Ⅰ•Preface
On the map of the world on the wall of the hall of the United Nations, only four Chinese cities are printed, and one of them is Chongqing.
View of Chaotianmen, Chongqing
The towering mountains and the low river valleys are witnesses of the history of the three thousand years of civilization of Chongqing. In the long river of history, the city, with its tremendous power of cohesion and influence upon its neighboring areas, became a regional military and political center and a distributing center of commodities. It has been a flourishing city for over a thousand years. In the last hundred years and more, the city grew with its commerce, flourished with the move in of political and industrial establishments from the coastal areas of east China, and achieved economic take-off with the reform. As a result, the city of Chongqing has changed from an ancient military strategic pass into a city open to the outside world that holds a strategic position connecting the central and western parts of China, from an ancient regional trading center into an economic center on the upper reaches of the Yangtze River, from a city of entrepot trade of the 19th century into the largest multi-functional modern industrial and commercial city in west China, and from a port city in the east part of the Sichuan basin into a municipality directly under the central government that stands in the hinterland of China but faces different parts of the world. The rapid rise of Chongqing in western China, with its glorious past and fast changing present, has left its mark in the history of development of China and has become the center of focus of world attention.
At the turn of the century, Chongqing is again placed by history at the starting line for a new race. The construction of the Three Gorges Dam and the resettlement of a large number of residents for the purpose of new development in the dam area has added new drive to the development of the city; the establishment of the new municipality directly under the central government has opened up a hew horizon for the city’s development; and the great development of the western regions of China has opened up a new chapter in its development. Chongqing today, with its advantages in its geographical, cultural and social environment, is becoming an irresistible attraction and is showing its greatness and charms to the outside world.
The famous historic city with three thousand years of Ba-Yu culture is becoming more beautiful!
China’s youngest municipality directly under the central government is producing numerous modern myths!
The world’s largest inland mountain and river city is making wonders!
A new Chongqing, the economic center on the upper reaches of the Yangtze River, is going to the outside world in its development!
Evening View of Chongqing
Ⅱ•Natural and Geographical Conditions
Chongqing is situated at 105°17'--110°11' E and 28°10'－32°13' N, at the transitional area between the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and the plain on the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River in the sub-tropical climate zone swept by the moist monsoon. The average annual temperature of the city is around 18℃, with the lowest winter temperature averaging between 6℃ and 8℃and summer temperature averaging between 27℃ and 29℃. It has a total annual sunshine time of 1000 to 1200 hours. It has mild winter, hot summers, long frost-free periods and ample rain, warm and wet, with rain and heat occurring in the same season. It has an annual rainfall of 1000 – 1400 mm. It often rains at night in late spring and early summer, and thus the city is famous for its “night rain in the Ba mountains”. The area under Chongqing’s jurisdiction is 470 kilometers from east to west, and 450 kilometers from north to south. It borders on Hubei and Hunan provinces in the east, Guizhou province in the south, Sichuan province in the west and north and Shaanxi Province at its northeast corner.
Chongqing covers a large area crisscrossed by rivers and mountains. The Daba Mountains stand in the north, the Wushan Mountains in the east, the Wuling Mountains in the southeast and the Dalou Mountains in the south. The whole area slopes down from north and south towards the Yangtze valley, with sharp rises and falls. The area is featured by mountain and hills, with large sloping areas at different heights. Typical karst topographic features are common in this area, and stone forests, forests of peaks, limestone caves and valleys can be found in many places. The Yangtze River runs through the whole area from west to east, covering a course of 665 kilometers, cutting through the Wushang Mountains at three places and forming the well-known Three Gorges: the Qutang, the Wuxia and the Xiling gorges. Coming from northwest and running through “the Lesser Three Gorges” of Libi, Wentang and Guanyin, the Jialing River joins the Yangtze after three large twists and turns.
