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    CHONGQING

    Written by: Tie Mei
    Posted on: January 16, 2013 | | 中文

    Chongqing is a renowned historic city with 3,000 years of cultural heritage. It is also the youngest municipality of China and the world's largest inland city with hilly slopes and a river that runs around it. It is a huge city as it has the largest administrative area and the largest population in China. The city center is encircled by the Yangtze and Jialing Rivers. Row upon row of buildings can be seen on the hilly slopes and by the river, which has earned for it the nicknames ‘Hilly City’ and ‘City by the River.’

    CHONGQING
    Tie Mei

    CHONGQING On the world map in the hall of the United Nations, four cities in China are marked, including Chongqing. It is a renowned historic city with 3,000 years of cultural heritage. It is also the youngest municipality and the largest inland city of China with hilly slopes and a river around it. Covering an area of 82,400 square kilometers, it is a big city, with the largest administrative area and the largest population in China.

    Chongqing is a famous historical and cultural city of China. Evidence of human existence in Chongqing dates back to the end of the Old Stone Age, some 20,000 to 30,000 years ago. During the Shang and Zhou Periods in the 11th century BC, Chongqing was the capital of the Ba Kingdom. More than 800 years ago, the inauguration of an emperor of the Song Dynasty was held here, and he marked his celebrations by naming the city ‘Chongqing,’ which means ‘double celebration’.

    In 1891, Chongqing became the earliest inland port in China for export. Functioning as a strategic hub in Central West China and the economic center in the upper reaches of the Yangtze River, Chongqing is the largest multi-functional modern industrial and commercial city. The Three Gorges Dam that draws world-wide attention and the exploration of residence relocation brings vigor to the development of Chongqing. It is the key development zone of the Grand West Development Project of the state.

    The network of rivers including the Yangtze River, the Jialing River and the Wujiang River, and the hills and mountains are the characteristic topographical features of Chongqing. The Yangtze River flows through the city from the west to the east with a flow path of 665 km and presents the world famous scenery of the Three Gorges. As the old city of Chongqing is encircled by the Yangtze and Jialing Rivers, rows of buildings can be seen on the hilly slopes and by the river; hence, the city’s nicknames of ‘Hilly City’ and ‘City by the River.’ When night falls, the myriad lights twinkling, together with the river and sky?add radiance to each other, making the city look as splendid and beautiful as the starry sky.  

    CHONGQING Chongqing is the only transportation network in West China that integrates water, land and air transportation. It is a solid industrial base for coal in South China. It tops the list in the country in terms of abundant water resources per square kilometer. It has the largest production plant for aluminum in Asia. The number of motorcycles that are produced in Chongqing makes up one third of the total output of the country. Great strength in scientific research and education is safeguarded by its research institutes (more than 1,000), universities and colleges (34) as well as professionals of science and technology (more than 600, 000).  

    The total population of Chongqing is more than 30 million and there are 49 nationalities, including Han, Tujia, Miao, and Hui, to name a few. Ethnic minorities keep to their distinctive traditional customs. The Diaojiao Lou of the Tujia people (suspended wooden buildings near water and at the foot of mountains), the Miao embroidery and Batik are some of the unique features.

    Fishermen’s Chant is a kind of folk song of Chongqing. In July 1987, in Avignon, France, in an art festival titled “World Rivers Meet at Seine,” a folk art exchange program, Chongqing artists amazed the audience with their thunderous song which was praised as the “music of the rivers”. Chongqing is home to a variety of labor chants, including Stone Chant (sung by people whose job is to break stones) and Road Name Chant (sung by people whose job is to carry bamboo sedan chairs with people riding in them). Since ancient times, story-telling as a part of oral literature has been well received by the local people.

    CHONGQING The people of Chongqing have hot pot food all year round, so ‘Hot Pot’ is another nickname for Chongqing. The people here enjoy very pungent and spicy hot pot food, and they have it regardless of the time of year, even when it is over 30°C in summer.

    Tourist Destinations

    Fengdu County, the Ghost Town
    According to traditional Chinese beliefs, human beings turn into ghosts after they die. As legend has it, the Ghost Town is where these ghosts live. Fengdu County has a history of nearly 2,000 years and is well known as the Capital of Ghosts and the Land of the Dead. According to ancient Chinese documents, there were three palaces and nine mansions in Fengdu County, which were as gorgeous as the Celestial Temple, the seat of the ghost king who was supposed to rule millions of ghosts. Fengdu is the so-called destination of the ghosts, home to China’s divine song, and home to human spirits.  

