Chongqing is a land of natural beauty.Chongqing boasts a city with cultural appeal.
"Running far away are the waves of the Han River(汉水).Flying high are the clouds and rain of Wushan Mountain(巫山)".Surrounded by mountains and rivers and hugged by valleys and canyons, Chongqing has been a renowned historical and cultural city where men of letters gathered, merchants converged and a place of strategic importance since ancient times. "The State of Ba(巴国) witnessed rises and falls in its long history". Over 3, 000 years ago, the Ba People(巴人) established their country and capital city here, which later became the birthplace of Bayu Culture(巴渝文化). As the Jialing River(嘉陵江) was called the "Yu River"(渝水) in ancient times, Chongqing was also called "Yu"(渝) in the abbreviated form. In the lst year of Chongning(1102) of the Northern Song Dynasty(北宋崇宁), "Yu Zhou" (渝州) was renamed "Gong Zhou"(恭州). In the 16th year of Chunxi(1189) of the Southem Song Dynasty(南宋淳熙) , Zhao Dun(赵惇), Emperor Guangzong of Song, ascended to the throne, and "Gong Zhou" was ascended to "Chongqing Fu"(重庆府). This is the origin of the name "Chongqing". Since the Qin Dynasty(秦朝), this ancient city of Chongqing has been built four times before taking shape. In the year 1891, Chongqing became one of the earliest inland trading ports that was opened to the outside world. In the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression,
the National Government(国民政府) moved to Yu, and Chongqing became the "War-time Capital" and the far east commanding center of the World Anti-Fascist
War. It was also the location of the Southwest Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China(中共中央西南局) represented by comrade Zhou Enlai. China Democratic League(民盟), China National Democratic Construction Association(民建), Jiu San Society(九三学社), and Federation of Comrades of the Three People's Principles(三民主义同志联合会), as one of the predecessors of The Revolutionary Committee of Kuomintang(民革), were all established here. Since the founding of the People's Republic of China, it was the seat of the Southwest Bureau of the Central Committee of CPC and Southwest Military and Political Commission(西南军政委员会). Chongqing was also the political, economic and cultural center in southwest China, as well as the key area of "Strategic Area Construction in National Defence"(三线建设); meanwhile, it was the first pilot city that exercised the comprehensive reform of the economic system. Since Chongqing became a municipality directly under the central govemment in 1997, its economic and social developments have all been made around its national orientation as an important central city, an economic hub in the middle and upper reaches of the Yangtze River, a key base of modern manufacturing, an integrated transportation hub in southwest China as well as an inland open highland. As a result, tremendous progress has been made in all its causes.
Surrounded by great mountains and rivers and seated under the solemn and magnificent Baidicheng(白帝城), Kuimen(夔门), the most majestic mountain pass, has been the everlasting theme for men of letters; on the steep cliffs of Dazu(大足), the wisdom and artistry in the making of Dazu Stone Carvings made it a masterpiece that has drawn worldwide attention in the history of grotto art. The open and vast natural environment has bred loyalty, bravery, integrity, benevolence, openness and inclusiveness of the Chongqing people. The sons and daughters of Bayu have created a brilliant history and culture with their industriousness. In the critical moment of being defeated and losing the country, Ba Manzi(巴蔓子), a commander of the Ba State, cut his throat in order to save his country.