I Got Lost in the Trippiest City in Asia

In Chongqing, getting lost isn’t a mistake—it’s the whole point.As soon as I stepped out of the airport, I could tell Chongqing was going to be different.This was the eighth night of a two-week trip in China. I was flying from Beijing on an airline I’d never heard of, eyes bleary from lack of sleep, and strangers surrounded me like paparazzi. However, I could tell that they weren’t clamoring for pictures, only my money, posing as taxi drivers. I kept my head down and eyes forward, scurrying to the official taxi hailing platform. Coming from the orderly capital, this was a shock to my system that jolted me awake.Prior to planning this trip, Chongqing was not on my radar, despite being one of the most populous cities in China and gaining viral popularity on TikTok for its mountainous landscape, spicy food, and extravagant skyscrapers. While I had seen... EXPLORE THE WORLD LIKE A LOCAL Unlock exclusive content, tools and guides for your next unforgettable adventure. Members-only insider content Unlimited access to Fodor's AI assitant Instant, free e-Guidebook Unlimited AI Exclusive Content Early Access Everything included in the monthly version. A free e-guidebook as a gift (valued up to $26.99) each year.