Chongqing, a famous historic and cultural city in China, has a history of more than 3,000 years and a glorious revolutionary tradition. The ancient Ba-Yu area with present Chongqing as its center was the birthplace of the Ba-Yu civilization. Dating back to the end of the Old Stone Age about 20,000 to 30,000 years ago, the area of present-day Chongqing was inhabited by human beings. During the Shang and Zhou periods in the 11th century B. C., the Ba people established the State of Ba with present-day Chongqing as its capital. Later the State of Qin, after conquering the State of Ba, divided China into 36 prefectures, and Ba Prefecture was one of them. At its height, the State of Ba covered a large area, including present-day eastern Sichuan, southern Shaanxi, western Hubei, northwestern Hunan and northern Guizhou, with its administrative center at the pre-1997 Chongqing. During most of the time beginning from the Qin and Han dynasties, this area remained one unified administrative area, with its administrative center at the pre-1997 Chongqing.
Chongqing, a famous historic and cultural city in China, has a history of more than 3,000 years and a glorious revolutionary tradition. The ancient Ba-Yu area with present Chongqing as its center was the birthplace of the Ba-Yu civilization. Dating back to the end of the Old Stone Age about 20,000 to 30,000 years ago, the area of present-day Chongqing was inhabited by human beings. During the Shang and Zhou periods in the 11th century B. C., the Ba people established the State of Ba with present-day Chongqing as its capital. Later the State of Qin, after conquering the State of Ba, divided China into 36 prefectures, and Ba Prefecture was one of them. At its height, the State of Ba covered a large area, including present-day eastern Sichuan, southern Shaanxi, western Hubei, northwestern Hunan and northern Guizhou, with its administrative center at the pre-1997 Chongqing. During most of the time beginning from the Qin and Han dynasties, this area remained one unified administrative area, with its administrative center at the pre-1997 Chongqing.
Chongqing was known as Jiangzhou in ancient times, and later was called Ba Prefecture, Chu Prefecture, Yu Prefecture, and Gong prefecture at different times. During the South-North Dynasties, Ba Prefecture was named Chu Prefecture, and it was renamed Yu Prefecture in 581 A. D. by Emperor Wen of the Sui Dynasty, and since then the area of Chongqing was known as Yu for short. In 1189, before he was enthroned, Emperor Guangzong of the Song Dynasty was named Prince Gong. Considering the events a “double happiness” that happened in the same year while he was the ruler of the place, he promoted Gong Prefecture into Chongqing Fu. That’s how the city got its present name Chongqing more than 800 years ago. In 1891 it became China’s first inland port city open to the outside world. It was officially established as a city in 1929. And it became the war-time capital of China, the national anti-fascist supreme command in the war of resistance and the political, economic and cultural center in the rear areas between 1937 to 1946 after the national government was moved to Chongqing during the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression. Therefore Chongqing was known as “a city that became capital three times”. It remained a city directly under the central government after the National Government returned to Nanjing after the War.
In the early years after the founding of New China, Chongqing, the seat of Southwest Bureau of the Party Central Committee, the seat of the Military and Political Committee of Southwest China, and the political, economic and cultural center in Southwest China, was a municipality directly under the central government. It became a city under the government of Sichuan Province in 1954 when the Southwest China administration division was cancelled. In 1983 it became the country’s first pilot city in comprehensive reform of it economic system and became the first city listed in the State budget with the authority in the management of economic affairs of the provincial level. In 1992 it became a riparian open city. In September 1996 Chongqing was given the authority to administer the city of Wanxian, the city of Fuling and Qianjiang Prefecture. On March 14, 1997, Chongqing became China’s fourth municipality directly under the central government, the only one in southwest China, when a resolution was adopted at the Fifth Session of the Eighth National People’s Congress, opening a new chapter in the construction and development of the city.
