Chongqing is the biggest municipality in terms of area and population in China that directly under the Central Government. It is also the largest industrial and commercial center in southwest China, and a hub of land and water transportation in the upper Yangtze valley, with an total populationof 31.3 million, among which the urban population is 6.35 million. Chongqing municipality is now made up 15 districts, 4 conty-level cities and 21 counties.

Chongqing is a comprehensive industrial city, with advanced iron and steel, chemicals, electric power, automobile manufacturing, machine-building, shipbuilding, construction materials, textiles, foodstuffs and pharmaceuticals industries.

Chongqing was originally the capital of the State of Ba over three thousand years. The place was called Jiangzhou during the Western Han Dynasty. Later on, it was changed into Yuzhou during the Sui, Tang, Wudai and Northern Song Dynasties. 

Before long, the place was renamed once more as Gongzhou for a short period of time. By the time when Zhao Dun was confered the title of Prince Gong, he stayed in this place. For the sake of celebration, he renamed the city of Gongzhou as Chongqing (Double Celebration) immediately after he had ascended the throne. This name remains all the same over the previous eight hundred years, though the scope of this city had sometimes had a little change. 

Chongqing is subtropical, hot in summer. Hence it had got the name 'furnace city.' Meanwhile, Chongqing has also got the renown as a 'mountain city' because of its buildings on hillsides and mountains surrounding the city. The main features of the downtown area are the hilly slopes. Travelers soon learn to get used to the feeling of going up and down, up and down. Locals compare the terrain to San Francisco.

The climate in Chongqing is often cloudy and misty. As a consequence, it is also called 'the foggy city'.  Moreover, since the average annual precipitation is about 1,000 millimetres, the scene of raining in night appears from time to time.

Chongqing is endowed with a convenient communication in the field of water, air and land transportation. In terms of the water transportation, since the city is located at the confluence of the Yangtze and Jialing rivers, ships and boats can navigate their way upstream from coastal cities and ports on the lower reaches of the river all the year round. With over 100 cruise ships that begin their itineraries in the city, Chongqing is the best place to start a Yangtze River Cruise tour. Cruising down China's longest river, the Yangtze, passing through the famous Three Gorges, is one of  the highlights while travelling in China.

Choingqing's hot spicy food is famous. The most well-known dish is the hotpot, which is a pot of boiling broth that you put various uncooked food items into. The meal always takes a long time, so it is good to eat it in the company of others.