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Chongqing, More Than A City
Skyscrapers rise like bamboo shoots in Chongqing
It has the population of Iraq, and the land mass of Austria. So calling Chongqing a city is somewhat deprecating, like calling the Grand Canyon a crevasse, or Australia a South Pacific island. Chongqing contains worlds,echoing through its many hills, veiled in perpetual mist. Better, perhaps, that most travelers just pass through on their way to the gorges, for Chongqing will overload their senses as surely as their leg muscles.
Huge and modern as it is, Chongqing still sees relatively few foreigners, who must be ill-bred indeed not to receive a healthy dose of southwestern charm.
No one knows what special blend of air, water, and chili oil makes Chongqing’s women so beautiful. If they did, it would be bottled and sold, and Chongqing would be richer than the UAE.
Chongqing has often served as a capital, most recently in the War of Resistance against Japan. Moist air and chlorophyll soften the ugly memories of Hongyang Revolutionary Hall.
No water, no life; no Jiang, no Chongqing. The Yangtze River has brought wealth, disaster, and everything in between.
This Daoist temple was first built in the Tang, and rests on Jinyun Mountain – the kinder, smaller, just as beautiful as Emei.
General Zhang Fei, hero of the Three Kingdoms, lost his head here in the river. Some loyal followers fished it out with a bag of gold, built this temple with the treasure, and buried the head in it.
The only thing less than magnificent about this miracle of karst erosion is its name, the Heavenly Pit. 626 meters around, 500 wide, and 660 deep makes for more than a pit. May we suggest “the Celestial Void”?
The Qutang Gorge finally gets some morning sun. The boats are rising with the waters and catching light earlier now, thanks to that dam project upriver.
In Chongqing, fortunes rise and fall like the river, like the place itself, precipitously. Bodhisatva the thousand-handed hears many prayers, this one from Baoding Mountain, granting mercy since the Southern Song dynasty.
What’s waiting at Four-Face Mountain? Why, the highest waterfall in China. Come for the 150-meter splash, stay for the eco-wonderland, a sea of sub-tropical woods, rare plants, and protected species.
What’s a Chinese destination without an ancient town? Gongtan, the western pearl, close and cozy on the western bank of the Wujiang, collected tribute from Hunan and Guizhou some 2,000 years ago.
Seems like there’s always someplace a little higher to climb to in Chongqing, but few higher than the Qianlong Bridge out in Wulong county, overlooking river and caves.
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Your articles about the Chinese scenery and the cities will always bring us an impulsion to travel to the places you mentioned, right now! It is my first time to know there are so many great places worth to see in Chongqing,just as most of the people, Chongqing for us, was just a rest and middle transfer destination of the Yangtze River and Gorges,and it was the addition tour desitnation, but it will be one of my must-going place in the future! Life is so beatiful if everybody has eyes like the author,thanks for sharing…
No one's saying "more enjoyable", but certainly underestimated and overlooked.
It is my first time to know there are so many great places worth to see in Chongqing,just as most of the people, Chongqing for us, was just a rest and middle transfer destination of the Yangtze River and Gorges,and it was the addition tour desitnation.
Been to this city twice now and it never fails to keep my interest. I must say Chongqing is actually several cities into one. I picture Chongqing as two cities in California, San Francisco and Los Angeles. The Los Angeles part is in the size. Think of all of Los Angeles County as being one city of Los Angeles! San Frnacisco is mentioned due to the misty fog and hills that Chongqing has. Must warn you though that the hot pot is not called hot pot for nothing! Also if you come during the summer, be prepared to sweat! You may lose some pounds from the sweating but on the serious side, it is very hot and humid during the summer so be prepared if you come during that time of the year. The winters are mild and rain is evident. If you love traveling cities or a city slicker, then I think one will enjoy their stay in Chongqing.
Those are some comprehensive tips, Mario. Thanks!