Chongqing

Chongqing (abbrv.: Yu, also called Mountain-, River- and Fog(gy) City ) located on the confluence of the two rivers Yangtze and Jialing and has a deep history of more than  3.000 years. Because of the countless hills all over the city, bicycles are not often used. It’s the largest and most important industrial- and trading city in Southwest China and today an autonomous city. With a population of about 30 million people advanced the metropolitan area of Chongqing to the largest autonomous city of China, beating Shanghai with “only” 16 million people. The city accounts for several reasons as an important travel destination. For one is Chongqing a highly interesting mountainous city. Furthermore is the proximity to Dazu important, since here is a treasure chamber with relieves dating back to ancient times of China. On the other hand is the city the starting point for every cruise through the three gorges of the Yangtze river. Every year, between Mai and June the international Three Gorges Tourist  Festival is celebrated. The city is foremost the departing point for Yangtze cruises but time allowing it is worthwhile to go on a sightseeing tour to downtown, between the liberation memorial and the docks at the “Heaven’s Gate”  (chaotianmen).  The cityscape is changing rapidly, the modernisation of great parts of the town leaves barely time to breathe, but still numerous alleyways are to be discovered, which have been spared from the omnipresent wrecking ball. 

Chongqing Museum

The Chongqing Museum is located next to the Pipashan. This is an excellent historical  museum with many different cultural objects and exhibits with the topic of China’s Palaeolithic period, (about 3,000,000 B. C. ) including the history of evolution and recent history. The four levelled museum holds over 100.000 cultural objects, like the stone wares dating back to the Palaeolithic times. Pieces from the Ba Shu Culture, beautiful burial objects made from stones from the Han Dynasty (206 B.C. – 220 A. D.), porcelain, paintings and calligraphy representing different Dynasties as well as the fantastic handiworks of the Qiang, Tibetan, Yi, Miao and Tujia nationalities from south-west China.   

Eling Park

This park is located at Changjiang Road. The Eling Park was created 1909 and was formerly designed as a court of the Li family, a rich merchant family. The tower, also known as Wabngjiang Pavilion was built later. From here one can enjoy an excellent panoramic view of the city. Since 1958 this annex is called "Eling Park".

Dazu Grottos

Dazu Grottos is a general name given to more than 100 grottos existent in the district of Dazus, about 80 km north-westerly of Chongqing, also including the grottos and stone sculptures in Beishan, Baodingshan, Nanshan, Shimenshan and Shizhuanshan.
The construction of those grottos started in the early Tang Dynasty (618 – 907) and reached its peak during the late Tang- und Five Dynasties and Ten States (907 - 979) periods. The grottos are decorated with extensive objects documenting the Buddhist, Taoist and Confucian historical tradition of the people throughout the centuries.  

People’s Congress Hall

The People’s Congress Hall is located close to Xuetianwan, Renmin Road. This building is one of the hallmarks of the city. The architectural style resembles the hall of the Temple of Heaven in Beijing. The 5 levels of the Hall allow seating for 4.200 people.