About Chongqing
With a history of over 3,000 years, Chongqing, the birthplace of Ba and Yu culture, is one of the least well known but most important historical cities in all of China. Today, little of this interesting past is visible and the city is essentially an industrial mass.
Area: 82，000 square kilometers
Population:31million
Location: located at the “dragon tail” of the Yangtze economic belt and the inland of the Three Gorges Dam area
Climate：Chongqing arguably has one of the most unpleasant climates in the country, situated in the subtropical zone and fostering an intensive and moist atmosphere. The annual average temperature here is 18 oc with lows of 6 to 8 oc in winter and highs of 27 to 29oc in summer. Chongqing is frequent cloudy and foggy, even in the summer months and pollution levels here are high. Spring and winter are the best seasons to visit here and the rainy autumnal season is best avoided.
Scenery Spots in Chongqing
General Stiwell Museum
.jpg)
General Stilwell Museum is housed in the former VIP guest house of the Guomingdang and residence of General Stillwell. General Stillwell was an American General sent to China to help fight the Japanese in World War II. During World War II, American pilot volunteers organized a squadron renowned as the invincible "Flying Tigers" to airlift arms, weaponry and other war-time goods to help China in its struggles against Japanese aggressors. The US volunteers opened up a historical air corridor from India to the cities of Kunming and Chongqing in southwestern China via Myanmar (formerly known as Burma). The Flying Tigers flew out of Chongqing and the Japanese looked for months for an airstrip but could never find one. In the Yangtze River, there is a permanent sandbar, this is the "airstrip" the Flying Tigers used. The Japanese never figured anyone would use this sandbar for an airstrip. Since 1991, the Chongqing Municipal Government has turned it into a museum, housing exhibits on General Stillwell and Americans in Chongqing during World War II.
Chaotian Gate
It is situated at the junction of the Yangtze and Jialing River in the northeast of Chongqing, the Chaotian Gate (chaotianmen) overlooks the two rivers and is surrounded by crags on three sides. The newly built Chaotian Gate Square is the best place to get an undisturbed view of the landscape here. Jialing River, 1,119 kilometers in length, with dozens of brooks and streams converging at different points, reaches the Yangtze on the left of the Gate. In summer or autumn each year, the green water from Jialing River mingles with the brownish yellow water in the Yangtze, producing an unusual picture.
Local Food
Chongqing Hotpot
Chongqing hotpot is characterized by its spiciness! To suit customers of different preference, salty and sweet/sour flavors of hot pot are available. As long as you can stand the spiciness, you are advised to try the spiciest one to ensure an authentic experience!Chongqing people love their hotpot, especially when the weather is steamy. The fire dances under the pot, the heavily oiled and spiced soup boils with hazy steam, and the people are bathed in sweat. Although hotpot can be found wherever there are street vendors or small restaurants, chongqing Hot pot has the greatest variety and is known for its delicious soup base and dipping sauce.
Jiangtuan fish
Since Chongqing is located along Jialing River, travelers have a good opportunity to sample varieties of aquatic products. Among them, a local fish, Jiangtuan fish, also called big-head fish, is probably the best. The steamed fish, retaining all the essence, will definitely leave a deep impression on anyone that has sampled it.