Chengdu vs Chongqing

Chengdu leads Chongqing by 2 points on the CIRA Index, 70 to 68. Chengdu grades better on 5 measures, Chongqing on 4; the same 35 measures from public sources for both.

Scores by each organisation's criteria

• CIRA Index: Chengdu 70, Chongqing 68
• OECD: Chengdu 64, Chongqing 65
• UN Tourism: Chengdu 81, Chongqing 79
• UNDRR: Chengdu 64, Chongqing 63

Theme by theme

• Demand and seasonality: Chengdu 58, Chongqing 63
• Economy and jobs: Chengdu 75, Chongqing 67
• Climate and hazards: Chengdu 40, Chongqing 40
• Water and environment: Chengdu 94, Chongqing 88
• Community and housing: Chengdu 100, Chongqing 100
• Access and continuity: Chengdu 63, Chongqing 63

Where Chengdu is stronger

• Average length of stay: 2.4 nights per visitor (Chengdu Municipal Bureau of Statistics, Chengdu Statistical Yearbook 2025 (Table 12-9: Main Tourism Indicators in Golden Weeks), 2024). Between 2.2 and 2.8: grade 2/4.
• Unemployment rate: 5 % of the labour force (region figure) (National Bureau of Statistics of China, 2024). At or below 5: grade 4/4.
• Extreme heat days: 15.2 days a year at or above 35°C (last 5 full years) (ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo, 2021–2025). Between 15 and 30: grade 2/4.
• Water scarcity: low (region figure) (World Bank GFDRR ThinkHazard, current (retrieved 2026)). Grade 3/4.
• Tourism crisis and recovery plan: A written destination crisis plan (Chengdu Municipal Bureau of Culture, Broadcast, Film and Tourism, 2024). Grade 2/4.

Where Chongqing is stronger

• Nights in the three busiest months: 34.7 % of annual nights (Chongqing Municipal Culture and Tourism Development Commission, compiled via CQNews and Chongqing Annual Tourism Statistics, 2024). Between 30 and 35: grade 3/4.
• Recovery against 2019: 200 % of 2019 visitor nights reached in the latest full year (Chongqing Municipal Commission of Culture and Tourism Development via iChongqing, 2024). At or above 110: grade 4/4.
• Flood hazard: low (region figure) (World Bank GFDRR ThinkHazard, current (retrieved 2026)). Grade 3/4.
• Access redundancy: 4 independent ways in: international airport, intercity rail, port, motorway (Chongqing Municipal People's Government & CAAC, 2025–2026). At or above 4: grade 4/4.

Country context (World Economic Forum)

• China: #8 of 110 in the WEF Travel & Tourism Development Index 2026
• China: #8 of 110 in the WEF Travel & Tourism Development Index 2026

Chengdu in full · Chongqing in full

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