Chongqing

Known as "Mountain City", "Fog City" and "Bridge City"

Bayu culture, immigrant culture, and Three Gorges culture blend here

The picture shows the intersection of two rivers in Chongqing. Photo by China News Service reporter He Penglai

2024 is China’s traditional Year of the Dragon

The dragon is the only animal in the Chinese zodiac that does not exist in reality

But it represents the unique cultural cohesion and accumulation of the Chinese people

Do you know where the “dragons” in Chongqing are hidden?

Let's walk into the mountain city together

Let’s go on a journey to find the “dragon”!

01

"Intangible Cultural Heritage Exhibition Dragon Rhythm"

The picture shows the spectacular Tongliang Fire Dragon. Photo courtesy of Tongliang District Culture and Tourism Committee

What is the flavor of the year?

It’s a dazzling array of New Year’s goods in the streets and alleys

It’s the bustling crowd buying new year’s goods

It is also a lively scene of folk artists performing dragon and lion dances.

Mentioned dragon dance

Chongqing Tongliang is a name that must be mentioned

It is known as the "Hometown of Chinese Folk Culture and Art (Dragon Lantern and Dragon Dance)"

Tongliang dragon lantern is an ancient traditional folk art

Both the colorful dragon and the lamp

Another dance using dragons and lanterns as props

It is a comprehensive art integrating dance, music, art and handicrafts.



The picture shows the Tongliang fire dragon performance. Photo by China News Service reporter He Penglai

Kyushu Fangyuan Thousand Dragon Dance Leads the Tongliang Dragon

Tongliang has two major art categories: dragon dance and dragon lantern color tie craftsmanship.

Tongliang dragon dance has

Creepy Dragon, Fire Dragon, Athletic Dragon, Straw Dragon

Lotus dragon, carp jumping over the dragon gate, loach eating glutinous rice balls, etc.

More than 30 varieties

Dance with great momentum

Symbolizing the spirit of the times for the Chinese nation to strive forward

The picture shows staff arranging and installing Tongliang dragon lanterns. Photo by Zhang Yonghong

Tongliang dragon lantern colorful tie crafts include

Prop dragon lanterns, landscape dragon lanterns and craft dragon lanterns

The representative variety is Tongliang Dalong

A flamboyant personality with high horns

The dragon's face is plump and its mouth is wide open.

The body of the dragon is round, strong, vivid and long.

Brightly painted scales

Tongliang Dragon Dance was included in the list of

The first batch of national intangible cultural heritage list

Tongliang dragon lanterns will be listed in 2021

List of representative items of national intangible cultural heritage

Tonglianglong

It has become the most outstanding representative of Chinese symbol dragon culture.

02

“Landmark of Punch-in Dragon”

do you know?

There are over 8,600 place names with the character dragon in Chongqing

It is named because the terrain resembles a dragon.

Some are also named after nearby mountains and rivers.

The editor has selected a few scenic spots with dragon characters.

It’s convenient for you to check in and take photos

Check-in point 1: Longmen Hao Old Street in South Bank

The beautiful scenery of Longmenhao Old Street. Photo by Guo Xu

Longmenhao Old Street

Located in the middle section of Nanbin Road, Nan'an District, Chongqing

Facing the Yangtze River and backed by Nanshan Mountain

The port opening culture, Bayu culture and other cultural deposits are profound

Popular with citizens and tourists

The picture shows the quaint Longmenhao Old Street. Photo by Guo Xu

It contains 18 historical buildings

Weaving Chinese and Western culture brick by brick

A colorful picture of co-prosperity and symbiosis between history and the present

It is the best-preserved historical and cultural old street in the central city of Chongqing.

The beautiful scenery of Longmenhao Old Street. Photo by Guo Xu

As early as 1891

The first customs office in western China was established in Chongqing

Longmenhao Wharf becomes the earliest in western China

An inland treaty port opened to the outside world

After the opening of the port, merchants from all over the world came in droves

People are vying to open foreign banks, factories, and villas in Longmen.

Longmenhao Old Street became the largest gathering place for foreign businessmen at that time

It is also the earliest "Foreigner Street" in western China.

The charming night view of Longmenhao Old Street. Photo by Guo Xu

Travel through historical monuments

While inheriting the historical and cultural context, Longmen Hao Old Street

It also adds unique international fashion elements

The collision of old and new cultures

Give old streets new vitality

Become a window to appreciate the charm of Chongqing

Check-in point 2: Longxing Ancient Town in Yubei

Longxing Ancient Town. Photo courtesy of Longxing Town, Yubei District

Dragon Pavilion, Hidden Dragon Palace with Flying Eaves

Lingxing Bafang welcomes high-profile guests

Longxing Ancient Town is a famous historical and cultural town in China.

There is an ancient legend here

According to legend, Zhu Yuanzhang of the Ming Dynasty passed the throne to Emperor Jianwen.

King Zhu Di of Yan usurped the throne and Emperor Jianwen fled.

on the way to escape

Stayed overnight at a small temple in Longxingchang and escaped from danger

Longxingchang was renamed "Longxingchang"

That is, Longxing Town is still here today.

