CHONGQING

Chongqing separated from Sichuan to become the fourth municipality directly under the Central Government in 1997, together with Beijing, Shanghai and Tianjin. As the largest city in China, Chongqing has since grown upwards and outwards as it established itself as one of the engines of China's economic development, producing everything from cars to chopsticks to satisfy the nation's consumer zeal.

Location: Located on the upper reaches of the Yangtze River and straddling the region which connects the middle and western parts of China
Area: 82,400 sq km

Population: 30.90 million (March 2001)
Urban Population: 5.771 million

Ethnic groups: Han, Tibetan , Miao and other ethnic groups.

Tourist Attractions: Dazu, famous all over the world for its stone sculptures; the Sea of Lamps on the Mountain City; The Waterfalls at the Simian Mountains; the Scene of Rosy Clouds over the Qianling Range; the Waves and Islels in the Long Lake; An Ideal Place for Angling in the Central Plain; The Pleasant Stream in Nantang and An Panoramic View of Conflunce at Chaotian.

Climate: temperature is 24-25Cº, the average highest temp. 29-29.7Cº, the average lowest temp. 20.6-21.4Cº and the precipitation in the daytime 27-40%(light rain) during June 7-11 in the urban areas of Chongqing.