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

Regular Hours:
May differ on holidays

  • Monday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
  • Tuesday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
  • Wednesday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
  • Thursday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
  • Friday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
  • Saturday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
  • Sunday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Address: Estr. da Vista Chinesa, S/N - Alto da Boa Vista, Rio de Janeiro - RJ, 20531-590, Brazil

Official Website: Vista Chinesa Walking Tour

Reviews

Rated 4.8 out of 5Vista Chinesa Star Rating

4 Star Rating If you love hiking and want to get fresh air then definitely this place is for you. You will get beautiful view of Rio and Christ from this place. Note that to reach this place you have to hike 4km.
Rakesh Jana - 29 days ago

4 Star Rating Beautiful view but long walk! Careful going at night, it gets REAL dark!
Jos Poortvliet - 6 months ago

3 Star Rating Very wet and misty when we visited. Only 6 or 7 parking spaces nearby. Good views in decent weather. We were able to watch monkeys in the nearby trees.
Mike Stones - 1 month ago

5 Star Rating When visiting the state park this was a must see portion of the experience. The views are stunning and allow you to see so much of Rio.
Jamie Rady - 8 months ago

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.

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Photo Gallery

Video


This Ultra HD video shows the various views of Rio de Janeiro from Vista Chinesa
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