Chongqing is located at the center of the ancient Bayu Area which is also the birthplace of Bayu Culture, a historical
and cultural city in China with more than 3,000 years of history. About 20 to 30 thousand years ago, human beings
had moved to the Chongqing area, thereby marking the start of Chongqing's long history.
Ba Kingdom
Tradition associates Chongqing with the semi-legendary State of Ba that the Ba people supposedly established during
the eleventh century BCE. By 316 BCE, however, it had been overrun by the State of Qin. The Qin emperor ordered a
new city to be constructed, which was called Jiang (江州) and Chu Prefecture (楚州).
Numerous Names
Chongqing was subsequently renamed in 581 CE (Sui Dynasty) and later 1102, to Yu Prefecture (渝州) and then Gong
Prefecture (恭州). It received its current name in 1189, after Prince Zhao Dun of the Southern Song Dynasty described
his crowning as king and then Emperor Guangzong as a "double celebration". Hence, Yu Prefecture became
Chongqing subprefecture to mark the occasion.
Open to the world
In 1890, the Consulate General of UK was open in Chongqing
In 1891, Chongqing became the first inland commerce port open to foreigners.
In 1896, the French Consulate General was open in Chongqing
In 1896, the Japanese Consulate General was open in Chongqing
In 1896, the US Consulate General was open in Chongqing
In 1904, the German Consulate General was open in Chongqing
Provisional Capital of the Republic of China
From 1929, Chongqing became a municipality of the Republic of China. During the Second Sino-Japanese War
(1937–1945), it was Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek's provisional capital. More than 50 embassies moved to
Chongqing with the KMT government at that time, and by now, some of which are still well protected. At that time,
the Allies set up the Chinese Anti-fascist headquarters in Chongqing, which was responsible for directing the allied
army of China, Vietnam, Thailand, Burma,and Malaysia and was under the direction of Generalissimo Chiang Kai-
shek and General Joseph Stilwell. The Japanese Air Force bombed it heavily. Due to its mountainous environment,
many people were saved from the bombing. And because of the brave people, their contribution and sacrifice during
WWII, Chongqing is also called a City of Heroes. Many factories and universities were moved from eastern China to
Chongqing during WWII, transforming this city from inland port to a heavily industrialized city. In late November 1949
the Nationalist KMT government fled the city.
Became a Municipality again
On 14 March 1997, the Eighth National People's Congress decided to merge the city with the neighbouring Fuling,
Wanxian, and Qianjiang prefecture-level districts that it had governed on behalf of the province since September 1996.
The resulting single division was the Chongqing Municipality, containing 30,020,000 people in forty-three former
counties (without intermediate political levels). The municipality became the spearhead of China's effort to develop its
western regions and to coordinate the resettlement of residents from the reservoir areas of the Three Gorges Dam
project. Its first official ceremony took place on 18 June 1997.
On 8 February 2010, Chongqing became one of the five National Central/Core cities, the other four are Beijing, Shanghai,
Guangzhou and Tianjin.
On 18 June 2010, Liangjiang New Area was established in Chongqing, which is one of the 3 National New Areas, the
formmer 2 are Pudong new area in Shanghai and Binhai new area in Tianjin.
Culture
Ba Culture
During the early Warring States Period, the Ba Kingdom moved from the upper reaches of Hanjiang River to Eastern
Sichuan around the main stream of the Yangtze River. Bronze culture assimilated with local aboriginal Neolithic culture,
forming the Ba Culture, and the origin of Bayu Culture. Chongqing is the epicenter of this culture.
Representatives of Bayu Culture
Bayu Dance is a kind of folk martial dance of ancient Bayu Area. Ba people were well known for their bravery and dash
as well as being good at singing and dancing. It was said in ancient records that Ba troops always sang and danced
while marching to their crusade against the Shang Dynasty. During the early Han Dynasty (206BC-220AD), Bayu Dance
was introduced to the imperial palace, becoming a royal court dance for appreciation, reception of envoys and guests
and also official rites. This kind of dance gradually disappeared after the Tang Dynasty (618-907), and yet it was still
popular among common people.
Folk songs of Ba people were also famous not only in local areas but also in the neighboring Chu State in ancient times.
Chongqing people still sing of their lovely mountains and rivers. Work songs of boatmen are a part of the colorful folk
culture of Chongqing.
Bayu dance and songs are considered to be the most important elements of Bayu Culture. Additionally, Ba people
brewed their own fine wine, had their own burial ceremonies (boat coffin, hanging coffin and other kinds of burials).
They had symbolized character, totems, bronze sculptures, fascinating legends and myths. These are all symbols of
Bayu Culture.
