Vista Chinesa Walking Tour

Vista Chinesa - A Chinese Pavilion and one of the best views Rio has to offer

Pagoda and Viewpoint at Vista Chinesa
Pagoda and Viewpoint at Vista Chinesa cc licensed photo by marcusrg

If you want to enjoy what many consider one of the best views of Rio, head on up to the Vista Chinesa where you'll get to enjoy spectacular views of the city and mountains without the high cost involved in getting to some of the other vantage points. You will also get a taste of Chinese culture as it was represented in Brazil.

Vista Chinesa is a lookout featuring a Chinese style pavilion located in the Tijuca Forest of Rio de Janeiro. It was inaugurated in 1903 by the mayor of Rio Periera Passos and was restored in 2013 after 110 years of existence. The restoration included a new paint job and manual restoration to maintain the style of the monument. It is thought the monument was built to commemorate the arrival of Chinese in Rio de Janeiro bringing tea to the Portuguese. Unfortunately, the tea plantations were not overly successful though it is not certain whether this was due to incompetence on the part of the plantation managers or due to an incompatible environment.

The Vista Chinesa is situated at 380 meters above sea level and presents beautiful views of the South Zone of Rio, the Christ the Redeemer statue, Sugarloaf mountain and the Rodrigo de Freitas Lagoon. The view alone is enough to make this hike worth your while.

Since 1961 the Tijuca rainforest has been designated as a national park and is home to a wide variety of plant and wildlife. This rainforest has approximately 30 waterfalls including the Cascatinha Waterfall and is a very popular place to visit if you are in Rio de Janeiro, not only for its attractions, vistas, and nature, but also for the opportunities to engage in hiking, running, cycling and even longboarding.

This is more of an uphill walk on a paved road than a hike. From where the bus drops you off to the lookout is a tad under 4 kilometres. It should take you about one hour to walk at a modest pace, however, with stops to enjoy the surroundings along the way you should count on it taking longer. Going back it's all downhill and therefore a little faster. We recommend that you allow a minimum of 2 hours for the round trip from the bus stop; but 2½ hours is probably more ideal.

Facts For Your Visit

Official Website: Vista Chinesa Walking Tour

Fee: No

Open Now

Regular Hours:
Hours may be subject to change. Please verify on the official website.

  • Monday: 8:00 am - 6:00 pm
  • Tuesday: 8:00 am - 6:00 pm
  • Wednesday: 8:00 am - 6:00 pm
  • Thursday: 8:00 am - 6:00 pm
  • Friday: 8:00 am - 6:00 pm
  • Saturday: 8:00 am - 6:00 pm
  • Sunday: 8:00 am - 6:00 pm

Category: Landmarks & Historical Buildings

Address: Estrada da Vista Chinesa, 789
Rio de Janeiro - RJ 20531-410
Brazil

Phone: +55 21 2124-9222

Reviews

Yelp Rating:
4.5 out of 5 4.5 Star Rating
Based on 13 Reviews.

See all reviews on Yelp

5 Star Rating Beautiful little area with amazing sights. Came here after our hike and we loved seeing the city from up above. There were also a lot of little monkeys! Read More

Denise C. Jul-17-2019

5 Star Rating Like all beautiful view points (Cristo, Pao de açúcar, dois irmãos) of the city, the hike makes the view that much more rewarding. The hike to the top of... Read More

Naomi K. Feb-05-2016

5 Star Rating The view is awesome from up here. Our tour guide mentioned that a politician built this to honor the large number of Chinese immigrants and their value to... Read More

Arthur K. Oct-09-2014

Accommodations near Vista Chinesa Walking Tour:

Directions

Metro and Metro Bus and City Bus Line Nearest Station Walking Time
Line 1 - Orange or Line 2 - GreenBotafogo2 Hours Round Trip

How to get to Vista Chinesa Walking Tour by Metro and Metro Bus and City Bus

Take the Metro to Botafogo Station. Take the Saõ Clemente exit and walk back to the bus stop eastbound on Rua Saõ Clemente just east of Rua Nelson Mandela. Catch the #409 Jardim Botanico city bus and ride to the last bus stop on Rua Pacheco Leao. This is a regular city bus and will require a separate cash fare both going and returning after you hike, so make sure you have the appropriate fare ready. Exit the bus and continue up Rua Pacheco Leao going right at the 'Y' up Estrado Dona Castorina. Continue walking into the park and simply follow the paved road all the way to the lookout. Note that there is no sidewalk on this road, and while it is quiet, you should be vigilant for cars.

Map & Instant Route Finder

Click&Go Map and Route Finder with public transit, walking, driving or cycling directions. Get up-to-the-minute transit times for your route.

We highly recommend using our verified directions below for this attraction. Automated walking directions are in beta and may not be suitable or safe for this attraction.

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Photo Gallery

Video


Video introduction to Vista Chinesa

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