Chongqing is a sprawling city at the confluence of the Yangtze River (Yangtze for short) and Jialing River in southwest China. In the city center, the Great Hall of the People with a dome rises above the People’s Square, which is a pedestrian zone. On the other side of the square is the Three Gorges Museum with artifacts from the construction of the Three Gorges Dam as well as ancient art.
The city, which is directly under government control, was created on March 14, 1997, by separating from the eastern part of Sichuan Province and incorporating the surrounding greater region. The city is an industrial center, transportation hub and cultural center of the region with universities, colleges, theaters, museums and galleries. Consulates general from Great Britain and Japan as well as consulates from Denmark, Cambodia, Canada and the Philippines are based in the city.
Why is Chongqing so big?
The city of Chongqing was built at the confluence of the Jialing River and the Yangtze River. Its location on the eastern edge of the Red Basin, the “rice bowl” of China, has facilitated the city’s growth.
Is Chongqing the largest city in the world?
As a direct government city, which is the name given to administrative units at the provincial level, it reports directly to the central government of the People’s Republic of China. In terms of area, Chongqing is the largest city in the world at 82,000 square kilometers, twice the size of Switzerland.