Chongqing History

The history of Chongqing can be traced back to Tongliang culture and Mawangchang culture twenty thousand years ago. During the closing stage of the Spring and Autumn Period, it was the capita of Ba Kingdom. Ba was the earliest name of this place. When the Qin Kingdom unified China, it established Ba Prefecture here. In the Han Dynasty the name was changed into Jiang Prefecture, because this mountain city closely stood by the Yanhgtze River. In the Sui Dynasty the name was again changed into Yu Prefecture, because it was near Jialingjiang River which was called Yu River in the ancient time. That is why Chongqing is called Yu for short. This name remained through the Tang Dynasty, Five Dynasties and the Northern Sung Dynasty for 500 odd years. Up to now Chongqing is still called Yu for short.

In the Southern Sung Dynasty (1127-1279), the city’s name was changed into Chongqing Prefecture, meaning "Double Celebration or Happiness" in Chinese characters. That was how the name "Chongqing" came which has been used through the dynasties of Yuan, Ming and Qing and up to now.

Chongqing had always been an important port, busy with junks from Sichuan's hinterlands and neighboring provinces, and acting as the collection point for the abundant produce of the region, including hides and furs from Tibet, hemp, salt, silk, rhubarb, copper and iron. In 1891, Chongqing became the first inland commerce port open to foreigners.

From 1929, Chongqing became a municipality of the Republic of China. During the Second Sino-Japanese War (1937-1945), it was Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek's provisional capital and was heavily bombed by the Japanese Air Force. Luckily, due to its mountainous environment, many people were saved from the bombing. Many factories and universities were moved from eastern China to Chongqing during WWII, transforming this city from inland port to a heavily industrialized city.

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

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