On April 20, news from the Municipal Culture and Tourism Commission stated that the 2026 China Tourism Science Annual Conference was held in Beijing from April 18 to 20. At the conference, the China Tourism Academy (Data Center of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism) released the “2025 National Tourist Satisfaction Survey Report,” and Chongqing was awarded the “2025 Top Ten Tourist Satisfaction Cities.” This marks consecutive years that Chongqing has received this honor, further enhancing its brand as the “Most Tourist-Friendly City.”

The “Top Ten Tourist Satisfaction Cities” is one of the most credible, influential, and representative awards in China’s tourism sector, having previously won the UNWTO Ulysses Award for Government Innovation. The selection covers 60 cities nationwide and 27 overseas destinations, with an evaluation system encompassing three dimensions: on-site surveys, online reviews, and complaint supervision. The criteria are widely recognized by the international tourism community, serving as the “gold standard” for measuring a city’s cultural tourism development, public service capacity, urban governance efficiency, and overall civilization level.

Chongqing’s renewed recognition this time affirms its commitment to a tourist-centered approach, innovation-driven problem-solving, enhanced service quality, and continuous efforts to solidify its “Most Tourist-Friendly City” brand.

Last year, the city took high-level initiatives, coordinating efforts across municipal departments and districts to iteratively upgrade the “Four Pillars and Eight Beams” of the Bashu Cultural Tourism Corridor. It deeply implemented the “1396” special action plan, embedding tourist experiences into the entire chain of planning, supply, and supervision, forming a city-wide collaborative work system.

Adhering to product innovation, it created nine boutique tourism routes; cultivated brands such as “Yuwei 360 Bowls” and “Chongqing Good Gifts”; integrated intangible cultural heritage like Tongliang Dragon Dance and Sichuan River Chant into tourism spaces, making “traveling with performances” a new trend; enhanced the quality of the “Two Rivers and Four Banks” core area, regularly conducted drone shows, allowing tourists to experience the vibrant atmosphere and cultural depth of the 8D magical city. This further enriched tourism product offerings and created immersive cultural tourism consumption scenarios.

Adhering to service innovation, during holidays, measures such as closing roads for bridges, extending night views, and prolonging bus operations were taken to showcase the city’s warm hospitality; improved the “City-Scene Connection” and “Scene-Scene Connection” transportation network, building a mountain city trail roaming system; for inbound tourists, it pioneered “check-in upon arrival” convenience measures, optimized departure tax refunds, and promoted aviation-tourism integration, ensuring smooth travel and secure enjoyment for foreign visitors in Chongqing.

Adhering to credit innovation, it implemented a chief quality officer system in key cultural tourism enterprises, selected frontline benchmark service staff; promoted the “Mountain City Trust” credit code in attractions like Hongyadong, with over 40,000 business entities displaying codes for transparent consumption; deepened the national cultural market credit economy pilot, expanded scenarios like “Credit-Based Travel” and “Credit-Based Loans,” driving standardized operations and building a long-term mechanism for service quality improvement.

Data show that in 2025, Chongqing received 506 million domestic tourists, with tourism complaints decreasing by 7.25% year-on-year, continuously improving the quality and efficiency of cultural tourism services.

Beijing

Beijing, the capital of China, is a historic and cultural hub with over 3,000 years of history. It served as the imperial capital for several dynasties, including the Ming and Qing, and is home to iconic landmarks like the Forbidden City and the Great Wall. Today, it blends ancient traditions with modern development, serving as the nation’s political, cultural, and educational center.

Chongqing

Chongqing is a major city in southwestern China, known for its dramatic mountainous terrain and position at the confluence of the Yangtze and Jialing rivers. Historically, it served as the provisional capital of China during the Second Sino-Japanese War (1937–1945) and has since grown into a key industrial and economic hub. Today, it is famous for its spicy cuisine, vibrant nightlife, and unique urban landscape of towering skyscrapers and steep hillside streets.

Bashu Cultural Tourism Corridor

The Bashu Cultural Tourism Corridor is a scenic and cultural route in southwestern China that highlights the ancient civilizations of the Ba and Shu kingdoms, which flourished in the Sichuan and Chongqing regions over 2,000 years ago. This corridor connects key historical sites, including the Sanxingdui and Jinsha archaeological ruins, as well as traditional towns and natural landscapes, offering visitors a journey through the area’s rich heritage. It was developed as part of modern efforts to promote cultural tourism, blending preservation of ancient relics with contemporary travel infrastructure.

Tongliang Dragon Dance

The Tongliang Dragon Dance is a traditional folk performance from Tongliang District in Chongqing, China, known for its intricate and dynamic movements using a long, segmented dragon made of bamboo and cloth. Originating during the Ming Dynasty, it has evolved over centuries into a vibrant cultural symbol, often performed during festivals to bring good luck and ward off evil spirits. In 2006, it was recognized as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage of China.

Sichuan River Chant

The Sichuan River Chant is a traditional form of folk music originating from the Yangtze River region in Sichuan, China, performed by boat trackers to coordinate their labor and boost morale while hauling vessels upstream. Dating back centuries, these rhythmic chants reflect the harsh working conditions and communal spirit of the boatmen, and they were recognized as a national intangible cultural heritage in 2008. Today, they are preserved as a cultural symbol of Sichuan’s riverine history and the resilience of its people.

Two Rivers and Four Banks

“Two Rivers and Four Banks” is a historical and cultural concept in China, often referring to the region where the Yangtze and Jialing Rivers converge, encompassing the four banks of these rivers. This area, primarily centered around modern-day Chongqing, has been a vital transportation and trade hub since ancient times, with its strategic location fostering urban development and cultural exchange. Historically, it played a key role during the Ming and Qing dynasties as a gateway to southwestern China, and later became a significant military and industrial center during the War of Resistance against Japan.

Hongyadong

Hongyadong is a large, stilted complex of traditional-style buildings built into the cliffside along the Jialing River in Chongqing, China. Originally constructed during the Ming Dynasty (around 14th century), it was a bustling commercial hub, but fell into disrepair before being rebuilt in 2006 as a popular tourist attraction. Today, it is famous for its stunning night-time illuminations and its blend of historic architecture with modern shops and restaurants.

Mountain City Trust

The Mountain City Trust is a cultural and historical preservation organization based in Chattanooga, Tennessee, dedicated to protecting and promoting the region’s heritage. It was established in the late 20th century to manage historic properties, such as the Mountain City Club building, which dates back to the 19th century and originally served as a social hub for the city’s elite. Through restoration and educational programs, the Trust works to maintain these landmarks as vital community resources.