Overview

Located at the junction of the Yangtze River and Jialing River, Chongqing is an extremely large metropolis on the upper reaches of the Yangtze and an industrial and commercial importance in West China.

Chongqing is a well-known city with a history of more than 3000 years. It is a famous historical and cultural city in China. Chongqing is the birthplace of the Bayu Culture. Chongqing is said to be the semi-mythical State of Ba that the Ba people supposedly established during the 11th century BC. As a city in the mountains, it is surrounded by two rivers, and has high-rises and buildings in graceful disorder. Chongqing is known as "foggy city", "mountain city", and "furnace city".

Chongqing has many attractions: cityscapes, mountains, revolutionary sites, cultural relics, parks, scenic spots, and natural beauty. The city offers a variety of choices for the visitor: from meetings and exhibitions, to sightseeing, shopping, dining and entertainment. Chongqing is variously known as "foggy city", "mountain city", and "furnace city". The central urban area of Chongqing is wedged between the Yangtze River and the Jialingjiang River, surrounded by hills and mountains. With green hills and clear waters, the scenery is unique. Buildings are massed in picturesque disorder near the mountains and at the rivers' edge. From a vantage point at night, one can see a myriad of glittering lights, contrasting pleasantly with clear glistening lights from the waves of two rivers and flashing stars all over the sky. This combination makes for a magnificent scene.

Chongqing has a subtropical climate with an annual average temperature of 18`C, an annual rainfall of 1,000mm and an annual average humidity of 79%. The land is green even in winter. The four seasons in Chongqing are characterized as an early spring, a hot summer, a rainy autumn and a warm winter. Chongqing enjoys a tropical moist climate of central Asia, with cloudy days, and less frost and snow. In spring and autumn, the city is often enveloped by heavy fog, hence the name the 'Capital of Fog'. The best weather is in April, May, September and October.