Chongqing Attractions

The Dazu Rock Carvings , carved during the ninth century, are un-missable works of art of the Gold Buddhist Mountain, itself reputed as a rich repository of diverse animal and plant species. Work on the Dazu Rock Carvings began in the first year of Yonghui in the Tang Dynasty (650A.D.), and continued until the Ming and Qing dynasties. Now, it is as popular as the Yungang and Longmen Grottoes. There are more than 50,000 Buddhist, Taoist and Confucian rock carvings and 100,000 inscribed characters dotted around Dazu. In 1999, UNESCO listed the Dazu Stone Carvings as a world cultural heritage site. One point to note is that the Dazu Grottoes, out of over 100 grottoes in China, are the only ones to follow an overall design.

The suburbs of Chongqing boast a rich resource of hot springs and lakes. One is the Northern Hot Springs Park which is situated at the foot of Jinyun Mountain, fifty kilometers northeast of Chongqing City. Another is the Southern Hot Spring Park , twenty-six kilometers to the south of the city. Both sites are endowed with many hot springs which are popular with visitors who go to bathe. The spring water is used as a treatment for a number of diseases including Dermatitis, Rheumatism, Arthritis and Muscular Pain.

Dazu Grottoes The best place to find out about the history and culture of Chongqing is Chongqing China Three Gorges Museum , which was founded in 1951 on the summit of Pipashan Mountain. Covering an area of 5,500 square meters (1.36 acres), the museum has over 40 exhibiting halls with about 100,000 pieces of relics, which spans 3000 years from the ancient Kingdom of Ba and the near-mythical Three Kingdoms Period to World War Two and the Chinese Revolution.

If you have time, the General Joseph W. Stilwell Museum , about 4.5km southeast of town centre is worth a visit. General Joseph Warren Stilwell (1883-1946) was chief commander of US forces in the China-Burma-India Theatre during World War II. In 1942, ranked as a major general, he was dispatched to CBI and was regarded as the best field commander in the entire United States Army. General Stilwell was a true friend of the Chinese people as well as a Chinese linguist.

Fourteen kilometers to the west of Chongqing Municipality lies the ancient village of Ci Qi Kou (Porcelain Village) situated on the bank of the Jia Ling River. Ci Qi Kou village was recognized as a protected cultural site by the State Council in 1998. Now, there are many shops lining the twelve flag stoned paved lanes that form the main routes. Tourists will find many outlets for craftwork, groceries, teashops and the like as well as a horologist, photography supplies, drugstore and a tempting supply of roasted nuts and seeds.