Map of national major towns in Chongqing. (Picture provided by Chongqing Geomatics Center and released by CQNEWS)

CHONGQING (CQNEWS) -- The List of National Major Towns, published by China’s Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development, includes 89 towns in Chongqing. The Chongqing Planning Bureau, together with the Chongqing Geomatics Center, released the Layout Map of National Major Towns in Chongqing to help people clearly know the major towns nearby. The upcoming May Day holiday is a good time to go sightseeing in those towns.

Apart from the towns in Yuzhong, Dadukou and Jiangbei in the List of National Major Towns, the other towns listed are scattered in 35 other districts and counties all over Chongqing. Dazu and Qijiang have four national major towns respectively. National major towns are generally large-scaled, densely populated and economically developed with sound facilities, and are regional economic and cultural centers in rural areas. They also display Chongqing’s economic development and social progress.

List of National Major Towns. (Picture provided by Chongqing Geomatics Center and released by CQNEWS)

Here are some of the towns that the Layout Map of National Major Towns in Chongqing recommends for you:

1. Xituo Town, Shizhu

Xituo Town, originally known as Xijietuo, is located in the north of Shizhu County. It was the west boundary of Bazhou in ancient time. It got the name of Xituo because of its location facing the Huishuituo in the south bank of Yangtze River. As an important ferry terminal and distribution center on the Ba’s Salt Road in ancient times, Xituo has a long history. Yunti Street in Xituo Ancient Town was built against the mountains and the whole town extends about 100 meters upwards from the riverside. It is renowned as the “No. 1 Street along Yangtze River”.

2. Zhenxi Town, Fuling

Thriving during the Ming Dynasty, Zhenxi Town, seated at the north bank of Yangtze River in the northeast of Fuling District, has been standing for more than 400 years. It was called Chenxi in the Ming Dynasty, but it was called Zhenxi because the Bangke River, which is 3.5km away from the town, is rich in pearls. With fertile soil and flourishing agriculture, it has the largest planting area for fruits and vegetables used to make preserved pickle in Fuling. The sericulture production contributes half of the silkworms for the whole district.

3. Mudong Town, Banan

Since the Ming and Qing dynasties, Mudong Town is famous in Sichuan for having many businessmen. Seated in the north of Banan District, it is an important distribution center connecting Sichuan and Guizhou. Typical local snacks include delicious candied date, preserved pickle, Tofu pudding and crispy duck of Mudong. Zhongbadao and Taohuadao in the west and the east are the main resorts for relaxation due to their flat terrain. (Translated by Xu Mengmiao, Fathom Language Limited)