Chongqing Travel Information, History, Location, Climate

Chongqing is an ancient city. In the early Xia (21st-16th century BC) and Shang (16th- 11th century BC) dynasties, there was already a great tribe union called Ba settled in this area. During the Zhou Dynasty (11th-221 BC), the Ba Kingdom was founded in this area and Jiangzhou (the ancient name of Chongqing) was built as the capital. As the year 316 BC Qin (221-206 BC) conquered the Ba Kingdom and made it a county of Qin Dynasty. During the Three Kingdoms Period (220-280), Shu owned the dominion of Jiangzhou and gained a lot from this fertile land. Jiangzhou changed its name to Yuzhou at the year 589, during the Sui Dynasty (581-618), and it became an important military, financial and cultural center in Tang Dynasty (618-907). Famous poets such as Li Bai, Du Fu, Wang Wei and Bai Juyi visited here frequently and left hundreds of enduring poems. The name Chongqing (double happiness) was given during the Southern Song Dynasty (1127- 1279) to celebrate the enthronement of the new emperor, and Chongqing City was founded officially in 1929. In 1937, the Anti -Japanese War saw the government of Kuomintang fleeing for safety, and they made Chongqing the new Capital of the Republic of China. In 1996 Chongqing was entitled as the fourth municipality of China, and a new chapter of Chongqing's history was opened.

Chongqing, the largest municipality of China, lies in the eastern part of Sichuan Basin, Southwest China. As an important traffic junction since ancient times, Chongqing borders Hubei and Hunan Province to the east, Guizhou to the south, Sichuan to the west and Shaanxi to the north. Consisting of 15 districts, four county-level cities and 21 counties, Chongqing covers an area of 82,400 sq km (about 20,361,465 acres) and has a population of over 30 millions. Chongqing is surrounded by many mountains such as Mt. Daba, Mt. Wu and Mt. Wuling. The Yangtze River, Jialing River as well as Wu River, Fu River, Daning River, also cross Chongqing. Thus, the city gains the name 'City of Mountains' and 'City of Rivers'.

As one of the Stoves along the Yangtze River, the other two are Nanjing and Wuhan, Chongqing climate is actually quite pleasant. The region enjoys a subtropical monsoon climate, the annual average temperature of Chongqing is 18 ^oC (64.4 ^oF) with the average lowest temperature 6 ^oC (42.8 ^oF) and the average highest 29 ^oC (84.2 ^oF). Rain is plentiful in Chongqing, especially in the evenings when spring changes to summer. Fogs and mists often come to visit Chongqing during fall and winter, thus another title 'Capital of Fog' was given to Chongqing. The Winters of Chongqing are quite warm, and plum blossoms bloom beautifully; hence the best time to visit is when winter is changing to spring.

Chongqing is also a modern metropolis. There are hundreds of shops, department stores, commercial streets, shopping malls, supermarkets and squares in downtown Chongqing, where visitors can find everything they desire. Theaters, cinemas, KTV, bars and night clubs are best places to enjoy the nightlife, whilst Happy Valley, Safari Park, Ocean World and Gymnasium are suitable for family recreation. Lingering in the Northern Hot Spring Park and Southern Hot Spring Park to enjoy the beautiful scenery, and then take a bath can thoroughly relax body. Teahouses scattered in Chongqing are the best places to have a leisurely chat and enjoy the famous Sichuan Opera. When the night comes, find a street vendor and taste the world renowned Chongqing Hotpot. The hot and spicy flavor should never be missed!

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