The central urban area of Chongqing, or Chongqing proper, is a beautiful city with its unique features. Built on mountains and embraced by the Yangtze and Jialing rivers, it is known as a “mountain city” and a “city on rivers”. The night scene of the city is most charming, with millions of lights and their reflection on the rivers, forming another Milky Way. With its special topographical features, the city has the unique magnificent scenery of mountain, rivers, forests, springs, waterfalls, gorges and caves. The best natural scenery is found in the famous Three Gorges. High cliffs standing face to face on either side of the Yangtze, forming a natural gallery of arts. Each of the three gorges has its special charm: the Qutang Gorge is imposing and magnificent, the Wuxia Gorge elegant and graceful, and the Xiling Gorge precipitous and perilous. There are the even more beautiful Lesser Three Gorges on the Daning River and the Lesser Lesser Three Gorges on the Madu River. Li Bai (701-762 A.D.), the great poet of the Tang Dynasty, inspired by the scenery, chanted while touring through the Three Gorges, and left the world an immortal poem:
Leaving at dawn the White Emperor crowned with cloud,
I’ve sailed a thousand li through canyons in a day.
With the monkeys’ adieus the riverbanks are loud,
My skiff has left ten thousand mountains far away.
In addition to the magnificent gorges, Mother Nature has also favored the city with other gifts: the rich natural resources in Jinfo Mountain in Nanchuan, known as a natural bank of genes, and in Simian Mountain in Jiangjin, the largest virgin forest on the same latitude in the world; the scenery along valleys on the Wujing River, Jialing River, and the Daning River; and the beautiful lakes: the Chnagshou Lake, the Xiaonanhai Lake, and the Qinglong Lake.
Ⅲ•History of Changes and Development
Chongqing, a famous historic and cultural city in China, has a history of more than 3,000 years and a glorious revolutionary tradition. The ancient Ba-Yu area with present Chongqing as its center was the birthplace of the Ba-Yu civilization. Dating back to the end of the Old Stone Age about 20,000 to 30,000 years ago, the area of present-day Chongqing was inhabited by human beings. During the Shang and Zhou periods in the 11th century B. C., the Ba people established the State of Ba with present-day Chongqing as its capital. Later the State of Qin, after conquering the State of Ba, divided China into 36 prefectures, and Ba Prefecture was one of them. At its height, the State of Ba covered a large area, including present-day eastern Sichuan, southern Shaanxi, western Hubei, northwestern Hunan and northern Guizhou, with its administrative center at the pre-1997 Chongqing. During most of the time beginning from the Qin and Han dynasties, this area remained one unified administrative area, with its administrative center at the pre-1997 Chongqing.
Chongqing, a famous historic and cultural city in China, has a history of more than 3,000 years and a glorious revolutionary tradition. The ancient Ba-Yu area with present Chongqing as its center was the birthplace of the Ba-Yu civilization. Dating back to the end of the Old Stone Age about 20,000 to 30,000 years ago, the area of present-day Chongqing was inhabited by human beings. During the Shang and Zhou periods in the 11th century B. C., the Ba people established the State of Ba with present-day Chongqing as its capital. Later the State of Qin, after conquering the State of Ba, divided China into 36 prefectures, and Ba Prefecture was one of them. At its height, the State of Ba covered a large area, including present-day eastern Sichuan, southern Shaanxi, western Hubei, northwestern Hunan and northern Guizhou, with its administrative center at the pre-1997 Chongqing. During most of the time beginning from the Qin and Han dynasties, this area remained one unified administrative area, with its administrative center at the pre-1997 Chongqing.
Chongqing was known as Jiangzhou in ancient times, and later was called Ba Prefecture, Chu Prefecture, Yu Prefecture, and Gong prefecture at different times. During the South-North Dynasties, Ba Prefecture was named Chu Prefecture, and it was renamed Yu Prefecture in 581 A. D. by Emperor Wen of the Sui Dynasty, and since then the area of Chongqing was known as Yu for short. In 1189, before he was enthroned, Emperor Guangzong of the Song Dynasty was named Prince Gong. Considering the events a “double happiness” that happened in the same year while he was the ruler of the place, he promoted Gong Prefecture into Chongqing Fu. That’s how the city got its present name Chongqing more than 800 years ago. In 1891 it became China’s first inland port city open to the outside world. It was officially established as a city in 1929. And it became the war-time capital of China, the national anti-fascist supreme command in the war of resistance and the political, economic and cultural center in the rear areas between 1937 to 1946 after the national government was moved to Chongqing during the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression. Therefore Chongqing was known as “a city that became capital three times”. It remained a city directly under the central government after the National Government returned to Nanjing after the War.
