Study in Chongqing, Discover the City of Mountains and Rivers
— A City Introduction for International Students (Condensed)
Chongqing, one of China’s four municipalities directly under the central government, is a key national city in the southwest and the economic, financial and shipping hub of the upper Yangtze region. It is an important national base for modern manufacturing and high-tech industries, a focal region of China’s Western Development Strategy, and a national pilot zone for coordinated urban-rural reform.
Shaped by its foggy, mountainous terrain, the city is affectionately nicknamed the “Mountain City” and the “City of Fog,” and it is listed as a national historic and cultural city.
A City Shaped by Mountains and Rivers
Three Thousand Years of Bayu Cultural Heritage
Chongqing is a celebrated historic and cultural city with over 3,000 years of history and a proud revolutionary tradition. The ancient Ba-Yu region centered on Chongqing is the cradle of Bayu culture. Over the centuries, Bayu, ethnic, migrant, Three Gorges, wartime-capital and urban cultures have blended here, forming the city’s profound yet vibrant character.
A Tourist Destination Among Mountains and Waters
Chongqing is blessed with exceptional tourism resources, where mountains, rivers, forests, springs, waterfalls, gorges and caves combine into spectacular scenery, matched by a rich cultural landscape. The city boasts more than 300 natural and cultural attractions, including one UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site and one World Natural Heritage site, 13 national key cultural relics protection units and 6 national scenic areas.The majestic Three Gorges, the glittering night skyline and the picturesque Furong River each have their own charm. Chongqing is also an important representative of Sichuan cuisine, and the hotpot that originated here is famous worldwide — a perfect gateway for international students to experience local life.
A Robust Hub of Science and Education
Chongqing enjoys abundant scientific and educational resources, hosting a number of outstanding universities and scientific research institutions base for commercializing research achievements in the upper Yangtze region and a national high-tech industry base. As early as 1930, the Academy of Sciences of Western China was founded in Beibei — the earliest comprehensive scientific research institution in western China — and the Chongqing Museum of Natural History, built on its former site, is one of the country’s seven major natural history museums.The city has produced landmark achievements such as the world’s first focused-ultrasound tumor treatment device, the world’s first gastric disease vaccine and the first gene framework map of the silkworm, pioneering the “Chongqing Model” that links research, resource sharing and technology transfer platforms.
A Leading Growth Pole in Western China
Chongqing is a major economic growth pole in western China, leading the region in overall economic strength: its retail sales rank top among Chinese cities, and its GDP ranks first among cities in central and western China. Local enterprises are strong performers — 10 Chongqing companies made the 2010 China Top 500 Enterprises list, the most in the west.Distinctive universities such as Chongqing University, Southwest University, Southwest University of Political Science and Law, and Sichuan International Studies University offer international students a rich variety of choices.
Closing Words
A city of mountains and rivers, a place of beauty. Come and study in Chongqing — and begin a lively, flavorful study-abroad journey amid the aroma of hotpot and the lights along the two great rivers.
Note: This text is a condensed rewrite based on publicly available information from the “Study in China” website (www.studyinchina.edu.cn). Some figures and rankings are dated; please refer to the latest official releases. This is a rewriting sample only and does not represent any official statement.