China Travel - China Provinces - Province Chongqing

Located in the south-east Sichuan basin, Chongqing is a municipality directly under the Central Government, and is China's important industrial base, with an area of 23,114 square kilometers and a population of 30 million.

Chongqing's main topography is hilly land sloping from the south and north towards the Yangtze River valley. It has the sub-tropical climate, with an annual average temperature of 18 degree Celsius, rainfall of 1,100 millimeters, and a frost-free period of 320-340 days. It's well known for foggy weather. It abounds in coal, iron, natural gas, gypsum, limestone and water resources.

Its main industries are machinery, metallurgy, chemicals, foodstuff and textiles. Chongqing holds an important position in China in aluminum processing, machine tool and instrument manufacturing and inland-water shipbuilding. In agriculture, it produces large quantity of rice, grapes, peanuts, sugarcanes, tobacco, oranges, silk-cocoons and pigs.

Chongqing is the largest commercial center and land and water communication hub in South-West China. The port of Chongqing is the biggest in the upper reaches of the Yangtze River.

Known as a "Mountain City", Chongqing was constructed on the mountain slopes and along the riversides. It has a long history and numerous scenic spots and historical sites. It's renowned in particular for gardens with unique beauty.

Efforts are being made to turn Chongqing into a modern metropolis with the largest foreign market oriented industrial base in West China.

On 14th of March, 1997, Chongqing was officially proclaimed the fourth municipality directly under the jurisdiction of the Central Government.