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Chongqing is located in the
southeastern section of the Sichuan Basin where the Yangtze and
Jialing rivers meet. It is the largest industrial and commercial
city in southwestern China and the economic center of the upper
reaches of the Yangtze River. It is a metropolis under the direct
jurisdiction of the Central Government. Chongqing, also known as Yu,
was established some 3,000 years ago. Renowned for its romantic
mountains, rivers, and fog, Chongqing is an ideal spot for
relaxation. The majority of the buildings in Chongqing are located
on the hillsides and mountains surrounding the city. The climate in
Chongqing is often cloudy and misty with an average annual
precipitation of about l, 000 millimeters. As a consequence, it is
also called the "City of Fog."
Chongqing has many places of interest in both its urban and rural
regions. Traveling eastward along the Yangtze River, one can enjoy
the magnificent Three Gorges. Every year from May through June, the
Three Gorges International Travel Festival is held in Chongqing.
Evening Scenes of Chongqing
The Red Star Pavilion in the Pipasha Park, the
Kansheng Pavilion in the Eling Park, and a place called Yikeshu on
the Nanshan Mountain are vintage points for observing the nocturnal
scenes of the mountain city of Chongqing. At night the entire city
is inundated in an ocean of lights, which form a colorful
three-dimensional painting, with waves of the Yangtze and Jialing
rivers glistening against the moonlit, star spangled sky.
Martyrs' Mausoleum at Mount Gele
The former headquarters, radio station and prison
of the Bureau of Investigation and Statistics of the Military
Council (a colossal secret service of the Kuomintang) at the foot of
the Gele Mountain in Shapingba District have become the mausoleum
for those who died a martyr's death there in China's dark days. In
the dying years of World War 11, it was the site of the "Sino0US
Institute for Cooperation in Special Technology".
Dazu Grottoes
The Dazu Grottoes in the county of the same name
is best known for the stone carvings on the Baodingshan and Beishan
mountains, which are fine example of grotto sculpture in the late
years of Chinese feudalism. The sculptures, done in fastidious
chisel work and gracious imagery, are marked by a new sculptural
language that eschews religious taboos and espouses true life.
Yangtze River's Three Gorges
Sailong down the Yangtze from Chongqing to Yichang
allows visitors to see the spectacular scenery of the Three Gorges
along with its splendid cultural heritage and fabled local folklore.
The cruise, which combines sightseeing with scientific, artistic and
folklore exploration, is a national-caliber tourist program. The
193-km-long Three Gorges, consisting of the majestic Qutangxia,
statuesque Wuxia and ferocious Xilingxia gorges, is one of and
ferocious Xilongxia gorges, is one of the world's major canyons.
Along the way there are such scenic attractions as the Fengdu
Mountain. Baidi city, Shibao village, Zhang Fel's Temple, Qu Yuan's
Temple, and the Three Gorges Dam.
Lesser Three Gorges
The Daning River is the largest Yangtze tributary,
which rises in the southern side of the Daba Mountain and flows for
250km before emptying itself into the Yangtze at the western
entrance to the Wuxia Gorge. The Lesser Three Gorges on the Daning
River, a 50km-long affair covering the Longmenxia, Bawuxia and
Dicuixia gorges in the lower reaches of the river, is billed as one
of China's 40 best scenic resorts thanks to its gorgeous mountains,
elegant peaks, turbulent rapids, limpid water, exotic rock imagery
and serene scenery.
Jinyun Mountain
Nicknamed "Less Mount Emei", Jinyun Mountain is a
national scenic resort 55km from downtown Chongqing.
Furong Cave, Wulung
The Furong (Hibiscus) Cave is located by the
Furong River in Wulung County. The main part of the cave is 2,700
metres in length and 3.7 square metres in area. The Splendid Cave is
the most impressive. Housed in it are nearly 30 varieties of
stalactites chiseled into every manner of exotic imagery by the
cunning labor of nature. Major attractions are Gold Throne Hall,
Leifeng Pagoda and Sky-reaching Jade Pillar.
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