About Chongqing

Chongqing stands as one of China's four direct-controlled municipalities and the largest city proper by population with 31.9 million residents, making it the most populous metropolitan area in China. Located in southwestern China along the Yangtze River, Chongqing serves as the gateway to western China and a crucial hub for inland navigation and commerce. Elevated to municipal status in 1997 after being separated from Sichuan Province, Chongqing has rapidly transformed into a major economic and transportation center driving development throughout central and western China.

The city's dramatic topography, where the Yangtze and Jialing Rivers converge, creates a stunning mountain landscape famous for evening views. Chongqing's extensive urban area covers over 80,000 square kilometers, roughly the size of Austria, combining urban districts with significant rural and mountainous regions. As a major port for Yangtze River cruises and a center for electronics and automotive manufacturing, Chongqing epitomizes western China's modernization while preserving unique cultural traditions and natural beauty.