If there is one thing I would tell you not to miss in Chongqing, it is the Chongqing 1949 theatre show.
I honestly didn’t know what to expect before going, but it ended up being my favourite thing I did in Chongqing and probably one of my favourite experiences from my entire trip to China. The staging is incredible, the theatre itself is unlike anything I’ve seen before, and the whole performance is on a completely different scale from a normal theatre show.
And don’t worry if you don’t speak Mandarin. I don’t either, and you can borrow an English translation device at the theatre to follow the story.
Chongqing 1949 is located next to Ciqikou Ancient Town, a little outside the main tourist area around Jiefangbei. However, it’s very easy to reach by metro and you can combine both places into a half-day trip.
In this guide, I’ll cover what to expect from Chongqing 1949, where to sit, how the English translation works, how to get there and whether I think it’s worth adding to your Chongqing itinerary.
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What is Chongqing 1949?
Chongqing 1949 is a large-scale theatre production set in Chongqing during the late 1940s and the final years of the Chinese Civil War.
While some historical background will help you understand the story in more detail, you don’t need to know much about Chinese history before going. The English translation device helps you follow what is happening, and a huge part of the experience comes from the production itself.
There are massive moving sets, lighting effects, a huge cast and, of course, the most impressive part of it: a theatre that can rotate during the performance.
That’s what really makes Chongqing 1949 such a unique theatre experience!
What makes Chongqing 1949 so special?
The theatre has a huge 360-degree rotating stage, and the way it is used throughout the performance is incredibly impressive.
Instead of watching everything happen on one stage in front of you, the theatre moves between different scenes and perspectives. As everything rotates, new sets and parts of the performance are revealed around you.
It genuinely feels like you’re being moved through the story rather than just sitting in front of a stage watching it.
Where should you sit at Chongqing 1949?
There are several different seating categories at Chongqing 1949, but the main difference to look out for is whether you’re sitting in one of the rotating areas or one of the fixed seating areas.
The rotating sections are closer to the action and move during parts of the performance. If you want the most immersive experience and don’t mind spending a little more, this is probably the option I would choose.
However, I sat in one of the cheaper fixed seating areas higher up on the side and still had an incredible view.
So don’t feel like you need to buy the most expensive ticket to enjoy the show. The production is huge, and sitting slightly higher up actually gives you a really good overview of the sets and everything happening around the theatre.
When booking, I’d recommend looking at the seating plan before choosing your ticket. On GetYourGuide, you can find the seating plan in the tour description images, which makes it much easier to see where the different ticket categories are located.
You can check the Chongqing 1949 seating options, prices and availability on GetYourGuide here.
If you particularly want one of the rotating areas, I’d book ahead rather than waiting until you’re already in Chongqing. The show runs regularly, but your preferred seating category isn’t necessarily going to be available for every performance.
Can you enjoy Chongqing 1949 if you don’t speak Mandarin?
Yes, you can! You do not have to speak Mandarin to enjoy Chongqing 1949.
The performance itself is in Mandarin, but you can borrow an English translation device before the show. It translates the performance as you watch, which made the story much easier for me to follow.
The device was free when I visited, but I had to pay a refundable deposit of 150 RMB through Alipay. After the show, I returned the device, showed my receipt and received the deposit back without any issues.
I only lost around €0.40 due to the currency conversion through Alipay.
I’d definitely recommend getting the translation device. The show is already incredibly impressive visually, but being able to follow the story made the experience much better.
How long is the Chongqing 1949 performance?
The performance lasts around 75 minutes.
There are usually multiple performances throughout the day, but the schedule varies quite a bit depending on the date. Some days have more performances than others, and the times aren’t always the same.
Because of that, I wouldn’t plan your visit around a specific show time until you’ve checked what’s actually available for your date.
You can check the current Chongqing 1949 performance times and ticket availability on GetYourGuide here.
Combining Chongqing 1949 with Ciqikou Ancient Town
I would definitely combine Chongqing 1949 with visiting Ciqikou Ancient Town since you’re already travelling out to this part of the city.
How you plan the day will depend a little on which performance times are available. I would personally choose an earlier afternoon show if there is one.
That way, you can arrive in Ciqikou Ancient Town in the morning, spend a few hours exploring and grab something to eat before walking over to the theatre.
There’s another bonus to doing it this way if you’re visiting Chongqing in summer: you get to spend part of the hottest time of the day inside watching the show rather than walking around outside.
The performance only lasts around 75 minutes, so even with an afternoon show, you’ll still have plenty of time afterwards to head back towards central Chongqing and continue sightseeing.
If only later performances are available on your date, you can easily switch this around and spend longer exploring Ciqikou before heading to the theatre.
Do you need to book Chongqing 1949 in advance?
I would, especially if you care about where you sit.
The performance runs regularly, but the exact schedule and available seating categories vary depending on the date. If you particularly want to sit in one of the rotating sections, I wouldn’t leave booking until the last minute.
You don’t necessarily need the most expensive seats, though. I sat in one of the cheaper fixed areas and still thought the view was incredible.
Before booking, have a look through the images in the GetYourGuide listing. There is a seating plan showing where the different ticket categories are located, which makes choosing between the rotating and fixed sections much easier.
You can check Chongqing 1949 tickets and the seating plan on GetYourGuide here.
Is Chongqing 1949 worth it?
Yes, I would say so!
If you’re trying to decide which experiences to prioritise in Chongqing, I would put this very high on the list.
I went in without particularly high expectations because I didn’t really know what the performance would be like. It ended up being the best thing I did in Chongqing (together with the Skywalk).
The rotating theatre is what initially makes the show sound interesting, but it’s the combination of everything that makes it so good. The enormous sets, performers, lighting, music and the way the different scenes appear as the theatre rotates are incredibly well done.
It’s also something quite different from Chongqing’s famous viewpoints, skyscrapers and neon-lit streets.
And while you do have to travel a little outside the main Jiefangbei area to get there, I don’t think that’s a downside. The metro journey is easy, Ciqikou Ancient Town is right next door, and you can turn the whole thing into a really good half-day trip.
If I went back to Chongqing with someone who hadn’t seen the show before, I would absolutely go again.
Other things to do in Chongqing
There is obviously much more to Chongqing than Chongqing 1949 and Ciqikou.
For an overview of what else I’d recommend, have a look at my best things to do in Chongqing guide. It includes the places I think are actually worth prioritising if you only have a few days in the city.
Another favourite experience of mine was the Raffles City Chongqing Skywalk. It’s a completely different experience from Chongqing 1949, but if you like viewpoints and standing on top of a massive skyscraper, I would definitely add it to your itinerary.
For something much smaller and more unusual, you can also visit the Firefly Cat Sanctuary in Chongqing. I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect before visiting that one either, but it’s a fun addition if you like spending time with cats.
And if Chongqing is your first stop in the city, I’ve also written a separate guide on how to get from Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport to Jiefangbei. Jiefangbei is a really convenient area to base yourself in and gives you easy metro connections for getting around the rest of Chongqing.
Overall, Chongqing 1949 is one of those experiences I would make room for even on a relatively short Chongqing trip. Give yourself half a day, and combine it with Ciqikou Ancient Town. For me, it was easily one of the highlights of China!
And if you are planning to travel to Chongqing alone, check out my guide to solo female travel in Chongqing!
Let me know if you have any questions!
