Chongqing - Do & See
Migrant laborers, who are called Bangbang by the locals according to their carrying tool, can be seen active along Chongqing’s main streets and lanes. Always armed with a bamboo stick and two strips of ropes with them to carry things, they sweat for living and are renowned far and wide as the faces of Chongqing. A few of the city´s major scenic spots include the Jiefangbei and Chaotian Gate Plaza, Three Gorges Museum, Ciqikou ancient town, Zhazi Cave and Bai’s Residence. All these spots are cultural legacies, containing profound history. The highlight of the touring section of Three Gorges is also located in Chongqing.
Mountain City by night
The nocturnal views of this mountain city is its greatest draw, extraordinary and unique, due to its special geographic features. When night descends, the lights from tens of thousands of households sparkle and twitter like the stars falling to ordinary lives, above the glowing neon lights of boats on the Yangtze and Jialin Rivers. There are three prime spots to be immersed in the night of Chongqing. They are the One-tree Outlook Platform, Huge Golden Eagle spot on the south mountain of Nanan District and the Kanshan Tower in Erling Park. A boat tour on the rivers can be arranged at Chaotian Gate.
The Three Gorges
Three Gorges start from the Baidi City, to the Nanjin Guan of Yichang, in Hubei Province, incorporating the Qutang Gorge, Wu Gorge and Xiling Gorge. The incredible landscape here has been depicted by many poems which evoke just a fraction of its beauty. The two most famous scenic spots are the Fengdu Ghost City and Sibao Zhai which should not be missed.
Jiefangbei
As the People’s Liberation Memorial Stele, this city landmark is called Jiefangbei. It is the one and only memorial in China for the victory of the War of Resistance Against Japan. Located at the intersection of Minquan Road, Minzu Road and Zourong Road, it is also called ‘the first street’ of East China.
Chaotian Gate Plaza
Chaotian Gate is situated at the intersection of the Yangtze River and Jialing River. The gate is to the east of Yangtze River towards the ancient capital that held the imperial heavenly throne in Nanjing. This is how it got the name - Chaotian meaning turning to the skies in Chinese. Today´s Chaotian Gate is a great place to get a panorama view of the intersection of the two rivers. In early summer or mid-autumn, the collision of the currents of the two rivers is breathtaking and magnificent, making this part the golden section of Yangtze River.
Chongqing China Three Gorges Museum
The museum is the centre for collecting, researching and exhibiting the history and culture of Chongqing city and the Three Gorges area. All the cultural relics excavated from the Three Gorges area and other historical collections of the original city museum is housed here. Using high-tech facilities, the museum directly and vividly displays the geologic features, species, changes in local culture and customs and the models of the massive Three Gorges Dam Project. Next to the museum are the Chongqing People Plaza and Great Hall of the People.
Three Gorges Plaza
The plaza was built in 1997 and is a miniature of the grand Three Gorges, showing its glamorous views and the Bayu culture. The Three Gorges Art stele is the landmark of the plaza and the water-screen movie is one of the most unique scenic spots of the sight park. The poetry stele complex, where poems from poets of different eras are carved in the rocks, is also a highlight of this park. The celebrity sculpture park, which is on the south of the plaza, displays the likeness of many cultural figures such as novelist Ba Jin.
Eighteen Ladders
This old street is where the tourist can experience and appreciate the local culture and customs. The houses scattered on both sides of the street are a showcase of Chongqing’s history. From the ancient Diaojiao Lou and Kunbang House, houses from the 1950s or 1960s made by bamboo to tile houses in Soviet style made in the 1960s or 1970s. These houses are like an exhibition of historical architecture. The best part is that it is just a block away from the prosperous downtown.
Ciqikou
Located not far from the urban area, the ancient town Ciqikou, which has a 1700 year old history, is well known for its reserved ancient Sichuan styled buildings with fresh air and mountains surrounding it. Houses called Diaojiao Lou are made of wood or bamboo by the sides of paved roads and can be dated back to the North Han Dynasty. Local customs have been kept as well as culinary legacies like Qianzhang, Mahua Fish and Maoxue Wang.
The Dazu Rock Carvings
The replica of China’s late rock cave statue art maintains Buddhist statues as the core with Confucian and Taoist ones displayed together as well. The cliff sculptures on Baoding Mt. and Beishan Mt. are the most famous.
Gela Mountain Martyr’s Mausoleum Park The Bai’s Residence And Zhazi Cave
For many Chinese, this is the place that fills them with patriotism and enthusiasm for revolution. Commemorating many courageous and gallant revolutionaries who sacrificed their lives for noble pursuits. The past 50 decades of history, remote, bloody and cruel but also unforgettable are recreated. A programme called “night-visit to the Zhazi Cave”, is vivid and impressive. Adjacent to the Zhazi Cave are the Red Rock Soul Memorial and the sculpture area which are both worth a visit.
