Travel to Chongqing with MyChina.com

Chongqing has a population of over 4 million people and is one of the most populated cities in the whole of China. It has a humid subtropical climate and a fast developing urbanized, industrialized economy. Many boat trips down the Yangtze River leave from the area of the city and although tourist might mistaken the city as somewhat lacking interesting sights, a deeper look will reveal many attractions worth visiting.

Places to See in Chongqing

This ancient story-like area of Ciqikou Old Town has been in restoration for the past years and it gives a meaningful insight into the real, authentic "Chinese Atmosphere". This 1000 years old place was not made for tourist, but is rather a lively place where many city folks live and work. And yet, the narrow streets and ancient wooden houses seem almost story-like and as if they were taken from a different time. The small souvenir shops, the lovely teahouses and local food vendors add a lot to the place's impression.

Zhou Enlai, one of the most prominent and respectable Chinese leaders, has his old residence in the city, just next to the Jialing river. Nowadays it is a museum and open to visitors. One of the most striking things about it is that it hadn't turn into a collection of antiques and historical memoirs, but still looks just as it was, as if the people who once inhibited it still reside within its walls.

During World War Two Chongqing served as a temporary capital and the military headquarters of the powerful Chiang Kai-Shek. The headquarters were hidden in the mountains over the city where it sat protected and unfound. Visitors can go through the many well-preserved buildings that were once shelters to soldiers, officers and politicians and even enter the private chamber of the man who was once the ruler China.

Red Rock Village or Red Cliff Vilage (Hong Yan Cun) he village was one of the CPC's (Communist Party of China) revolutionary bases and has major historical significance. A museum was opened in the place in 1958 offering many exhibits including writings by Mao Zedong and Zhou Enlai.

In the center of the City stands the gigantic People's Liberation Monument, one of the city's most visited attractions and its main symbol.

No visit to the City can be completed without seeing the famous Dazu Rock Carvings. These magnificent Chinese sculptures and religious carvings from the 7th to the 13th centuries teach of the Buddhist, Confucian and Taoist influences in China. The place was only opened to foreign and local tourists in the early 1960s and therefore remained unharmed by the political turbulences and destruction that left their marks on almost every place in China. Visitors may find themselves overwhelmed by the sheer number of things to see - over 50,000 statues, and 100,000 Chinese calligraphic characters forming messages from the past.

There are many other locations worth visiting in the city and numerous tourist attractions lay hidden in this complex huge city. For more information regarding Chongqing, try the city's official website cq.gov.cn or travelchinaguide.com/cityguides/chongqing.htm.