In the early years after the founding of New China, Chongqing, the seat of Southwest Bureau of the Party Central Committee, the seat of the Military and Political Committee of Southwest China, and the political, economic and cultural center in Southwest China, was a municipality directly under the central government. It became a city under the government of Sichuan Province in 1954 when the Southwest China administration division was cancelled. In 1983 it became the country’s first pilot city in comprehensive reform of it economic system and became the first city listed in the State budget with the authority in the management of economic affairs of the provincial level. In 1992 it became a riparian open city. In September 1996 Chongqing was given the authority to administer the city of Wanxian, the city of Fuling and Qianjiang Prefecture. On March 14, 1997, Chongqing became China’s fourth municipality directly under the central government, the only one in southwest China, when a resolution was adopted at the Fifth Session of the Eighth National People’s Congress, opening a new chapter in the construction and development of the city.
Ⅳ•Administrative Divisions
Covering an area of 8,240,000 square kilometers, the city of Chongqing has 40 administrative divisions of the district / county (autonomous county / city) level under its jurisdiction, including 15 districts (Wanzhou, Fuling, Yuzhong, Dadukou, Jiangbei, Shapingba, Jiulongpo, Nan’an, Beibei, Wansheng, Shuangqiao, Yubei, Ba’na, Qianjiang, and Changshou), 4 cities of the county level (Jiangjin, Hechuan, Yongchuan, and Nanchuan), 21 counties /autonomous counties (Qijiang, tongnan, Tongliang, Dazu, Rongchang, Bishan, Liangping, Chengkou, Fengdu, Dianjiang, Wulong, Zhongxian, Kaixian, Yunyang, Fengjie, Wushan, Wuxi, Shizhu Tujia Autonomous County, Xiushan Tujia-Miao Autonomous County, Youyang Tujia-Miao Autonomous County, and Pengshui Miao-Tujia Autonomous County). Centering around the principal urban area of Chongqing, or Chongqing proper, the other districts, counties, autonomous counties and cities are located around Chongqing proper like many stars shining around the bright moon, forming a cluster of modern cities with big, medium and smaller cities well-organized in groups and in a network system. At present, Chongqing is an extra-large metropolis, the most populous city that covers the largest area, a city with most administrative divisions in China.
Ⅴ•Leaders at Different Times
1．
Mayor: Chen Xilian
Vice Mayors: Cao Diqiu, Hu Zi’ang
Secretary - General: Luo Shigao
2.
Mayor: Cao Diqiu
Vice Mayors: Luo Shigao, Hu Zi’ang
Secretary - General: Chen Chou
3.
Mayor: Ren Baige
Vice Mayors: Luo Shigao, Hu Zi’ang, Chen Chou
Secretary - General: Chen Chou (concurrent)
4.
Mayor: Ren Baige
Vice Mayors: Chen Chou, Zhou Qinyue, Yue Lin, Deng Ken, Xiao Songli
Secretary - General: Lin Meng
5.
Mayor: Ren Baige
Vice Mayors: Duan Daming, Zhou Qinyue, Yue Lin, Deng Ken,
Xiao Songli, Pei Changhui
Secretary - General: Lin Meng
6.
Mayor: Ren Baige
Vice Mayors: Liao Suhua (female), Duan Daming, Zhou Qinyue, Yue Lin,
Deng Ken, Xiao Songli, Pei Changhui
Secretary - General: Lin Meng
7.
Mayor: Ren Baige
Vice Mayors: Xin Yizhi, Duan Daming, Zhou Qinyue, Yue Lin,
Deng Ken, Pei Changhui, Wen Shaohe, Chen Huangmei
Secretary - General: Lin Meng
8.
The Municipal Government was paralyzed during the “Cultural Revolution”.
9.
Mayor: Yu Hanqing
Vice Mayors: Zhang Haiting, Wang Maoquan, Ma Li, Wang Xiufeng, Zhou Qinyue,
Lin Lin, Liu Longhua (female), Liu Hedi, Jiang Fashan, Liao Zhenhua
Secretary - General: Ma Li (concurrent)
10.
Mayor: Yu Hanqing
Vice Mayors: Ma Li, Jiang Fashan, Wang Xiufeng, Liu Kunshui, Lin Lin,
Liu Longhua (female), Wei Siqi, Liu Hedi, Li Changchun
Secretary - General: Zhao Weiqing
11.
