Tours and holidays with added interest
Chongqing
- Name in Chinese characters: 重庆
- Name in Pinyin: Chóngqìng
- Status: Municipality
-
Location within China
General Overview
The City
Chongqing Municipality is not so familiar to most westerners but is easily one of the most important cities in the west of China; hence its status as a provincial-level administrative division in its own right.
Chongqing sits at the confluence of the Yangtse and Jialing Rivers. It is a port - for both passengers (including those on a Yangtse Cruise, see below) and for goods. With the Three-Gorges Dam Project complete, Chongqing's importance has grown as now larger ships are able to make the trip upstream. Given that the alternate routes this far west into China require the crossing of difficult terrain, the river route is now a vital component of the governments strategy of opening up the west.
Chongqing has long been famous in China for its spicy food. In fact, Chongqing was the capital of Sichuan Province (or Szechuan as it was then known) when Chinese food became known around the world, and it is largely dishes from here that get that label.
Given its location, Chongqing is noted for its steep hills. Some call it the mountain city; certainly you will see very few bicycles but lots of porters ready to carry packages on bamboo poles.
The actual borders of Chongqing Municipality extend well beyond those of the city which confuses many and leads to the idea that Chongqing is the largest city in the world with a population of over 30 million. Only one fifth actually live in the city making it only medium-sized by Chinese standards.
The Wider Municipality
The Municipality that has a population of some 30 million, though most of those people live in rural districts outside of the city proper. This provincial-level area straddles both banks of the middle-reaches of the Yangtse River and is bordered by 5 others: Sichuan; Shaanxi' Hubei; Hunan; and Guizhou.
The municipality has significant minority areas especially those for Miao and Tujia ethnic groups; 4 of these form Autonomous Counties.
Much of the municipality lies in mountainous terrain and is under-developed. This is being 'rectified' with extensive developments in infrastructure obvious in almost all directions.
For the visitor
Many visitors find themselves in Chongqing at one end of a Yangtse Cruise - to or from Yichang in Hubei Province. Most leave the same day after checking out only the People's Square and its sites, but there is enough to see and do in Chongqing these days to justify at least a one night stay.
Across from the People's Square, the Three Gorges Museum offers an interesting look at local history from the Neolithic Age.
There are many sites that relate to Chongqing's role as capital of the Kuomindang government during the Second World War (in China this is known as the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression).
Chongqing Old Town contains a few streets in the old style and is worth a short visit. Many of the buildings have now been converted to tourist shops but even these have a real Chinese flavour being for domestic tourists rather than foreigners.
One cheap but interesting option is to take one of the cable cars that crosses each river as a pedestrian service for just a few yuan. These offer great views down onto the boat traffic as well as the chance to see the residential areas of town. Not far away another few yuan will get you into the Temple of the 500 Arhats. This temple has been renovated but still retains an atmosphere well apart from the bustling city outside. It is interesting to see Buddhism flourishing again and the 500 statues with their individual characteristics make for a slightly daunting experience. If you can time your visit for lunch, the vegetarian restaurant offers some great options.
The Dazu Grottoes lie between Chongqing and Chengdu. If travelling between the two by road it is worth stopping at these, some of the best preserved Buddhist Grottoes in China. Do not forget, there are two sections to the Grottoes, and guides will normally only take you to the main section. Ask to see both.
Further afield, tourism is being encouraged in several areas including Wulong and Wuxi.
Wulong lies to the south-east of Chongqing. It lies on the Wu River and can be reached by boat, vehicle and train. The main attractions are Furong Cave and the karst mountain area that now has a UNESCO listing as a World Heritage Site.
Wuxi offers an insight into the ancient Ba Culture through its several Hanging Coffin sites as well as more recent 'Ancient Towns'. Currently the grasslands at Hong Chiba are being developed for tourists. The site offers landscaped grounds as well as more natural areas. It may be some time before there are sufficient activities to justify a long visit but for anyone wishing to escape the heat and chaos of the city will find Hong Chiba a pleasant haven.
-
-
Please rate this place.
Would you want to visit?
Please rate our write-up.
Was this interesting?
-
Get Recommendations
- Now showing:
- Journeys with a theme
- China Showtime
This journey takes you across the country via many of the most popular cities but with a definite bent towards various forms of Chinese entertainment.From £ 1,775 - Red Star Express
This quick journey is for those who have only one week and want to see the highlights. We visit the three most popular cities: Beijing, Xi'an and Shanghai.From £ 1,250 - China In Bloom
This journey includes visits to many delightful gardens as well as other, more regular sites. We include some expert talks where appropriate.From £ 1,950 - Minority Rapport
Guizhou Province has always been remote. It is now becoming easier to travel there so be amongst the first to discover the rich cultural legacy of this isolation before it too moves into the modern world.From £ 1,895
- Browse our complete range of tours
24/7 Sales Support:
UK +44 (0)844 567 0953
USA +1-877-526-3979
Top Routes in
Chongqing
- Yangtse Three Gorges: Cruise in comfort through spectacular mountain scenery
More
key routes
© Copyright China Journeys Limited
Registered in England and Wales No. 07014791
Registered Office: 2nd Floor, Newby House, 309 Chase Road, London, N14 6JS
24/7 Sales support telephone: +44 (0)844 567 0953
Your Financial Protection
The air holiday packages and flights shown are ATOL protected by the Civil Aviation Authority. Our ATOL number is ATOL 10236. Please see our booking conditions for more information.
ATOL Protection does not apply to all holiday and travel services on this website. Please ask us to confirm what protection may apply to your booking.
Current Comments
2 comments so far (post your own)Brooke
Most boats are only full during the major holidays and so it is usually possible to find a cabin at the last moment. However, your choice may be limited and we would certainly recommend you research the differences between domestic and tourist class cruise boats. The former are only air-conditioned in the cabins and in August it will be hot. Uncomfortably hot. You will also find yourselves paying extras for shore excursions and other services included in the tourist class boat tariffs. If you are looking for comfort then it would be worth researching and booking a tourist class boat and then fitting your other travel plans around that.
Posted by China Journeys on Wed 18 Apr, 2012
We plan on taking a cruise boat in Agust. I read that we can just turn up and buy a ticket the day before. Is it better to book? If so, why
Posted by Brooke on Wed 18 Apr, 2012