Overview

    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 China.

    Today, little of this interesting past is visible and the city is essentially an industrial mass.

    Much of it is dirty and seedy but there is a lively atmosphere prevalent about the place that often goes hand in hand with the more hardcore cities in China.

    The area known as Chongqing became the capital of the Ba State in the 11 century BC under the mythical King of the Yu. By the 12th Century AD, this small city had grown in size and was renamed Chongqing, meaning Double happiness in Chinese.

    Despite the name, the city in fact has a rather turbulent past, and the residents here have spent much of their history keeping invaders out. In 1242 Chongqing put up a defense against the Mongols and in 1937, the Kuomingtang fled here from the Japanese.

    The city withstood attack and was one of the last Kuomingtang bastions. In 1997, Chongqing separated from Sichuan to become an independent prefecture in its own right. Today, this vast southwestern dynamo is known as Chongqing Municipality.

Attractions

CiQiKou

    Fourteen kilometers to the west of Chongqing Municipality lies the ancient village of Ci Qi Kou (Porcelain Village) situated on the bank of the Jialing River. It was recognized as a protected cultural site by the State Council in 1998. There are many shops lining the twelve flag stoned paved lanes that form the main routes. Tourists will find many outlets for craftwork, groceries, teashops and the like as well as a horologist, photography supplies, drugstore and a tempting supply of roasted nuts and seeds.Chongqing attracts visitors from home and abroad.

Dazu Rock Carvings

    Carved during the ninth century, the rock carvings are un-missable works of art of the Gold Buddhist Mountain, itself reputed as a rich repository of diverse animal and plant species. Work on the Dazu Rock Carvings began in the first year of Yonghui in the Tang Dynasty (650A.D.), and continued until the Ming and Qing dynasties. Now, it is as popular as the Yungang and Longmen Grottoes.

General Joseph W.Stilwell Museum

    General Joseph Warren Stilwell (1883-1946) was chief commander of US forces in the China-Burma-India Theatre during World War II. In 1942, ranked as a major general, he was dispatched to CBI and was regarded as the best field commander in the entire United States Army. General Stilwell was a true friend of the Chinese people as well as a Chinese linguist.

Yangte River Cruise

    Yangtze River Cruise will be the highlight of your Chongqing tour. Upon arrival at the Chaotianmen Port, you can see many ships on the river. Some of them are used for cargo transportation; some are intended for the river cruise passengers. The cruise ships provide three to eight days’ voyage. During the trip, you can see the famous Three Gorges, Fengdu Ghost City, and　Shennong Stream and so on.

Dining

    Chongqing dishes are rich in flavor and use almost 40 different cooking methods in their preparation. Chongqing food is largely a hybrid of Sichuan cuisine and local specialty dishes.

    Chongqings city center is filled with restaurants and food stalls where you can pick up a cheap and filling meal for less than RMB10. Local specialties here include dumplings and pickled vegetables and, different from many other Chinese cuisines, Chongqing dishes are ideal for the solo diner- arriving in small individual sized portions!

    This is where the HOTPOT originated and Chongqing residents are still very keen on their native dish, tucking in even when the sun is shining.

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!

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.

Pork leg cooked with rock candy

    Pork leg cooked with rock candy is a common household dish of the Chongqing people.

    The finished dish, red in color and tender to taste ahs a strong and sweet after-taste.

Sliced meat with crispy rice

    Sliced meat with crispy rice is a major dish in Chongqing. The meat tastes soft and tender while the rice is crispy, forming a sharp contrast with the former.

    When sampling this dish, you can even hear the sizzling sound emerging from the rice.

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