CHONGQING (CQNEWS) -- A place name represents the place and its history, taking the responsibility of inheritance of a region, and also the most intuitive way for people to learn and understand a place. There are numerous unique and popular tourist destinations, attracting countless domestic and foreign tourists to explore and experience. And the names of these popular destinations are important windows for people to truly understand the history and culture of Bayu and experience the unique charm of Chongqing.

Recently, Urban Planning Land and Resources Commision of Chongqng Municipality and Chongqing Geographic Information and Remote Sensing Application Center launched the Cultural Map of Names of Popular Tourist Attractions in Chongqing. Let's explore the story behind the names of these popular tourist attractions in Chongqing following the guidance of this map.

1. Hongyadong
Located outside the Hongya Gate, close to "Water Dropping from Hongya Cave", one of the twelve views of ancient Bayu, there was a big hole on the cliff, and that’s how Hongyadong got its name. It was also formerly known as "Hongyandong Street" or "Hongyandong". Currently, Hongyadong Folk Customs Area is a national 4A-Level Tourist Attraction.

2. Chaotianmen

It already existed before Dai Ding built the city in the early Ming Dynasty, and its name was taken from the meaning of "facing the place where the emperor resides".

3. Jiefangbei

It was named after the People's Liberation Monument that was built here.

4. Mountain City Alley

Originally named Tiandeng Street, it was later renamed as the Mountain City Traditional Folk Customs Area due to its typical mountain city geographical characteristics.

5. Hastin Avenue

It is said that there is a rock here like a white stone elephant, opposite the Shizi Mountain on the south bank. The name of this avenue was taken from a saying that "the green lion and white elephant safeguard the river-like wealth". It is now the Baixiang Avenue Traditional Folk Customs Area.

6. Liziba

It was originally named due to numerous plum trees planted here. Now, it become a popular tourist attraction because of the scene of rail transit trains passing through a building. Liziba Anti-Japanese War Heritage Park can be found nearby.

7. Pipa Mountain

It is named because of numerous loquat trees planted on the mountain. There are Pipashan Park, Pipashan Academy, etc. nearby.

8. Hongyan Village

It is named after a village community formed on red rocks left from the Jurassic era. Formerly known as "Hongyanzui", now it has Hongyan Memorial Hall, one of the first batch of national key cultural relics protection units.

9. Eling

It was named because it is located on the steep, narrow, and “goose-neck like” mountain range that is held by the Yangtze River and Jialing River from the south to north, once called "E’xiangling". Eling Testbed 2 Cultural and Creative Park is now a popular tourist attraction.

10. Huguang Guild Hall
Huguang Guild Hall, Qi'an Office, and Guangdong Office, established under the wave of immigrants from Huguang to Sichuan during the late Ming and early Qing dynasties, are collectively known as the Huguang Guild Hall Complex today. It is now a national key cultural relics protection unit.

11. Daijia Alley

It was named because that a family surnamed Dai once lived here, also formerly known as "Linjiang Road East Lane". It is now built with cliff trails , becoming a popular tourist destination for experiencing the geographical characteristics of the mountain city.

12. Zhongshan 4th Road

It was named in commemoration of Mr. Sun Yat-sen (Sun Zhongshan), and is the fourth section of a series. There are historical sites such as Guiyuan and Gen Chow En-lai’s Residence.

13. Shibati
It was named because it is divided into eighteen floors of steps according to the terrain. There is another saying that it was named because there are eighteen steps for people to walk up to the well where they could fetch water in the middle of Shibati. It is currently built as Shibati Traditional Folk Customs Area.

14. Xiaoshizi
It was named due to the intersections of various sizes facing each other. In the past, there were banks and money houses built here.

15. Sandongqiao
It was named after a stone bridge built in the late Qing Dynasty, which had three archways, known as Sandong Bridge, and was formerly named Gongbei Bridge. There is currently a Sandongqiao Folk Customs Street built there.

16. Guanyinqiao

It was named because Guanyin Temple was built by the stream nearby, adjacent to the Shiban Bridge. It is currently built as Guanyinqiao Business District and Urban Tourist Area.

17. Jiangbeizui

It was named after a small peninsula, commonly known as Hezui, which is located on the riverbank of Jiangbei City. It is currently a popular tourist attraction for viewing night scenes in Chongqing and has been awarded the title of "National Night Cultural and Tourism Consumption Agglomeration Zone".

18. Danzishi
It was named from one old saying that Tushan, the wife of Dayu, once gave birth to a child here, which was falsely changed from the "Danzishi", meaning a stone where a child was given birth. Another saying is that there were three stones with a huge stone on the top by the Yangtze River here, which was shaped like a marble, so it was name as "Danzishi". It is currently the National 4A-Level Tourist Attraction Danzishi Old Street.

19. Laojundong
Formerly known as "Guanghua Temple", it was once a Buddhist temple, later rebuilt into a Daoist temple. According to legend, this place was once one of the Daoist rites for Tianshi Daoism, and later it was named as "Laojundong" in memory of Li Er by later generations.

20. Nanshan

Formerly known as "Wangshan" or "Dingjiashan", it was renamed as “Nanshan” in 1959 because Wangshan Mountain is only one of the peaks of the range on the south bank. It is currently a National 4A-Level Tourist Attraction Nanshan Scenic Spot.

21. Longmenhao

There are two stone beams protruding from the water surface along the Yangtze River, forming a vast mouth. The stone beams are engraved with the words "Long Men", so this place was names as Longmenhao. It is currently built as the Longmenhao Historical and Cultural Street.

22. Tongyuanju
During the reign of Emperor Guangxu back in the Qing Dynasty, a factory was established here to make copper coins, so the place was name as Tongyuanju. Now, due to its well-arranged three-dimensional transportation landscape, it has become a popular tourist attraction.

23. Ciqikou
It was named as Ciqikou due to the fact that porcelains produced in Qingcaopo nearby were traded here during the Qing Dynasty to the Republic of China period. It is now a famous historical and cultural street in China and a national 4A-Level tourist attraction.

24. Huangjueping

During the reign of Emperor Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty, there was a Ficus virens tree here, where passers-by rested and enjoyed the cool, so it was named Huangjueping, which is still used today. There are currently popular tourist attractions such as SFAI Graffiti Street, Jun’ge Bookstore, and Transportation Tea House. (Translated by Hu Chuanmin, Fathom Language Limited)