|
SCENES & SIGHTS
Evening
Scenes of Chongqing
The Red Star Pavilion in the Pipasha Park, the Kansheng Pavilion
in the Eling Park, and a place called Yikeshu on the Nanshan Mountain
are vintage points for observing the nocturnal scenes of the mountain
city of Chongqing. At night the entire city is inundated in an ocean
of lights, which form a colorful three-dimensional painting, with
waves of the Yangtze and Jialing rivers glistening against the moonlit,
star spangled sky.
Sites of the Provisional Capital
Chongqing figured importantly in modem Chinese history. During
the War of Resistance against Japan, it was the "provisional
capital" of China under the Kuomintang rule from November 1937
to October 1945. Vestiges of that period are still there in and
around the city. These include the Red Crag Village and 50 Zengjiayan,
as well as Chiang Kai-shek's mansion, Guiyuan Garden, Linyuan Garden,
and the mansion of C.C. Kong, the embassies of various countries
to China, as well as former residences of important politicians,
generals and cultural figures.
Martyrs' Mausoleum at Mount Gele
The former headquarters, radio station and prison of the Bureau
of Investigation and Statistics of the Military Council (a colossal
secret service of the Kuomintang) at the foot of the Gele Mountain
in Shapingba District have become the mausoleum for those who died
a martyr's death there in China's dark days. In the dying years
of World War 11, it was the site of the "Sino0US Institute
for Cooperation in Special Technology".
Dazu
Grottoes
The Dazu Grottoes in the county of the same name is best known
for the stone carvings on the Baodingshan and Beishan mountains,
which are fine example of grotto sculpture in the late years of
Chinese feudalism. The sculptures, done in fastidious chisel work
and gracious imagery, are marked by a new sculptural language that
eschews religious taboos and espouses true life.
Yangtze River's Three Gorges
Sailong down the Yangtze from Chongqing to Yichang allows visitors
to see the spectacular scenery of the Three Gorges along with its
splendid cultural heritage and fabled local folklore. The cruise,
which combines sightseeing with scientific, artistic and folklore
exploration, is a national-caliber tourist program. The 193-km-long
Three Gorges, consisting of the majestic Qutangxia, statuesque Wuxia
and ferocious Xilingxia gorges, is one of and ferocious Xilongxia
gorges, is one of the world's major canyons. Along the way there
are such scenic attractions as the Fengdu Mountain. Baidi city,
Shibao village, Zhang Fel's Temple, Qu Yuan's Temple, and the Three
Gorges Dam.
Lesser Three Gorges
The Daning River is the largest Yangtze tributary, which rises
in the southern side of the Daba Mountain and flows for 250km before
emptying itself into the Yangtze at the western entrance to the
Wuxia Gorge. The Lesser Three Gorges on the Daning River, a 50km-long
affair covering the Longmenxia, Bawuxia and Dicuixia gorges in the
lower reaches of the river, is billed as one of China's 40 best
scenic resorts thanks to its gorgeous mountains, elegant peaks,
turbulent rapids, limpid water, exotic rock imagery and serene scenery.
Diaoyu City, Hechuan
Established
in 1242, or the 2nd year of the Chunyou reign of the Southern Song,
Diaoyu City covers 2.5 square km up the Diaoyu Mountain on the southern
shore of the Jialing River in Hechuan City's Heyang Town. In 1258,
the Mongols launched a three-way attack on the Song, and in February
the next year Diaoyu City found itself besieged. The Song army mounted
a valiant counterattack that last3ed for 36 years, and made world
war history by rebuffing a strong enemy with a weak force. This
prompted some European historians to laud Diaoyu City as the "Mecca
of the East" and "Where God broke his whip". The
ruins of the ancient battlefield of Diaoyu City are well kept there.
Jinyun Mountain
Nicknamed "Less Mount Emei", Jinyun Mountain is a national
scenic resort 55km from downtown Chongqing.
Furong Cave, Wulung
The Furong (Hibiscus) Cave is located by the Furong River in Wulung
County. The main part of the cave is 2,700 metres in length and
3.7 square metres in area. The Splendid Cave is the most impressive.
Housed in it are nearly 30 varieties of stalactites chiseled into
every manner of exotic imagery by the cunning labor of nature. Major
attractions are Gold Throne Hall, Leifeng Pagoda and Sky-reaching
Jade Pillar.
Chongqing
Museum
Located at Pipashan Street, the Chongqing Museum is in the possession
of more than 100,000 cultural artifacts, including 10,000 or so
valuable ones.
Chongqing Nature Museum
Local natural history and fauna and flora samples are on display
in the Chongqing Nature Museum in Beibei district, which includes
a display room for dinosaurs that have been founding Sichuan.
Other Scenic Attractions
Other scenic attractions include the south and north Hot springs,
Red Crag Village, Simian (Four-Face) Mountain, Jinfo (Golden Buddha)
Mountain, Earth's Chasm at Tianjing Gorge, and Heavenly Crate at
Xiaozhai village.
Three Gorges Tourist Festival
Time: June every year
What's On: Cruise on the Three Gorges of the Yangtze River, the
Ghost City at Fengdu, Dazu Grottoes, Shibao Village, Zhang Fei's
Temple, Baidi City at Fengjie and Lesser Three Gorges. Other activities
include float parade, full-length variety show and tourist business
talks.
|