Chongqing Tourist Attractions

The municipality of Chongqing was created on 14 March 1997, succeeding the sub-provincial city administration that was part of Sichuan Province. With an area of 82,300 km², it has jurisdiction over 19 districts, 17 counties, and four autonomous counties. Recently, as industry and economy develops quickly in this city, Chongqing has become an increasingly popular destination for travelers with its hilly slopes, Yangtze River landscape, nighttime views and hot and spicy food.

Chongqing has a humid subtropical climate, with hot summers and mild damp winters. Due to geographical location in the Sichuan Basin and air pollution by heavy industries, Chongqing therefore gets two nicknames as one of China's "Three Furnaces (along with Wuhan and Nanjing)" and "the Fog Capital". Therefore summers in Chongqing are unbearably hot, while in springs and winters, the city is always covered with a thick layer of fog. Mind the weather forecast if you are to visit Chongqing.

Chongqing is characterized with mountain and hills, with karst landscape common in this area. Limestone caves, stone forests, and valleys can be found in many places. As an inland port, Chongqing is intersected by the Jialing River and the upper reaches of the Yangtze River. These rivers cut through the Wushan Mountains at three places and thus form the famous Three Gorges: the Qutang, the Wuxia and the Xiling gorges (in Hubei Province).

The cheap electricity produced by the Three Gorges, plus the abundant resources nearby such as oil fields and iron mines provide advantageous condition for Chongqing to develop its industry. Now the city has achieved success in shipbuilding and automobile industries.

At the first glimpse, there may appear to be not much to do in the city, but further investigation will uncover a city with a number of interesting attractions actually worth looking into.

Taking a cruise on the Yangtze River and overlook the superiorly majestic landscape along the Three Gorges is definitely worth doing. The Dazu Rock Carvings in Dazu County, which is a UNESCO World cultural Heritage Site, is another attraction that depicts Chinese religious sculptures and carvings. Or you can perch on one of the surrounding hills at night to get a panoramic view of the city's sparkling night lights, with reflection in the river. It is fantastic.

Moreover, influenced by Sichuan flavor, Chongqing does have great spicy hotpot, in which you can boil various uncooked food items. Prepare for some napkins, for it is really hot.

• Air quality: ★★★★☆
• Foreigner-friendly degree: ★★★★☆
• Public security degree: ★★★★☆
• Hygienic degree: ★★★★☆
• Traffic jam degree: ★★★★☆
• Internationalization level: ★★★★☆
• Consumption level: ★★★★☆

• Language: Mandarin, Southwestern mandarin
• Best traveling season: Mar. May. Sep. to Nov.
• Tourist resources: landscape, culture
• Airport to downtown: 28 km
• Demographics: Han (99.1%), Miao (2%), Tujia (5%)
• Key words: hot, spicy, Yangtze River, Three Gorge Project, hotpot, beauties, Zhangfei Beef, Sichuan brocade.

Local Delicacies: Chongqing Hotpot (Chongqing Huoguo 重庆火锅), Hot Spring Chicken (Quanshui Ji 泉水鸡), Boiled Fish (Shuizhu Yu 水煮鱼), Old Duck Soup (Laoya Tang 老鸭汤), Pickled Cabbage Fish (Suancai Yu 酸菜鱼), Chicken with Chilli Pepper (Lazi Ji 辣子鸡), Hot and Sour Rice Noodles (Suanla Fen 酸辣粉), Fried Chicken Giblets (Chao Jiza 炒鸡杂).

Local Specialities: Old Sichuan Beef Jerky (Laosichuan Dengying Niurougan 老四川灯影牛肉干), Baishiyi Salted Preserved Duck (Baishiyi Banya 白市驿板鸭), Hot Pot Bottom Material (Huoguo Diliao 火锅底料), Fuling Pickle (Fuling Zhacai 涪陵榨菜), Yongchuan Lobster Sauce (Yongchuan Douchi 永川豆豉), Hechuan Peach Slices (Hechuan Taopian 合川桃片), Jiangjin Swelled Pastry Candy Rice (Jiangjin Yousu Mihuatang 江津油酥米花糖), Yangjiao Dried Tofu (Yangjiao Dougan 羊角豆干), Exotic Broad Bean (Guaiwei Hudou 怪味胡豆), Dianjiang Bamboo Walking Stick (Dianjiang Zhushouzhang 垫江竹手杖), Rongchang Technology Pottery (Rongchang Gongyitao 荣昌工艺陶), Dazu Longshui Knife (Dazu Longshuidao 大足龙水刀).

Useful lines:

• 重庆旅游局旅游咨询 Chongqing Tourism Administration Service
• 023-63236017
• 重庆投诉电话 Chongqing Tourism Complaints
• 023-12301 or 023-63235034