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Nanshan One Tree Viewing Platform

Nanshan One Tree Viewing Platform南山一棵树观景台

Nanshan One Tree Viewing Platform is Chongqing's finest night-view spot — the lit-up Yuzhong Peninsula and both rivers spread below a landmark yellowhorn tree.

Chongqing · Visitor Guide2026-10-18

Quick Answer

Is Nanshan One Tree Viewing Platform worth visiting?

Chongqing's best night-view platform at about 400 m elevation, built in 1997; entry 30 yuan, open 09:00-22:30, reached by bus 384 from Shangxinjie metro station.

Quick facts

Ticket	Standard ¥30; concessions ¥15
Hours	09:00-22:30 (last entry 21:30)
Recommended duration	1-2 hours
Best time to visit	Clear nights from autumn to early spring; avoid the rainy season
How to get there	Metro Line 6 to Shangxinjie Station, then bus 384 to the Nanshan One Tree stop; or a taxi direct
English signage	Partial
Wheelchair accessible	Partial
Address	Yikeshu, Nanshan Subdistrict, Nan'an District, Chongqing
Type	City viewing platform
Elevation	About 400 m
Ticket	30 yuan (concession 15 yuan)
Opening hours	09:00-22:30
Recommended duration	1-2 hours

What to expect

Halfway up Nanshan in Nan'an District, the platform takes its name from the oldest yellowhorn tree in central Chongqing, preserved within the site — one of the highest viewing points in the city. Built in 1997 and upgraded several times since, it is now a must-stop on any visitor's night-view itinerary.

The view is broad: the whole Yuzhong Peninsula below, the Yangtze and Jialing meeting at your feet. As night falls, lights come on across both banks, the neon of the high-rises reflected in the rivers, echoing the scattered lights of Nanshan — a grand night panorama of the mountain city. It is also a prime spot for sunrise, sunset and night photography.

Facilities include viewing squares, tea seats and tourist shops. Nearby are the Nanshan Botanical Garden, Laojun Cave Taoist temple and the Quanshui Chicken restaurant street, easily combined in one trip. From autumn to early winter, clear-weather visibility is at its best — the golden season for night views.

How to get there

Metro Line 6 to Shangxinjie (Exit 2), walk to the Shangxinjie bus stop and take bus 384 toward Nanshan One Tree to the terminus, then about 10 minutes on foot. A taxi from Jiefangbei takes about 20 minutes and around 40 yuan.

Best photo spots

The platform with the Yuzhong Peninsula panorama (best vantage)
Night view of the two rivers' confluence and their reflections
Layered contrast of the far skyline and the near greenery
Misty city moods after rain

Tips

Check the forecast first — rain or heavy fog ruins the view
Come at dusk to catch sunset and night in one session, with the richest light transitions
Holidays are packed; early mornings or weekdays are calmer
Tea-seat prices run high — bring drinks or buy below the hill

Scams to avoid

Private guides at the gate charge to lead you in or via shortcuts — official ticketing is the reliable way
Fake locals at the hill foot push other sights — commission touts; ignore them
Bottled water in the area costs 3-5 times the downtown price; bring your own

Frequently asked questions

Does the viewing platform charge admission?

Yes — adults 30 yuan; students, seniors and military 15 yuan. Children under 1.2 m enter free.

Which season has the best night view?

Autumn to early winter (Sep-Dec), when skies are clear and visibility high. Avoid the rainy season and muggy summer nights.

Is there food at the platform?

There are tea seats and a kiosk, but the choice is small and prices high. Descend to the Quanshui Chicken street by the Botanical Garden for the authentic dish.

Other things to do in Chongqing

Chongqing Zoo

A large southwest China zoo covering 43 hectares in Chongqing, home to 400-plus species and a leading giant panda base; 25 yuan peak, 20 yuan off-season, allow 3-4 hours.

Ciqikou Ancient Town

The best-preserved old town in central Chongqing, where traditional Bayu architecture meets the city's wharf heritage — and one of its most popular photo spots. Free to enter; allow 3-4 hours.

Ciqikou Ancient Town

A 1,000-year-old Jialing River porcelain port turned pedestrian snack street in Chongqing's Shapingba District — free to enter, 2-3 hours to walk, and best at 08:30 on a weekday before the crowd.

Dazu Rock Carvings

50,000+ Buddhist, Taoist, and Confucian statues carved into Chongqing cliffsides between the 9th and 13th centuries.

Fengdu Ghost City

Fengdu Ghost City above the Yangtze in Chongqing, themed on the Chinese underworld; entry 80 yuan, open 08:00-17:30, allow 2-3 hours, blending Taoist, Buddhist and Confucian culture.

Hongyadong (Hongya Cave)

A 11-floor hillside complex of traditional Chinese stilted buildings rebuilt in 2006 on the site of a Ming-dynasty wall city gate.

Jiefangbei Pedestrian Street

Chongqing's central landmark, the 27.5 m Liberation Monument completed in 1940 as China's only surviving victory memorial of the War of Resistance; malls open 10:00-22:00.

Liziba Monorail Station

Chongqing Rail Transit Line 2 runs straight through floors 6-8 of a 19-storey apartment block at Liziba — a six-second spectacle you photograph from a free platform across the road.

Three Gorges Museum

Chongqing's flagship museum, 42,000 sqm of galleries with 100,000+ relics; free with reservation, open 09:00-17:00, closed Mondays, 5 minutes on foot from Zengjiayan metro station.

Wulong Karst - Three Natural Bridges

A UNESCO World Natural Heritage site where three colossal natural bridges span a gorge — a filming location for Transformers: Age of Extinction. Entry CNY 125; allow 3-4 hours.

Yangtze River Cableway

A 1987 commuter cable car that still glides 1,166 m over the Yangtze between Yuzhong and Nan'an for about 20 yuan - the ride lasts under 5 minutes, but expect to queue an hour at peak.

Museums in Chongqing

Chongqing China Three Gorges Museum

Chongqing's flagship Three Gorges Museum, covering the Yangtze gorges civilization, the ancient Ba Kingdom and the wartime Nationalist-capital years; verified in 2026.