About Chongqing

A Charming City of Antiquity and Modernity：

Chongqing, A.K.A Yu for short, is located along the upper reaches of the Yangtze River in Southwest China. As China’s fourth municipality directly under the administration of the Central Government and the only one in Western China, it is newly established as one of five central cities in China. Chongqing covers 82,400 square kilometers and governs 38 districts and counties (including autonomous counties), and has a total population of 33,434,400 with29,450,000permanent residents. The majority of the residents belong to the Han ethnic group, while someminority ethnic groups also inhabit here, including Tujia and Miao people.

The average annual temperature in Chongqing is 18℃. January is the coldest month, at an average of 7℃; July and August is the hot season, normally between 27℃-38℃. Chongqing is a humid city. Summer and autumn are the rainy seasons. The annual rainfall is 1,000-1,100mm.

During the late Yuan Dynasty and the early Ming Dynasty, Chongqing was the capital of the Great Xia Kingdom. It became the war-time capital of China and Command Center of the Anti-Fascist War in the Far East during the World War II. It was established as a municipality directly administrated by the Central Government after the founding of the P.R.C.. In 1954, it became part of Sichuan Province, and in 1997, it was re-established as the fourth municipality directly under the administration of the Central Government.

Chongqing is a logistics hub combining water, road and air transportations, a modern manufacturing base, an important business center and the pivot for integrated transportation and communications along the upper reaches of the Yangtze River and in southwest China. It has established business and trade relations with more than 180 countries and regions. Modern farming is now growing with strong momentum, as are a wide range of fast developing industries, including automobile, motorcycle, equipment, gas/petroleum chemical engineering and materials.

Chongqing is a well-known tourism city for its fantastic mountain-river scenery and abundant historic and cultural sites, such as Three Gorges of Yangtze River, the Dazu Rock Carvings, the Three Natural Bridges in Wulong, Tiankeng and Difeng (giant karst pits and fissures) in Fengjie, the Baiheliang Ridge in Fuling, the Hechuan Fishing Town Relics and the World Hot Spring Capital.

Chongqing is famous for its delicious Sichuan style cuisine and hotpot.