In Chongqing, a city renowned for its mountainous terrain and riverside scenery, there is a spot that offers a panoramic view of its grandeur and vitality — the One Tree Observation Deck on Nanshan Mountain. Perched on the hillside of the Wangjia Mountain Range in Nan’an District, facing the main urban area across the river, this scenic observation spot, named after a century-old Huangjue tree (the city tree of Chongqing), is a must-visit for urban tourism in Chongqing and a top choice for countless photographers to capture the charm of the mountain city. Here, you can enjoy the city’s style during the day and the brilliant lights of thousands of families at night, embracing the most representative three-dimensional beauty of Chongqing.
The name of the One Tree Observation Deck is quite poetic. It gets its name from a huge Huangjue tree preserved here, which has witnessed the changes of the observation deck and become a silent narrator of the mountain city’s stories. First built in January 1997, the observation deck was expanded in 2003 and renovated in 2005, forming the unique layout of “front platform and back pavilion” today. It not only retains the natural style but also improves the leisure and viewing functions, with a total investment of more than 12 million yuan and a large area, capable of accommodating more than 500 people to watch the night view at the same time.
The “front platform” consists of a 600-square-meter main platform and two 500-square-meter auxiliary platforms. The neatly paved platform is matched with granite and tempered glass railings, which are both beautiful and atmospheric, ensuring the safety of viewing. The contour lights and mercury lamps dotted around complement the city lights at night, adding more charm. The circular viewing space surrounds the iconic Huangjue tree. Walking through the old tree to the extended viewing area, the vision suddenly opens up, allowing a 360-degree unobstructed view of the scenery on both banks of the two rivers. The “back pavilion” is a 6-story, 28-meter-high viewing building, whose architectural shape is like a huge tree crown, designed with arc elements, featuring good lighting and transparency. Each floor has a different viewing angle, and floors 4 to 6 are equipped with a water bar, a teahouse and a VIP hall, meeting the multiple needs of tourists for leisure and viewing.
When visiting the One Tree Observation Deck, the most unmissable thing is its double beauty — the scenery during the day and the night view feast. During the day, on a clear day, you can clearly see the tall buildings in Yuzhong Peninsula, where the Yangtze River and Jialing River meet, with rippling blue waves. The cross-river bridges lie like rainbows, connecting the east and west banks of the city. When the mountains are covered with mist, the whole city looms, and the mountains are lush with green shade. The Laojun Cave Taoist Temple hidden in the forest has eaves protruding high, like a fairyland, allowing people to enjoy the tranquility and harmony of the mountains. In autumn and winter, the mountains are shrouded in mist, adding a touch of hazy beauty, and every random shot is a atmospheric landscape painting.
After nightfall, the One Tree Observation Deck ushered in its highlight moment. It is also the best place to enjoy Chongqing’s night view, which is known as “Little Hong Kong” and one of the three major night views in the world. The One Tree Observation Deck brings this splendor to the extreme. When the lights are lit, the lights of thousands of families shine brightly, like a sky full of stars falling on the earth. Countless boats sail on the river, glowing with colorful lights. The traffic on the bridge is endless, and the lights shuttle like a wandering dragon, with a perfect combination of movement and stillness, which is extremely spectacular. The iconic buildings in Yuzhong Peninsula, such as Jiefangbei, Raffles City and Hongyadong, are outlined clearly by the lights, complementing the sParkling waves of the two rivers, forming a shocking night view painting that intoxicates every tourist.
To help you check in easily, here is a practical guide. For transportation, you can choose the combination of Subway and bus: take the loop line to Shanghao Station, exit from Exit 3C, transfer to bus No. 347 or 384 to Chongwen Road Intersection, and walk to the destination. You can also take a taxi directly, which takes about 20-30 minutes from Yuzhong District. It is recommended to locate the Parking lot. It is difficult to take a taxi during the peak下山 period, so you can book a car in advance. For self-driving, please note that there are many bends on the mountain road, so novices should be cautious, and parking spaces are tight in peak seasons. The ticket price is 30 yuan for adults, half price for students with student ID cards, and free for children under 1.2 meters, military personnel and the elderly with valid certificates. You can buy tickets in advance through the official WeChat public account of the scenic spot, Ctrip and other platforms. It is recommended to make an appointment in advance during holidays to avoid queuing.
In addition, there are many worth visiting attractions around the observation deck. It takes 10 minutes to walk to the Millennium Laojun Cave Taoist Temple, which is open for free (entering before 17:00). Climbing to the top, you can overlook another style of the mountain city. It takes 22 minutes to walk to Huangjueya Old Street, where there are 175 Bayu-style buildings. At night, the street is brightly lit, like the scene of the soup house in Spirited Away. There are also cultural attractions such as Sanmao’s former residence, where you can feel the heritage of Bayu Culture. After the tour, you can also go to Nanshan Spring Chicken Street to taste authentic Chongqing food, making the journey more full of fireworks.
Finally, we remind you that the best shooting time is 1 hour before sunset to 21:00. At this time, the sky is dark blue, forming a cold-warm contrast with the city lights, with a strong sense of layering. The top roof of the 6th floor is a perfect shooting spot, offering a 270-degree unobstructed view, where Yuzhong Peninsula, Qiansimen Bridge and Yangtze River Cableway can be framed in the same picture. The 5th floor platform is less crowded and good for shooting, suitable for combining portraits with night scenes. At the same time, please note that do not trust the personnel who claim to take you in for free by the road. The road is slippery on rainy days, so please pay attention to safety. The searchlights will be turned off around 22:00, so it is recommended to go down the mountain before 21:30 to avoid delaying your trip.
The One Tree Observation Deck on Nanshan Mountain is not only a scenic observation spot but also a window to understand Chongqing. Here, you can see the integration of mountains, rivers and the city, the collision between history and modernity, and feel the grandeur and romance of the mountain city. Whether you are traveling alone, dating with your partner, or traveling with your family, this place can bring you an unforgettable visual experience. When you come to Chongqing, you must climb the One Tree Observation Deck and have a date with the mountains, rivers and lights.
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