Chongqing is a port city with the largest municipal
area and population in China. It is situated in the
upper reaches of the Yangtze River at the confluence
of the Yangtze and Jialing Rivers in southwest China.
With an area of 82,400 square kilometers (31, 800 square
miles), Chongqing shares borders with the provinces
of Hubei, Hunan, Guizhou, Sichuan, and Shaanxi. Besides
the Han who form the majority of its total population
of 30.9 million, numerous ethnic groups reside in Chongqing,
including Yi, Tibetan, Miao, Qiang, You and Tujia.
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.
Chongqing is famous for its hot Sichuan cuisine and
world-famous hotpot dishes. Street vendors as well as
restaurants feature exciting spicy delicacies for the
adventurers.
Servicing western China, Chongqing provides convenient
water, land, and air transportation. Hundreds of star-ranked
hotels provide excellent facilities and services. Chongqing
is ready to be the pilot in the Western China Development
to usher in more investors and visitors.