About Chongqing
Chongqing is the economic hub of southwest China and the fourth municipality in China (after Beijing, Shanghai and Tianjin). Chongqing became the fourth municipality in 1997, when it began to undergo accelerated development. It enjoys an average annual GDP increase of 9.5%, which is higher than the national average.
Chongqing is situated in the east of southwest China, about 2,500km up the Yangtze River from Shanghai. Under its jurisdiction there are 40 districts, cities and counties. It covers an area of 82,000 square kilometres with a total population of 31 million. Nearly 6 million people live in its urban core.
The downtown of Chongqing lies at the point where the Yangtze River and the Jialing River merge. Known as the Mountain City, the whole city is built against a backdrop of hills and water, characterized by zig-zagging roads and overlapping houses.
Chongqing belongs to sub-tropical monsoon climate. The features are warm winter, hot summer, early spring and short autumn. Annual average temperature is around 19.2 degree centigrade. The average lowest temperature is 6-8 degree centigrade in winter. The average highest temperature is 27-38 degree centigrade in summer and the extreme temperature can reach as high as 43.8 degree centigrade. Hence it has been nicknamed the Furnace City.
Chongqing is also called The Foggy City. There is much fog from the end of autumn to early spring with at least 68 foggy days a year. Chongqing is also one of the cities with shortest sunshine time in China. The annual sunshine time is 941.9 hours.
With heavy industry as its backbone, pillared by five major industries (the machinery, metallurgy, chemical, textile and food industries), Chongqing is the largest industrial city and the land and water transportation hub of southwest China.With heavy industry as its backbone, pillared by five major industries (the machinery, metallurgy, chemical, textile and food industries), Chongqing is the largest industrial city and the land and water transportation hub of southwest China.
Chongqing is endowed with a convenient communication in the field of water, air and land transportation. In terms of the water transportation, since the city is located at the confluence of the Yangtze and Jialing rivers, ships and boats can navigate their way upstream from coastal cities and ports on the lower reaches of the river all the year round. With over 100 cruise ships that begin their itineraries in the city, Chongqing is the best place to start a Yangtze River Cruise tour.
Cruising down China’s longest river, the Yangtze, passing through the famous Three Gorges, is one of the highlights while travelling in China.
Chongqing’s hot spicy food is famous. The most well-known dish is hotpot, a pot of boiling broth into which you put various uncooked food items. The meal always takes a long time to cook, so it is good to eat it in the company of others.