Eighteen Stairs

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The Eighteen Stairs is a historic, traditional-style district in Chongqing, located just south of the Yuzhong District. The name comes from the Eighteen Stairs Road, a long stone staircase with more than 200 steps and about 400 meters in length. It connects the city’s upper and lower parts from north to south.

The district covers about 188,800 square meters. Of this, 38,900 m2 is a core protection area, 71,700 m2 is a controlled construction area, and 78,200 m2 is a style coordination area. The area is divided into five plots, A to E, with four functional zones: Traditional Culture Experience (A and B), National Tide Cultural and Creative Experience (C), International Exchange Center (D), and a Lifestyle Center (E). There are also two landscape zones: the North-South Landscape Zone and the East-West Tourism Expansion Zone. Zones A, B, and C opened to the public on September 30, 2021.

History and significance
During ancient times, Chongqing grew around the Yangtze River. The Eighteen Stairs area became an early residential area because it was on a river terrace with good water access. In the 12th century, the area developed as a key part of the city’s defenses and transport routes, and the stone stairs linked the upper, education- and culture-focused area with the lower, trade-centered area. Over the centuries, Chongqing grew into a busy city with roads and markets that connected both halves of the city. In the modern era, the area underwent major renovations to preserve its traditional streets and houses while improving accessibility.

Key features
- The Eighteen Stairs Great Tunnel is on the north side of the rock wall. It was one of Chongqing’s large air-raid shelters during the Second Sino-Japanese War. In 1941, a bombing caused many casualties in nearby shelters. The shelter site has been restored and partially opened to visitors.
- The Eighteen Stairs Mountain City Memory Museum, opened September 29, 2021, sits beside the main staircase. It uses multimedia displays to tell the history and memory of old Chongqing.

Entrances and transport
There are six entrances: Jiefang South Road, Xiangshui Bridge, Shoubei Street, Huajiezi, Jiaochangkou, and Zhongxing Road. The Jiaochangkou entrance connects with exits 3 and 11 of the Jiaochangkou metro station (Chongqing Rail Line 1 and Line 2). The upper end of the main staircase has a dedicated visitor exit. The area has a large parking network, with more than 5,000 parking spaces in a garage, and access to about 20,000 underground spaces via the Jiefangbei ring road. A future Chongqing Rail Transit Line 18 station will serve the area.

What you can expect
The Eighteen Stairs Traditional Style Area preserves the original seven streets and six alleys, following the old layout and offering a view of traditional Bayu culture and wartime memories. It’s designed to be a place where people can experience historic streets, gardens, and cultural activities while connecting Chongqing’s past with today.