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Chongqing |
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Chongqing is a
modern city, with an ancient history spanning more than 3,000 years.
It is the nation's fourth municipality after Beijing, Shanghai and
Tianjin. It encompasses within its borders, a great wealth of water
reserves, mineral resources, dense forests and abundant flora and
fauna. Being the focal point of the unique Yangtze Three Gorges
tourist industry, Chongqing is a tourist attraction as well as being
a commercial city.
Situated in the upper reaches of the Yangtze River - at the
confluence of Yangtze and Jialing Rivers, in Southwest China,
Chongqing is a port city with the largest area and population in
China. It has an area of 82,400 square kilometers (31, 800 square
miles) and share borders with the provinces of Hubei, Hunan, Guizhou,
Sichuan and Shaanxi. Beside the Han people that forms the majority
of its total population of 30.9 millions, there are numerous ethnic
groups residing in Chongqing, such as Yi, Tibetan, Miao, Qiang, You
and Tujia. |
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History |
Since its discovery 3,000
years ago, Chongqing was originally called Jiangzhou, Yuzhou and
thenGongzhou, before getting its present name nearly 800 years ago.
From the Qin Dynasty (221BC~206BC) onwards, many dynasties have set
up various administrative institutions there, which endowed the city
with brilliant culture. Perched beside the "Golden River" of the
Yangtze River, Chongqing is the symbol of Changjiang civilization
and also the cradle of Bayu culture.
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What to see |
Chongqing attracts visitors
from home and abroad for its cultural heritage and tourist
attractions. The city is the starting point of the Yangtze River
Cruise, which is expected to explore the wonderful scenery of the
Three Gorges. Other attractions include Dazu Grottoes, carved during
the ninth century, which are valuable works of art and not to be
missed is the Gold Buddhist Mountain, reputed as a rich repository
of diverse animals and plants; and there's the Fishing Town, which
is one of the three ancient battlefields in China. Traveling in
Chongqing, one will feel fortunate to be able to savor the delicious
local food, such as Sichuan cuisine and the world-famous hot pot
dishes. Also, the handicrafts made from bamboo have been enjoying
great popularity among the visitors.
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When to go |
Chongqing's nickname as the "Fog City" or "Furnace" is no exaggeration. Annual average
temperature is 18 C to 20 C, with the lowest temperature of 6 C in
winter and the highest temperature of 38 C in summer. One will enjoy
a warm winter but a hot summer. Annual average rainfall is about
1000 (39.4 inches) to 1400 (55.12 inches) millimeter. Chongqing has
plenty of night rain all year round. So the best time to visit
Chongqing should be in spring, autumn and winter. |
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Western
China
