Chongqing Introduction to History, Culture, Weather and What to Do
Chongqing combines beautiful landscape with profound historical culture. Many Yangtze River cruise ships start and end at Chaotianmen docks of Chongqing. You can take the cable car across the river from Cangbai Lu or Wanglongmen for a fantastic view of the city. Delicious Chongqing local cuisine can add much fun to your visit. The best shopping place in Chongqing is called Jiefangbei pedestrian street.
Today, Chongqing has changed from an ancient regional trading post into an economic center and transportation hub on the upper reaches of the Yangtze River.
Chongqing Facts
Where is Chongqing and How Big is Chongqing?
Towering among the mountains and river valleys, Chongqing is also called "mountain city". To the west, it is Daba Mountain; to the east, it is Wuling Mountain; to the south, it is Dalou Mountain. Yangtze River, Jialing River, Wu River and Pei River pass through this city. The world-renowned Three Gorges of Yangtze River are located at the border of Chongqing and Hubei province.
As one of China's largest municipalities, Chongqing is hailed as a colossal city. Spanning 105°11' to 110°11' east longitude and 28°10' to 32°13' north latitude, it covers an area of 82,400 square kilometers—equivalent to 13 times the size of Shanghai and twice the Taiwan Island.
What is Chongqing Famous for
- Chongqing is a renowned historical and cultural city in China, with a long history of 3,000 years. The ancient Ba-Yu area centered around Chongqing is the birthplace of Ba-Yu culture. The Ba Kingdom of the Shang and Xia dynasties established their capital here, and the Great Xia Kingdom founded itself here during the Yuan Dynasty.
- The opening of Chongqing as a treaty port in the late Qing Dynasty and the relocation of the Nationalist Government to Chongqing made Chongqing once the political, military, economic and cultural center of modern China.
- Chongqing is known as the World Capital of Hot Springs (check Chongqing North Hot Spring) and the capital of Chinese hot pot.
- Chongqing has complex and diverse natural resources and is an important ecological barrier in the upper reaches of the Yangtze River. It is also home to the World Natural Heritage site of Wulong Karst.
- The entire city is built on rugged hills and mountains, surrounded by the Yangtze River and the Jialing River, forming an astonishing 8D "magical" landscape. Li Ziba Light Rail (Light Rail Line 2) passes through the middle of a residential building, with intricate overpasses and the roof possibly being a road.
- The dazzling night view of Chongqing is reflected in the river.
- The Yangtze River Cableway was once a means of transportation for Chongqing citizens to cross the river, and now it is a unique experience to overlook the night scenery of the two rivers.
- The people of Chongqing are hot-tempered, straightforward and passionate.
Chongqing History: Important Events
During the Early Paleolithic period, approximately 2 million years ago, the earliest humans in China—the Wushan Man—had already appeared in what is now Wushan County, Chongqing. In the Late Paleolithic period, between 20,000 and 30,000 years ago, the “Tongliang Culture” emerged in what is now Tongliang District.
>> Related reading: 7 Oldest Archaeological Sites in China
During the Xia and Shang dynasties, this region was known as the Hundred Pu territories. The Three Gorges area served as China's primary rock salt production zone. Given salt's status as a vital hard currency in ancient times, this resource fostered the emergence of the Ba Kingdom civilization in the Wushan region from the Shang Dynasty through the Western Zhou period. During the Warring States period, after relocating southward from the Han River basin to the upper Yangtze River, the Ba Kingdom successively established its capitals at Zhi (present-day Fuling District), Jiangzhou (present-day Yuzhong District), and Dianjiang.
In the fifth year of King Shengjing of Zhou (316 BCE), after the Qin State conquered the Ba Kingdom, it stationed troops in Jiangzhou and built the city of Ba Commandery (Jiangzhou City). The city site was near Chaotianmen, where the Yangtze and Jialing rivers converge in present-day Yuzhong District. This marks the historical beginning of Chongqing's city establishment. The Qin Dynasty divided the empire into 36 commanderies, with Ba Commandery being one of them. During the Han Dynasty, in the 19th year of the Jian'an era (214 AD), Liu Bei entrusted his son to White Emperor City in Badong Commandery (present-day Fengjie, Chongqing).
During the Wei, Jin, and Southern and Northern Dynasties periods, Ba Commandery successively fell under the jurisdiction of Jingzhou, Yizhou, Bazhou, and Chuzhou. In the first year of the Kaihuang era (581 AD) of the Sui Dynasty, Chuzhou was renamed Yuzhou, with its seat at Baxian, due to the Yu River (the ancient name for the lower reaches of the Jialing River) encircling the city. This is the origin of Chongqing's abbreviated name, Yu.
In the first year of the Chongning era of the Northern Song Dynasty (1102), Emperor Huizong, due to Zhao Xin's rebellion, changed Yuzhou to Gongzhou, as “Yu” (渝) carried connotations of “change” (变). In the sixteenth year of the Chunxi era of the Southern Song Dynasty (1189), Emperor Guangzong Zhao Dun, who had previously been enfeoffed as Prince Gong before ascending the throne, elevated Gongzhou to Chongqing Prefecture. Chongqing thus gained its name, a designation that has endured for over 800 years.