Longxing Ancient Town. Photo courtesy of Longxing Town, Yubei District

There are many old buildings

Rich historical and cultural heritage

There are a total of more than 70 cultural sites in eight major groups.

Ancient temples, ancient villages, ancestral halls

Old street houses and other architectural styles are different

Unique, simple and elegant shape

Longxing Ancient Town. Photo courtesy of Longxing Town, Yubei District

Longxing Ancient Town is positioned as “an old street life that never ends”

There is a traditional market here

There are also fashion-avant-garde dramas

There are both old shops and coffee B&Bs.

Taking advantage of the Spring Festival holiday

Go to the ancient town to experience the simple New Year flavor that is different from the city

Longxing Ancient Town provides an excellent choice

Check-in point three: Yunyang Longgang Scenic Area

The cliff plank road in Yunyang Longgang Scenic Area. Photo courtesy of Yunyang County Party Committee Propaganda Department

A single vat is connected to the stone stacks on the ladder to the top of the mountain.

The mighty Qingming is bottomless, swallowing the moon and spitting out mist and purple smoke.

What this poem describes

It is the magnificent scenery of Yunyang Dragon Tank

Yunyang Dragon Tank Qingshui Lake. Photo courtesy of Yunyang County Party Committee Propaganda Department

Longgang Scenic Area is located in Yunyang County, Chongqing City

It is mainly composed of Longgang karst tiankeng

Cloud Covered Bridge, Stalagmite River, and Da'an Cave are the second most popular places.

Taking into account both grassland biological landscape and Tujia cultural landscape

Integrating majesty, danger, wonder, majesty, elegance and beauty into one

Stalagmite River in Yunyang Longgang Scenic Area. Photo courtesy of Yunyang County Party Committee Propaganda Department

The Dragon Tank is an oval sinkhole with a depth of 335 meters.

This depth ranks third in China

fifth in the world

The inner wall of the cylinder is chipped

Pines and cypresses lie across the cracks in the wall, and ancient vines hang upside down.

The bottom of the tank is full of greenery all year round and hundreds of birds are chirping.

Because it is shaped like a large natural stone jar

There is also a wonderful legend about the love between the woodcutter and the dragon girl.

The dragon tank named after it is known as "the best tank in the world"

The picture above shows the Yunyang Dragon Tank Scenic Area, which is known as "the best tank in the world". Photo courtesy of Yunyang County Party Committee Propaganda Department

The picture below shows the Qixi Tower in Yunyang Longgang Scenic Area. Photo courtesy of Yunyang County Party Committee Propaganda Department

Cloud Covered Bridge Cliff Plank Road

Love Ladder Stalagmite Valley

The magnificent scenery of Longgang Scenic Area

It is attracting tourists from all over the world.

03

"Looking for Dragon Traces in Mountain City"

The picture shows the restored mounts of Mamenchisaurus and Yellow River Dragon displayed in the central exhibition hall of Chongqing Natural Resources Science Museum to attract visitors. Photo by China News Service reporter He Penglai

Chongqing has a deep connection with dinosaurs

Known as "the city built on the back of dinosaurs"

From the early Jurassic period 200 million years ago

to the end of the Cretaceous period 66 million years ago

Chongqing is located on the southeastern edge of the Sichuan Basin

Various dinosaur fossils unearthed

Wide variety, high yield, good preservation

It is one of the important dinosaur fossil producing areas in China.

The picture shows the dinosaur restoration racks and fossil specimens attracting visitors in the life evolution exhibition hall of the Chongqing Natural Resources Science Museum. Photo by China News Service reporter He Penglai

Chongqing has a large number of dinosaur remains

These dinosaur cultural resources

It is one of the most important dinosaur relic reserves in the world.

The picture shows the restored dinosaur skeleton displayed at the Chongqing Natural Resources Science Museum. Photo by China News Service reporter He Penglai

In 1955, Changshou discovered the longevity Emeisaurus

In 1957, Mamenchisaurus hechuan was discovered in Hechuan

In 1976, Yongchuan discovered the upstream Yongchuanosaurus

In 2003, a group of dinosaur footprint fossils was discovered in Qijiang

Until 2022

More than 70 dinosaur fossils were discovered in 29 districts and counties in the city

The picture shows the giant panda restoration rack and fossils displayed in the Life Evolution Exhibition Hall of Chongqing Natural Resources Science Museum attracting visitors. Photo by China News Service reporter He Penglai

I believe more dinosaur fossils will be discovered in Chongqing in the future

They are important windows for interpreting ancient life on earth

It is also a significant footnote to the unique charm of Chongqing.

Chongqing’s Dinosaur Story

will continue to attract the attention of the world

The picture shows the night view of Chongqing. Photo by China News Service reporter He Penglai

The old calendar adds a new year and the spring is full of good rivers and mountains

Time goes by

We bid farewell to the past and welcome the future

Year of the Dragon is coming

Welcome to the mountain city

Enter this city that you won’t want to leave once you’re here

(Author of China News Service WeChat Official Account: Liang Qinqing)