Mayors: Yu Hanqing, Xiao Yang (worked as vice mayor at first)
Vice Mayors: Wei Wenlie, Huang Ye, Jiang Fashan, Li Yansheng, Feng Kexi,
Li Changchun, Sun Tongchuan, Wang Zhengde
Secretary - General: Zhao Weiqing
12.
Mayor: Sun Tongchuan
Vice Mayors: Zhang Wenbin, Li Changchun, Liu Zhizhong, Xiao Zuxiu,
Wang Zhengde, Jin Lie, Qin Changdian, Dou Ruihua,
Tang Qinglin, Zhang Biguo
Secretary - General: Qiu Wanxing
13.
Mayor: Liu Zhizhong
Vice Mayors: Xiao Zuxiu, Chen Yuanhu, Qin Changdian, Dou Ruihua,
Tang Qinglin, Lu Shanzhao, Zhou Jianzhong
Secretary - General: Zhang Wenzhou
14.
Mayor: Liu Zhizhong
Vice Mayors: Xiao Zuxiu, Chen Yuanhu, Qin Changdian, Dou Ruihua,
Tang Qinglin, Lu Shanzhao (female), Zhou Jianzhong
Secretary - General: Zhang Wenzhou
15.
Mayor: Liu Zhizhong
Vice Mayors: Xiao Zuxiu, Qin Changdian, Dou Ruihua,
Tang Qinglin, Lu Shanzhao (female), Zhou Jianzhong
Secretary - General: Zhang Qi
16.
Mayor: Liu Zhizhong
Acting Mayor: Pu Haiqing
Vice Mayors: Xiao Zuxiu, Gan Yuping, Qin Changdian, Dou Ruihua,
Tang Qinglin, Lu Shanzhao (female), Zhou Jianzhong, Xu Zhongmin,
Li Deshui
Secretary - General: Zhang Qi
17.
Mayor: Pu Haiqing
Vice Mayors: Wang Hongju, Gan Yuping, Xu Zhongmin, Li Deshui,
Chen Guangguo, Wu Jianong, Cheng Yiju
Secretary - General: Liu Chengyi
18.
Acting Mayor: Bao Xuding (elected mayor in Jan. 2000)
Vice Mayors: Wang Hongju, Gan Yuping, Xu Zhongmin, Li Deshui,
Chen Guangguo, Wu Jianong, Cheng Yiju
Secretary - General: Liu Chengyi
19.
Mayor: Bao Xuding
Vice Mayors: Wang Hongju, Gan Yuping, Xu Zhongmin, Chen Guangguo,
Wu Jianong, Cheng Yiju, Chen Jiwa (female), Zhao Gongqing
Secretary - General: Liu Chengyi
20.
Mayor: Bao Xuding
Vice Mayors: Wang Hongju (worked as acting mayor in Oct. 2002),
Gan Yuping, Xu Zhongmin, Chen Guangguo, Wu Jianong,
Cheng Yiju, Chen Jiwa (female), Zhao Gongqing, Huang Qifan
Secretary - General: Liu Chengyi
21.
Mayor: Wang Hongju
Vice Mayors: Huang Qifan, Chen Guangguo, Wu Jianong, Chen Jiwa (female),
Zhao Gongqing, Yu Yuanmu, Tong Xiaoping (female), Xie Xiaojun
Secretary - General: Zhou Mubing
Ⅵ•Population and Ethnic Groups
Han people make up the bulk of the population of Chongqing. The city is a harmonious home for the Han and 50 national minorities such as Tujia, Miao, Hui, Manchu, Yi, and Tibetan. People of different ethnic groups live in harmony, and together they participate in the city’s political, economic and cultural affairs, creating the glorious history and culture of the city. By the end of 2003, the total population of Chongqing was 31,300,000. People of national minorities, mainly Tujia and Miao, make up 6.37% of the total population of the city. People of different ethnic groups still keep their respective traditional customs and habits. The Tujia people have their hand-waving dance, the Annual Fair, and local operas such as the nuo opera with masked dancing, and the huadeng opera, while the Miao people have their Autumn Fair, the Mountain-climbing Festival; besides, some national minority people have their Horse and Sheep Festival, Torch Festival, and keep other traditional practices such as weeping at the wedding and dancing at the funeral ceremony. The Tujia people are well-known for their houses built on hillside supported by poles, and the Miao people are famous for their traditional embroidery and wax printing. These varied and colorful local practices and customs make a great attraction to tourists from home and abroad.
