Is Hongya Cave free to enter?

Yes, entry is free. Hongya Cave is an 11-story shopping and dining complex built into the cliff, and you only pay if you eat or buy something inside. The most photographed view, the golden night-lit facade, is best seen from outside on Qiansimen Bridge, which costs nothing at all.

What time do the lights turn on at Hongya Cave?

The exterior lights come on around 7:30 PM, giving the stilt-house complex its famous golden, animation-film glow. Arrive by 7:00 PM to claim a spot before crowds build. The best window is the brief overlap when fading sunset light still touches the building just as the artificial lights ignite.

Where is the best place to photograph Hongya Cave?

Not from inside. The iconic full-facade shot comes from Qiansimen Bridge across the Jialing River, where you see all 11 illuminated levels at once. The building itself is confusingly vertical, so cross to the bridge walkway, ideally the half facing the complex, and shoot from there after dark.

Hongya Cave, Chongqing: Map & Visitor's Guide (2026)

11-story traditional stilt-house cliff complex turned shopping/dining destination — Chongqing's nightly Instagram icon.

At a glance

What it is: Landmark
Also known as: 洪崖洞 (Hóngyá Dòng)
Opening hours: 10 AM – midnight
Time needed: 1.5-2 hours
Best time to visit: 7:30-9 PM for night lights; arrive 7 PM to photo before crowds
Getting there: Metro to the door
English: Some English signage
Cards accepted: Visa, Mastercard
Entry: Walk-in — no booking
Wi-Fi: Free Wi-Fi
Address: 56 Cangbai Rd, Yuzhong District, Chongqing · 渝中区沧白路 56 号

See Hongya Cavetickets & tours

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Hongya Cave became China's most photographed building after a 2017 short-video viral moment — the 11-story Bayu-style diaoluo (stilt house) complex piles up the cliff face of the Jialing River and lights up nightly in golden Spirited Away aesthetic. The 7th floor IS street level (the building goes UP from the riverside and DOWN from the road). Free entry; pay only if you eat/shop. Best photo spot: Qiansimen Bridge (千厮门大桥) walkway at 7:30-8:00 PM when the lights turn on. Inside is a tourist-focused mall — hotpot, snacks, souvenirs — overpriced but iconic. Avoid weekends + Chinese holidays when foot traffic exceeds 100K and the building actually closes its doors for crowd control.

Highlights

Night Lights 7:30 PMGolden Spirited Away aesthetic; the photo every visitor takes
Qiansimen Bridge viewBest angle is from the bridge across the river
Vertical Confusion7th floor = street level; navigate carefully

What Chinese travelers actually do here

Distilled from Chinese-language travel notes — the practical tips most English guides miss.

▸The famous photo is NOT from inside the building — it's from Qiansimen Bridge (千厮门大桥) across the Jialing River. Walk to the bridge by 7:00 PM, the lights turn on at 7:30 PM sharp. Best spot is the eastern half of the bridge looking south.
▸Don't eat hotpot INSIDE Hongya Cave — it's tourist-priced (¥150-200/person for what should cost ¥80). Walk 5 minutes to Bayi Road (八一路好吃街) or Jiefangbei for the real local hotpot. Chongqing locals laugh at foreigners eating hotpot in Hongya Cave.
▸On weekends and Chinese national holidays Hongya Cave CLOSES its main entrances for crowd control after 100,000+ visitors arrive. The viral photo of the stilt house mostly comes from people who didn't actually go inside. The bridge view is the better experience anyway.
▸The 11-floor vertical orientation is genuinely confusing — the building is built INTO the cliff, so 7th floor = street level (Cangbai Road), 1st floor = riverside, 11th floor = top of the cliff at Cangbai Road too. Map apps don't help; just enter at street level and ride the elevators down.
▸Best dessert in the building: the 8-yuan brown sugar tang yuan (红糖汤圆) on the 4th floor courtyard. Skip the 'milk tea' chains and overpriced ice cream stalls.
▸Photography tip: arrive at the bridge at 6:30 PM in autumn/winter (5:30 in summer) to catch BOTH golden-hour sunset light on the building AND the moment the artificial lights flick on at 7:30 — the 60-second overlap is the photo every Chinese photographer competes for.
▸Avoid the inner 'glass elevator' (¥30) that promises a view — it's a small enclosed cab inside the building with no exterior view. The free public elevators have better windows.

Photos

Vivid neon lights illuminate Chongqing's cityscape with reflections on the river, creating a cyberpunk atmosphere.

Colorful Chongqing buildings and riverboat illuminate the night, showcasing urban vibrancy.

Stunning night view of illuminated traditional Chinese architecture in Chongqing's bustling cityscape.

Stunning night view of an illuminated traditional Chinese pagoda in Chongqing, China.

Stunning view of the illuminated Hongyadong complex in Chongqing at nighttime, showcasing vibrant urban architecture.

Stunning night scene of Chongqing's illuminated skyline featuring Qiansimen Bridge.

Stunning night view of Chongqing with illuminated bridge and city lights reflecting on water.

Vibrant night view of Chongqing cityscape featuring a brightly lit bridge and skyline reflections.

Night view of a beautifully lit traditional building under a modern urban bridge.

Night view of illuminated traditional Chinese architecture in Chongqing's urban setting.

Vibrant night view of Chongqing's skyline and illuminated bridge reflecting on the river.

Scenic view of traditional illuminated buildings at night in vibrant urban setting.

Vibrant night view of Chongqing with illuminated buildings and a striking red bridge.

Illuminated Chongqing skyline with modern skyscrapers reflecting off the river at night.

What travelers say (5 reviews)

InstaTraveler·TripAdvisor·5/5

11-story stilt house cliff complex that lights up like Spirited Away. Free entry. Best photo from Qiansimen Bridge across the river — go 7:30 PM.

2026-04-20

千与千寻·Xiaohongshu·5/5

洪崖洞晚上7:30亮灯，宫崎骏宇宙！千厮门大桥对岸拍照最佳。注意：7楼=马路面，搞清楚再进。

2026-03-18

Mike R.·Google Maps·4/5

Most photographed building in China after 2017 viral moment. Touristy inside but the lights are real magic. Don't bother eating; just photograph.

2026-04-28

ChongqingNight·YouTube·5/5

Filmed time-lapse 7-9 PM — golden hour transition into full neon is one of China's best urban light shows.

2026-02-15

Li M.·Ctrip·5/5

免费！晚上7:30灯光全亮，建议提前到千厮门大桥占位。周末容易封闭限流。

2026-04-08

Watch creators visit Hongya Cave

Each clip is timestamped to the moment the creator arrives at this stop.

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Hongya Cave at Night — Chongqing's Spirited Away Building

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Frequently asked questions about Hongya Cave

Is Hongya Cave free to enter?: Yes, entry is free. Hongya Cave is an 11-story shopping and dining complex built into the cliff, and you only pay if you eat or buy something inside. The most photographed view, the golden night-lit facade, is best seen from outside on Qiansimen Bridge, which costs nothing at all.
What time do the lights turn on at Hongya Cave?: The exterior lights come on around 7:30 PM, giving the stilt-house complex its famous golden, animation-film glow. Arrive by 7:00 PM to claim a spot before crowds build. The best window is the brief overlap when fading sunset light still touches the building just as the artificial lights ignite.
Where is the best place to photograph Hongya Cave?: Not from inside. The iconic full-facade shot comes from Qiansimen Bridge across the Jialing River, where you see all 11 illuminated levels at once. The building itself is confusingly vertical, so cross to the bridge walkway, ideally the half facing the complex, and shoot from there after dark.