Chongqing

Chongqing is a direct-controlled municipality of the People's Republic of China, located in the southwest of the country. It sits at the confluence of the Yangtze and Jialing rivers and covers a large area that includes urban districts as well as extensive rural and mountainous regions. The municipality was established in 1997, and together with Beijing, Shanghai and Tianjin it forms one of China’s four direct-administered municipalities. It is one of the largest urban areas in western China by both population and land area.

The area is about 82,400 square kilometers; population around 32 million (2020). The terrain is predominantly hilly and karst in the east, with the basin area forming the core urban region. Climate: humid subtropical, hot summers and mild winters; substantial rainfall, especially in summer.

Historically part of the Ba and Shu cultures, Chongqing developed as a political and commercial hub during imperial times and became the wartime capital of the Republic of China from 1937 to 1945. The modern municipality was created in 1997 to accelerate development in western China.

Chongqing is a major manufacturing and logistics center, with industries including automotive, electronics, equipment manufacturing, and chemicals. It is a key transport hub on the Yangtze River, with a major international airport (Chongqing Jiangbei) and extensive rail connections, and it is part of the Yangtze River Economic Belt and the Belt and Road Initiative corridor.

It is known for spicy Sichuan-style cuisine, particularly hot pot. Local speech is a form of Southwestern Mandarin. Tourism highlights include Dazu Rock Carvings, the old town of Ciqikou, and the scenic Wulong Karst area.