Ⅶ•Products and Natural Resources
Chongqing, with its rich natural resources both on the ground and underground, favorably located, with great potential for development, is one of China’s regions abound in natural resources. There are rich plant resources in the territory of Chongqing, with a forest coverage of 20.49 percent. More than 6,000 kinds of various plants can be found in this area, including rare species of trees, such as the spinulose tree fern, the metasequoia, the bald Chinese fir, the cathaya argyrop-hylla, and the dove tree, known as “living fossils”. On Jinyun Mountain alone, there are more than 1,700 kinds of subtropical trees, including the “living fossil” metasequoia, a plant that existed 160 million years ago, and bretscheidera sinensis and the “moth tree”, plants rarely seen in other parts of the world. On Jinfo Mountain in Nanchuan, a natural reserve and scenic spot, there are 5,880 species of 333 families of plants, including 52 rare plants such as cathaya argyrophylla, square bamboo, ginkgo, giant tea, and ginseng, and 36 rare species of animals under special protection by the State, such as presbytis françoisi and leopard; on Simianshan Mountain in Jiangjin there are more than 1,500 kinds of plants and 207 kinds of animals, including 47 key animals and plants under special protection by the State and 23 rare animals. With its extremely plentiful medicinal herbs, Chongqing is a major producer of Chinese medicine in the country. There are over 2,000 kinds of different Chinese medicinal herbs, wild or cultivated, growing in large areas in the mountains in Chongqing, including rhizome of Chinese golden thread, rhizome of large-headed atractylodes, honeysuckle, root of hairy asiabell, bulb of fritillary, tuber of elevated gastrodia, bark of official magnolia, yellow tallow, bark of eucommia, rhizoma corydalis, Chinese angelica, etc. Shizhu Tujia Autonomous County is China’s major producer of rhizome of Chinese golden thread, and is known as “the land of Chinese golden thread”. There are over 560 kinds of cultivated plants in Chongqing, mainly in four categories: rice, corn, wheat and sweat potatoes, with rice as the most important crop. In addition to farm crops such as grain, oil-bearing crops and vegetables, Chongqing also produces industrial crops of fine quality, including rape-seeds, peanuts, tung oil, Chinese tallow trees, tea, mulberry for silkworms breeding, jute, blush dogbane, and flue-cured tobacco, known as “the land of citrus fruits”, “the land of tung oil”, “the land of Chinese tallow trees”. Qianjiang, with its favorable climate and geographical conditions, produces high-quality flue-cured tobacco of the Yunnan-guizhou type, and is known as “the land of flue-cured tobacco”; Fuling is famous for its tasty mustard tubes, and is known as “the land of mustard tubes”. Major fruits in Chongqing include oranges and tangerines, shaddocks, peaches, and plums, oranges and tangerines being the most famous. Among the over 600 kinds of animal species found in Chongqing, 100 are rare animals that enjoy special protection of the state, including the golden-haired monkey, the South China tiger, the bee monkey, and the black stork. Among the over 40 kinds of domestic animals and fowls, the Rongchang pig is the No.1 of China’s three major species of pigs, and this pig is known as a treasure of the country. Shizhu Tujia Autonomous County is the largest producer of long-haired rabbits in China.
Of the major cities in China, Chongqing is the richest in mineral resources. 75 minerals have been found, and 39 minerals have proved reserves in 353 places, with a potential value of 388.2 billion yuan. Advantageous minerals in the city are coal, natural gas, manganese, mercury, aluminum, strontium, etc. Proved reserve for coal in Chongqing is 3.3 billion tons, making this city a major coal producer in southern China. Proved reserve for natural gas is 320 billion square meters, and the production of natural gas at Wolonghe gas field in Dainjiang County ranks No. 1 in China. Strontium is a mineral that enjoys the most advantages in Chongqing, ranking No. 1 in China both in its reserve and in its quality. The proved reserve of manganese in Chongqing is 37 million tons, ranking No. 2 in China. Reserves of vanadium, molybdenum and barium occupy the third place in the country. The mercury mines in Xiushan and Youyang counties with a proved reserve of 19,000 tons, are giant mercury mines rarely found elsewhere in China. Chongqing also produces nonmetal minerals such as rock salt, barite, fluorite, limestone, silicon, etc.
