Chaotianmen Dock

Chaotianmen Dock is a major water transportation hub in Chongqing, where the Jialing River and the Yangtze River meet. It is also the landmark and a must-visit attraction of Chongqing.

Chaotianmen was built in 314 BC as a city gate. In ancient time, local officials knelt down to receive the emperor’s decrees in front of the gate. The emperor was considered the son of the heaven in that time, so the place is called Chaotianmen, meaning “towards the heaven gate”.

Chaotianmen is the largest dock in Chongqing and one of the busiest docks in China. The Yangtze River cruise ships, the city sightseeing ships, and the city ferries all start off from here. A Yangtze River Cruise is the best way to appreciate the most beautiful section of Yangtze River, the Three Gorges. The sightseeing ships shuttle between Chaotianmen Dock and Jialing River Bridge, or the Yangtze River Bridge; it is a good way to appreciate the landscapes and night view of the city. The ferries run between the dock and Foreigners’ Street, a place with architecture in various styles and delicious food.

Jialing River and Yangtze River meet at Chaotianmen. The Jialing River on the left, with 1,119 kilometers (695 miles) long, flows into Yangtze River here. In the early summer, the green Jialing River and brown yellow Yangtze River with its rolling whirlpools, form spectacular scenery. Chaotianmen Square above the dock is the best site to view the two rivers merging.

The most beautiful night view of Chongqing is on Yuzhong Peninsula, while the most beautiful night view of Yuzhong Peninsula is in Chaotianmen. The colorful lights of the buildings along the bank, of the ships on the river, and of the stars in the sky together form this charming night view, which is different from the night view of other places.

At present, Chaotianmen Dock has become the most prosperous commercial wholesale and retail area of the city. The boats, ferries, riverside wharfs, crowded pedestrians, and alley of shops and buildings on the banks of the two rivers make it lively. The well-developed traffic and the thriving commerce attract more and more people to go there.