Walking Shoes

Walking Shoes

If you plan on spending time in Sichuan and Chongqing, bring good walking shoes or hiking boots. These two peppery provinces in Western China have everything from hard-core trekking to hilly urban strolls.

When visiting Chongqing, think of San Francisco and you'll have an idea of what to expect of the city's numerous wending, hilly streets. Thankfully, this charming conurbation on the Yangtze River is riddled with steps for ascending steep inclines.

Sichuan's capital of Chengdu couldn't be different. The streets are broad, laid out in grid-fashion and ideal for biking and long urban treks.

If you're traveling between these two cities, be aware of the recent spate of road construction projects. It's not uncommon to wait for a few hours in a long traffic line. If you're stuck, take advantage of the opportunity and explore a little of the local nature.