    Located on the north bank of the lower reaches of the Yangtze River, 172 km away from Chongqing, Fengdu has the largest dynamic cultural landscape in China. It has received many famous visitors, including Henry Alfred Kissinger, former US Secretary of State George Shultz, and Toshiki Kaifu and Nakasone Yasuhiro, former Japanese Prime Ministers.

    Wushan
    CHONGQING Known as the east gate of Chongqing, Wushan has a long history and abounds with cultural and historic heritages as well as a unique charm. Longgupo Site of Wushan is where the ancient fossils of human beings that lived about 200 million years ago were found. The Three Gorges Man and Wushan Man, the earliest homo erectus in Asia, kindled the fire of civilization here. Daxi Town, where the Neolithic Site is located, has 5,000 years of history and is home to the famous Daxi Culture, which was not discovered until the 1980s. The Little Three Gorges was on the list of National Natural Reserve in 1982 and was selected as a AAAA tourist destination in 2000.

    Dazu Stone Carvings
    In December 1999, UNESCO declared the Dazu Stone Carvings as a world cultural heritage site. The cliffside carvings of Dazu from the 9th century to the 13th century are acknowledged to be unique. They are known for their high artistic quality and diversity of themes ranging from secular life to religious belief, which reflects the social realities of the time and proves that Buddhism, Daoism and Confucianism were in harmony in that period.

    The site of the Dazu Stone Carvings, 15 km away from Dazu County, is known as home to stone carvings. It began in the year 649, showcasing the essence of stone carving masterpieces. In terms of scale, it stands shoulder to shoulder with Yungang Grottoes, Longmeng Grottoes, and Mogao Grottoes. Seventy-odd sites display over 100,000 grottoes. Being an important component in grottoes art, the Dazu Stone Carvings have been a marvelous page in the history of world stone carving from the end of the 9th to the mid-13th century.    
     


    As the new year begins, let us also start anew. I’m delighted to extend, on behalf of the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and in my own name, new year’s greeting and sincere wishes to YOULIN magazine’s staff and readers.

    Only in hard times can courage and perseverance be manifested. Only with courage can we live to the fullest. 2020 was an extraordinary year. Confronted by the COVID-19 pandemic, China and Pakistan supported each other and took on the challenge in solidarity. The ironclad China-Pakistan friendship grew stronger as time went by. The China Pakistan Economic Corridor projects advanced steadily in difficult times, become a standard-bearer project of the Belt and Road Initiative in balancing pandemic prevention and project achievement. The handling capacity of the Gwadar Port has continued to rise and Afghanistan transit trade through the port has officially been launched. The Karakoram Highway Phase II upgrade project is fully open to traffic. The Lahore Orange Line project has been put into operation. The construction of Matiari-Lahore HVDC project was fully completed. A batch of green and clean energy projects, such as the Kohala and Azad Pattan hydropower plants have been substantially promoted. Development agreement for the Rashakai SEZ has been signed. The China-Pakistan Community of Shared Future has become closer and closer.

    Reviewing the past and looking to the future, we are confident to write a brilliant new chapter. The year 2021 is the 100th birthday of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Pakistan. The 100-year journey of CPC surges forward with great momentum and China-Pakistan relationship has flourished in the past 70 years. Standing at a new historic point, China is willing to work together with Pakistan to further implement the consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, connect the CPEC cooperation with the vision of the “Naya Pakistan”, promote the long-term development of the China-Pakistan All-weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership with love, dedication and commitment. Mohammad Ali Jinnah, the founding father of Pakistan said, “We are going through fire. The sunshine has yet to come.” Yes, Pakistan’s best days are ahead, China will stand with Pakistan firmly all the way.

    YOULIN magazine is dedicated to promoting cultural exchanges between China and Pakistan and is a window for Pakistani friends to learn about China, especially the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. It is hoped that with the joint efforts of China and Pakistan, YOULIN can listen more to the voices of readers in China and Pakistan, better play its role as a bridge to promote more effectively people-to-people bond.

    Last but not least, I would like to wish all the staff and readers of YOULIN a warm and prosper year in 2021.

    Nong Rong Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of
    The People’s Republic of China to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan
    January 2021