Chongqing,”Yu” for short, is situated in southwest China on the upper reaches of the Yangtze River. It is the only municipality in Western China that is under the direct administration of the central government.
Chongqing is a renowned cultural city with a long history. The State of Ba (11th century-316BC) and the Xia kingdom (1363-1371) both sited their capitals here. From the Qin Dynasty (221-206BC) to the Southern and Northern Dynasties (420-589), the place was under the administration of Ba Jun, a prefecture renamed Yu Zhou in the Sui Dynasty (581-618), and therefore the area is usually referred to as “Ba-Yu”. With the Song Dynasty (960-1279), the prefecture got the new name of Gong Zhou. In 1189, Zhao Dun became Prince Gong, and administered the prefecture, later succeeding to the throne as Emperor Guangzong of the Southern Song Dynasty. To celebrate his double fortune, the emperor changed Gongzhou to Chongqing Fu (prefecture of double celebration).
During World War II, Chongqing became the temporary capital of China and the command center of the World Anti-Fascist War in the Far East. After New China was founded in 1949, Chongqing became a municipality directly under the central government and the capital of southwest administrative division. It was put under the administration of Sichuan Province in 1954, and in 1997 it resumed its previous status under the central government.
Chongqing has abundant natural resources. It is a major trading and distributing center for goods on the upper reaches of the Yangtze River and a hub of communication, especially water, land and air transportation in Southwest China. It also has a strong force of science, technology and education, and a large contingent of talented people. Besides, it has established economic and trade relations with more than 170 countries and regions. Complete categories of both light and heavy industries progress abreast. With a fairly developed manufacturing industry, Chongqing has long been a major producer of motorcycles, automobiles, instruments and meters, precision chemical products, large transformers and Chinese patent drugs. It has the largest aluminum-processing plant in Asia, and is the largest exporter of motorcycles in China.
By 2020, Chongqing is expected to grow into a dominant economic center on the upper reaches of the Yangtze River, and by 2030 it will lead Western China to advance with a booming economy, social progress and stability, solidarity of nationalities, and beautiful environment, and build itself into an international metropolis.
Chongqing, with beautiful mountains and rivers, is a famous destination for tourists. It has numerous natural scenic spots such as the Yangtze River Gorges, the Jialing, Wujiang and Daning rivers, mountains such as Jinfo, Simian and Jinyun, and lakes such as Changshou and Xiaonanhai, the mysterious Heavenly Caves and Earthly Chasms, and the Furong and Xueyu caves. It also has lots of relics such as the Longgupo cultural ruins, the Dazu cliffside sculptures, the Hechuan fishingtown, the Baiheliang underwater inscriptions, the Ghost City of Fengdu, the Shibao stockaded village, the Temple of Zhangfei, the ancient city of Baidi, the Shuangguitang Temple, the battlefield of War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, and the Revolutionary Martyrs Cemetery on Mount Gele.
The unique Diaojiaolou (house supported by wooden stakes above the ground), the shamanistic and folk dances of the Tujia nationality are said to be authentic performances of the ancient Ba people. Renowned historical figures such as Bamanzi, an ancient widow named Qing, Qin Liangyu, Zou Rong, Lu Zuofu, Zhao Shiyan, Yang Angong, Liu Bocheng, Nie Rongzhen, and several hundred others are all connected with Chongqing. The more than 170,000 Ba-Yu relics housed in the China Three Gorges Museum are witness to the brilliant civilization which has flourished in the Chongqing area since ancient times.
The main part of the city of Chongqing is surrounded by mountains, with the Yangtze and Jialing rivers running through. Light rail systems, cables and bridges cross the rivers. Standing at Yikeshu or Liangjiangting, two ideal viewing positions on the hills, one can get a panoramic view of the myriad of the mountain city when dusk falls.
The geographical advantages, sound industrial foundation, scientific and technological strength, abundant natural resources, immense market potential, magnificent scenery, long history and Ba-Yu folk culture together make up the unique charm of Chongqing.
