Historical Evolution of Chongqing

Historical Evolution of Chongqing – Name Origin

Chongqing is a worldly famous historical and cultural city. It is the birthplace of Bayu Culture. It has a written history of more than 3000 years. Early in the 11th century B.C Chongqing was the capital of Ancient Ba Kingdom. Jialing River was called Yu River in ancient times. Emperor Yang Jian of Sui Dynasty established Yu District in 583. Since then Chongqing was called Yu for short.

In the first year of Emperor Wen in Sui Dynasty (581), Chuzhou was changed to Yuzhou since Jialing River (it was called Yu River in ancient times) surrounded the city. This is the origin of Chongqing's abbreviation - Yu.

In the sixteenth year of Emperor Chunxi Period in Song Dynasty, Prince Zhao Chun was conferred as the king of Gongzhou in January (according to Chinese calendar) and ascended the throne in February. He thought two happy things happened in a short period and upgraded Gongzhou to Chongqing Prefecture. Chongqing has got its name more than 800 years.

Historical Evolution of Chongqing – A Capital

Chongqing was the capital of Ancient Ba Kingdom, capital of Xia Kingdom and temporary capital of Nationality Government of China in Anti-Japanese Period. The diligent and intellectual people here created splendid material and spiritual civilization. After the founding of People's Republic of China, especially the development after Reform and Opening Up, Chongqing has developed into one of the big cities in China. It is the economic center of southwestern China and Upper Reaches of Yangtze River. It is an important transportation hub and inland port. Chongqing is of vital strategic position and function since it has strong economic strength and science strength.

In 316 B.C. Qin defeated Ba Kingdom and established Ba County in Chongqing. In 221 B.C. the First Emperor of Qin Dynasty divided his country into 36 counties and Ba County was one of them. Chongqing changed its name to Jingzhou, Yizhou, Bazhou and Chuzhou in Wei Dynasty, Jin Dynasty and the Northern and Southern Dynasties.

Historical Evolution of Chongqing – A Municipality Directly under the Central Government

Since Qin Dynasty, all the successive dynasties established administrative machineries in Chongqing. Chongqing Trade Port Supervising Office was established in 1921. Chongqing was established as a city in 1929. Chongqing was upgraded as a municipality directly under the Central Government by the Nationalist Government. After the outbreak of Anti-Japanese War, the Nationalist Government west warded to Chongqing and established Chongqing as the Temporary Capital in the Anti-Japanese War Period.

Chongqing was liberated on November 30, 1949. It was the station of Military Administration Committee and a municipality directly under the Central Government. It was merged into Sichuan Province in June, 1954 and changed into a municipality under the province. Chongqing was established as a municipality directly under the Central Government on June 18, 1997.