Chongqing Travel Guide

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Chongqing Travel Guide

Chongqing Travel Guide

Chongqing (Simplified Chinese: 重庆; Traditional Chinese: 重慶; Hanyu Pinyin: Chóngqìng; Postal map spelling: Chungching, also Chungking) is the largest and most populous of the People's Republic of China's four provincial-level municipalities, and the only one in the less densely populated western half of China. Formerly (until 14 March 1997) a provincial city within Sichuan Province, the municipality of Chongqing has a registered population of 31,442,300 (2005), with most of them living outside the urban area of Chongqing proper, over hundreds of square kilometres of farmland. The population of the urban area of Chongqing proper was 4.1 million in 2005.

Since its founding 3,000 years ago, Chongqing has been called Jiangzhou, Yuzhou, and Gongzhou, before getting its present name nearly 800 years ago. Since the Qin Dynasty (221 BC-206 BC), many dynasties have set up administrative institutions that have endowed the city with brilliant cultures. Perched beside the Yangtze, the "Golden River," Chongqing symbolizes Yangtze River civilizations and is the cradle of Bayu culture.

Today, Chongqing is a modern city, China's fourth municipality after Beijing, Shanghai, and Tianjin. Within its borders Chongqing encompasses a wealth of water reserves, mineral resources, dense forests, and abundant flora and fauna. The focal point of the unique Yangtze Three Gorges Dam, Chongqing is a tourist attraction as well as a commercial city.

Chongqing attracts visitors from home and abroad for its cultural heritage and other tourist attractions. The city is the starting point for the Yangtze River Cruise, which explores the stunning scenery of the Three Gorges. Other attractions include the Dazu Rock Carvings , valuable works of art carved during the Ninth Century, Gold Buddhist Mountain, a rich repository of diverse animals and plants; and Fishing Town, one of three ancient battlefields in China. Ancient Ci Qi Kou village lures tourists to linger in its streets to buy handicraft souvenirs.

The climate in Chongqing is often cloudy and misty. As a consequence, it is also called 'the foggy city'. Moreover, since the average annual precipitation is about 1,000 millimetres, the scene of raining in night appears from time to time.

Chongqing is endowed with a convenient communication in the field of water, air and land transportation. In terms of the water transportation, since the city is located at the confluence of the Yangtze and Jialing rivers, ships and boats can navigate their way upstream from coastal cities and ports on the lower reaches of the river all the year round. With over 100 cruise ships that begin their itineraries in the city, Chongqing is the best place to start a Yangtze River Cruise tour. Cruising down China's longest river, the Yangtze, passing through the famous Three Gorges, is one of the highlights while travelling in China.

Choingqing's hot spicy food is famous. The most well-known dish is the hotpot, which is a pot of boiling broth that you put various uncooked food items into. The meal always takes a long time, so it is good to eat it in the company of others.

Chongqing Attractions：