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Chongqing is a port city with the largest municipal area
and population in China. It is situated in the upper reaches of
the Yangtze River at the confluence of the Yangtze and Jialing Rivers
in southwest China. With an area of 82,400 square kilometers (31,
800 square miles), Chongqing shares borders with the provinces of
Hubei, Hunan, Guizhou, Sichuan, and Shaanxi. Besides the Han who
form the majority of its total population of 30.9 million, numerous
ethnic groups reside in Chongqing, including Yi, Tibetan, Miao,
Qiang, You and Tujia.
Since its founding 3,000 years ago, Chongqing has been called Jiangzhou,
Yuzhou, and Gongzhou, before getting its present name nearly 800
years ago. Since the Qin Dynasty (221 BC-206 BC), many dynasties
have set up administrative institutions that have endowed the city
with brilliant cultures. Perched beside the Yangtze, the "Golden
River," Chongqing symbolizes Yangtze River civilizations and
is the cradle of Bayu culture.
Today, Chongqing is a modern city, China's fourth municipality
after Beijing, Shanghai, and Tianjin. Within its borders Chongqing
encompasses a wealth of water reserves, mineral resources, dense
forests, and abundant flora and fauna. The focal point of the unique
Yangtze Three Gorges Dam, Chongqing is a tourist attraction as well
as a commercial city.
Chongqing attracts visitors from home and abroad for its cultural
heritage and other tourist attractions. The city is the starting
point for the Yangtze River Cruise, which explores the stunning
scenery of the Three Gorges. Other attractions include the Dazu
Rock Carvings , valuable works of art carved during the Ninth Century,
Gold Buddhist Mountain, a rich repository of diverse animals and
plants; and Fishing Town, one of three ancient battlefields in China.
Ancient Ci Qi Kou village lures tourists to linger in its streets
to buy handicraft souvenirs.
Chongqing is famous for its hot Sichuan cuisine and world-famous
hotpot dishes. Street vendors as well as restaurants feature exciting
spicy delicacies for the adventurers.
Servicing western China, Chongqing provides convenient water, land,
and air transportation. Hundreds of star-ranked hotels provide excellent
facilities and services. Chongqing is ready to be the pilot in the
Western China Development to usher in more investors and visitors.
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