling Sichuan." It is a national 4A level tourist attraction and a base for traditional culture and urban history and culture experience education in Chongqing.

- Hours: 9:00-17:00 (Closed on Mondays)

- Phone: 023－63914697

- Address: No.1 Banana Garden, Changbin Road, Yuzhong District, Chongqing

Chongqing Historic Sites Museum of the War of Resistance against Japan

Covering 280 mu, this museum was the command center of the International Anti-Fascist War in the Far East during World War II. It preserves 15 war relics and is the best-preserved and largest such site in Chongqing and the entire western region. As a museum hidden in the forest, with over 90% green area, it offers a unique blend of natural and cultural landscapes within Chongqing's central city. It is a national 4A-level tourist attraction and one of China's first batches of 20th-century architectural heritage.

- Hours: 9:00-17:30

- Phone: 023-62465242

- Address: No.1 Nanshan Botanical Garden Road, Nan'an District, Chongqing

Jianchuan Museum in Chongqing

The Jianchuan Museum is located in Chongqing, where 51 air-raid shelters are currently housed. A special museum at this site recreates scenes of weapon manufacturing in Chongqing during the resistance war against Japanese aggression through realistic restoration. The museum also vividly brings to life Chongqing's past; old street scenes and traditional shops are recreated, showcasing the city's rich history.

- Hours: 9:00-17:30

- Phone: 023-68960111

- Address: No.1 Fujiagou, Xiejiawan Street, Jiulongpo District, Chongqing

Visit Chongqing and rendezvous with its museums! Touch the traces of history and feel the cultural essence that has settled over the years.

This article is updated on March 21, 2024.