Rivers and water systems crisscross the territory of Chongqing, and they have tremendous power to be tapped. While over 600 kilometers of the mainstream of the Yangtze River runs through the city, the river is joined by five major tributaries and over a hundred streams with the Yangtze as the axis: the Jialing River, the Qujiang River, the Fujiang River, the Wujiang River, and the Daning River. The average annual water resources total some 500 billion cubic meters, making Chongqing No. 1 in China in terms of water space per square kilometer. The city has a potential theoretical electricity generating power of 14,382,800 kilowatts, of which 7,500,000 can be tapped. The potential total installed capacity per square kilometer in Chongqing is three times of the mean value of the country. This makes Chongqing one of the top few cities in China in terms of volume of development of water resources. Besides, Chongqing is also rich in underground thermal energy and drinkable mineral water.
Ⅷ•Comparative Advantages
Chongqing, a super-large city with the greatest investment potential in West China, has advantages in the following five aspects:
Advantageous geographic position
Situated at the heart of the economic belt on the upper reaches of the Yangtze River and the joining part of eastern China with western China, Chongqing is the key region in the strategic plan for developing western China.
Complete infrastructure
Chongqing is the only hub of water, land and air communications in western China. It is the meeting place of the trunk railways and artery expressways that run east-west and north-south across the Chinese continent, and fleets of three thousand-ton ships can reach Chongqing port from east along the Yangtze. The Jiangbei Airport of Chongqing is a key trunk line airport developed by the State. Chongqing is one of the centers of load in the electricity grid in western China. With its large quantity of coal and natural gas, Chongqing has a highly reliable energy supply.
A strong industrial base
Chongqing is a strong industrial base with industries complete in range and branches and capable of forming comprehensive systems of chains of industries. The city used to be one of China’s old industrial bases, and now it is vigorously developing five industries: car and motorcycle making, chemicals and medicine, construction and building materials, foodstuffs, and tourism. At the same time it is accelerating its hi-tech industries represented by IT engineering, biological engineering and environment protection engineering.
Well-developed science, technology and education
The city has a large concentration of professionals in the fields of science, technology and education. It boasts more than 1,000 institutions of scientific research, 29 universities and colleges, and more than 600,000 scientific and technological workers.
A large potential market
Chongqing is a populous city, and its people are going from simply having enough food and clothing to leading a relatively comfortable life. People and towns and factories are moving of from flooded areas, infrastructure construction is going on large scale, projects of biological protection and treatment of pollution are under way, and industries in the old industrial base are in the process of modernization and upgrading. All these factors may result in tremendous demands in consumption and needs for investment.
Seizing the historic chance of the great development of West China, a strategy of the central government, Chongqing is carrying out its strategic plan of building the city into a center of business and trade, finance, science and technology, information and culture, a pivot of transport and telecommunications and a modern industrial base based on hi-tech industries, and is speeding up its economic and social development, serving as a window to the outside world, exerting its economic influence to other areas and helping the development of southwest China and the upper reaches of the Yangtze River.
Ⅸ•Comprehensive Power
Seizing the chance of the three events of Chongqing becoming a municipality directly under the central government, the construction of the Three Gorges Dam Project, and the great development of western China, Chongqing has been making great effort readjusting its economic structure, opening wider to the outside world, deepening its system reform and speeding up its construction of infrastructure facilities. bringing about an overall economic and social development and further growth in its comprehensive power. This has placed the city among the top five among the 12 provinces and provincial divisions in western China in terms of major economic indexes. In 2003, the GDP of Chongqing reached 225 billion yuan, increasing by 11.4 percent. The revenue in the budget of the local government was 20.6 billion yuan, increasing by 30.9 percent.
As a comprehensive industrial city with a long history, Chongqing has more than ten thousand independent accounting industrial enterprises, of which 2,054 are industrial enterprises above designated size, with 840,000 employees and a total capital fund of 201.3 billion yuan. In 2003, the industrial economic results reached a record high: industrial enterprises above designated size reaped a total profit value of 7.8 billion yuan, an increase of 80 percent; and its comprehensive index of industrial economic benefits was 125 percent, 19 percentage points higher than that of the previous year. Heavy and light industries in Chongqing have been developing concurrently, complete with different branches. Manufacturing industry is well developed in Chongqing, making the city one of China’s major production bases of motorcycles, cars, instruments and meters, refined chemicals, large transformers, and traditional Chinese medicine. The city boasts the largest aluminum processing works, 382 car- and motorcycle-making enterprises above designated size. Its output of motorcycles makes up one third of the total national output, and its export of motorcycles is more than half of the national figure. Chongqing has become one of the ten major bases for export of mechanical and electrical products.
