Chongqing stands at the confluence of the Jialing and Yangtze rivers, a vast, hilly city known as the "Mountain City" and the "City of Fog." It is the largest municipality in China by area, sprawling across 82,000 square kilometres with a population of over 30 million. In 1997 it became China's fourth municipality directly under the central government, alongside Beijing, Shanghai, and Tianjin.
The city has a dramatic wartime history. During the Anti-Japanese War, the Kuomintang government relocated here from Nanjing, making Chongqing the wartime capital of China. The Red Crag Village, once the offices of the Communist representatives to the Kuomintang, is now a memorial site, alongside the Stilwell Museum and the Three Gorges Museum.
Chongqing is the starting point for Yangtze River cruises through the Three Gorges — one of China's great travel experiences — departing from Chaotianmen Square. The city's famous hotpot, fiery and numbing with Sichuan peppercorns, is reason enough to visit. Hongya Cave and the Yangtze cable car offer the most dramatic nighttime views. Day trips to Ciqikou ancient town, the Dazu Rock Carvings (UNESCO World Heritage), and the Three Natural Bridges in Wulong round out the possibilities.