During the Yuan Dynasty, in 1258, the Mongol Great Khan Möngke personally led his main forces south to invade Sichuan. However, he died at the foot of the Chongqing Fishing City in Hezhou. The Mongol army subsequently abandoned Chongqing, lifted the siege, and retreated north to contend for the khan's throne. In 1360, the peasant rebel leader Ming Yuzhen established his capital here, naming his state “Great Xia,” which governed areas including present-day Chongqing, Sichuan, Guizhou, and Yunnan.
In the fourth year of the Hongwu reign (1371) of the Ming Dynasty, Zhu Yuanzhang conquered the Great Xia Kingdom and restored Chongqing as a prefecture. The Comprehensive History of Chongqing records that after the turmoil of the late Ming and early Qing periods, by the fourth year of the Kangxi reign (1665), the main city of Chongqing (i.e., Yuzhong Peninsula) had a population of only 3,000. In the 21st year of the Guangxu reign (1895), the Qing government was defeated by Japan in the First Sino-Japanese War. Under the terms of the Treaty of Shimonoseki signed that April, Chongqing became one of the first inland ports opened to Japanese trade.
In the 26th year of the Republic of China (1937), Chongqing emerged as the political, military, economic, and cultural center of China's wartime rear base during the War of Resistance Against Japan, serving as the Far East command center for the global anti-fascist war.
On June 18, 1997, the Chongqing Municipal Government under direct central administration was formally established. On March 31, 2017, the State Council approved the establishment of the China (Chongqing) Pilot Free Trade Zone.
What to Do in Chongqing
You are suggested to stay 2 to 3 days if when travel in Chongqing and take a Yangtze River cruise.
Explore the Iconic Landmarks in Chongqing
Experience of Chongqing's History and Culture
Visit World Natural and Cultural Heritage Sites
Taste the spicy and delicious cuisine of Chongqing
The spicy and fragrant Chongqing hot pot is the representative of Sichuan hot pot and is a must-try in Chongqing. Besides, don't miss the small noodles (Xiaomian), which are the daily Chinese breakfast for Chongqing people. There are also authentic street foods like Malatang (skewered food served in hot pot), Maoxuewang, and sour and spicy noodles all over the city.
Experience the Nightscapes of Chongqing
Chongqing Culture
Ba-Yu Culture
Ba-Yu culture refers to the cultural traditions of the eastern Sichuan Basin centered around Chongqing, representing one of the most distinctive ethnic cultures in the upper reaches of the Yangtze River. The Ba people have long lived amidst towering mountains and vast rivers. Shaped by nature's influence and challenging environments, they developed a tenacious, resilient, and fierce character.
Immigrant Culture
Chongqing is a city built by migrants, shaping its residents' inclusive and open-minded character. Beyond the historical migration of Ba tribes crossing rivers to settle here, Chongqing witnessed the large-scale “Huguang Filling Sichuan” migration that began in the late Yuan and early Ming dynasties and continued throughout the Qing dynasty.
Chongqing Language
The local population primarily speaks Chongqing dialect, a variety of Southwestern Mandarin belonging to the Northern Chinese dialect group. Beyond this, linguistic enclaves include Hakka, Xiang, and Jian dialects, alongside minority languages such as Tujia, Miao, and Yi.
Chongqing Architecture
Traditional Chongqing dwellings have evolved through distinct phases: dry-rafter style, temple-style, garden-style, and Western-style. Stilted houses are iconic to Chongqing architecture, often built along hillsides or riversides. The preserved Hongyadong district in the city center stands as its most renowned example.
Festivals and Customs
Major regional customs include Chinese New Year greetings during Spring Festival, lantern viewing at Lantern Festival, ancestor worship at Qingming Festival, moon appreciation at Mid-Autumn Festival, as well as hanging liquor banners, attending temple fairs, riding flower-decorated palanquins, and Chinese kite flying.
Dance
One of the most renowned traditional dances in China, the Chongqing Tongliang Dragon Dance is a dance art form featuring dragons as its primary props, encompassing both dragon lantern dances and colorful lantern dances.
Opera
Representative forms of Chongqing's opera culture include Sichuan Opera, Xiushang Flower Lantern Opera, and Youyang Yangxi Opera. Additionally, the region boasts Liangshan Lantern Opera, Three Gorges Shadow Puppet Play, and Shizhu Folk Opera.
>> Related reading: A Cultural Trip through Chongqing City: 9 Must-visit Sights
FAQ about Chongqing
How do you pronounce Chongqing?
The Mandarin pronunciation (Pinyin) of Chongqing is Chóngqìng (chong-ching), with tones being the second and fourth tones. The approximate English phonetic transcription is /ˌtʃɒŋˈtʃɪŋ/.
what province is Chongqing in?
Chongqing is located in southwestern China and historically belonged to Sichuan Province. However, it is currently one of China's four municipalities directly under the central government and does not belong to any province. This means: Chongqing itself functions as a provincial-level administrative unit.
Is chongqing safe to travel to?
Yes. Chongqing ranks among China's safest cities, with good public order and friendly residents. However, due to its complex terrain, be cautious about getting lost. Also, keep personal belongings secure.
Is Chongqing the biggest city in the world?
By Administrative Area: Spanning 82,400 square kilometers, Chongqing is the world's largest city by area. It even exceeds the size of some countries (e.g., Austria). By Population: With over 32 million permanent residents, Chongqing is the world's most populous urban administrative area.
How far from Chongqing to Chengdu?
The straight-line distance between the two locations is approximately 300 kilometers (186 miles).