Background: For centuries China stood as a leading civilization, outpacing the rest of the world in the arts and sciences, but in the 19th and early 20th centuries, the country was beset by civil unrest, major famines, military defeats, and foreign occupation. After World War II, the Communists under MAO Zedong established an autocratic socialist system that, while ensuring China's sovereignty, imposed strict controls over everyday life and cost the lives of tens of millions of people. After 1978, his successor DENG Xiaoping and other leaders focused on market-oriented economic development and by 2000 output had quadrupled. For much of the population, living standards have improved dramatically and the room for personal choice has expanded, yet political controls remain tight.
April 14th 2008Asia » China » Chongqing » Chongqing The answer is....32 million! I think it may be the largest city on the planet (or we were told so by a couple locals) and it is China's fastest growing city with the government pouring money into it ... 5 photos[full story]
March 25th 2008Asia » China » Chongqing Chongqing & Yangtze river cruise Dec 07
Huge isn't the word to describe Chongqing, I hadn't heard of it before coming to China but 30 million people live there. The city centre split by two b ... 16 photos[full story]
March 21st 2008Asia » China » Chongqing » Chongqing Chongqing surprised us both. We had read in the Lonely Planet that it is nothing more than 'concrete city' - a stop-off on the way to a Yangtze Cruise - so we didn't expect to see bright neon lights, ... [full story]
March 22nd 2008Asia » China » Chongqing When we flew out of Shanghai we landed in Yichang. From the airport we drove through the cound
tryside. There is canola everywhere you look. This area is aslo famous for tea and oranges. I feel ... [full story]
March 19th 2008Asia » China » Chongqing » Chongqing When we arrive at Chongqing train station. It looks like we've got off at the wrong stop. I had pictured postcard like views of city amongst the mountains. WRONG. The train station was surrounded by a ... [full story]
March 1st 2008Asia » China » Chongqing » Chongqing Like the title says above, we have arrived in Chongquin! sounds more exciting than it actually is lol. well we woke up rather early in chendu to catch a train to Chongquin. wasnt to bad, only a 4 ho ... [full story]
January 20th 2008Asia » China » Chongqing A city between two rivers shrouded in fog where stick porters still shoulder an infinite variety of loads under new office blocks. A buddhist temple surrounded by deformed beggars sits in the shadow o ... 8 photos[full story]
January 26th 2008Asia » China » Chongqing » Chongqing
Today we were up at 6.15 to catch the mini bus to the Giant Panda Research Base just outside Chengdu. Many other westerners were joining us from the hostel and the minibus journey was a VERY tight ... 12 photos[full story]
January 26th 2008Asia » China » Chongqing » Chongqing Hello, I am in Chongqing in China. Home to 32 million people on the banks of the River Yanzi. And you've nevr heard of it probably. It's a huge industrial city plighted by pollution, smog and ugly gre ... 4 photos[full story]
January 26th 2008Asia » China » Chongqing NB - apologies for lack of photos. The computer is playing up slightly. I will get them up ASAP
So...we board the train...hundreds of people flocking all over the place...fighting to get onto the t ... [full story]
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