Chongqing is a combination of a large city and vast rural areas. Its countryside covers a large area and has a large population. There is great potential for development of its agricultural resources. At present, Chongqing has 1,560,000 hectares of farmland, and a rural labor force of 13.45 million people. The city has varying geographic and topographic features, rich in natural resources. It is one of China’s major bases for grain production and marketable pork. In 2003, the annual average per capita net income for Chongqing rural people was 2,215 yuan, an increase of 5.6 percent over that of the previous year. The Engel coefficient is 52.5 percent, a drop of 10.7 percentage points as compared with that at the time before Chongqing was promoted to a city directly under the central government. People in rural areas of Chongqing are marching on the road to a comfortable life.
Chongqing, a city where the Yangtze and Jialing rivers meet and a city with convenient transport facilities, is a major market for commodity distribution in southwest China and a booming business and trade center on the upper reaches of the Yangtze River. In Chongqing, a commodity market system is taking shape, facing the whole country, linking up cities on the Yangtze, casting its influence in southwest China, developing from a traditional type of commerce to a modern type. In 2003, the total value of retail sales of consumer goods reached 83.5 billion yuan, a rise of 9.5 percent over that of the previous year.
Chongqing is the largest hub of postal and telecommunications on the upper reaches of the Yangtze River and in southwest China. It is the control center for postal and telecommunication services in southwest China. It can easily reach 145 countries and regions in the world by postal and telecommunication services. A number of new postal services have been offered, including direct sending and delivery of business parcels, express mail and EMS to large- and medium-sized cities in China, and mail exchanges between China and other countries.
Ⅹ•The City Flower and the City Tree
Camellia, a plant of the camellia family, is a small evergreen tree with 73 different species. It has a long florescence, pollution resistant, and easy to grow. It has bright blossoms of pale red, purplish red, white, or multicolored. Its petals may have a variety of patterns. It has been cultivated in the area of Chongqing for more than 2,000 years. Su Shi (1037--1101), a famous poet of the Song Dynasty, wrote some famous lines in praise of camellia: “With all the pollen taken by the humming bees, / the flowers remain fragrant, sweet as honey.” In Zhiziqiao, Shigang, Banan District, there is still an ancient camellia tree of 400 years old. Camellia can be found everywhere in Chongqing, in parks, scenic spots, in front of the houses, on balconies of tall buildings. Camellia was officially made the city flower of Chongqing in 1986.
Ficus lacor is a tree with deciduous leaves, of banyan genus of the mulberry family. With its deep roots, strong trunk, and thriving branches and leaves, it has great vitality, grows fast, and enjoys a long life. The tree can grow on thin soil in hot, damp climate, and is pollution resisting. It can even grow well on high cliffs. There are many places in Chongqing that are named “huangjue” or, as the local people pronounce it, “huangguo”, after the tree. An ancient book Shui Jing Zhu (A Record of Rivers) of the Northern Wei Dynasty (386—534 A. D.), noted, “the water [of the Yangtze] then goes east through the Huangjue Gorge [known as Tongluo Gorge today].” And in the Tu Jing (A Book of Pictures) of the Song Dynasty (960--1279) there is the description “At the foot of Tushan Mountain, there are huangjue [ficus lacor] trees; and below the trees there is the Huangjue Ferry Crossing”. In Chongqing today, there are quite a number of places named after the tree: Huangjueya, Huangjueping, for instance. The ficus lacor was officially made the city tree of Chongqing in 1986.
Ⅺ•Sister Cities
Seattle, USA?(May 13, 2004)
Toulouse, France (May 13, 2004)
Hiroshima, Japan (May 13, 2004)
Toronto, Canada (May 13, 2004)
Leicester, Great Britain (May 13, 2004)
Voronezh, Russia (May 13, 2004)
Zaporozhye State, Ukraine (May 13, 2004)
Province of Gers, France (May 13, 2004)
Miyakonojo, Japan (May 13, 2004)
Mpumalanga Province, South Africa (May 13, 2004)
The website of Chongqing Government: www.cq.gov.cn
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Bilateral Visits
