A train sets off for Europe from the Chongqing railway station.
China’s economic focus is shifting from east to west, Wang Hao, Tan Yingzi and Wei Tian report from Chongqing.
Joint investment between China and Europe opens up markets.
Sitting on the south bank of the Jialingjiang River, the ancient buildings of Hongyadong — famous for its resemblance to the bathhouse in the Oscar-winning animation Spirited Away — are a mustsee landmark in Chongqing.
Aviation in Chongqing got its start in the early 1940s, when the city served as an important base for the 1st American Volunteer Group, popularly known as the Flying Tigers, which came to aid China against Japanese aggression during World War II.
Each workday, Li Yingmu rides his motorcycle on the 10-minute commute to his job at a factory in Chongqing's Liangjiang New Area. It's a short trip for Li, but a far cry from the challenging life he led not so long ago as a corn and wheat farmer in the nearby fields.
Editor's note: Chongqing lies at the convergence of the Yangtze and Jialing rivers and its position has allowed it to act as a crossroads for inland trade. But the municipality's ambitions extend beyond its borders. China Daily recently explored the municipality and its focus on becoming a major international trade hub.
John Edwards, the UK trade commissioner for China, praised Chongqing over its rise as a burgeoning center in intelligent manufacturing.